links to grammar worksheets

http://www.grammar.cl/Notes.htm

verbs - spelling rules

The spelling for the verb in the third person differs depending on the ending of that verb:

1. For verbs that end in -O, -CH, -SH, -SS, -X, or -Z we add -ES in the third person.

• go – goes
• catch – catches
• wash – washes
• kiss – kisses
• fix – fixes
• buzz – buzzes

2. For verbs that end in a consonant + Y, we remove the Y and add -IES.

• marry – marries
• study – studies
• carry – carries
• worry – worries

NOTE: For verbs that end in a vowel + Y, we just add -S.

• play – plays
• enjoy – enjoys
• say – says

simple present tense - grammar rules

The simple present tense in English is used to describe an action that is regular, true or normal.

We use the present tense:

1. For repeated or regular actions in the present time period.

• I take the train to the office.
• The train to Berlin leaves every hour.
• John sleeps eight hours every night during the week.

2. For facts.

• The President of The USA lives in The White House.
• A dog has four legs.
• We come from Switzerland.

3. For habits.

• I get up early every day.
• Carol brushes her teeth twice a day.
• They travel to their country house every weekend.

4. For things that are always / generally true.

• It rains a lot in winter.
• The Queen of England lives in Buckingham Palace.
• They speak English at work.

present progressive or continuous tense - grammar rules

We use the present progressive tense:

1. When somebody is doing something at this moment.

• Sarah is changing her clothes right now.
• Her boyfriend is waiting for her.
• We are learning the progressive tense in English.

2. When something is happening at this moment. When the action has started but hasn't finished.

• It is snowing at the moment.
• The economy is growing at an exponential rate.
• The children are sleeping, so please be quiet.

3. To talk about something that is happening around the time of speaking but not necessarily at that exact moment.

• Alfredo is studying a lot for his exam.
• I'm reading a great book. (not necessary right at this moment)
• We are planning a trip to Jamaica.

present vs present continuous worksheet

Complete the sentences with the correct forms of the verbs in the simple present or
present continuous tense. You can use some of the verbs from the box more than
once.  



buy stand              carry take                    cost travel                 do use
go visit                 like watch                      miss work                  play



1 My brother __________________________ this CD very much.
2 He __________________________ in China this summer.
3 We __________________________ to lunch now. Would you like to
join us?
4 We always __________________________ Grandma on Sundays.
5 In this photo, we __________________________ volleyball on the beach.
6 I __________________________ tennis every day.
7 My father can’t come to the phone now. He __________________________ a shower.
8 My father __________________________ as an accountant in a big company.
9 I think this pen __________________________ HK$8.
10 I can’t play online games now. My brother __________________________ the computer to do
his homework.
11 A: ______________ you ___________________ your homework now?
B: Yes, I __________________________.
12 This photo was taken when I was three. My father __________________________ me on his
shoulders.
13 People ______________ always ___________________ new mobile phones.
14 Can you see Anna? She __________________________ at the bus stop.
15 ______________ you still ___________________ TV?
16 A: ______________ they _________________ to Ocean Park on Sunday?
B: No, they __________________________.
17 She often __________________________ class because of illness.
18 A: ______________ you _________________ Kelly Chan’s songs?
B: Yes, I ______________, but my brother _________________.

present perfect - grammar rules

When do we use the Present Perfect Tense?

1. Unspecified point in the past

• I have been to Spain three times.
  (At some unspecified time in the past, I went to Spain).

Compare with the simple past:

• I went to Spain three times in 2005.
  (specified time in the past - the year 2005)

2. An action that occurred in the past, but has a result in the present (now)

• We can't find our luggage. Have you seen it?
  (The luggage was lost in the past, do you know where it is now?)

3. Talking about general experiences (ever, never)

It usually refers to an event happening at some moment in your life.

• Has she ever tried Chilean wine before? (in her life)
• I've never eaten monkey brains before. (in my life)

4. Events that recently occurred (just)

• Do you want to go to a restaurant with me?
  No, thanks. I've just eaten lunch. (I recently ate lunch.)

5. Events that have occurred up to now (yet)

• Are Carlos and Rodrigo here? No, they haven't arrived yet. (they're still not here now)

6. Events that occurred before you expected (already)

• I've already graduated from University. (I expected to graduate at a later date.)

7. Events that began in the past and haven't changed (for, since)

• Mike has worked at Woodward for 3 years.
  (Mike started working at Woodward 3 years ago and he still works there now.)
• Julie has worked at Woodward since September of last year.
  (Julie began working at Woodward in September of last year, and that hasn't changed - she still works here now.)

present perfect worksheets

Present Perfect Worksheet 1

Conjugate the verb in parentheses using the form indicated. In the case of questions, use the indicated subject as well.

1. How long ______ (he / live) in New Jersey?
2. Peter ______ (not play) baseball since 1987.
3. I ______ (speak) Russian for twenty years.
4. We _____ (not see) Tom since Christmas.
5. ________ (Alan / fly) in an airplane before?
6. Shannon _____ (not / go) to lunch yet.
7. Our class _____ (take) a field trip three times this year.
8. Where _____ (they / move) to?
9. Jennifer _____ (ask) that question four times today.
10. You _____ (not eat) lunch yet, have you?
11. Jason _____ (want) to move to New York since he was five years old.
12. How long _____ (they / know) Peter?
13. Alexandra _____ (work) for IBM since 2002.
14. Jeff _____ (buy) a few books this week.
15. Sally ______ (not read) that book yet.
16. _____ (they / leave) for work yet?
17. Bill _____ (not / drive) very far today.
18. We _____ (enjoy) eating seafood all of our lives.
19. _____ (he / watch) the documentary yet?
20. I _____ (not / finish) the job yet.

Present Perfect Worksheet 2

Choose the correct time expression used with the present perfect tense.

1. They have lived in that house (since / for) ten years.
2. She has (just / yet) gone to the bank.
3. Franklin hasn't arrived in Boston (yet / already)
4. We have worked at this company (since / for) 2008.
5. Jason hasn't telephoned me (since / for) two weeks.
6. How (long / much) have you known Susan?
7. They've (already / yet) studied the past simple tense.
8. Our mothers have (just / yet) left for the station.
9. The President has traveled to more than twenty countries (since / for) he was elected.
10. Thomas hasn't had time to read the book (just / yet).
11. Alice has told me she's (yet / already) been to that park.
12. My daughter's (just / since) finished her homework.
13. Have they (already / yet) spoken to Mr. Peters?
14. I've (just / for) interviewed the best candidate for the job.
15. Our coach hasn't chosen the starting team (already / yet).
16. Bob and Tim have (already / yet) decided where they are going on vacation.
17. Have you purchased the new computer (just / yet)?
18. Sam has wanted to go to Japan (for / since) he was a little child.
19. Jason hasn't worked here (since / for) very long.
20. Our boss has (just / yet) hired a new engineer.

PAST TENSES - Grammar rules

PAST TENSES

SIMPLE PAST TENSE

In Simple Past, the action is simply mentioned and understood to have taken place in the past.

I ate.
I slept. 
I played.

PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE

In Past Continuous, the action was ongoing till a certain time in the past.

I was eating.
I was sleeping. 
I was playing.

PAST PERFECT TENSE

Past Perfect is used to express something that happened before another action in the past.

I had eaten. 
I had slept. 
I had played.

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

Past Perfect Continuous is used to express something that started in the past and continued until another time in the past.

I had been eating. 
I had been sleeping. 
I had been playing.

Past tenses worksheet

Put the verbs into the simple past:

1. Last year I (go)  to England on holiday.
2. It (be)  fantastic.
3. I (visit)  lots of interesting places. I (be)  with two friends of mine .
4. In the mornings we (walk)  in the streets of London.
5. In the evenings we (go)  to pubs.
6. The weather (be)  strangely fine.
7. It (not / rain)  a lot.
8. But we (see)  some beautiful rainbows.
9. Where (spend / you)  your last holiday?

 Put the verbs into the Past Continuous Tense

The past continuous tense is used to talk about actions or events that were in progress around a particular past time. Test your knowledge of past continuous tense with this grammar exercise.

Fill in the blanks with appropriate past continuous form of the verb given in the brackets.

1. I ……………………………….. TV at eight o’clock yesterday evening.

a) was watching b) watched c) am watching

2. I ……………………………… all day yesterday.

a) painted b) was painting c) had painted

3. They …………………………………… the whole time they were together.

a) quarreled b) were quarreling c) are quarreling

4. As I ……………………………….. down the road, I saw Philip.

a) were walking b) was walking c) walked

5. The phone rang while I ……………………………………. dinner.

a) was having b) had c) am having

6. It happened while I ………………………………….. in Southampton last year.

a) lived b) was living c) had been living

7. When I entered her room, she …………………………………. the piano.

a) was playing b) played c) were playing

8. When I got up this morning, the sun …………………………………….

a) shone b) was shining c) were shining

9. At the time when it happened, I ………………………………… to the opera a lot.

a) was going b) went c) am going