Mastering English Tenses and Modal Verbs: A Comprehensive Practice

Mastering English Tenses and Modal Verbs

Past Simple and Present Perfect

• Roland didn’t set his alarm…
• We decided to take… because Sue hadn’t seen…
• Jane has lost her key…
• Louisa hasn’t swum in the…
• The match didn’t last…
• My father has had six…
• When did they buy…?
• Jenny was… she had forgotten…
• How long have you known…?
• I had made…

Past Simple and Past Perfect

• Last summer, I met…
• Fiona… she had missed…
• Dan had been painting…
• Sally hasn’t written…
• How many times have you broken…?
• Andy has been staying…
• Rebecca has lost…
• I didn’t know…

Present Perfect Simple and Continuous

• Susie has been staying in the…
• Joana hasn’t bought that…
• They haven’t been playing…
• Matt has just gone…
• We haven’t known…

Modal Verbs

• You shouldn’t put so much sugar…
• …It can’t be Dave…
• …so she has to wear a uniform…
• Rebecca doesn’t have to go to ballet…
• Tim might win if he…
• Tony needn’t call Rosie…
• We have to put the ice…

Complete the Text with Modal Verbs

1. has to compete
2. should do/come
3. can’t lose
4. could break
5. needn’t compete

Modal Verbs in Sentences

1. It isn’t necessary for them to get up very early.
   They don’t have to get up very early.
2. It’s likely that Paul has gone to bed by now.
   Paul must have gone to bed by now.
3. Stuart is obliged to work on Sunday mornings.
   Stuart has to work on Sunday mornings.
4. It’s unlikely that Karen is at work; she’s at home.
   Karen can’t be at work; she’s at home.
5. We aren’t allowed to use a dictionary in the exam.
   We can’t use a dictionary in the exam.
6. It’s possible that the weather will be better tomorrow.
   The weather might be better tomorrow.
7. I advise Penny to save more of her pocket money.
   Penny should save more of her pocket money.
8. We mustn’t run in the corridors.
   We mustn’t run in the corridors.
9. It’s a good idea to wear a scarf on a chilly day.
   You should wear a scarf on a chilly day.
10. There’s no obligation for Peter to get a part-time job.
    Peter doesn’t have to get a part-time job.

Past Modal Verbs

1. Gary shouldn’t have stayed…
2. Sarah must have left…
3. Ruth can’t have seen…
4. Harry ought not to have spoken…
5. Sue needn’t have taken…

Vocabulary Matching

1. transition - c
2. news flash - e
3. cold-hearted - b
4. court - a
5. verdict - d

Verbs: To + Infinitive or -ing

• Did you remember to buy…?
• I forgot to send…
• She stopped eating…
• I remember meeting…
• We didn’t stop to say…

The Clumsiest Burglar in Britain

Answers: 1-a, 2-c, 3-c

Vocabulary

1. somebody people find funny because they are silly or not to be taken seriously - laughing stock
2. a house that is part of a row of houses that are joined together - terrace
3. arrived - turned up
4. seen or noticed - spotted
5. unusual and difficult or dangerous situation - predicament

True or False

1. (F) Joe got his shoe stuck when he caught the shoelaces of one of his trainers in the top of the window frame.
2. (F) People walking past the house called the police after realizing that Joe had been attempting to break out of the house with stolen goods.
3. (F) Joe did his best to get the owner to release him, claiming that he had spotted someone else trying to burgle the house.
4. (T) At first, the owner had thought that her neighbors were having home repairs carried out.

Mixed Tenses

• Sally has just got home…
• How long have you been waiting…?
• James has not seen any…
• Gareth has just broken…
• Sue had been crying for 20 minutes…

Modal Verbs in Sentences

• The bag must belong…
• Sandra shouldn’t walk home…
• Jerry can’t be hungry…
• Pam has to pay…
• You needn’t take…

Conditional Sentences

• I would have bought something if I had had any money…
• We will go for a picnic if it doesn’t rain.
• If Robert hadn’t fallen, he would have enjoyed the trip.
• I think Sandy will fail if she doesn’t study.
• If Peter hadn’t done his homework, he wouldn’t be so tired.

Shopping Vocabulary

• The film star always tries to avoid reporters when she goes shopping, so she tends to give them the slip by leaving through a back entrance.
• Amanda felt dizzy and had to sit down.
• They called the doctor because Jill had a fever.
• Some shopkeepers rip customers off by charging them too much.
• Sue likes haggling with the market traders to get a good price.

Phrasal Verbs and Expressions

1. I’m jealous of…
2. These days, prices seem to be going down…
3. I’m excited about…
4. It takes a while to get over…
5. There’s a sale on; everything’s going for a song. I’m going to snap some bargains up…
6. Amy passed out…
7. I seem to have picked up…
8. My immune system is good at fighting off…
9. After the accident, it took the driver a few minutes to come round…
10. I hope you get back…

General Vocabulary

• A person who is a member of a jury: juror
• To take something from someone for a short time, intending to return it: borrow
• If you bang your head, you might feel: dizzy
• Not hurting you or costing you any money: pointless
• Already used things: second-hand