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Indefinite and continuous forms
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INDEFINITE AND CONTINUOUS FORMS
16. Add tag-questions to the following statements and give short answers, negative or affirmative. Use full forms or contracted forms.
Example: My father reads the newspaper in the evening.
Your father reads the newspaper in the evening, doesn't he?
Yes, he does. No, he doesn't.
1. The secretary will type these letters tomorrow. 2. Anne washed the dishes after dinner. 3. This can't be true. The boy is lying. 4. You did not wear your new shoes at the party. 5. Joe was just opening the door when the phone rang. 6. At five you will be waiting for me at the entrance to the institute. 7. George is afraid to swim across this swift river. Leave him alone. 8. They always arrive punctually for their lessons. 9. Hurry up. We are leaving in half an hour. 10. I am not bothering you with my questions.
17. Use a continuous form in the required tense choosing a suitable verb from the list. Explain the spelling of the participle.
to answer, to cry, to take, to play, to cancel, to begin, to argue, to lie, to learn, to see, to get on, to try, to receive, to protest, to dye, to drive
1. Why... you not... the medicine the doctor has prescribed? 2. How... you... in your new job? I am sure you... to get used to it. 3. Do be quiet, will you? I... to concentrate. 4. Why, he... not... any questions whatsoever. The examiner will certainly give him a bad mark. 5. Look, Amy... not... with her toys any longer. She... bitterly. What is the matter? 6. Jack knows three languages quite well and at present he... a fourth. 7. On the 25th of June the students... ... their diplomas. 8. He... on the wrong side of the road and almost collided with another car. 9. How foolish and quarrelsome he is! He... always... and... against whatever suggestion you make. 10. The girl..., wasn't she? Nobody accused her of anything. 11. We cancelled our conference last week, but we... not... the conference on Monday. There are too many matters to discuss. 12. I... Jack next week and shall certainly invite him to the party. 13. Blue is the most fashionable colour, so Ellen... now... her white suit blue.
18. Make appropriate questions for these answers. Ask them and give shorter answers: they will sound more natural.
Example: Ann did not play with the children because she had a headache.
Why didn't Ann play with the children?
Because she had a headache.
1. The bell rings at eight sharp. 2. No, I don't remember his address. 3. You can't go out yet: it is raining very hard. 4. Peter is getting on at school quite well. He seems to like it. 5. Can't you see? Tom is polishing his shoes. 6. Those people are waiting for the shop to open. 7. We are using this classroom today because the window in the other room is broken. 8. The mother forbade the little boy to leave the room. 9. My sister and I talked about you the other day. 10. Edward won't be coming to your birthday party as he will be away that day. 11. 1 found this photograph last night when I was looking through some old papers. 12. The car was travelling at 80 kilometers per hour when it began to skid. 13. They are going to dig for oil here. They start on Monday. 14. I expect the children will be having supper when we get home. 15. The rooms were in great disorder because he was redecorating them. 16. George could not answer the phone, he was having a bath when it rang.
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19. Determine the meaning of the continuous forms. Do the sentences in this exercise cover alt the meanings of the continuous forms or can you add some more?
1. Look, the bridge is parting and the two halves are moving upwards as a big steamer is passing underneath. 2. None of us know where we shall be or what we shall be doing in ten years' time. 3. Why are you looking at me like that? Do I look funny? 4. Mrs. Brown is always complaining and blaming other people for all her failures. 5. I don't know when we shall be seeing each other again. I shall be away for the next few months. 6. Can't you see he is being deliberately rude?! 7. " What were you doing last night at eight? You did not answer the call. " " I was dead tired. I was sleeping (slept) the whole evening. " 8. Anne was practising the piano when her friends came to see her. That's why her mother sent them away. 9. " Tomorrow", the rector said to the students, " you'll be settling down to serious work. " 10. The commission are now considering a very serious matter. I don't think they will come to an agreement until the end of the week. 11. I was just telling Jack about our plans. Sorry, you were not here. 12. When are you going home for the holidays? 13. My grandparents are celebrating their " golden" wedding next year. 14. Peter is behaving very strangely these days. What's come over him? 15. Don't take the newspaper away. I am still reading it. 16. We didn't have the opportunity to discuss the results of the experiments with the professor a second time, for the very next day he was leaving for Kiev.
20. Use the verb in brackets in the present indefinite or the present continuous and comment on the difference in the meaning of the forms, if any.
1. Father usually (to drink) coffee in the morning but today he (to drink) tea. 2. Imogen (to make) herself anew dress. She (to make) all her own clothes herself. 3. " A watched pot never (to boil)" says the proverb. But look, the kettle (to boil) already, shall I make tea? 4. You (to enjoy) yourself or would you like to leave now? 5. I never (to wear) hats in summer, but I (to wear) a hat today because the sun is very hot. 6. John and David (to have) a long conversation. I (to wonder) what they (to talk) about. 7. " You (not to recognize) this man? " " Let me see, I (to think) I have seen him before, but I (not to remember) his name. " 8. " You (to understand) what the lecturer (to say)? " " No, I (not to understand) him at all, though I (to listen) with great attention. ” 9. " You (to hear) what he (to say)? " " No, I (not to listen). " 10. He (to promise) always to mend the window but he never (to do) it! Do it together, will you? 11. The continuous aspect (to differ) from the indefinite in form and meaning. 12. Hurry up. The train (to start) at six thirty. 13. I always (to buy) lottery tickets but unfortunately I never (to win). I (not to buy) any more tickets. 14. We (to have) visitors tonight, so I must get the dinner ready.
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