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Exercise
1 Mixed tenses: letters. Put
the verbs in brackets into the correct tense. (A variety of tenses
will be needed, as well as some conditionals and imperatives; for be
able use can/could where possible.)
Part 1
Dear Hilda
I
I just (hear) that my mother isn’t very well, and I (like) to go
and see her. The trouble is I can’t take my dog Tim with me. 2 You
(think) you (be able) possibly look after him for a week? 3 You
(have) him for a week last year, you (remember), and you (say) he
(be) no trouble, and (get) on well with your dog. 4 If you (be able)
have him, I (be able) bring him along any time that (suit) you. 5 He
(have) his own bed and bowl, and I (bring) enough tinned dog food to
last him a week. 6 But if it (not be) convenient, (not
hesitate) to say so. 7 There (be) quite good kennels near here, and
they (take) him if I (ask). 8 He (be) there once before and (seem) to
get on all right.
Love
Sarah
Part 2
Dear Sarah
9 I (be) very
sorry to hear about your mother’s illness, and (be) glad that you
(go) to Scotland to see how she is, 10 It (be) nice for her to see
you. 11 Of course I (look)
after Tim. 12 We thoroughly (enjoy) having him last year and my dog
(miss) him when he (leave) and (look) for him everywhere. 13 I’m
sure he (be) delighted to see him again. 14 You (bring)
him on Tuesday afternoon? Or, if that (not suit), any Wednesday. 15
(not bother) to bring dog food; I (have) 16 I hope you (have) time to
have tea with me when you " Tim, and that by then you (have)
better news of your mother.
Part
3
Peter
17
You by any chance (know) where Bob is? 18 I (like) to find out
I just (hear) of a job that exactly (suit) him, but if he (not )
fairly soon of course he (not get) it.
19
last (see) him about a month ago, when he just (leave) his
job - the film company. 20 He (say) he (go) to France (had decided to
go France) for a holiday and (promise) to
send me a postcard with Mb French address as soon as he (find) a
place to stay. 21 But I nothing since then and (not know) even
whether he (go) to there or not. 22 If you
(know) his address I (be) very grateful if you (phone) me. 23 I
(try) to phone you several times but your phone (not seem) to be
working.
Yours
Jack
Part
4
Dear Sir
24 I
(be) interested in the furnished cottage near Dedham which you
(advertise) in yesterday’s telegraph, for
my husband and I (come) to England in June and (require)
accommodation for three months. 25 You please (tell) me exactly where
it (be) and give me details of bus and train services in the area. 26
I also (like) to know about the local shops. 27 I (be able) to shop
without a car? 28 My husband (hope) to hire a car, but I (not drive)
and he (not be) free very often to take me shopping, so we (need) a
cottage on a bus route. 29 The local shops still (deliver)? I (know)
they (do) ten years ago. 30 I (be) grateful also if you (tell) me
whether you supply sheets etc. and whether a laundry (call) at the
house. 31 The rent you (ask) (sound) reasonable for the size of the
cottage. How you (like) it paid? Weekly, monthly or in advance? 32 My
husband and I (be) abroad for ten years, but before that we (live)
near Dedham, which is why we (want) to spend our holidays there. 33
My husband also (write) a book about Constable and (like) to finish
it in the area where he, Constable, (paint) most of his pictures. 34
Mr Jones, the bank manager, (know) us since we (live) in the area and
I (be) sure he (recommend) us as suitable tenants. 35 I
of course (be willing) to send a deposit. 36 I (be) grateful for an
early reply and (enclose) a stamped addressed envelope.
Yours faithfully
Pamela Smith
Exercise
2 Mixed tenses: letters. Put
the verbs in brackets into the correct tense (some present .
participles will be required).
Part 1
Dear Sir
1 I
(write) to you three weeks ago, (ask) about conditions of entry into
your college. 2 You (reply), (enclose) an enrolment form, which I
(fill up) and (return) without delay. 3 Since then, however, I (hear)
nothing and I (begin) to wonder if my application (go) astray. 4
You please (check) that you (receive) it and if you haven’t, please
send me another enrolment form. 5 If, on the other hand, you
(receive) my application but (not decide) whether to accept me as a
student or not, I (be) very grateful if you (tell) me when I may
expec to hear your decision. 6 Finally, if my application already
(be) refused, I (like) to be informed as soon as possible because if
I do not get into your college I (have) to apply to another and the
sooner (do) this, the better chance I (have) of being accepted.
Yours faithfully
P. Smith
Part 2
Dear Mr Jones
7
My family and I (suffer) a good deal lately from the noise made by
your guests when they (leave) your house on Saturday nights. 8 They
(stand) in the street, (laugh) loudly and (call) goodbye to you and
to each other. 9 Then they (get) into their cars, (bang) the doors
loudly, and finally they (reverse) their cars on to the road. 10
This (sound) a fairly simple manoeuvre, but there is always at least
one of your guests who (find) it almost beyond him—whether because
he (have) too much to drink or still (learn) to drive I (not
know)—but I (know) that it (take) him ages to get out, and all the
time we hear his engine (roar) and his friends (shout) advice. 11
By the time all your guests (go) and the road is quiet again, my
family all (be) wakened up, and the children often (find) it very
hard to get to sleep again. 12 I
(be) very grateful if you (ask) your guests to leave more quietly,
and perhaps you (be able) persuade any learner drivers to come by
taxi.
Yours sincerely
Andrew Brown
Part 3
Dear Ann
13
You (be) free to come to dinner here on Saturday next at 8.00? 14
My brother Paul (come) and (bring) a friend of his called Tom
Edwards. 15 You (not meet) Tom but I (think) you (like) him. 16
He is an assistant stage manager at the Gate Theatre and (be able) to
tell you about the actors. 17 Paul says Tom (receive) hardly any
salary and often (not get) enough to eat, so he (ask) me to have
roast beef and Yorkshire pudding for dinner, with apple dumpling to
follow. 18 He probably (ring) up between now and Saturday, to say
that it (be) a good idea to start with a substantial soup, such as
oxtail! 19 I (know) you not usually (eat) heavy three-course meals of
this type, but I (hope) the conversaton (not be) so heavy. Anyway,
come if you (be able).
Love
Mary
20 PS. The 14 bus
(pass) the door as you probably (remember), and Paul (give) you a
lift home.
Exercise
3 Mixed tenses: telephone
conversations. Put the verbs in brackets into the correct tense and
fill the spaces with suitable forms.
Part 1
1
Caller: this is Mrs Jones at 22 High Street. ... I have an
appointment for a shampoo and set, please?
2
Receptionist: Yes, Mrs Jones. Who usually (do) your hair?
3
Caller: Peter usually (do) it, but the last time I (come) he
(be) on holiday and Ann (do) it. So if Peter (be) not available, Ann
(do) very well.
4
Receptionist: When you (want) to come, Mrs Jones?
5
Caller: I (like) to come tomorrow afternoon if possible.
6
Receptionist: I’m afraid that that afternoon is full.
Thursday afternoon at 4.00 (suit) you?
7
Caller: I’m afraid it . . . . My mother-in-law (come) to
tea.
8
Receptionist: Then what about Friday afternoon? Peter (be able) (d
you at 4.00.
9
Caller: That (be) splendid. Thank you very much.
10
Receptionist: Thank you, Mrs Jones. We (expect) you at 4.00 on
Friday then. Goodbye.
Part 2
11
Tom: ... I speak to Ann, please?
12
Ann: Ann (speak).
13
Tom: Tom here. Where you (be), Ann? I (try) to get on to you for the
last half hour. You (not leave) your office at 5.00?
14
Ann: Yes, I . . ., but today I (go) shopping and only just (get) in.
It (be) nice to hear your voice, Tom. I (not know) you (be) in
London.
15
Tom: I only (arrive) this morning. I (ring) you before but I (be)
terribly busy all day covering a conference. It only just (end). You
(do) anything tonight, Ann?
16
Ann: Yes, I
(go) to the theatre.
17
Tom: But that
(be) terrible! I (be) only here for one night!
18
Ann: I (be) sorry, Tom. If you (tell) me you were coming up, I
(keep; the evening free. But you didn’t tell me.
19
Tom: I (not know) myself till this morning when the boss suddenly
(dash) into the office and (tell) me to rush up here to cover the
conference.
20
Ann: I thought Peter usually (do) the conferences.
21
Tom: Yes, he
(do) but when he (drive) up here last night he (have) at
accident and
(take) (passive) to hospital. So I (do) it instead. Ann, you
really (go) out tonight? . . . (negative interrogative) you
get out of it?
22
Ann: No, I. . , (negative). I’m free tomorrow but I (suppose) that
(be) too late.
23
Tom (suddenly changing his plans): No, I (stay) another day. I
daresay the boss (get) over it. You (like) to meet me for dinner
tomorrow?
24
Ann: I (love) to. But Tom, you (be) sure it (be) all right? I (hate)
you to lose your job.
25
Tom: It (be) all right. I (ring) the boss and tell him I (stay)
another night. I (stay) an extra night in York last month and he (not
seem) too put out about it.
26
Ann: Why you (stay) an extra night in York?
27
Tom: I (tell) you tomorrow. Goodnight, Ann.
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Answers
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Exercise 1
Part 1 1 have just heard, would/should like 2 Do you think, could
or would be able to 3 had, remember, said, was or had been, (had)
got 4 can/could, can/could, suits/would suit 5 has, will/would
bring 6 isn’t, do not hesitate 7 are, will take him if I
ask/would take him if I asked 8 has been/was, seemed
Part 2 9
am/was, am, are going 10 will be 11 will look 12 enjoyed, missed,
left/had left, looked 13 will be 14 Will you/Would you/Could you
bring, doesn’t suit 15 Don’t bother, have 16 you’ll have,
bring, you’ll have/you’ll have had
Part 3 17 Do
you by any chance know 18 should/would like, have just heard,
would exactly suit, doesn’t apply, won’t get 19 saw, was just
leaving/had just left 20 said, was going, promised, (had) found 21
have heard, don’t even know, went 22 know, should/would be,
would phone. 23 have
tried, doesn’t seem
Part 4 24 am,
advertised, are coming/shall be coming, (shall) require. 25
Would you please/Could you please tell me 26 should/would like 27
Would I be able/Could I 28 hopes/is hoping, don’t drive, won’t
be/wouldn’t be, need/shall need/should need 29 Do the local
shops still deliver; know, did 30 should/would be, would tell,
calls 31 ask/are, asking, sounds; would you like/do
you like 32 have been, lived, want 33 is also writing, would like,
painted 34 has known, lived, am, would/will recommend 35
should/would of course be or am of course willing 36 should/would
be, enclose
Exercise 2
Part 1 1 wrote, asking or to ask or and asked 2 replied,
enclosing, filled up, returned 3 have heard, am beginning/begin,
has gone 4 Would/Could you please check, have received 5 have
received/did receive/received, haven’t decided, should/would be,
would tell 6 has already been, should/would like, don’t get,
shall/will have to, do, shall/will have or have
Part 2 7 have
suffered/have been suffering, leave/are leaving 8 stand, laughing,
calling 9 get, bang/banging, reverse 10 sounds, finds, has had, is
still learning, don’t know, (do) know, takes, roaring, shouting
11 have gone, have all been, find 12 should/would be, would ask,
could
Part 3 13 Are
you/Would you be 14 is coming, is bringing or is coming and
bringing, or will be coming and bringing 15 haven’t met, think,
would/will like 16 will be able 17 receives, doesn’t get, has
asked. 18 will probably
ring, would be 19 know, don’t usually eat, hope, won’t be; can
20 passes, remember/will probably remember, will give
Exercise 3
Part 1 (Affirmative auxiliary verbs would usually be contracted in
speech.) 1 Could 2 does 3 does, came, was, did, is, will/would do
4 do you want 5 should/would like 6 Would Thursday at 4.00 suit 7
wouldn’t; is coming 8 would be able to/could do 9 would/will be
10 will/shall expect
Part 2 11
Could 12 Speaking 13 have you been; have been trying; Don’t you
leave 14 do, went, have only just got in; is; didn’t know, were
15 arrived; would have rung, have been; has only just ended; Are
you doing 16 am going 17 is; am 18 am; had told, would have kept.
19 didn’t know, dashed,
told 20 did 21 does, was driving, had, was taken; am doing; are
you really going; can’t/couldn’t you.22
can’t/couldn’t; suppose, will/would
be 23 will stay; will get over; would you like 24 I’d love; are
you, will be, should/would hate 25 will be; will ring, am staying;
stayed, didn’t seem 26 did you stay; will tell
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