UNIT 9 - Page 2
   VERB TENSES: USES

   Write the verbs in brackets in the correct tense.

16 Examples:
   She has just left for school.

   Have + just + past participle means that something happened
   very recently. In American English, this is usually expressed
   by the simple past.

a  They just (shake) hands. So I reckon they are friends again.
b  Oscar just (admit) his guilt. Now he’ll be taken to jail.
c  ‘Anybody just (call) out my name?’
   ‘I haven’t heard anything.’
d  I’m afraid we just (have) a puncture. Have you got a spare
   wheel?
e  How clever of you! We just (kill) two birds with one stone.


17 Revision exercise.
a  His pride (spoil) their romance. He should have been kinder
   to her.
b  He (say) yesterday, ‘Nuclear power-stations (be) fatal cancers
   in our society. They not only (kill) people, but many people
   still (suffer) from malformations caused by the misusage of
   them in the past. Once and for all, we should care about
   people’s health, and not about the money we (get) from them.
   And what (be) more! We (have) only one planet to live on.
   If we (not look) after it properly, our children will have
   to undergo the consequences of our recklessness. Should we
   let the coming generations pay for it? We (be) so selfish as
   to allow that?’
c  The worst thing of becoming old (be) that your body (grow)
   old, but your mind does not.
d  We (be) at the mercy of that tyrant for eleven years. If
   we (not fight) against him now, we shall never have such
   an opportunity again.
e  On the one hand, the dangers of the jungle (beset) us all.
   On the other, the enemy (be) hot on our heels.
f  She (tell) me that she (be) British, but her strong German
   accent (give) her away.
g  He (make) the same mistake twice.
h  ‘This tiger cub (eat) a lot. We (feed) it three times a day.’
  ‘Three times a day! You (not think) it (be) too much? Why you
   (not feed) it only once a day?’
i  My pals (dive) for pearls when the shark (appear).
j  When she (blow) her nose, a pigeon (crap) on her head.
k  A thick fog (delay) the train yesterday evening. As a result,
   we (have) to wait for ages at the station.
l  When Simon (see) them, they (lie) on the grass.
m  We (seek) for freedom all our lives, but (not find) it yet.
n  ‘My neighbour usually (sweep) our street in the mornings,
   but she (not sweep) it yesterday. Today, it is half past
   eleven, and she still (not sweep) it.’
   ‘We’d better go and see if she (be) ill.’
o  Peter: What she (look) like?
   John: she (have) freckles, and (be) very pretty.
p  They (not hear) from her since she (go) away.
q  —When I (enter) my room, I (hear) a snake hissing.
   —What you (do)?
   —I (ask) for help.
r  My father (accompany) me to the party this evening, but we can
   meet there if you (wish).
s  My nose (bleed) when my parents (get) home last night.
t  Many learned people (devote) their time to humankind since
   time immemorial.
u  They constantly (libel) us. It’s not fair!
v  Walking (keep) you fit. You ought to walk regularly.
w  She just (give) birth to her first child. She’s now at a
   hospital ward; and if everything (go) well, she’ll soon
   become a mother.
x  Congratulations! Your wife just (give) birth to a very
   beautiful girl. You just (become) a father!
y  He (fling) his stick at me yesterday morning.
z  He (jump) for joy when he (have) his first baby.


18 Examples:
   I have never seen a ghost.
   She has read a lot of history books.
   Haven’t we met before?

   We use the present perfect simple to indicate that something
   has never happened, when we do not know when it takes place,
   or whether it has occurred or not.

a  ‘That fellow belongs to our club.’
   ‘Really! I never (see) him before.’
b  —You (feed) the bears?
   —Yes, I fed them an hour ago.
c  Mary: He ever (fall) utterly in love at first sight?
   Michael: No, I don’t think so.
d  We (not be) here before?
e  He (paint) three portraits of his daughter.


19 Examples:
   Your wife has come here four times this morning.
   Your wife came here four times this morning.

   In the first example, your secretary tells you this in the
   morning; in the second, in the afternoon.

a  ‘What time is it?’
   ‘It’s half past four.’
   ‘Are there any calls for me?’
   ‘Yes, Mr White (ring) five times this afternoon.’
b  He (not eat) anything today.
c  She (sew) your trousers at noon.
d  ‘The sun (not shine) yet today, as the sky is covered with
   clouds.’
   ‘Well, that’s not true, because it always shines, even in a
   cloudy day. The only difference is that you don’t see it
   shining.’
e  We (win) seven matches this year.


20 Revision exercise.
a  Churchgoers (assume) that they will save their souls by
   going to church regularly. The most puritanical ones
   strictly (follow) what they are told at church.
b  This suit (shrink). You’d better take it to your tailor to
   let it out.
c  Until now, we (send) ten application forms.
d  They (rebuild) this museum several times. They (consider)
   to rebuild it once again, as they say it (belong) to
   our national art heritage.
e  We (saw) a lot of logs so far, but you (not saw) any.
f  —You ever (ride) a camel?
   —I (ride) a horse a year ago, but I never (ride) a camel.
g  Nobody ever (spell) my name correctly.
h  He forever (spit). I can’t stand him.
i  I (feel) dizzy. Can I sit down?
j  If you (give) in now, you’ll regret it.
k  He (drink) a bottle of bleach yesterday, and (have) to be
   taken to hospital. They (have) to pump his stomach out.
l  ‘God (exist)?’ my son (ask) me yesterday.
   ‘Well, that is a question of faith,’ I (respond).
m  I (play) poker with some friends after lunch.
n  Your son (conduct) the orchestra beautifully last night.
o  He always (lead) his men to victory. He (not know) what
   a defeat (mean). If we had him on our side, we should
   beat any opponent.
p  He (jump) from a ten-storey building two weeks ago and
   (escape) without a scratch.
q  He (want) to get away from the police. Unluckily for him,
   a police dog (run) after him and (leap) at his throat.
r  He (overtake) us at a tremendous speed. Five minutes later,
   he (crash) into a fence.
s  They (broadcast) the news of the massacre two days ago.
t  I never (beseech) you to help me, but I (need) your help,
   and you (owe) me a favour.
u  We (invite) some friends to dinner tomorrow night.
v  That bloke (lend) me money several times. He (be) a very
   good person. He always (try) to help people.
w  I (not understand) a word they (say). I (not speak) Russian.
x  When he (come) home, she (cry) her eyes out.
y  ‘Where is Richard?’
   ‘He (lean) against that wall.’
z  When he (tell) her that he (not trust) her, she (hang)
   up the phone.


21 Examples:
   Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet.
   My niece has written several novels.
   She is the tallest girl (that) I have ever met.
   It is the second time (that) she has kissed him.

   In the first example, we already know that Shakeapeare is
   dead; but in the second, we state that my niece is still
   alive, or that nothing prevents her from writing more
   novels. As a general rule, we can, then, say that we use
   the present perfect when it is implied in our words that
   something can happen again.

a  That chap (compose) several hits.
b  Beethoven (compose) very good symphonies.
c  It is the worst mistake that he ever (make).
d  It is the only time I (fly) a plane.
e  That guy (build) several monuments in this town. He’s a very
   good architect.


22 Examples:
   It is four years since I (last) had a heart attack.
   I haven’t had a heart attack for four years.
   I have had heart attacks since I was sixty.

   We generally use perfect tenses with already, ever, lately,
   since (except for the structure seen in the first example3),
   so far, still, up to now, yet, and with a few other words.
   It is also quite common with for.

a  ‘You ever (see) a monkey coming down from a tree?’
   ‘No, but I’ve just seen one climbing up a tree.’
   ‘Very funny!’
b  She still (not throw) that old green dress away?
c  He (pay) his debts yet?
d  They already (manufacture) about ten million toys.
e  They (be) in this city for ten months.


23 Revision exercise.
a  I (spend) a few days in London next week.
b  Joanot Martorell (write) Tirant lo Blanc; according to
   Cervantes, the best chivalry novel.
c  I (buy) a second-hand lorry last year, and it (not work)
   properly now.
d  You (hear) the latest news? They just (forbid) the sale of
   tobacco and alcohol in this town.
e  It (freeze) last night.
f  He (oversleep) yesterday morning.
g  She (undertake) full responsability that night. Consequently,
   I only (obey) her orders.
h  ‘The clock (stop). You (wind) it last night?’
   ‘No, I (be) sorry. I (forget) to wind it up.
i  I (abandon) my last job because my boss (underpay) me.
j  While I (search) the room for the missing documents, John
   (have) some tea with a client of ours.
k  If you (happen) to see a bear in the cave, run out of it as
   fast as you can.
l  His wife always (boast)! I (not like) her.
m  I (give) my wife these silk stockings this evening, since it
   is our wedding aniversary.
n  They hardly ever (let) you do what you really (want) to.
o  They perpetually (entreat) us to give them money for their
   starving children. Regrettably, they (not feel) like
   working, as we (offer) each of them a job several times,
   but they (prefer) to beg.
p  The runaway (hide) in the wood, and nobody (manage) to find
   him. Finally, he (succeed) in escaping. He (live) in Greece
   now.
q  Jane never (chat) to her neighbours, but today she (chat) to
   Mrs Green, a neighbour of hers.
r  She (win) the race by a narrow margin two hours ago.
s  We (open) on Sundays.
t  Why you (not put) on your coat? It (be) a little chilly
   outside.
u  When I (get) there, there (be) several people moaning. I (try)
   to do my best till the ambulance (arrive).
v  You (be) a nuisance! Sit still, will you!
w  It was very cold in there, so I (light) a fire.
x  Her dog (bite) me several times. Either she (muzzle) it, or
   I’ll report her to the police.
y  This old clock (be) repaired at the moment.
z  ‘When he (see) the tears rolling down her cheek, it (break)
   his heart. And as usual, she (get) what she (want) from him.’
   ‘I (think) crocodile tears very often (work), and they (be)
   a good weapon for both men and women.’


24 Examples:
   Amanda: Where have you been?
   Angela: I’ve been to the doctor’s surgery.
   Amanda: What did he tell you about your illness?
   Angela: He told me (that) I have to take things easy.

   In the first question, Angela has just arrived home and Amanda
   asks where she has been. Note that Angela also employs the
   present perfect in her response. As for the second question
   (What did...?), it is in the simple past because Angela is no
   longer at the doctor’s surgery.

a  ‘The police (arrest) him for shoplifting.’
   ‘When that (happen)?’
   ‘This morning at about 10 o’clock.’
b  I (pass) my examination!
   Congratulations! When you (do) it?
   Last week.
c  I (be) to the United States a dozen times. I last (go) there
   in February.
d  I’m afraid to tell you that your father (have) an accident.
e  ‘My boy-friend (ask) me to marry him.’
   ‘When he (ask) you that?’
   ‘Last night.’
   ‘What you (answer) him?’
   ‘I (answer) him that I would.’


25 Examples:
   He has never negleted his garden.
   He never neglets his garden.

   The first example merely states an action that has never
   happened. The second, however, indicates a habit.

a  I never (be) to a police station. (= This is my first
   visit to a police station.)
b  “She never (eat) garlic. She thinks it smells horrible.”
   “Garlic tastes great. Tell her it’s worth a try. I’m sure
   she’ll love it.”
c  ‘I never (drink) beer.’
   ‘Would you like a sip to try it?’
   ‘No, thank you.’
d  I never (drink) gin. I tried it last year, but didn’t agree
   with me.
e  I never (poke) fun at people. I think it’s very impolite.


26 Revision exercise.
a  My daughter (paint) several pictures of this town. She (think)
   of painting another one.
b  He (leave) her in the lurch many times.
c  They (hold) a very important conference last week.
d  A huge vessel (sink) here long time ago.
e  I (swear) her that I would take care of her children before
   she (die). I always (keep) my promises.
f  You continually (upset) her. Why you (not leave) her alone?
g  She forever (beat) about the bush. I (wish) she would get
   straight to the point.
h  I (not know) you (have) a baby. Is it a boy or a girl?
i  Her bad manners (bespeak) her low background. She was very
   rude to all my guests.
j  ‘What “maelstrom” (mean)?’
   ‘It (mean) “whirlpool”.’
k  His life (come) to an abrupt end last night, as he (not give)
   away the whereabouts of the money.
l  I (rewrite) it half a dozen times, and she still
   (not be) satisfied.
m  Mary (go) lame in an accident last year.
n  Once upon a time there (be) two goblins. They (hate) each
   other, but (live) together. They (quarrel) all the time,
   and nobody (like) them.
o  You (smoke) like a chimney, and (drink) like a fish. You
   (damage) your health. Why you (not try) to give up these
   two bad habits?
p  As a child, he never (snore), but now he (snore) every night.
   He (suffer) from a wheezy cough, as well. As a result, I can’t
   sleep at night.
q  This tramp never (hurt) anybody. He’s a peaceable person.
r  ‘Your conscience ever (smite) you?’
   ‘No, never.’
   ‘I (not believe) you.’
s  She only (strike) a match. But, unfortunately, the room was
   full of gas, and (explode).
t  We usually eat at home on Monday evenings, but today is our
   son’s birthday, and we (eat) outside.
u  We (not go) out that evening because some relatives (come)
   round.
v  ‘A wasp just (sting) me in my arm, and it (itch) me a lot.’
   ‘Don’t scratch!’
w  We (get) honey from bees.
x  ‘This wall is wet.’
   ‘I (think) a pipe (leak). Why you (not send) for the plumber?’
y  This bow (date) back to the twelfth century.
z  My stepson just (buy) a giant Elizabethan house. Would you
   like to come and see it this afternoon?


27 Examples:
   When I have finished reading this book, I’ll help you
   with your homework. (It will take me quite a while to
   finish reading it.)
   When I finish reading this book, I’ll help you with your
   homework. (It will not take me long to finish reading it.)
   As soon as it stopped raining, he went out. (Immediately after
   the rain stopped, he went out.)

   We sometimes use a perfect tense to indicate that two
   (or more) actions do not happen simultaneously. If they
   occur simultaneously or we consider that the action will
   not take long, we use the simple present, or the simple
   past. At times, the difference is very slight; and,
   therefore, it does not really matter if we employ a simple
   form or a perfect form. It is also important to keep in
   mind that words such as before and after do not often need
   a perfect tense because there is no ambiguity in the
   meaning expressed by the sequence of the actions:
     After she had blown/she blew her whistle, everyone
     remained silent.
     She left before he had seen/he saw her.

a  I’ll wait for you until Nancy (come).
b  When she (arrive) here, we’ll go to the theatre.
c  After they (have) a heated argument, they (come) to the
   conclusion that they had better not continue with their
   relationship.
d  As soon as they (get) in touch with me, I’ll let you know.
e  Before they (be able to) say anything, she (tell) them that
   she would stay there.


28 Examples:
   The priest has been painting the pew. (present perfect
   continuous)
   The priest has painted the pew. (present perfect simple)

   The first example conveys that the paint is still wet, or
   that the work is not yet finished. In the second sentence,
   the action is completed, and the paint may be dry. Then,
   we can say that the present perfect continuous refers to
   a more recent action than the one expressed by the present
   perfect simple.

a  ‘Why are you wearing shorts?’
   ‘Well, I (run), and I’m tired out. I’m going to have a shower,
   if you don’t mind.
b  My nephew (draw) a caricature of his mother all the morning.
   He hasn’t finished yet, but I like it very much. He draws
   very well.
c  Look! Your son (draw) a caricature of me! Do you like it?
d  ‘You (drink) a lot!’
   ‘Well, I don’t feel drunk. I think I can drive. I had my last
   drink two hours ago.’
e  ‘You (drink) a lot!’
   ‘I’m not plastered. I want another gin and lemonade.’
   ‘Yes, you are. You had a drink ten minutes ago! Let’s
   go home.’


29 Examples:
   She has read two comics this morning. (She may or may not
   be reading them.)
   She has been reading comics all morning. (She is still
   reading them.)
   They have complained several times since they arrived. (They
   may complain again.)
   They have been complaining since they arrived. (They are
   still complaining.)

   The present perfect continuous is not used with words or
   phrases that tell us the times we have done something or
   the quantity of something that we have done.

a  He (sculp) two statues so far.
b  She (knit) the whole day, and still hasn’t finished.
c  She (knit) three pullovers today.
d  ‘What you (do)!’
   ‘I (grease) my tractor, which is why my hands and my clothes
   are so dirty.’
e  He (pull) up weeds in the garden all morning. Tell him to come
   and have a snack.


30 Revision exercise.
a  I’ll stay there till she (ring).
b  The vast majority of people (think) that we should respect
   our environment.
c  Famine (stalk) this area for over fifteen months. I (presume)
   that the authorities will have to ask other countries for
   help.
d  The panther (stalk) a deer when the deer (notice) the presence
   of an enemy, and (run) away.
e  I think that we (be) a product of the past, that is, we
   (be) extremely influenced by our past.
f  Wow! You (look) terrific on that dress!
g  Peter (set) himself up in business last year, and it (look)
   up at the moment.
h  ‘My father (hate) the army. He (say) that they (steal) one
   of the best years of his youth. Now he (want) me to
   refuse to do military service.’
   ‘I (guess) he (be) right. It should not be compulsory.’
   ‘But I (fear) being put in prison!’
i  Luckily for me, I (grip) her hand, and (save) my life. If
   she hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t be here now.
j  John: You (grind) any coffee beans?
   Mary: No, but I (buy) some ground coffee.
k  Either you (keep) everything back from them or you’ll
   receive severe punishment.
l  They (not cast) this rôle yet. You (think) I could get it?
m  They (sound) reveille at seven, and retreat at ten.
n  She (not rewind) the tape. If she had rewound it, she would
   have seen the murder.
o  ‘In the fancy-dress ball, Jack (dress) up as Little Red
   Riding Hood.’
   ‘Really! What a pity I (miss) it!
p  He (outgrow) his passion for reading comics. He no longer
   (like) them.
q  ‘This virus (breed) amazingly fast!’
   ‘Really! I (think) we had killed it!’
r  I (bet) on my favourite horse yesterday, but I (lose) a
   fortune, because she (not win) the race.
s  I can’t abide you any longer. You (mislead) me into believing
   that you are a honest man for more than twenty years, but
   what you just (do) (be) the final straw.
t  They (not repay) us yet. If they (not do) it tomorrow, we
   shall have to distrain upon them.
u  Our ancestors (dwell) in caves of this type a hundred
   thousand years ago.
v  She continuously (bend) to his will. I (reckon) she should
   leave him once and for all.
w  They still (cling) to the hope that their little daughter
   (not die). We (not find) her body yet, but I (presume)
   that she will be dead by now, since the possibility of
   surviving here is very remote, even for a grown person.
x  ‘I (mistake) her intentions when she (say) that she
   (not be) married, and (like) me very much.’
   ‘Really!’
   ‘Well, I (assume) that she (want) to go out with me,
   but she didn’t.’
y  Don’t worry! Everybody (misspell) my name.
z  They (think) about getting a vast piece of land. They
   (consider) the idea of becoming farmers.


____________________
3  The present perfect is not impossible here, though; but the
   simple present is better than the present perfect.

Author: Miquel Molina i Diez