Past simple

We use the past simple to talk about a completed action in a time before now. The
time of the action can be in the recent past or the distant past. Look at the following
examples of when the past simple is used.

1) We use it to talk about finished actions, states or habits in the past. In

these cases, we use certain finished time words/expressions (yesterday, last
week/month/year, in 2019, when I was a child…)

I lived in Manila when I was a child. I

played with my cousin last night.

2) We use it to talk about finished actions, states or habits in the past

that we know have finished because it is general knowledge.

Christopher Columbus sailed the Atlantic Ocean.

Picasso died in France.

3) For stories or lists of events.

Alice went to the cinema. People saw her come in. She sat down in her assigned seat.

Peter walked in the café, called the waiter and ordered a cup of tea.

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To form the past simple (with regular verbs) we add -ed to the infinitive form of the
verb.

Affirmative sentences

Subject + verb +ed

I played

You played

He/she/it played

We played

You played

They played

To make questions in the past simple form, we use did. IMPORTANT! Notice how the
verb stays in its infinitive form when asking questions in the past simple tense.

Interrogative

Subject + verb

Did I play?

Did you play?

Did he/she/it play?

Did we play?

Did you play?

Did they play?

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To form negative sentences with the past simple we use did not (didn’t).
IMPORTANT! Notice how the verb stays in its infinitive form when asking questions in
the past simple tense.

Negative Sentences

Subject did + verb

I didn’t play

You didn’t play

He/she/it didn’t play

We didn’t play

You didn’t play

They didn’t play

Spelling rules for the Past simple.

1) add "-ed" to a verb to change it to the past tense.

play + ed = played

2) when the verb ends in "e", add only "d."

lie + d = lied
3) when the verb ends in consonant + "y," change the "y" to "i" and add "-ed".
cry + ed = cried

4) when a verb ends in vowel + "y," add "-ed".

enjoy + ed = enjoyed

5) when a one-syllable verb ends in vowel + consonant, double the

consonant.

admit = admitted

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6) when the stress is on the final syllable of a verb that ends in vowel +
consonant, double the consonant.

prefér + r + ed = preferred

7) when the stress is not on the final syllable of a verb that ends in vowel +
consonant, add "-ed" only.

óffer + ed = offered

Some time expressions used in the past simple:

1) To show frequency: often, sometimes, always

Paul always played with his friends. Lucy

often took her lunch to work.

2) A specific point in time: last month, when I was a baby,

yesterday, 10 years ago
Jacob finished the dishes at 9 pm.
Martha arrived in Seattle yesterday.

3) For an indefinite point in time: the other day, a long time

ago

I bought a pair of shoes the other day. A

long time ago, people used typewriters.

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Practice

Complete the sentences with the past simple of the verbs.

1) I any wine last night.

a) didn’t drink

b) don’t drink

c) didn’t drank

2) She the boat at the port.

a) get on

b) got on

c) getting on

3) At what time last night?

a) did he arrive

b) does he arrive

c) did he arrived

4) They really (enjoy) the match last week.

a) enjoied

b) enjoyed

c) enjoying

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5) I the bus last week.

a) don’t take

b) didn’t take

c) doesn’t take

6) What his girlfriend for her birthday?

a) he gave

b) did he give

c) does he give

7) We a table 2 years ago.

a) bought

b) buyed

c) boughted

8) delicious cookies?

a) Does she made

b) Did she made

c) Did she make

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9) Adrian in Alicante when he was a kid.

a) live

b) lives

c) lived

10) 15 years ago, Mary to music every time she heard it.

a) doesn’t danced

b) didn’t dance

c) didn’t danced

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Past continuous

The past continuous describes an action or event that began in a time before now and
that it was still going on when another event or action occurred. Look at the following
examples of when the past continuous is used:

1) to talk about an action that occurred in the past which is interrupted by

another action.

I was dancing on the dancefloor when I hit the chair.

Shelly was talking to Alex when the cyclist fell off his bike.

2) to describe the background of a story.

On my way to the shop, the birds were chirping, the children were playing in the
park, the dogs were running after their frisbees and every single person on the
street was laughing.

3) when a person changes their mind.

I was going to buy some flour but then I remembered I had plans.
Alex was planning on going to the beach but decided to go to the gym.

4) we use it with the word wonder (to make a polite request)

Nicole was wondering if you could please set the table.

Monica was wondering if you could turn the kitchen lights off.

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5) to talk about temporary habits or habits that happened more often than not.
We use words like: always, constantly, forever, etc. These habits, temporary or
otherwise, don’t longer happen.

Robert was always running after the kids.

She was always crying, that is why we never hung out with her.

6) To make it clear how long something lasted. In these cases we use phrases
such as: for hours/days/months/years, all day/night/morning, etc.

I was tending to my garden for hours.

Carl’s baby was crying all night.

To form the past continuous, we use the past tense form of the verb -be (was/were)
and the -ing form of the verb. For the 1st and 3rd person singular we use was and for
the 2nd person singular, 1st, 2nd, 3rd person plural, we use were.

Affirmative

Subject was/were verb+ing

I was playing

You were playing

He/she/it was playing

We were playing

You were playing

They were playing

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To make questions in the past continuous we use were or was plus the -ing form of
the verb.

Interrogative

Was/Were Subject verb + ing

Was I playing?

Were you playing?

Was he/she/it playing?

Were we playing?

Were you playing?

Were they playing?

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To form negative sentences with the past continuous we use was not (wasn’t) or
were not (weren’t) plus the -ing form of the verb.

Negative Sentences

Subject was/were not verb+ing

I wasn’t playing

You weren’t playing

He/she/it wasn’t playing

We weren’t playing

You weren’t playing

They weren’t playing

Spelling rules for the past continuous

1) Add -ing to most verbs.

pour = pouring

read = reading

live =living

2) For verbs that end in e, remove the e and add ing.

slide = sliding

ride= riding

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3) For verbs that end in ie, change the ie to y and add ing.

Die= dying

Tie = tying

4) For a verb whose last syllable is written with a consonant-vowel-

consonant and is stressed, double the last letter before adding ing.

Beg= begging

Begin= beginning

Practice

Choose the correct answer.

1) Julia her car to the market.

a) were driving

b) was driving

c) was drive

2) those books last night?

a) Were they reading

b) Was they read

c) Was they reading

3) Kyle when the phone rang.

a) were showering

b) was showered

c) was showering

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4) Lisa for the bus at the bus stop at 4:00.

a) were wait

b) was wait

c) was waiting

5) in their room or in the pool when I arrived home?

a) Was the kids studying // was they swimming

b) Was the kids studying // were they swimming

c) Were the kids studying // were they swimming

6) I while I was watching the movie even though

everyone thought I was.

a) weren’t crying

b) wasn’t crying

c) wasn’t cry

7) in Sydney at the time?

a) Was you living

b) Were you living

c) Were you lived

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8) Shelly the apartment when I called her this morning.

a) weren’t leave

b) was left

c) wasn’t leaving

9) this morning? I can’t remember.

a) Were you study

b) Was I studying

c) Were I studying

10) John and Kerry lunch when his mother called.

a) was having

b) was haved

c) were having

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Present Simple

We use the present simple when we are talking about actions that are happening now
or when something happens routinely. Look at the following examples of when the
present simple is used.

1) Habits

I have toys.
You live in Paris.

2) Routines / unchanging situations

I go to piano lessons.
I like school.

3) General truths

Water freezes at zero degrees.

The sun rises every morning.

4) To give instructions or directions

She takes the nº146 bus to the city Centre and then the metro.
You pour the milk into the bowl and then mix.

5) Fixed arrangements

Her boss arrives tomorrow morning. Our

holiday starts in a few hours.

6) With future constructions

We will go to the office after the meeting is done.

She’ll see the kids before they go to summer camp.

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To form the present simple, we use the infinitive form of the verb but in the case for
the third person singular (he/she/it) we add -s or -es to the verb.

Affirmative sentences

Subject + verb

I swim

You swim

He/she/it swims

We swim

You swim

They swim

To make questions in the present simple form, we use do and does. We use does for
the third person singular (he/she/it) and do for the rest (I/ you/ we /they).
IMPORTANT! Notice how the verb in the third person does not have the -s ending.

Interrogative

Subject + verb

Do I swim?

Do you swim?

Does he/she/it swim?

Do we swim?

Do you swim?

Do they swim?

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To form negatives with the present simple we use do not (don’t) or does not
(doesn’t). For the third person singular (he/she/it) we use does not (doesn’t).
IMPORTANT! Notice how the verb in the third person does not have the -s ending.

Negative sentences

Subject do/does not + verb

I don’t swim

You don’t swim

He/she/it doesn’t swim

We don’t swim

You don’t swim

They don’t swim

Spelling rules for the present simple

1) Add -s for most verbs (third person singular)

run = runs
work = works
buy = buys
burn = burns

2) Add -es to words that end in -ch, -s, -sh, -x or -z. (third person singular)

watch = watches
wash = washes
buzz = buzzes
wax = waxes

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3) Change the -y to -i and add -es when the infinitive form of the verb ends in
consonant + -y. (third person singular)

study = studies
cry = cries

fly = flies

4) Do not change the -y to -ies when the infinitive form of the verb ends in a vowel
+y. (third person singular)

play = plays
enjoy = enjoys

5) A few verbs have irregular forms in the present simple:

Verb Present simple tense

am is
be
are

do does

go goes

have has

Practice
Choose the correct answer.

1) Apollo water every afternoon.

a) drink
b) drinks
c) drank

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2) I to work on Wednesdays.
a) drive
b) drove
c) driving

3) __ tennis?
a) Do Steven play
b) Do Steven plays
c) Does Steven play

4) Every year Sergio to the Philippines.

a) goes
b) go
c) went

5) __ emails at work every day?

a) Does Glenda write
b) Do Glenda writes
c) Does Glenda writes

6) Todd TV very often.

a) don’t watch
b) doesn’t watch
c) doesn’t watches

7) I never coffee in the morning.

a) have
b) has
c) had

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8) __ volleyball?
a) Does she play
b) Do she play
c) Does she plays

9) Sally her bike to school.

a) doesn’t ride
b) don’t ride
c) doesn’t rides

10) What when you go the grocery store?

a) do you buys
b) does you buys
c) do you buy

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Present continuous
We use the present continuous to indicate an action that is happening now, frequently
and that it may still continue well into the future.
Look at the following examples of when the present continuous is used:

1) to describe an action that is going on at the moment of speaking. These

actions are brief and they haven’t finished when we are talking about them.
You are studying English grammar.
You are using the laptop.

2) to talk about future plans

I’m going to the cinema tonight.

Are you exapanding your business next summer?

3) to describe a temporary event or situation

He typically runs in the park but he’s running somewhere else today. Today is
the only day that my mother is going to the Youth Center.

4) we use it for temporary or new habits

She is diving every Sunday now.

We’re lighting lots of candles these days.

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To form the present continuous, we use the verb -be (am, is, are) and the -ing
form of the verb.

Affirmative

Subject am/is/are verb+ing

I am playing

You are playing

He/she/it is playing

We are playing

You are playing

They are playing

To make the interrogative, we use the verb – be (am, is, are) and the -ing form of each
verb.

Interrogative

Am/is/are Subject verb + ing

Am I playing?

Are you playing?

Is he/she/it playing?

Are we playing?

Are you playing?

Are they playing?

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To form negative sentences with the present continuous we use -be (am, is, are) + not
plus the -ing form of the verb.

Negative Sentences

Subject am/is/are not verb+ing

I am not playing

You aren’t playing

He/she/it isn’t playing

We aren’t playing

You aren’t playing

They aren’t playing

Spelling rules for the present continuous

1) Most verbs all you have to do is add -ing

fly = flying
add= adding
buy= buying

2) Two syllable verbs: the last consonant is doubled when the las syllable is
stressed.
Forget =forgetting

Prefer =preferring
Upset = upsetting

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3) Verbs that end in -ie, change the -ie to -y and add -ing
Lie = lying
Die = dying

4) Verbs that end in -c, add -k and -ing

mimic = mimicking

panic = panicking

5) Verbs that end with -y, add -ing

say = saying

marry = marrying

Practice
Choose the correct answer

1) They right now.

a) is cooking
b) am cooks
c) are cooking

2) My neighbor for his wife to arrive.

a) is waiting
b) is waits
c) are waiting

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3) _ for the car to arrive?

a) Is she wait
b) Is she waiting
c) Is she waits

4) They in London at the moment.

a) aren’t lives
b) aren’t living
c) isn’t living

5) Andy the surprise birthday party for his uncle.

a) is preparing
b) are preparing
c) is prepared

6) My cousin for her final exams.

a) are study
b) am studies
c) is studying

7) The men and women in the group loud enough.

a) isn’t singing
b) aren’t sings
c) aren’t singing

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8) ______a pie for tonight?

a) Is you baking
b) Are you baking
c) Are you bake

9) _________all those book upstairs?

a) Is you carrying
b) Are you carrying
c) Am you carrying

10) I my mother with all these questions.

a) is annoying
b) are annoying
c) am annoying

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Core

The core part of the exam consists of two parts and you have a total of 25 minutes to
complete this portion of the exam.

Part 1: Grammar
You answer 25 grammar questions. The format consists of three multiple choice
answers and you complete the sentence by choosing the correct word.

Practice
Write your answers (A-C) to questions 1-25.
The answer to question 0 is given as an example.

0) How old is she?

a) are
b) is
c) be

1) Michael ignoring me last night.

a) were
b) was
c) is

2) The volcano just erupted is in Manila.

a) that
b) what
c) who

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3) When I was showering, the phone .

a) rang
b) was ringing
c) rings

4) I to live in Guatemala.

a) used
b) would
c) has

5) When I arrived at the library, Eileen the newspaper.

a) were reading
b) read
c) was reading

6) It is important for me to choose university that is close to

home.

a) an
b) a
c) the

7) We danced and we went home

a) then
b) since
c) so

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8) David: I slept too many hours.
Daisy: You have not done that! You won’t be able to sleep
tonight.

a) couldn’t
b) shouldn’t
c) wouldn’t

9) I need to sew my pillow case and I don’t have thread.

a) the
b) some
c) any

10) The waiter us that we had to order quickly because the

kitchen was closing.

a) asked
b) told
c) said

11) My grandad is older than my grandmother.

a) much
b) more
c) such

12) He is going to cancel, he?

a) aren’t
b) don’t
c) isn’t

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13) If I were smarter, I be better at maths.

a) had
b) can
c) would

14) I was of the big spider that was in the corner of the room.

a) terrified
b) terrifying
c) terrifies

15) She asked him her that he would make it to the concert.

a) promise
b) promising
c) to promise

16) blankets always keep you warm when you’re cold.

a) The
b) A
c) –

17) I always on Thursdays.

a) swimming
b) swam
c) swim

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18) I can depend my best friend to defend me.

a) for
b) on
c) in

19) Lucy has lived in Madrid 2006. She moved there when she
turned 18.

a) for
b) since
c) when

20) My brother, lives in Virginia, is coming for my birthday in

January.

a) who
b) which
c) whose

21) We’ll go to the zoo I get called into work.

a) but
b) if
c) unless

22) Brian’s mother come for Christmas. It all depends on if she

has any vacation days left.

a) might
b) can
c) must

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23) Sara is the person in her entire class.

a) more intelligent
b) most intelligent
c) intelligentest

24) I would hate to miss out on the play because of work.

a) having
b) to have
c) have

25) Would you like glass of orange juice tomorrow morning?

a) a
b) the
c) –

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Part 2: Vocabulary
There are 25 questions. In this part of the exam you will find word matching, word definition,
word usage and word pairs or word combination exercises.

Practice

1) Write the letter (A-K) of the word that is most similar in meaning to the
words on the left (1-5). You may only use each word once. You do not need to use
all the words. The answer to question 0 is given as an example.

0) beautiful A) sparkling
B) make
1) awful C) gorgeous
D) create
2) bright E) twisted
F) huge
3) big G) cold
H) freezing
4) calm I) terrible
J) awkward
5) cool K) pretty
L) peaceful

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2) Finish each sentence (6-10) using a word from the list (A-K). You may only
use each word once. You will not need to use all the words.

6) To answer is to … A) slice
B) realize
7) To begin is to… C) lecture
D) reply
8) To come is to… E) record
F) arrive
9) To cut is to… G) relative
H) inquire
10) To ask is to … I) pretend
J) undertake
K) knot
L) contest

3) Write the letter of the on the right (A-K) that matches the definition on the
left (11-15). Use each word only once. You do not need to use all the words.

11) To be so together that there is no space A) platform

between.
B) influence
12) To have an effect on people or things. C) fair
D) isolated
13) To place an object on a surface. E) close
F) responsible
14) Saying sorry for something that caused harm. G) alter
H) apologize
15) To change something. I) ideal
J) support
K) lie
L) forgive

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4) Finish each sentence (16-20) using a word from the list (A-K). Use each
word once. You do not need to use all the words.

16) The bill was split evenly everyone. A) couple

B) friendship

17) It has been snowing for the last of days. C) regularly

D) saying

18) Peter from the race because of his broken ankle. E) displaying

F) between

19) The sisters speak to discuss their mother’s G) told

illness.
H) change

20) There was an silence after the teacher made a I) awkward

rude comment to a fellow student.
J) down

K) idea

L) retired

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5) Write the letter of the word on the right (A-K) that is most often used with
a word on the left (21-25). Use each word once. You do not need to use all the
words.

A) divorce
21) break B) promise
C) shoulder
22) get a D) expectations
E) tears
23) meet F) taxes
G) eyes
24) lose H) keep
I) record
25) raise J) burst
K) catch
L) temper

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