Present Perfect Simple, Continuous and Past Simple

 

 

Do this quiz after watching the video

Read the grammar about the present perfect and quiz below.

 

 

Watch this presentation about the present perfect simple and continuous
Read the theory about the present perfect simple and continuous and do de quizzes.

 

EXERCISES 
Exercise on simple past / present perfect. ,  2 , 3

Exercise on present perfect simple / continuous  , 2  , 3

Past Perfect Simple and Continuous

PAST PERFECT SIMPLE

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

 

 

 

 

Narrative Tenses

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

STORIES

Story 1

Story 2

Story 3

 

Past Simple and Past Continuous

BASIC PRACTICE

Exercise 1   Exercise 2    Exercise3   Exercise 4    Exercise 5    Exercise 6

PAST SIMPLE AND CONTINUOUS IN NARRATIVE

Story 1

Story 2

INTERACTIVE WORKSHEETS

Interactive worksheet 1

Interactive worksheet 2

Interactive worksheet 3

Strong Adjectives

The use of adverbs like very, absolutely and really with normal (gradable)  and strong adjectives

Very, absolutely and really are used differently according whether the adjective is a normal or a strong one:

 

 

	very	absolutely	really
Normal adjectives
Strong adjectives

Read the grammar and do the quizzes at the bottom.

Learn extreme or non-gradable adjectives through comics

Do this interactive worksheet and check your answers when you finish.

FREQUENCY ADVERBS

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/grammar/adverbien1.htm

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/exercises/adjectives_adverbs/adverbs_of_freq…

http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/grammar-vocabulary/grammar-videos/adverbs-frequency

http://esl.lbcc.cc.ca.us/eesllessons/adverbfreq/adfreqz.htm

http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/grammar-exercise-adverbs-frequen…

http://www.autoenglish.org/basic/frequencypal/frequency.html

http://www.inglesmundial.com/Ingles_Intermedio_Leccion3/Ingles_Intermedio_Lec…

Thanksgiving Day

[Infographic provided by Grammar.net]

Vocabulary and Phrases

“Turkey with All the Trimmings”
Dinner is centered around the turkey, and “the trimmings” refers to the many dishes served with it. Favorite trimmings include cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes with gravy, yams, various vegetables, and pumpkin pie for dessert.

“Turkey Day”
As turkey is the main dish, “Turkey Day” is an alternate name.

“Pilgrim”
The first Americans to celebrate Thanksgiving were pilgrims from Europe who feasted with the Wampanoag tribe. While modern feasts can last three hours, this first feast lasted three days. The pilgrims nibbled dishes such as eel, squash, and venison; pumpkin pie was not invented until 50 years later.

“Gobble Gobble”
The word “gobble” has a double meaning. When used alone, it means to devour food quickly. When paired–”gobble gobble”–it imitates turkey calls. Additionally, turkeys are often called “gobblers.” In summary, people who love turkey can gobble their gobbler before it has a chance to gobble gobble.

“Dinner Roll”
A tiny loaf of bread no bigger than a biscuit. They are served hot and are best eaten with a plop of melting butter.

“Dressing”
Also called “stuffing,” this dish starts with shredded bread and is traditionally used to “stuff” the turkey, cooking simultaneously with the bird. The juices permeate the dressing, giving it a delicious, savory flavor, but chefs are warned to cook stuffed birds very thoroughly; an under-cooked, stuffed turkey can cause illness.

“Turkey Drumstick”
The popular term for a turkey leg, so named for the shape. In addition to the holidays, smoked turkey drumsticks are sold year-round in the American south as a sort of “finger-food” because they are portable and tidy. Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey for America’s national symbol rather than the bald eagle; that was a man who appreciated a good drumstick.

“I’m Stuffed”
This is said as a feaster pushes away from the table. Belts are often loosened at this point, though the practice is frowned on in polite company. Celebrators now drag themselves toward a couch to watch football games.

“Food Coma,” “Turkey Coma”
Once feasters have hauled themselves onto couches, a “food” or “turkey coma” begins, often lasting many hours. Most watch television and sip drinks, and some may outright nap. A chemical in turkey called tryptophan might add to the coma; while levels are slightly higher than in other meats, the obvious reason is the meal, itself. After all, babies with full tummies fall asleep quickly.

Black Friday
The day after Thanksgiving–always a Friday–is infamous as the biggest shopping day of the year and is considered the first “official” shopping day of the Christmas season.

Thanksgiving Activities

Help Others: many donate time to soup kitchens or shelters during the holiday.

Spend Time with Family: the heart of the holiday season.

Watch Football: the Detroit Lions have traditionally played on Thanksgiving since 1934.

Watch the Parade: New York City held the first Macy’s Parade in 1924, and it is now an institution.

Bake a Pumpkin Pie: the largest ever made weighed 2,020 pounds.

Eat: the good news is that turkey is relatively low in calories. Pumpkin pie is not.

http://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving

http://www.history.com/topics/thanksgiving-facts/videos#history-of-the-thanks…

http://www.holidays.net/thanksgiving/recipes.htm

http://www.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1942935,00.html

First Test Practice

These are some useful links to practise for your Cambridge First.

WRITING TIPS

Writing Tips

Useful Words and Phrases for your writings

Essay

Article

Informal Letter or Email

Formal Letter or Email

Report

Review

TEST 1

Reading and Use of English

PART 1     PART 2     PART 3        PART 4       PART 5        PART 6           PART 7

Listening

PART 1      PART 2     PART 3        PART 4

TEST 2

Reading and Use of English

PART 1      PART 2     PART 3     PART 4      PART 5      PART 6      PART 7

Listening

PART 1     PART 2      PART 3      PART 4

TEST 3

Reading and Use of English

PART 1      PART 2      PART 3       PART 4     PART 5      PART 7

Listening

PART 1      PART 2      PART 3       PART 4

TEST 4

Reading and Use of English

PART 1        PART 2       PART 3       PART 4       PART 5       PART 6         PART 7

Listening

PART 1       PART 2        PART 3        PART 4

TEST 5

Reading and Use of  English

PART 1     PART 2      PART 3      PART 4      PART 5     PART 6

PART 7

Listening

PART 1       PART 2      PART 3     PART 4

Speaking

Future Tenses

 

PRESENT CONTINUOUS / BE GOING TO / WILL

Do the quiz below the video.

Read this simple grammar lesson about be going to and the present continuous

Do this exercise about arranging a meeting.

Do this exercises about present continuous and going to. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

FUTURE CONTINUOUS / PERFECT

Read this grammar about the future perfect and future continuous and do the quiz below.

Exercise 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

 

Relative Clauses

Revise this grammar about defining relative clauses and do the quiz below

Revise the grammar about non-defining relative clauses and do the exercises below.

Exercise on Relative Pronouns 1,   2 ,  3, 4

Exercises on Relative Clauses 1,  2, 3, 4, 5, 6,

Do the quiz below the video 

Modal Verbs of Obligation

MUST / HAVE TO / SHOULD OBLIGATION

Read this theory about modal verbs of obligation

Complete these sentences with MUST or MUSTN’T

MUST, MUSTN’T, HAVE TO quiz

Choose must, mustn’t, should, shouldn’t

Complete the sentences using MUST and HAVE TO

Choose SHOULD and MUST

Try this quiz

Modal Verbs of Deduction or Speculation

MUST / CAN’T/ MAY/ MIGHT / COULD DEDUCTION

Revise this simple grammar first.

Present Modal verbs for deduction

Perfect Modal verbs for deduction

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Exercise 5

Exercise 7

 

Groundhog Day.

Watch this video and do the quiz below:

Do this quiz

Read about this day’s history.

Groundhog day lesson and activities.

Reading and listening quiz

Have a look at this wonderful post

Verbs of Looking.

Robert Burns Night

Robert Burns’ Night .

Address to the Haggis

Robert Burns Timeline

Burns’ supper guide.

http://www.robertburns.org/

Merry Christmas

​

Halloween Fun and Activities.

Watch this video with interesting facts about Halloween I bet you didn’t know

History of Halloween

Have a look at this vocabulary about Halloween.

Halloween and Idioms about Death. Watch the video and do the quiz.

Do this Halloween crossword

Halloween Quiz

Click here to fill the gaps in this song

Do this Halloween Reading Comprehension

Play this game.

Present Simple and Continuous

 

Present simple and continuous explanation and exercises.

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Exercise on Present Simple and Continuous Passive Voice

Present Simple

Present Simple Rules in Spanish

EXERCISES

Watch this video and do the exercises below.

Fill in all the gaps to make positive, negative and interrogative sentences, then press “Check” to check your answers.

Write correct sentences in present simple, then press “Check”.

Write correct negative sentences in present simple, then press “Check”.

Choose the correct form of the verb in simple present tense.

Present Simple Questions

Present Simple Negatives

Present Simple Positive sentences with Adverbs of Frequency.

The Passive Voice

Grammar and practice.

Introduction to passive voice with work on verb to be, tenses and exercises. 

Change these sentences from active to passive Exercise 1.   Exercise 2  Exercise 3  Exercise 4

Exercise on passive with two objects

Exercise 1 on passive voice mixed tenses.   Exercise 2

Active or Passive exercises: Exercise 1  Exercise 2

Exercises on Passive with Reporting Verbs: Exercise 1  Exercise 2

Reported Speech

Have a look at this theory about reported speech.

Basic Exercises on Tense Changes : Ex. 1,  Ex. 2, Ex. 3, Ex. 4,

Ex 5, Ex. 6, Ex. 7, Ex. 8

Click here for more exercises on Reported Speech

Reported questions and requests 1

Orders, Requests and Questions 2

Orders, requests 3

Reported Speech Questions

Correct the mistakes.

Reported Speech Mixed Exercise 1

Reported Speech. Mixed Sentences 2

Reported Speech. Mixed Sentences 3.

Have a look at this grammar about reporting verb

Reporting Verbs Exercise 1

Reporting Verbs Exercise 2

Reporting Verb Exercise 3

Reporting Verbs Exercise 4

Reporting Verbs Exercise 5

Reporting Verbs Exercise 6

Animals Vocabulary, Exercises and Games

  

http://www.learnenglish.de/basics/animals.htm

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=3589

http://www.myenglishpages.com/site_php_files/vocabulary-exercise-animals.php

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=1120

http://www.tolearnenglish.com/exercises/exercise-english-2/exercise-english-44865.php

http://www.eslgamesplus.com/animals/ (games)

Conditional Sentences.

What is a Conditional?

A grammar device that shows possible results from certain situations is called a “conditional.” The presence of the word “if” will usually call attention to them, and some have actually nicknamed them “if” sentences. There are several types, but three “basic conditionals” are used most frequently.

FIRST CONDITIONAL

This situation is in the future and has a real possibility of happening.

“If Bob comes over, we will watch the game.”

There is a good likelihood that Bob will come over.

SECOND CONDITIONAL

The second also refers to the future but is quite unlikely.

“If I went to the moon, I would know if it is made of cheese.”

It is highly improbable that the speaker will visit the moon.

THIRD CONDITIONAL

Unlike the first two, this refers to the past and cannot happen.

“If Jill had gone to the zoo, she would have taken pictures.”

This is in the past and cannot be fulfilled; Jill did not go to the zoo and so her photos are an impossibility.
Whether or If

These are often interchanged but actually have different uses. When showing a condition, use “if,” but when showing a choice or alternatives, use “whether.”
“If” implies that the result depends on one specific condition.

“We will go for a walk if it doesn’t rain.”

“If you finish you dinner, you can have some pudding.”
“Whether” shows choices or alternatives and generally requires an “or.” “Or not” is often used for yes/no choices; some consider “or not” redundant and some see it as more formal. “Whether” by itself can hint at both positive and negative possibilities.

“Tell Rachel whether you want chicken or beef for dinner.”

“Whether or not you are going to the party, please call.”

“Let us know whether the school is open.”
SHOULD YOU CALL?

When the speaker only wants you to call if you’ll be there:

“Please call if you are going to Perkie’s Pizza on Friday.”

When the speaker wants you to call either way:

“Please call whether or not you are going to Perkie’s Pizza on Friday.”

“Please call whether you are going to Perkie’s Pizza on Friday.”
To Sum it Up

Is there a result that relies on certain conditions? Use “if.”

Is there some sort of choice? Use “whether.”

Should “or not” be used with “whether?” Some do, some say “sometimes” and some say “don’t bother.” What is your opinion?

via http://www.grammar.net

Explanation of conditional sentences in Spanish

Exercise 1 on 2nd Conditionals.

Exercise 2 on 2nd Conditionals.

Exercise 3 on 2nd conditionals.

Watch the video about 2nd and 3rd Conditionals and do the quiz below.

Do this exercise to identify the type of conditional sentence.

Exercise 1 on Conditionals.   Exercise 2    Exercise 3

Exercise on 3rd Conditionals.

Extra exercises and practice on Conditional Sentences.

Try this quiz

Test yourself

Listen to these songs on this wonderful post.

Inversion cases in conditional sentences:

Grammar on Inversion cases with conditional sentences.

Read this explanation and do the exercise below.  Exercise 2  Exercise 3

 

Groundhog Day. History and Facts.

Watch this video and do the quiz below:

Do this quiz

http://www.history.com/news/2012/02/02/groundhog-day-history-and-facts/?cmpid…

http://www.groundhog.org/about/history/

http://www.elcivics.com/groundhog-day-1.html

Have a look at this wonderful post

Christmas Fun and Activities

Click here to interact

Christmas throughout the Ages

The History of Christmas (Listening Comprehension)

Learn English with Christmas Songs (Listenings different levels)

Transport and Travelling Vocabulary.

Click on the picture to interact

Exercises on topics related to travelling.

List of vocabulary items related to travelling

Means of transport vocabulary

Vocabulary, natural dialogues and games about transport

Verbs and phrasal verbs to do with transport.

Click on a category and listen to the different words.

Multiple choice preintermediate exercise

Transport vocabulary crossword

Guy Fawkes Day

Remember remember
The fifth of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot!
We see no reason why
Gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot!

Click here to watch a video and read about the history of The Gunpowder Plot

Click on the picture to play a wonderful game on this topic.

Animated video

Reading comprehension and exercises

-ED / -ING Adjectives

http://www.engvid.com/adjective-endings-ing-ed/#quiz

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/adjectives/adjectives-ed-and-ing

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/grammar-exercises/adjectives-ending-ed-and-ing

http://www.theenglishstudent.com/blog/participial-adjectives

http://www.trussel.com/eding.htm

http://a4esl.org/q/h/9801/dg-eding.html

http://www.better-english.com/grammar/adjing.htm

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=2255

Describing People. Adjectives

 

 

http://www.learnenglish.de/basics/appearances.htm

http://elt.oup.com/student/englishfile/preint/b_vocabulary/bank02/vocabulary02_01?cc=global&selLanguage=en

http://www.saberingles.com.ar/lists/describing.html

http://www.esolcourses.com/content/exercises/grammar/adjectives/appearance/vocab1.html

http://www.esolcourses.com/content/exercises/grammar/adjectives/appearance/gapfill/gapfill2.html

http://www.esolcourses.com/content/exercises/grammar/adjectives/appearance/antonyms/wordmatch.html

CHARACTER ADJECTIVES

http://www.lingolex.com/personalidad.htm

http://quizlet.com/43121/personality-adjectives-flash-cards/

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=2941

http://esl.fis.edu/vocab/q1/char1.htm

http://www.esolcourses.com/content/exercises/grammar/adjectives/personality/words-for-describing-personality.html

http://www.esolcourses.com/content/exercises/grammar/adjectives/personality/more-words-for-describing-personality.html

http://www.esolcourses.com/content/exercises/grammar/adjectives/personality/antonyms/adjective-opposites-personality.html

http://www.esolcourses.com/content/exercises/grammar/adjectives/personality/synonyms/adjectives-describing-personality.html

Magna Carta 800th Anniversary with Lesson Plans

What is Magna Carta. Why was it created? What does it say, and why has it become one of the most celebrated documents in history? 

Magna Carta Explained

6 Things You May Not Know About the Magna Carta

Magna Carta Lesson Plans

IELTS Listening Tests and Key

Learn vocabulary with Language guide.

Practice English vocabulary, the alphabet and numbers. Place your cursor over an image or text to hear it pronounced aloud. Then quiz yourself by activating the listening and speaking challenge.

St Patrick’s Day

http://chagall-col.spip.ac-rouen.fr/IMG/didapages/patrick/index.html (Interactive Book)

http://www.history.com/videos/bet-you-didnt-know-st-patricks-day

http://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day

http://www.esolcourses.com/content/topics/festivals/st-patricks-day/history-of-st-patricks-day.html

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/03/110316-saint-patricks-day-201…

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/magazine/saint-patricks-day

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/irishbeefstew_73826#.UUSB8KOdoxU.facebook (Irish Beef Stew)

Happy Valentine’s Day.

http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day/history-of-valentines-day

http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day

http://online-english-lessons.eu/wordpress/2010/02/valentines-day-phrasal-verbs-idioms-and-sayings/

http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/uk-now/read-uk/valentines-day

St_Valentines_day (reading comprehension)

st_valentine

Telephone Phrases

http://www.espressoenglish.net/telephone-english-phrases/

http://english-tonight.com/how-to-leave-and-take-phone-messages-in-english/

Groundhog Day: History and Facts

 

Watch this video and do the quiz below:

Do this quiz

http://www.history.com/news/2012/02/02/groundhog-day-history-and-facts/?cmpid…

http://www.groundhog.org/about/history/

http://www.elcivics.com/groundhog-day-1.html

Have a look at this wonderful post

How to Express Agreement and Disagreement: So, Either, Neither

http://www.shertonenglish.com/resources/es/miscelaneous-topics/agreement.php

http://esl.about.com/od/grammarintermediate/a/cm_sneither.htm

http://todayschool.es/blog/grammar/grammar-practice-auxiliary-verbs-so-do-i-neither-do-i-etc-3a/

http://www.usingenglish.com/quizzes/68.html

http://www.ecenglish.com/learnenglish/lessons/so-and-neither

Love English Best Blog Awards.

From today until the 9 february you can vote MY ENGLISH BLOG for the Love English Awards as best blog  at http://www.macmillandictionary.com/love-english-awards/voting-blog-2014.html
Thanks  to the followers who nominated  this blog. Now you can vote here.

First click on My English Blog on the list and then press Vote.

Happy New Year!!!

 

Past Perfect Simple and Continuous

What Is Past Perfect Continuous?

Past perfect continuous tense, also called past perfect progressive, shows something that both started and ended in the past using the helper “had” with “been” and the present participle form (-ing) of any continuous verb. Two actions that occurred in the past are frequently illustrated against each other to show cause and effect or timing.

How To Use It

The description may sound as horrible and confusing as the name, but it is actually not hard to use. Keep in mind that only continuous verbs work. The infographic and some past perfect continuous examples in their simplest form should restore confidence in English grammar for those who may feel lost.

“The bird had been sitting on a branch.” The sentence hints that the bird is no longer there.

“The birds had been sitting on a branch.” It works the same way for plural nouns.

“The bird had been sitting on a branch until a squirrel came.” As mentioned, past perfect continuous often compares two past actions against each other. We know that the squirrel caused the bird to fly away.

“I had been sleeping when the alarm went off.”
“The sun had been shining before the sky became cloudy.”
“Frank had been walking when he smelled cheeseburgers.”

Incorrect Use

Certain verbs are considered non-continuous and are rarely used in past perfect continuous, such as possessive and abstract verbs, as well as verbs that deal with emotion. A great way to remember this is that many of these verbs refer to something which cannot be physically seen.

“My dog had been wanting a bone when I came home.” This is incorrect.
“My dog wanted a bone when I came home.” This is correct.

“The house had been belonging to me until I sold it.” This is incorrect.
“The house belonged to me until I sold it.” This is correct.

“Jim had been liking our walk until he tripped.” This is incorrect.
“Jim liked our walk until he tripped.” This is correct.

Depending on how they are being used, some mixed verbs can serve as both continuous and non-continuous verbs.

http://www.engvid.com/past-perfect-tense/ http://www.engvid.com/past-simple-past-perfect/

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/es/english-grammar/verbs/past-tense/past-perfect

http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/past-perfect-continuous-past-simple-exercise-1.html

http://www.englishexercises.org/makeagame/viewgame.asp?id=4832

http://www.englishtenses.com/test/romance_novel1

http://www.urszulawaligora.eu/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=76&Itemid=123

Irregular Verbs

http://www.mansioningles.com/gram53.htm

http://www.mansioningles.com/gram53_ej1.htm (exercises)

http://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/english-grammar/verbs/irregular-verbs

http://www.multimedia-english.com/activities/free/irregular-verbs-82-verbs-506

http://www.macmillandictionary.com/verb_wheel/ (game)

http://www.quia.com/cb/119049.html?AP_rand=1689907914&playHTML=1 (game)

http://www.eslgamesworld.com/members/games/ClassroomGames/Quizshow/Irregular%20Past%20Simple%20Quiz%20Show/ (game)

http://games.wordreference.com/language-games/verb-dash

Listen to the chapters of The Graveyard Book and Coraline

Listen to the chapters of this highly awarded novel read by the author himself.

If you enjoyed that continue with this  classic for young readers.

 

IELTS Mock Tests

 

37 Children’s Books That Changed Your Life.

via buzzfeed.com

Poetry Tools

Discover Literature with the British Library: Romantics and Victorians

http://www.bl.uk/romantics-and-victorians

How to Write an Informal Email

Click the image to go to the site.

Happy Birthday William!

http://www.history.com/topics/william-shakespeare

http://www.symbaloo.com/shared/AAAAAWDDFM4AA41-4K_azg== (Everything Shakespeare)

http://myenglishscrapbook.blogspot.com.es/2013/04/shakespeare-cervantes.html

http://blog.oxforddictionaries.com/2013/04/bible-or-bard/

Try this puzzle:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/quizzes/crossword/090227_crossword_shakespeare.shtml

Earth Day

Try this quiz: (level Elementary A2)

http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/reading-skills-practice/about-earth?utm_source=facebook-learnenglishteens&utm_mediu%C2%ADm=wallpost&utm_campaign=bc-learnenglishteens-facebook

Read this Text (level upper-intermediate, advanced B2 C1

http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/magazine/science-and-technology/climate-change-facing-future

Happy Easter Sunday!

Happy Easter Sunday!