english grammar stories and exercises

English Grammar
Stories and Exercises
The Simple Tenses Series

Simple Tenses Mixed

By Really Learn English

www-really-learn-english.com | Copyright © 2012 Ola Zur


English Grammar Stories and Exercises
The Simple Tenses
Simple Tenses Mixed
Published by Really Learn English
www.really-learn-english.com
Copyright © 2012 Ola Zur.
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced
or transmitted in any form, by any means,
without written permission.
Ola Zur, has made her best effort
to produce a high quality, informative and helpful book.
But she makes no representation or warranties of any kind
with regard to the completeness or accuracy of the contents of the book.
She accepts no liability of any kind for any losses or damages
caused or alleged to be caused, directly or indirectly,
from using the information contained in this book.


Simple Tenses Mixed

Table of Contents
Simple Present Rules ..........................................................................................5
Positive Sentences ..........................................................................................5
Negative Sentences.........................................................................................5
Question Sentences ........................................................................................5
Special Verbs ......................................................................................................6
The Verb “Be” .................................................................................................6
The Verb “Have” .............................................................................................6
The Verb “Can” ...............................................................................................6
Simple Past Rules ...............................................................................................7
Regular Verbs .....................................................................................................7
Positive Sentences ..........................................................................................7
Negative Sentences.........................................................................................7
Question Sentences ........................................................................................7
Irregular Verbs ...................................................................................................8
Positive Sentences ..........................................................................................8
Negative Sentences.........................................................................................8
Question Sentences ........................................................................................8
Special Verbs ......................................................................................................9
The Verb “Be” .................................................................................................9
The Verb “Can” ...............................................................................................9

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4 | English Grammar Stories and Exercises, Simple Tenses Mixed

Simple Future Rules .........................................................................................10
Will ...................................................................................................................10

Positive Sentences ........................................................................................10
Negative Sentences.......................................................................................10
Question Sentences ......................................................................................10
Be Going To ......................................................................................................11
Positive Sentences ........................................................................................11
Negative Sentences.......................................................................................11
Question Sentences ......................................................................................11
Mixed, Story 1 ..................................................................................................12
Before Reading .............................................................................................12
Happy Mother’s Day .....................................................................................14
After Reading ................................................................................................15
Mixed, Story 2 ..................................................................................................22
Before Reading .............................................................................................22
Help from the Doctor ....................................................................................24
After Reading ................................................................................................25
Mixed, Story 3 ..................................................................................................32
Before Reading .............................................................................................32
The Truth ......................................................................................................34
After Reading ................................................................................................36
Mixed, Story 4 ..................................................................................................43
Before Reading .............................................................................................43
Peace and Quiet ............................................................................................45
After Reading ................................................................................................47
Mixed, Story 5 ..................................................................................................54
Before Reading .............................................................................................54
The Best Baby Name .....................................................................................56
After Reading ................................................................................................58
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English Grammar Stories and Exercises, Simple Tenses Mixed | 5

Simple Present Rules
Positive Sentences
Who?
Form of verb
I/You/We/They
verb
He/She/It
verb + s

Examples
You run every day.
He runs every day.
She runs every day.
It runs every day.

Negative Sentences
Who?
I/You/We/They
He/She/It

Form of verb
do not
verb
does not

Examples
You do not run every day.
He does not run every day.

Question Sentences
Do
Does

Who?
I/you/we/they
he/she/it

Form of verb
verb

Examples
Do I run every day?
Does he run every day?

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6 | English Grammar Stories and Exercises, Simple Tenses Mixed

Special Verbs
The Verb “Be”
Who?

Form of verb

I

am

He/She/It

is

You/We/They

are

Examples
Positive: I am tall.
Negative: I am not tall.
Question: Am I tall?
Positive: He is tall.
Negative: He is not tall.
Question: Is he tall?
Positive: You are tall.
Negative: You are not tall.
Question: Are you tall?

The Verb “Have”
Who?

Form of verb

I/You/We/They

have

He/She/It

has

Examples
Positive: You have a car.
Negative: You do not have a car.
Question: Do you have a car?
Positive: He has a car.
Negative: He does not have a car.
Question: Does he have a car?

The Verb “Can”
Who?

Form of verb

I/He/She/It
You/We/They

can

Examples
Positive: I can sing.
Negative: I cannot sing.
Question: Can I sing?

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English Grammar Stories and Exercises, Simple Tenses Mixed | 7

Simple Past Rules
Regular Verbs
Positive Sentences
Who?

Form of verb

Examples

I/He/She/It
You/We/They

verb + ed

I helped Bob yesterday.
You worked here last year.

Negative Sentences
Who?
I/He/She/It
You/We/They

Form of verb
did not

verb

Examples
I did not help Bob yesterday.

You did not work here last year.

Question Sentences
Did

Who?
I/he/she/it
you/we/they

Form of verb
verb

Examples
Did I help Bob yesterday?
Did you work here last year?

www-really-learn-english.com | Copyright © 2012 Ola Zur


8 | English Grammar Stories and Exercises, Simple Tenses Mixed

Irregular Verbs
Positive Sentences
Who?

Form of verb

Examples

I/He/She/It

You/We/They

past form of
the verb

I went home yesterday.
You made a cake.

Negative Sentences
Who?
I/He/She/It
You/We/They

Form of verb
did not

verb

Examples
I did not go home yesterday.
You did not make a cake.

Question Sentences
Did

Who?
I/he/she/it
you/we/they

Form of verb

verb

Examples
Did I go home yesterday?
Did you make a cake?

www-really-learn-english.com | Copyright © 2012 Ola Zur


English Grammar Stories and Exercises, Simple Tenses Mixed | 9

Special Verbs
The Verb “Be”
Who?

Form of verb

I/He/She/It

was

You/We/They

were

Examples
Positive: I was tall.
Negative: I was not tall.
Question: Was I tall?
Positive: You were tall.

Negative: You were not tall.
Question: Were you tall?

The Verb “Can”
Who?

Form of verb

I/He/She/It
You/We/They

could

Examples
Positive: I could sing.
Negative: I could not sing.
Question: Could I sing?

www-really-learn-english.com | Copyright © 2012 Ola Zur


10 | English Grammar Stories and Exercises, Simple Tenses Mixed

Simple Future Rules
Will
Positive Sentences
Who?

Form of verb

Examples

I/He/She/It
You/We/They

will + verb

You will help them.
He will eat lunch.

Negative Sentences
Who?
I/You/We/They
He/She/It

Form of verb
will not

verb

Examples
You will not help them.
He will not eat lunch.

Question Sentences
Will
Will

Who?
I/he/she/it

you/we/they

Form of verb
verb

Examples
Will you help them?
Will he eat lunch?

www-really-learn-english.com | Copyright © 2012 Ola Zur


English Grammar Stories and Exercises, Simple Tenses Mixed | 11

Be Going To
Positive Sentences
Who?

Be

I

am

He/She/It

is

You/We/They

are

Form of verb

Examples
I am going to help them.

going to + verb

He is going to help them.
You are going to help them.

Negative Sentences
Who?

Be

I

am

He/She/It

is

Form of verb

Examples
I am not going to help them.

not + going to + verb

You/We/They are

He is not going to help them.
You are not going to help them.

Question Sentences
Be

Who?

Am

I

Is

he/she/it

Are

you/we/they

Form of verb

Examples
Am I going to help them?

going to + verb

Is he going to help them?
Are you going to help them?

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12 | English Grammar Stories and Exercises, Simple Tenses Mixed

Simple Tenses Mixed, Story 1

Before Reading
A) Look at the title of the story and the picture. What do you think this story
is about?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

B) Match the words in column A to the words in column B. (There can be
more than one correct answer.)
Column A

Column B

told

it

wanted

presents

asked

for hours

save

old toys

sold

happy

buy

his mother

make

confused

feel

the students

ride it

an idea

has

his own money

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English Grammar Stories and Exercises, Simple Tenses Mixed | 13

Column A

Column B

saw

every penny

very

it up

saved

his mother

did

a bike

pay for

happy

wrap

chores

Mother’s

her eyes

so

beautiful

not believe

Day

what about

the present

Column A

Column B

seven

bike

red

kids

his

money

neighbor’s

his money

one

years old

new

day

enough

idea

all of

allowance

perfect

excited

be

bike

C) After these exercises, what do you think this story is about?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
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14 | English Grammar Stories and Exercises, Simple Tenses Mixed

Simple Tenses Mixed, Story 1

Happy Mother’s Day
Timmy was seven years old. He saw a big,
red, new bike in the store and he wanted
it! It looked so beautiful. He wanted to
take that bike home and ride it for hours!
Timmy really wanted that bike. He asked
his mother, but she told him to save his
own money to buy it.
Timmy saved every penny. He saved for weeks. He did chores in the house and
saved his allowance. He asked his grandmother for money. He even sold his old
toys to the neighbor’s kids.

One day, Timmy was in school. It was the Friday before Mother’s Day. The
teacher told the students to buy presents for their mothers. Timmy really
wanted to make his mother happy, but he did not have enough money. He
needed all his money for his big, red, new bike!
Now Timmy is at home. He feels confused and he does not know what to do.
He wants that bike, but what about his mother? He wants to make her happy
too. Then suddenly, he has an idea!
The idea is perfect! He will go to the store with all his money (he thinks he will
have enough). He will pay for his mother’s present and wrap it up. Then he will
take it home to her. She will be so happy. She will be so excited. She is not
going to believe her eyes when she sees her present—a big, red, new bike!

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English Grammar Stories and Exercises, Simple Tenses Mixed | 15

Simple Tenses Mixed, Story 1

After Reading
Grammar—Correct Form of the Verb
A) This is a copy of the original story. Go over it and fill in the blanks with the
right form of every verb.
Timmy ______________ (be) seven years old. He ______________ (see) a big,
red, new bike in the store and he ______________ (want) it! It
______________ (look) so beautiful. He ______________ (want) to take that
bike home and ride it for hours!
Timmy really ______________ (want) that bike. He ______________ (ask) his
mother, but she ______________ (tell) him to save his own money to buy it.
Timmy ______________ (save) every penny. He ______________ (save) for

weeks. He ______________ (do) chores in the house and ______________
(save) his allowance. He ______________ (ask) his grandmother for money. He
even ______________ (sell) his old toys to the neighbor’s kids.
One day, Timmy ______________ (be) in school. It ______________ (be) the
Friday before Mother’s Day. The teacher ______________ (tell) the students to
buy presents for their mothers. Timmy really ______________ (want) to make
his mother happy, but he _________________ (not have) enough money. He
______________ (need) all his money for his big, red, new bike!
Now Timmy ___________ (be) at home. He ___________ (feel) confused and
he _________________ (not know) what to do. He ___________ (want) that

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16 | English Grammar Stories and Exercises, Simple Tenses Mixed

bike, but what about his mother? He ___________ (want) to make her happy
too. Then suddenly, he ___________ (have) an idea!
The idea ___________ (be) perfect! He _________________ (go) to the store
with all his money (he ___________ (think) he _________________ (have)
enough). He _________________ (pay) for his mother’s present and wrap it
up. Then he _________________ (take) it home to her. She
_________________ (be) so happy. She _________________ (be) so excited.
She ___________________________ (not believe) her eyes when she sees her
present—a big, red, new bike!

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English Grammar Stories and Exercises, Simple Tenses Mixed | 17

Vocabulary—Find the Right Word
B) Read the description and write down what it is. Use the box below for
help.
bike
store

penny
chores

allowance
grandmother

toys
school

idea
eyes

1. It is very little money. What is it? ____________
2. You can buy things in there. What is it? ____________
3. Kids play with them. What are they? ____________
4. You can ride it. What is it? ____________
5. It shows you what to do. What is it? ____________
6. These are things you need to do. What are they? ____________
7. They let you see things. What are they? ____________
8. It has students and teachers. What is it? ____________
9. It is money parents give their children. What is it? ____________
10. She is the mother of your father or mother. What is she? ____________

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18 | English Grammar Stories and Exercises, Simple Tenses Mixed

Grammar—Sentence Structure
C( The following sentences are all mixed up. Put the words on each line in the
correct order to make a logical sentence.
1. old Timmy seven years was.
________________________________________________________________
2. feels He and confused does he know not to what do.
________________________________________________________________
3. money He go all to store the with his will.
________________________________________________________________

Grammar—Questions, Negative Sentences,
and Positive Sentences
D) Turn the following sentences into questions.
1. It looked beautiful.
________________________________________________________________
2. Now Timmy is at home.
________________________________________________________________
3. He will take it home to her.
________________________________________________________________

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English Grammar Stories and Exercises, Simple Tenses Mixed | 19

E) Turn the following sentences into negative sentences.
1. Timmy wanted that bike.
________________________________________________________________
2. He wants to make her happy.
________________________________________________________________
3. She will be excited.
________________________________________________________________
F) Turn the following sentences into positive sentences.
1. Did Timmy have a bike?
________________________________________________________________
2. Timmy’s mother does not buy the bike.
________________________________________________________________
3. Timmy will not be excited.
________________________________________________________________

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20 | English Grammar Stories and Exercises, Simple Tenses Mixed

Comprehension
G) Answer the following questions.
1. What did Timmy want?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

2. Did he have a lot of money?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

3. What problem does he have before Mother’s Day?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

4. How will he solve it?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

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English Grammar Stories and Exercises, Simple Tenses Mixed | 21

Essay Writing
H) Answer the following questions. Write a short essay for each.
1. Timmy had something that he really wanted to buy. He did not have
enough money to buy it. Tell about a time when you really wanted
something but could not buy it. What did you do?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

2. Let’s say you are in Timmy’s place. You want to buy your mother a present,
but you also want the bike. What will you do?

________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

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22 | English Grammar Stories and Exercises, Simple Tenses Mixed

Simple Tenses Mixed, Story 2

Before Reading
A) Look at the title of the story and the picture. What do you think this story
is about?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

B) Match the words in column A to the words in column B. (There can be
more than one correct answer.)
Column A

Column B

live

a bus driver

work as

around

like

healthy

drive

in Florida

talk

sick

get

up

stay

to drive

got

the pay

need

of his body

take care

with people

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English Grammar Stories and Exercises, Simple Tenses Mixed | 23

Column A

Column B

was

know

called

his doctor

like

some medicine

got

different

let him

his work

went to see

back

feel

sick

go

sadly

nodded

his manager

give

better

Column A

Column B

bus

man

healthy

passengers

almost never

throat

his

doctor

strong and

medicine

sore

driver

young

day

some

a day

every

sick

three times

healthy

C) After these exercises, what do you think this story is about?
________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________
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24 | English Grammar Stories and Exercises, Simple Tenses Mixed

Simple Tenses Mixed, Story 2

Help from the Doctor
Roger is 41 years old. He lives in Florida and he works
as a bus driver. He likes to drive around and he likes
to talk with people.
Roger is usually a very healthy man. He almost never
gets sick. Even when his passengers are sick, he stays
strong and healthy. He likes his work, and he needs
the pay, so he takes good care of his body.
But yesterday was different. He got up with a very

sore throat. It seemed that he got sick.
He called his manager to let him know he was sick
and then went to see his doctor.
His doctor was a young, nice man. He smiled at Roger and asked him what
happened.
“I got sick.” Roger said, “I am not going to work like that. I will need to feel
better first.”
“Yes,” the doctor said. “You will need to feel better before you go back to
work. If not, you are going to make the passengers sick too.”
Roger nodded sadly. “Doctor, please tell me what to do. Can you give me some
medicine?”
“Yes, Roger,” the doctor nodded, “I can give you some medicine. You will buy
it, and take it every day, three times a day. Then you will be healthy in one
week.”
“Okay,” Roger said, “and what if I do not take the medicine?”
“In that case,” the doctor said, “you will be healthy in seven days.”

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English Grammar Stories and Exercises, Simple Tenses Mixed | 25

Simple Tenses Mixed, Story 2

After Reading
Grammar—Correct Form of the Verb
A) This is a copy of the original story. Go over it and fill in the blanks with the
right form of every verb.
Roger ___________ (be) 41 years old. He ___________ (live) in Florida and he
___________ (work) as a bus driver. He ___________ (like) to drive around

and he ___________ (like) to talk with people.
Roger ___________ (be) usually a very healthy man. He almost never
___________ (get) sick. Even when his passengers ___________ (be) sick, he
___________ (stay) strong and healthy. He ___________ (like) his work, and
he ___________ (need) the pay, so he ___________ (take) good care of his
body.
But yesterday ______________ (be) different. He ______________ (get) up
with a very sore throat. It ______________ (seem) that he got sick.
He ______________ (call) his manager to let him know he ______________
(be) sick and then ______________ (go) to see his doctor.
His doctor ______________ (be) a young, nice man. He ______________
(smile) at Roger and ______________ (ask) him what happened.
“I ______________ (get) sick.” Roger ______________ (say), “I
___________________________ (not work) like that. I _________________
(need) to feel better first.”
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