I. Sequence of tenses
A. Change the main verb in each sentence to the SIMPLE PAST and make all the necessary changes in the subordinate clause.
1. I think Albert needs your help.
2. Mr. Brad claims that he spoke to those people yesterday.
3. I suppose Michael will finish the work next week.
4. I know they are tired.
5. Edward thinks he won the first prize in the competition.
6. We assume the meeting will be over around six o’clock.
7. I remember that the wind blew very hard the week before last.
8. I hear that Professor Barton is writing another book.
9. I guess our friends haven’t heard the good news yet.
10. The message indicates Dr. Grant will be back from New York next week.
B. Put the verbs in brackets into the right tense.
1. Right now grandpa __________ (take) a nap.
He __________ (fall) asleep an hour ago.
He __________ (sleep) for an hour.
2. Yesterday grandpa __________ (take) a nap from 2.00 to 3.00.
I __________ (get) home at 2.30.
When I __________ (come in), grandpa __________ (sleep).
He __________ (sleep) for half an hour by the time I __________ (come).
3. Tom: I __________ (be) in your native town last month.
It __________ (look) like a nice town.
I __________ (never be) here before.
Ann: What __________ (you, do) in that part of the country?
Tom: My sister and I __________ (arrive) to London to see our grandparents.
4. Laura __________ (start) to read “Gone with the Wind”.
She __________ (not finish) reading it yet.
She __________ (read) it because her best friend __________ (say) she __________ (like) it very much.
5. The weather __________ (be) terrible lately.
It __________ (rain) for two days and the temperature __________ (drop) at least twenty degrees.
It __________ (be) in the low 40’s right now (Fahrenheit).
Just three days ago the sun __________ (shine) and the weather __________ (be) pleasant.
The weather certainly __________ (change) quickly here.
I never know what to expect. Who __________ (know) ?
When I __________ (wake up) tomorrow morning, maybe it __________ (snow).
6. Last night I __________ (go) to a party.
When I __________ (get) there, the room __________ (be) full of people.
Some of them __________ (dance) and others __________ (talk).
One young woman __________ (stand) by herself.
I __________ (never meet) her, so I __________ (introduce) myself to her.
IV. Conditionals
A. Choose the correct word or phrase in each pair.
1. If we’re/ we would be late for class, our teacher will be/ was angry.
2. If we lived/ would live on another planet, we’d see/ we will see the Earth in the sky.
3. If we take/ will take a taxi, we’ll arrive/ we arrive sooner.
4. If we don’t hurry/ won’t hurry, we’ll be/ we would be late.
5. If we were/ are birds, we would be able to/ are able to fly.
6. If you don’t wear/ wouldn’t wear your pullover, you’ll feel/ you felt cold.
7. If I studied/ will study harder, I would get/ get better marks.
8. If I had/ have a motorbike, I’d ride/ I rode it to school.
9. If you lend/ will lend me your bike, I’ll let/ I let you borrow my skateboard.
10. If I had/ would have lots of money, I’d give/ I gave some to all my friends.
B. Complete the sentence for each situation, using the verbs given.
1. If you ________(fall in) the swimming-pool, your clothes ________ (get) wet!
2. If today ________(be) a holiday, I ________ (go) to the beach.
3. If I ________ (know) the answer, I ________ (tell) you.
4. If we ________ (run), we ________ (catch) the bus.
5. If it ________ (rain), we ________ (go) to the cinema instead.
6. If I ________ (have) more free time, I ________ (join) the club.
7. If we ________ (live) near the sea, we ________ (swim) every day during the summer.
8. If you ________ (study) for one hour every day, you ________ (pass) the test.
C. Complete each sentence, using if, unless or would.
1. If you had asked me to help you, I ________.
2. We’ll have lunch outside in the garden, ________ it’s too cold.
3. John ________ win more races if the trained harder.
4. Come on! ________ we hurry, we’ll miss the plane!
5. ________ you like to see my stamp collection?
6. The manager won’t be long ________ you take a seat, please.
7. I’m sure that Carol ________ go to the cinema with you, if you asked her.
8. ________ you feel like a chat, phone me tonight.
9. What ________ you do if you saw a snake?
10. I don’t feel happy ________ I swim every day.
D. Fill in the blanks below with either "if" or "when." Although both forms are possible in many of the sentences, one form is usually more appropriate in the situation described.
1. __________ I am late to work, my boss gets very angry. That is why I am always on time.
2. __________ I leave work, I usually go to the fitness center to work out.
3. __________ he eats, he tries to choose healthy foods.
4. His car is very reliable, and he rarely has any trouble with it. But he has had a couple of difficulties in the past. __________ his car breaks down or he has any problems, he calls the auto club.
5. His car is terrible! It always breaks down. __________ his car breaks down or he has any problems, he calls the auto club.
6. Mary gets six weeks paid vacation a year. She loves to travel. __________ she goes on vacation, she always goes somewhere exotic.
7. Diane works harder than anyone I know. I don't think she has taken a day off in three years. But she does really love to travel. __________ she goes on vacation, she goes somewhere exotic.
8. He loves going to the movies. __________ he goes to the movies, he always gets a large popcorn with tons of butter.
9. She hates TV. She thinks television is a waste of time. __________ she watches any television at all, it is usually a documentary or a news program.
10. My friend always keeps in touch by mail. __________ I get a letter, I usually write back immediately.
Little Paycheck
I have to take my paycheck to the bank. It's too little to go by itself.
Counting on You
Smith goes to see his supervisor in the front office.
"Boss," he says, "we're doing some heavy house-cleaning at home tomorrow, and my wife needs me to help with the attic and the garage, moving and hauling stuff."
"We're short-handed, Smith" the boss replies. "I can't give you the day off."
"Thanks, boss," says Smith "I knew I could count on you!"
Engineers and Managers
A man flying in a hot air balloon realizes he is lost. He reduces his altitude and spots a man in a field down below. He lowers the balloon further and shouts, "Excuse me, can you tell me where I am?"
The man below says, "Yes, you're in a hot air balloon, about 30 feet above this field."
"You must be an engineer," says the balloonist.
"I am. How did you know?"
"Everything you told me is technically correct, but it's of no use to anyone."
The man below says, "You must be in management."
"I am. But how did you know?"
"You don't know where you are, or where you're going, but you expect me to be able to help. You're in the same position you were before we met, but now it's my fault."
How The Rich Get Richer
A businessman walked into a New York City bank and asked for the loan officer. He said he was going to Europe on business for two weeks and needed to borrow $5,000. The loan officer said the bank would need some security for such a loan. The business man then handed over the keys to a Rolls Royce that was parked on the street in front of the bank. Everything checked out and the loan officer accepted the car as collateral for the loan. An employee then drove the Rolls into the bank's underground garage and parked it there.Two weeks later the businessman returned, repaid the $5,000 and the interest which came to $15.41. The loan officer said, 'We do appreciate your business and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a bit puzzled. While you were away we checked and found that you are a multimillionaire.
What puzzles us is why you would bother to borrow $5,000?' The business man replied: 'Where else in New York City can I park my car for 2 weeks for 15 bucks?'