DREAMING THE GRAMMAR-DREAMS

Do you dream? Let me tell you about a dream I had two nights ago. I hadn't been dreaming for a long long time, in fact since last Christmas. Have you noticed my use of ago, for and since? Send me a message for help if you don't understand the use of the Past Perfect Continuous tense in the third sentence.

Anyway, it was a terrible nightmare. Terrible things were done to me: I was robbed, then I was beaten, and finally I was killed. But then the nightmare changed into a beautiful dream: I seemed to be in some sort of paradise, where all the people were very beautiful and nice, and I was constantly being hugged and kissed. Have you spotted all the verbs in the passive voice?

I was taken to their leader, who looked a bit like Elizabeth Shue (have you seen Leaving Las Vegas?) and asked me about a million questions: who I was, where I came from, etc.; and after I had told her what had happened to me, she asked me whether my attackers had stolen anything from me, what they looked like and how I had been killed. Check the use of tenses in these indirect questions!

Then only I noticed that this was a community of women and that I was the only man there. Their leader told me that if I had been a woman I could have stayed with them and become a member of their community. But since I was a man, I had to go back to my own country. And I remember waking up with these thoughts on my mind: What would it be like if I were a woman? Would I have completely different thoughts and feelings? Note the use of tenses in the if-sentences.

And now it's your turn. Please tell us about a dream of yours, but make sure your account includes examples of at least 4 grammatical structures that we have practised in this course (just as my little essay contains examples of sentences with ago, for and since, passive constructions, indirect questions and if-sentences).

Exercise 1: Answer the questions in complete sentences:

 

1. What places have you visited since you came to Feldkirch? When?

2. What countries have you been to? When?

3. What programmess have you seen on television? What did you watch last night?

4. What are you doing right now? What is (. …………...) doing? What am I doing?

5. What kind of shoes is (. …………...) wearing?

6. What are you wearing today?

7. What will you be doing tonight at midnight? What were you doing last night at midnight?

8. What are you going to be doing at this time tomorrow?

9. What time are you coming to class tomorrow?

10. Where will you be living three years from now?

11. How long have you been going to school?

12. What have we been doing for the last five minutes?

13. How long have you been sitting in that chair?

14. How long will you have been sitting in that chair by the time class is over?

15. Where are you living? Where were you living five years ago?

16. How long are you going to be living in Vorarlberg? How long will you have been living here by the time you leave?

17. What have I been doing?

18. What have we been studying in class?

EXERCISE 2 Use any appropriate tense for the verbs in parentheses.

1) John is in my English class. He (study) _________________ English this semester. He (take, also) _________________ a couple of other classes. His classes (begin) _________________ at 9:00 every day.

2) Yesterday John ate breakfast at 8:00. He (eat, already) ________________________ breakfast when he (leave) ______________________ for class at 8:45. He (eat, always) ____________________breakfast before he (go) __________ to class. I (eat, not, usually) ____________________breakfast before I(go) ________________________________ to class. But I (get, usually) _________________ hungry about midmorning. Tomorrow before I (go) _____________________________ to class, I (eat) ____________________ breakfast.

3) John is in class every morning from 9:00 to 12:00. Two days ago, I (call) ____________ him at 11:30, but I could not reach him because he (attend) _______________________ class at that time.

4) Don't try to call John at 11:30 tomorrow morning because he (attend) _______________at that time.

5) Yesterday John took a nap from 1:00 to 2:00. I came at 1:45. When I (get) ____________ there, John (sleep) _________________. -He (sleep) ________________{______}____ for 45 minutes by the time I came.

6) Right now John (take) ____________________ a nap. He (fall) _____________________ asleep an hour ago. He (sleep) _______________________________ for an hour.

7) Three days ago, John (start) _________________ to read Farewell to Arms, a novel by Ernest Hemingway. It is a long novel. He (finish, not) _______________________ reading it yet. He (read) ___________________________ it because his English teacher assigned it.

8) Since the beginning of the semester, John (read) ______________________________ three novels. Right now he (read) ________________________________ A Farewell to Arms. He (read) ___________________________that novel for  the past three days. He (intend)  _________________________________ to finish it next week. In his lifetime, he (read) ____________________________________ many novels, but this is the first Hemingway novel he (read, ever) ____________________________________.

9) Tomorrow, after he (eat) ____________________________ dinner, John (go) _________________________to a movie. In other words, he (eat) _________________ dinner by the time he (go) ______________________________________ to the movie.

 

EXERCISE 3: Use any appropriate tense for the verbs in parentheses.

1.    A: There is something I have to tell you.

B: Go ahead. I (listen) —————————————————.

2.    A: Hi, Ann. (Meet, you) ________________________ my friend, George Smith?

B: No, I (have, never) _____________________________ . the pleasure.

A: Then let me introduce you.

3.    A: Stop! What (you, do) __________________________________________?

       B: I (try) _____________________________ to get this piece of toast out of the

toaster. It's stuck.

A: Well, don't use a knife. You (electrocute)__________________________ yourself!

B: What do you suggest I do?

A: Unplug it first.

4 A: There's Jack.

B: Where?

A: He (lie) ____________________________ on the grass under that tree over  there. B: Oh yes. I (see) _________________________ him. He (Iook, certainly) ________

___________________________________ comfortable. Let's go talk to him.

5.   A: (Take, you) ___________________________ Econ 120 this semester?

       B: No, I _______________________________________.

       A: (Take, you, ever) _____________________________________ it?

       B: Yes, I _______________________________________.

A: When (take) ___________________you _______________________it?

B: Last semester.

A: Who (be) ________________ your professor?

B: Dr. Lee.

A: Oh, I have the same professor. What (be, he) _____________________ like?

B: He (be) ____________________ very good.

6.    A: What's wrong with Chris?

B: While he (yawn)————————————————, a fly (fly) ____________ into his mouth.

A: I (believe, not) _______________________________ that! You (kid) ___________

7 A: I (go) _________________________ to a play last night.

B: (Be, it) ___________________ any good?

A: I thought so. I (enjoy) ___________________________ it a lot.  

B: What (be, it) ______________________________?

A: Arsenic and Old Lace. I (see, never) _________________ it before.

B: Oh, I (see) _______________________________ that play too. I (see) ______

__________________ it a couple of years ago. It (be) ________________________ good, (be, not) _____________________ it?

8.    A: I was in your hometown last month. It looked like a nice town. I (be, never)

__________________ there before.

B: What (do, you) _____________________ in that part of the country?

A: My wife and I (drive) ________________________ to Washington to visit her folks.

9 A: May I borrow some money? My check (be) _________________supposed to arrive yesterday, but I still (receive, not) ___________________ it. I (need) _____________ to buy a book for one of my classes, but I (have, not) ________________ any money.

B: Sure. I'd be happy to lend you some. How much (need, you)____________________?

A: Five bucks {be} ________________________ enough. Thanks. I (pay)____________

________________ you back as soon as I (get) ______________________  my check.

10. A: Hello?

B: Hello. May I speak to Sue?

A: She (be, not) _______________________________ in right now. May I take a

message?

B: Yes. This is Art O'Brien. Would you please ask her to meet me at the library

this afternoon? I (sit) ________________________ at one of the study booths on the second floor.

EXERCISE 4: Use any appropriate tense for the verbs in parentheses.

1 My grandfather (fly, never) ______________________ in an airplane, and he has no intention of ever doing so.

2 Jane isn't here yet. I (wait) _______________________ for her since noon, but she still (arrive, not) _________________.

3 In all the world, there (be) _____________________________ only 14 mountains that (reach) _________________ above 8,000 meters (26,247 feet).

4 I have a long trip ahead of me tomorrow, so I think I'd better go to bed. But let me say good-bye now because I won't see you in the morning. I (leave, already) _____________ by the time you (get) ___________________________________up.

5 Right now we (have) ______________________________ a heat wave. The tempera­ture (be) _________________ in the upper 90's for the last six days.

6 Last night I (go) _______________________________ to a party. When I (get) __ _________________ there, the room was full of people. Some of them (dance) _________________ and others (talk) _________________. One young woman (stand) _____________________  by herself. I (meet, never)___________________ her, so I _______________________________ (introduce) myself to her.

7 About three yesterday afternoon, Jessica (lie)_________________ in bed reading a book. Suddenly she (hear) ______________________ loud noise and (get) ___________ up to see what it was.  She (look) _____________________ out the window. A truck (back, just) __________________________ into her new car!

8 Next month I have a week's vacation. I (plan) _________________ to take a trip. First, I  (go) _________________ to Madison, Wisconsin, to visit my brother. After I (leave) ________________  Madison, I (go) ________________ to Chicago to see a friend who (study) _________________ at a university there. She (live) ______________________  in Chicago for three years, so she (know) ___________________ her way around the city. She (promise) _____________________ to take me to many interesting places. I (be, never) ________________ in Chicago, so I (look) ________________________ forward to going there.

9 Yesterday while I (sit) ______________________ in class, I (get) __________________ the hiccups. The person who (sit)__________________________ next to me told me to hold my breath. I (try)___________________________  that, but it didn't work. The instructor (lecture)__________________________ and I didn't want to interrupt him, so I just sat there trying to hiccup quietly. Finally, after I (hiccup)__________________ for almost five minutes, I (raise) _________________________ my hand and (excuse) ______________________ myself from the class to go get a drink of water.

10 The weather has been terrible lately. It (rain)________________________ off and on for two days, and the temperature (drop)___________________ at least twenty degrees. It (be)___________________________ in the low 40's right now. Just three days ago, the sun (shine) ___________________________ and the weather was pleasant. The weather certainly (change) ___________________________ quickly here. I never know what to expect. Who knows? When I (wake) _____________________________ up tomorrow morning, maybe it (snow) ____________________________.

EXERCISE 5   Use any appropriate tense.

1) On June 20th, I returned home. I (be) ____________________________________

2) away from home for two years. My family (meet) ___________________________

3) me at the airport with kisses and tears. They (miss)_____________________________

4) me as much as I had missed them. I (be) ___________________________ very

5) happy to see them again. When I (get) ______________________________ the

6) chance, I (take) ___________________________ a long look at them. My little

7) brother (be) ______________________________ no longer so little. He (grow)

8) _________________ at least a foot. He (be) ___________________________

9) almost as tall as my father. My little sister (wear) ________________

10) a green dress. She (change) _________________ quite a bit, too, but

11) she (be, still) ________________ mischievous and inquisitive. She

12) (ask) ________________ me a thousand questions a minute, or so

13) it seemed. My father (gain) _________,________ some weight, and

14)  his hair (turn) ________________ a little bit grayer, but otherwise

15) he was just as I had remembered him. My mother (look) ____________

16) a little older, but not much. The wrinkles on her face (be) ___________

17) smile wrinkles.

EXERCISE 6: Use any appropriate tenses.

1) On June 20th, I will return home. I (be) ____________________

2) away from home for two years by that time. My family (meet)

3) _______________ me at the airport with kisses and tears. They

4) (miss) ________________ me as much as I have missed them. I

5) (be) ————————————————— very happy to see them again. When

6) I (get) __________________ a chance, I (take) __________

7) a long look at them. My little brother (be, no longer) ___________

8) so little. He (grow) _________________ at least a foot. He (be)

9) _________________ almost as tall as my father. My little sister

10) (wear, probably) ____________________________ a green dress.

11) She (change)________________ quite a bit, too, but she (be, still)

12) ____________________ mischievous and inquisitive. She (ask, probably)

13) ______________________ me a thousand questions a minute, or so

14) it will seem. My father (gain, probably) _____________________________ some

15) weight, and his hair (turn) _________________ a little grayer, but

16) otherwise he will be just as I remember him. My mother (look)

17) _________________ just the same. Perhaps she (look)

18) __________________________ a little older, but not much. The wrinkles on

19) her face (be)  ________________________ smile wrinkles.

 

EXERCISE 7 Use any appropriate tenses.

1) Dear Ann,

2) I (receive) _________________ your letter about two weeks

3) ago and (try) ________________ to find time to write you back

4) ever since. I (be) _________________ very busy lately. In the past

5)  two weeks, I (have) _________________ four tests, and I have

6) another test next week. In addition, a friend (stay) ______________

7) with me since last Thursday. She wanted to see the city, so we (spend)

8)  _________________ a lot of time visiting some of the interesting

9) places here. We (be) _________________ to the zoo, the art

10)  museum, and the botanical gardens. Yesterday we (go) ____________

11) to the park and (watch) _____________________ a balloon race.

12) Between showing her the city and studying for my exams, I (have, barely)

13) —————————————————enough time to breathe.

14) Right now it (be) _________________ 3 A.M. and I (sit)

15) ________________ at my desk. I (sit) ____________

16) here five hours doing my studying. My friend's plane (leave)

17) ________________ at 6:05, so I (decide) ______________________

18) not to go to bed. That's why I (write) ________________ you at

19) such an early hour in the day. I (get) ________________ a little

20)  sleepy, but I would rather stay up. I (take) ______________ a

21) nap after I (get) _________________ back from taking her to the

22) airport.

23) How (get, you) ____________________ along? How (go, your

24)  classes) _________________? Please write soon.

Yours truly,

EXERCISE 8 Use any appropriate tense.

A: Hi, my name is Jose.                                                                   

B: Hi, my name is Ali.

1) Jose: (You, study) _________________________________ at this university?

2) Ali: Yes, I _____________________. _______________ you?

3) Jose: Yes, I (be) _________________________ here since last September.

Before that I (study) ______________ English at another school.

4) Ali: What (you, take) _________________________?

5) Jose: I (take) _______________________________ chemistry, math, psychology, and American history. What (take, you) ________________________________?

6) Ali: I (study) _________________________ English. I (need) _____________________ to improve my English before I (take) ________________ regular academic courses next semester.

7) Jose: How long (you, be) _____________________________here?

8) Ali: I (be) _________________________ here since the beginning of this semester. Actually. I (arrive) __________________________in the United States six months ago, but I (study) _____________________________ English at this university only since January. Before that I (live) ________________ with my brother in Washington, D.C.

9)  Jose: You (speak) ———————————————— English very well. (You, study) ________________ a lot of English before you (come) _____________ __ to the United States?

10) Ali: Yes. I (study) ———————————————— English for ten years in my own country. And also, I (spend) ________________  some time in Canada a couple of years ago. I (pick) ________________________ up a lot of English while I (live) ________________ there.

11)  Jose: You (be) _______________________lucky. When I (come) ________________ to the United States, I (study, never) ________________ any English at all. So I had to spend a whole year studying nothing but English before I (start) ______ school.

12) Ali: How long (you, plan) ______________________________ to be in the U.S.?

13) Jose: I (be, not)_________________________________ sure. Probably by the time I (return) ________________ home, I (be) ___________ here for at least five years. How about you?

14) Ali: I (hope) ________________to be finished with all my work in two and a half years.

 

 

EXERCISE 9:

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