TENSE FORMS (8) FCE USE OF ENGLISH

FCE USE OF ENGLISH

TENSE FORMS (8)

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Put the verbs in brackets into the appropriate past forms. 1 Alexander the Great ____was born___ (be born) in 356 BC in Macedonia. He __________ (become) King when he was 20 and __________ (continue) the work that his father __________ (begin). in 334 BC he __________ (invade) Persia and by his thirtieth birthday he __________ (conquer) most of south-west Asia. However, while he __________ (plan) the invasion of Arabia he __________ (catch) a fever and __________ (die), 2 Last month Albert and I __________ (go) on a skiing trip to Scotland. We __________ (save up) for months and so we __________ (be) very excited when the time __________ (come) to leave. We __________ (pack) our bags, __________ (get) in the car and __________ (set off). We __________ (drive) for six hours when Albert suddenly __________ (remember) something – we __________ (forget) to pack the skis! 3 George Grimes __________ (wake up) feeling very odd. All through the night he __________ (dream) about strange creatures which __________ (try) to break in through his window. They __________ (have) horns and big green eyes and they __________ (seem) to be threatening him. “Oh, well,” he __________ (think). “at least they aren’t real.” Just at that moment, however a big scally hand __________ (come) crashing through the window! 4 When Bob __________ (invite) me to go fishing with him I __________ (be) excited because I __________ (never/go) fishing before. But as we __________ (drive) to the river we __________ (see) the first black clouds and ten minutes later it __________ (rain) heavily. Three hours later, soaking wet, we __________ (still/look for) somewhere to get warm and dry. 5 “__________ (you/enjoy) your holiday?” “No, it __________ (be) a disaster! As I __________ (get on) the plane. I found I __________ (leave) my holiday money at home! I __________ (save) for months to get that money. My father __________ (send) me a cheque, but it __________ (take) five days to reach me.” 6 Alan __________ (work) in the same office for ten years before he __________ (apply) for another post with “Mask Ltd.”. he __________ (wait) for an answer for weeks when he __________ (be/asked) to attend an interview with the Personnel Manager. He __________ (go) there dressed in an expensive suit which he __________ (buy) the day before, only to find that they __________ (want) someone to work as a cleaner.

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Identify the tense, then match them with the correct description. 1 The builders are going to start work tomorrow. a prediction about the future 2 She’ll be waiting outside the station as usual. b asking politely about people’s arrangement 3 I forgot to tell Jim the news. I’ll ring him now. c actions which may (not) happen in the future 4 By Christmas we will have been working together for ten years. d action which is the result of a routine 5 Be careful. You’re going to fall off your bicycle. e action intended to be performed in the near future 6 The meeting starts at 9 o’clock. f action which will be finished before a stated future time 7 I’m sure things will work out in the end. g action in progress at a stated future time 8 Perhaps your mother will change her mind. h evidence that sth will definitely happen 9 Will many people be coming to the wedding? i duration of an action up to a certain time in the future 10 They will have finished the plans by the end of the week. j timetable/programme 11 Hospital staff are beginning a two-day strike tomorrow. k fixed arrangement in the near future 12 By the year 2020 more people than ever will be moving to the cities. l decision taken at the moment os speaking

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