Noisy Neighbours
Mr Pring: (angrily). Bang! Bang! Bang! What are the Kings
doing at seven o'clock on Sunday morning? Mrs Pring: Well, Mr King is singing. Mr Pring: Yes, but what's the banging noise? Mrs Pring: (looking out of the window) He's standing on a
ladder and banging some nails into the wall with
a hammer. How he's hanging some strong string
on the nails.
Mr Pring: And what's Mrs King doing? Mrs Pring: She's bringing something pink for Mr King to
drink. Now she's putting it under the ladder, and
...Ohh!
Mr Pring: What's happening? Mrs Pring: The ladder's falling. Mr Pring: What's Mr King doing? Mrs Pring: He's hanging from the string. He's holding the
string in his fingers and he's shouting too Mrs
King.
Mr Pring: And is she helping him? Mrs Pring: No. She's running to our house. Now she's ringing
our bell. Mr Pring: I'm not going to answer it. I'm sleeping.
9. Read and retell the text.
A Wedding
This is a traditional church wedding. The bride and groom are leaving a church. She is wearing a long white dress and is carrying a bunch of blue flowers in her left hand. The groom is wearing a traditional morning suit and is holding a top hat in his right hand. The bride and groom are both smiling because they are very happy.
In a few minutes they are going to get into a Rolls Royce and drive to a big hotel for the reception. They are going to have cocktails and dinner. Then they are going to cut the cake and to drink champagne. Later on they are going to open all
their presents. Some people are going to make speeches and both of their mothers are going to cry.
At three o'clock the bride and groom are going to leave the reception and drive to Heathrow Airport. They are going to spend their honeymoon il a vilia by the sea. They are going to be happy for ever and ever and have a lot of children. Tonight the bride's parents are going to say, "We are not loosing daughter. We are getting a son."
1O. Read the letter and make a list of arrangements.
1020, Pen Street Staten Island New York, 16 November
Dear Helen and Tom,
Well, it's all arranged! We are spending Christmas with you and then we're going to Toronto to see Gary and Holly on 27 December. We're staying with them for three days, then we're returning home on 31 December in time for New Year at home.
We are coming to Chicago by train because we hate flying, as you know.
We hope you can meet us in Chicago.
With love Sam Grey
Task: Write someone a letter about your arrangements for your next holiday.
11. Use the Present Indefinite or the Present Continuous.
Aida is a journalist for a music magazine. She is interviewing Rob Meldon, a singer who sometimes gives free concerts to get money for hungry people. Use the correct verb forms in the dialogue below.
Aida: Rob, you (do) a lot of work to help hungry people at the moment. What (make) you so interested in helping them?
Rob: Well, I (read) the newspapers like every one else. Every week you (see) pictures of places where the people (die) of hunger. It (make) me so angry when I see that. It (not, make) you angry?
Aida: Oh, yes. But a lot of people (feel) that the problem is so big that they can't do anything to help. What you (say) to this?
Rob: Just that even the smallest gift (help) someone. And also, this: just imagine that you (live) in a place where no rain has fallen for years. Perhaps you (not, want) to accept help from others, but you know you must because your children (suffer). If your neighbour has food, you'll accept help from him, won't you?
Aida: Yes. But I (not, see) exactly what you mean...
Rob: What I (say) is this: we're all neighbours on this planet, and we can all help. We (not, need) to be a special kind of person to do something for others. I mean, I (look) special? I'm just an ordinary person, and I (help) in my own way. Anyone can do it.
12. Use the Present Indefinite or the Present Continuous.
I work in a large office with about thirty other people, most of whom I (know) quite well. We (spend) most of the day together, so we have all become friends. In fact, most of my colleagues are so interesting, that I (think) of writing a book about them!
Take Helen Watson, for example. Helen (run) the account department. At the moment she (go out) with Keith Ballantine, one of the sales representatives, and they (seem) very happy together. But everyone except Helen (know) that Keith always (make) eyes at Susan Parker. But I (happen) to know that Susan (dislike) Keith. "I can't stand people who (apologize) all the time!" she told me. "And besides, I know he (deceive) poor Helen. He (see) Betty Wills from the overseas department".
And plenty of other interesting things (go on). For instance every week money (disappear) from the petty cash box. When you realize that someone in your office is a thief, it (upset) you at first. But I also (try) to catch whoever it is before the police are called in. I'm not going to tell you who I (suspect). Well, not yet anyway.
13. Put the verbs in the correct tense form.
Linda Bush is an environmentalist. Paul Berman, a journalist, is interviewing her.
Environmental Protection
Paul: Could you tell me, Linda, why are people so concerned about the environment nowadays?
Linda: There (be) a number of reasons. But one of the most important (be) that most of them do (understand) that very soon we (have) no world to live in if we (not learn) to use the environment carefully and (protect) it from damage caused by man's activities. That's why people (try) to do their best to save the environment and wildlife which is in danger all over the world. Many species of animals are threatened and can easily become extinct if we (not make) an effort to protect them. In some cases people (hunt) animals for their fur or for other valuable parts of their bodies. They (catch) some birds, such as parrots, alive and (sell) as pets. For many animals and birds the problem is that their habitat - the place where they (live) (disappear). Farmers (use) powerful chemicals to help them (grow) better crops but these chemicals (pollute) the environment and (harm) wildlife. The most successful animals on Earth - human beings - soon will be the only one left, unless we (solve) this problem.
Paul: Why is it so important to save the rainforests?
Linda: One of the reasons is that many plants which are useful in medicine (grow) in the rainforests. We (not know) all the plants yet and researchers (try) to discover their secrets before they (disappear). Another
reason is that the world (get) warmer. The rainforests (have) an important effect on the earth's climate. But the problem is that these forests (disappear) at a terrifying rate. If people (not do) enough to save them, soon they will be gone. Many scientists (believe) that temperature already (rise). If the polar ice caps (melt), the level of sea will rise and cause terrible floods. We must do everything we can to prevent global warming and that (include) preserving the rainforests.
Paul: What environmental groups are there in your country and what kind of things they (do)?
Linda: There (be) several groups in Britain which (try) to protect the environment. The most famous group is Greenpeace, which (campaign) in many countries around the world. They (campaign) against hunting whales, pollution in the North Sea, nuclear power, testing nuclear weapons and many other issues. Another important environmental group is Friends of the Earth. They (lead) campaign against global warming, the distraction of the rainforests, and the hole in the ozone layer. There are many other groups which are concerned with protecting the environment. The oldest is the National Trust which was set up in 1895 to protect parks, buildings and monuments in Britain.
Paul: Thank you, Linda, and good luck in your campaign.
Linda: Thank you.
Think and answer:
1. What certain things do people need to stay alive and healthy?
2. What are people doing for making the Earth a safer and better place for living?
3. What stimulates man's interest in the problem of environment?
4. Do the problems of environment have anything to do with politics and social initiative of people? Prove your idea.
The Past Continuous
The Past Continuous is formed with the past tense of the auxiliary verb be + the Present Participle (V-ing)
| Affirmative | Interrogative | Negative | |||
| I He She | was working | Was | he working? she | I He She | was not working (wasn't) |
| It | it | It | |||
| We | we | We | |||
| You were working They | were you working they | You They | were working (weren't) | ||
The Past Continuous is used:
1. to express an activity happening at a particular time in (he past. (It may be used with a point of time: at 7 yesterday or with a verb in the simple past tense in the subordinate clause: when we came...)
What were you doing at 9 last night? -1 was reading a book. When she got home, the children were sleeping and the dog was sitting in front of the door.
2. to describe an action, event or situation that was in progress at a specified time in the past
In May of last year I was studying hard for my final exam1,.
3. for descriptions
Helen looked beautiful last night. She was wearing a lovclv velvet dress.
4. used without a time expression, it can indicate gradual development
It was getting dark and the wind was rising.
5. used with while the Past Continuous describes two actions that were in progress at the same time.
While he was driving along this morning, he was thinking
about his new job.
The Past Continuous may be used with the following adver-bials: all night, all morning, all day yesterday, the whole evening-
I was watching TV all evening yesterday. The Past Continuous can express incompleteness when contrasted with the Past Simple.
/ read a book yesterday (and finished it).
I was reading a book yesterday (but didn 't finish it).
Practice
7. Read the text and analyze the tenses. Answer the questions given below.
An Embarrassing Incident
One day last summer I was walking through the local park. It was a hot day and I was eating an ice cream. As I was walking past the boating lake, I saw my friends, Carol and Jim. They were taking their dog for a walk. When we met, we stopped for a chat. While we were talking, the dog suddenly jumped up and tried to get my ice cream. I pulled my hand away and unfortunately the ice-cream came out of the cone. Now there was a bald man behind me. The poor man wasn't doing any harm. He was just sitting on a bench and reading a newspaper. Well, when I pulled my hand away, the ice cream flew through the air and it landed on the man's head. I didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. When I looked at my friends, they weren't just laughing, they were in hysterics. But I was terribly embarrassed.
1. Where was the man walking one day?
2. What was he eating?
3. Who was taking a dog for a walk?
4. Was a bald man sitting on a bench or walking along the road?
5. The poor man wasn't doing any harm, was he?
6. I wonder why Carol and Jim were laughing?
2. Open the brackets.
1. This morning was really beautiful. The sun (shine), the birds (sing) and everyone in the street (smile) and (say) hello to each other.
2. Mrs Patrik looked beautiful last night. She (weai) a lovely evening dress.
3. When we arrived, she (make) some coffee.
4. While I (have) a bath the telephone rang.
5. While we (walk) in the park it began to rain.
6. He wind (blow) and the rain (beat) down. John (stand) at the bus stop shivering. He (try) to imagine being at home sitting by a warm fire. Finally he saw the lights of the bus which (approach) from the distance.
7. At 3 o'clock yesterday a geometry lesson (go) on. The teacher (draw) diagrams on the blackboard but I (look) through the window and heard nothing. I (think) about the coming New Year's party.
8. She promised not to report me to the police but ten minutes later I saw that she (talk) with a policeman and from the expression on his face I understood that she (tell) him about me.
9. The dentist's waiting room was full of people. Some (read) magazines, others just (turn) over the pages. A woman (knit), a child (play) with a toy car. Everybody (wait) for the nurse to say "Next, please".
10. I lit the fire at 6.00 and it (burn) brightly when Jane came in.
11. - The house next to yours was full of policemen and police dogs yesterday. - What they (do)? - I heard that they (look) for drugs.
12. "What you (do) between 9.00 and 10.00 yesterday?" asked the detective. "I (clean) my house", said Mrs Jones. "I always clean my house at this time".
5. Choose the proper tense form: the Past Indefinite or the Past Continuous.
1. While he rode/was riding in the forest he lost/was losing his way.
2. When I arrived/was arriving the party was in full swing. Paul danced/was dancing with Mary, and Pat and Peter drank/were drinking champagne.
3. When I finished/was finishing the ironing, I cooked/was cooking dinner.
4. How fast did they travel/were they travelling when their car had/was having a puncture.
5. A police car passed/was passing us on the motorway when we did/were doing 80 miles per hour.
6. I took/was taking a photograph of him while he ate/was eating an ice-cream.
7. I'm sorry I woke/was waking you. What were you dreaming/did you dream about?
8. What did you do/were you doing when I phoned/was phoning you last night? There was no reply.
9. Two burglars broke into the house while we watched/were watching television.
10. I found my lost key when I looked for/was looking for my passport.
11. I was having/had a beautiful dream when the alarm clock rang.
12. When I woke up, it snowed/was snowing. I remembered that Sam was coming/came for lunch and got up quickly.
13. It was a fine day when we left/were leaving the house that day. A light snow fell/was falling and a light wind was blowing/blew from the south-west. We were pleased that it wasn't raining/didn't rain.
14. We were driving/drove down the hill when a strange object appeared/was appearing in the sky.
15. We looked/were looking at it attentively but nobody knew/was knowing what it was.
4. a) Open the brackets using the Past Indefinite or the Past Continuous.
An American who (visit) Russia (want) to go on a wild bear hunt and (pay) a lot of money for the sport. The travel agent (take) the American to Moscow's Peredelkino Forest. Suddenly, he (see) a bear, and (decide) to get closer because he (hope) to shoot it. A postman, who (ride) past on his bicycle, (fall) off m surprise when he (spot) the bear. The bear (come) over to the bicycle, (pick) it up and (ride) off. In fact it (not be) a wild bear at all. It (perform) at the local circus. The bear (escape), the postman (lose) his bicycle and the American (ask) for his money back.
b) Open the brackets using the Past Indefinite, the Past Continuous or the Present Continuous.
New York. May 4. There (be) a bank robbery in the downtown financial district. Just before closing time a man (enter) the Wall Street branch of Chase Manhattan Bank. He (carry) a shotgun and (wear) a nylon stocking over his head. There (be) only a few customers in the bank at the time. He (make) them lie on the floor and (force) a teller to put money into a sack. As he (leave), a security guard (try) to ring the alarm. The robber (shoot) him and the guard is now in hospital. Surgeons (try) to save his life. Last night the police (arrest) a man on. The police (interrogate) the man who was arrested last night.
5. Translate into English: the Past Continuous - the Past Simple - the Present Continuous.
1. Мужчина сидел на берегу и рыбачил, когда увидел, что его сын бежит к нему.
2. Дом, расположенный рядом с нашим, вчера был полон полицейских с собаками. - Что они делали там?
- Я слышал, что они искали наркотики. Полагаю, собаки нашли что-то.
3. Так как шёл дождь, дети играли в гостиной. Отец был тоже там. Он пытался читать газету, но дети постоянно задавали вопросы. Иногда ему было трудно ответить на них.
4. Пока я раздумывал, покупать это пальто или нет, кто-то пришёл и купил его. - Ты примерил его?
- Да. Я примерял его несколько раз, и оно мне очень нравилось. - Так почему же ты его не купил?
- Я надеялся найти что-нибудь дешевле.
5. Когда мы встречались последний раз, ты сказал, что не собираешься приезжать в Англию снова. Что заставило тебя изменить своё решение? - Моя работа.
6. Что ты делал в это время вчера? - Я просматривал свой альбом со старыми фотографиями.
7. Утро было прекрасное, солнце ярко светило; но постепенно темнело, ветер усиливался, и сейчас идёт дождь.
8. Я открыл дверь и увидел, что за дверью стоит женщина. Она, несомненно, слышала, о чём мы говорили. Когда я спросила, что она здесь делает, то она ответила, что ищет своего кота.
9. В то время как бабушка вязала носки, а мать пела песню, ребёнок пытался уснуть.
10. Когда мы приехали на вокзал, Анна ждала нас. На ней было голубое платье, и выглядела она очень нарядно.
11. В то время как бабушка поливала цветы, начался дождь. Она раскрыла зонтик и продолжала работать. Я с удивлением смотрела на неё, ничего не говоря.
12. Когда отец копал грядки в саду, он нашёл золотое кольцо. Интересно, кому оно принадлежало и как оно туда попало?
13. Когда я видел её последний раз, она спешила на вокзал. Я спросил её, куда она едет. "В Лондон",- ответила она. Но я не поверил ей, так как в то время уже не было поездов в Лондон.
6. Open the brackets. Render the text. Think and say what moral of this story is.
The Bald Knight
Once upon a time, a long time ago, there (be) a knight who, as he (grow) older, (lose) all his hair. He (become) as bald as an egg. He (not, want) anyone to see his bald head so he (buy) a beautiful black, curly wig.
One day some lords and ladies from castle (invite) him to go hunting with them, so of course he (put) his beautiful wig! "How handsome I look!", he (think) to himself as he (dress) in front of his mirror. Then he (set) off happily for the forest.
However a terrible thing (happen). He (to ride) along singing merrily to himself when he (pass) under an oak tree, and his wig (catch) on a branch and (fall) off in full view of everyone. How they all (laugh) at him! At first the poor knight (feel) very foolish but then he (see) the funny side of the situation, and he (start) laughing, too.
They all still (laugh) when they (arrive) back at the castle. The knight never (wear) his wig again.
7. Open the brackets, using the Past or Present Indefinite, the Past Continuous.
An Investigation
Last night at 9.20 p.m. Mr Scott Show, (walk) from his office to his car when he was attacked from behind. The attacker (hit) the man on the head.
A policeman (question) the victim at the hospital last night: P: What you (remember) about the attack Mr Shaw? Sh: Well, I (walk) late last night.
p: What time you (leave) your office?
Sh: At about a quarter after nine.
p: Are you sure?
Sh: Yes, I (look) at my watch.
P: What you (do) then?
Sh: Well, I (lock) the office door, and I (walk) to the parking
lot when somebody (hit) me on the head.
P: You (see) the attacker?
Sh: No, he (wear) a mask over his face.
P: He? Oh, so it (be) a man!
Sh: Well, I'm not really sure. No... no, I don't know.
P: Tell me, Mr Shaw, how you (break) your leg?
Sh: Well, when they (pull) me into the ambulance, they
(drop) me.
8. Use the proper tense form. Role-play the conversation.
A Day off
Al Belline (work) for an import export company in Los Angeles. One morning last summer Al (call) his office at nine o'clock. His boss, Ralph Vasquez, (answer) the phone.
Ralph: Hello! Ralph Vasquez.
Al: Hello, Ralph. This is Al Belini.
Ralph: Oh, hi, Al. What's up?
Al: I (not, think) I can come to work today, Ralph.
Ralph: Oh? What's the problem?
Al: I've got a very bad sore throat.
Ralph: Yes, you sound sick.
Al: Yes, I (stay) in bed today, but I (be) able to came
tomorrow.
Ralph: That's all right, Al. Stay in bed until you (feel) well
enough to come to work.
Al: Thank you, Ralph. Good-bye.
Ralph: Bye, Al.
Ralph (like) Al a lot. At 12.30 he (get) into his car, (drive) to a store and (buy) some fruit for him. He (go) to Al's apartment and (ring) the doorbell. Al's wife, Stella, (open) the door
Stella: Oh, Ralph! Hello! Come in. How are you?
Ralph: Fine, thanks. I've come to see Al. How is he?
Stella: He (not, look) very well. I (want) him to see a doctoi
Ralph: I (go) and see him. Hi, Al!
How (be) your throat?
Al: It (seem) a little better. I (be) O.K. tomorrow.
Ralph: Good, good. Take care. Good-bye, Al.
Al: Bye, Ralph.
At three o'clock Ralph (lock) his office door and (turn) on his portable TV. He (want) to watch an important baseball game. The game (be) very exciting, both teams (play) well, but neither team could score. The crowd (cheer) and (boo).
Then at 3.20 Ralph's favourite team (hit) a home run. Ralph (jump) out of his chair. He (be) very excited. He (smile) happily when suddenly the cameraman (focus) on the crowd. Ralph's smile (disappear) and he (look) very upset. Al Bellini's face (be) there on the screen. He (not, look) sick, he (not, sound) sick. He (smile) happily and (cheer) wildly.
Task: Think and discuss the main idea of the text.
Describe the situation from the point of view of: a) Al Bellini; b) Ralph Vazquez; c) Stella
9. Open the brackets. Render the text.
One night Sara Garcia, an elderly widow (walk) down a dark street in Philadelphia. She (carry) her purse in one hand and a shopping bag in the other. There (be) nobody else in the street except two young men. They (stand) in a dark doorway. One of them (be) very tall with light hair. The other (be) short and fat with a beard and mustache.
The two men (wait) for a few moments and then (run) quickly and quietly towards Mrs Garcia. The tall man (hold) her from behind while the other one (try) to snatch her purse.
Suddenly, Mrs Garcia (throw) the tall one over her shoulder. He (crash) into the other man, and they both (land) on the ground. Without speaking, Mrs Garcia (hit) both of them on the head with her purse and (walk) calmly away.
The two surprised young men still (sit) on the ground when. Mrs Garcia (cross) the street and (go) toward a door with a bright sign above it. Mrs Garcia (pause), (turn) around, (smile) at them and (walk) into the Philadelphia Judo Club.
10. Read the text and try to act as an expert on cross-cultural behavior. Explain what the mistakes or misunderstanding were. Mind your tenses.
a) A British colleague invited me to join his friends after work. We went to the pub where he bought me a drink and he suggested a meal in a restaurant. At the end of the meal, I was very surprised to see everyone take out his wallet to pay the waiter. My friends expected me to pay as well, but I feel it was very mean of him not to pay for me as he invited me. I wonder what I was doing wrong in that situation?
Kenji, Japan
b) I've only recently arrived in the USA and don't have many friends so I was pleased to meet a really nice American in the college cafeteria the other week. We had a long conversation, she told me a story of her life, she showed me photos of her family, and she left me her address. The following week I saw her, but although she smiled and said, 'Hi' in a friendly way, she went and sat with other friends. I feel very hurt. Does she expect me to call on her? I feel I need an invitation.
Hana, Lebanon
c) I was sitting in a bus in Bristol when an elderly lady got on the bus. It was crowded and there weren't any seats. A middle-aged man said very loudly, "Would you offer the lady your seat, please?"
Why didn't he give her his seat?
Carlos, Spain
d) I was visiting Germany for the first time and I received an invitation to visit my most important customer in her house. I decided to take her a beautiful bunch of twelve red roses and her husband a bottle of wine. I gave her the flowers, but she just looked embarrassed.
Douglas, Scotland
The Future Continuous
The Future Continuous is formed with the Future Indefinite of the auxiliary verb to be and Participle I (V-ing) of the notional verb. In the first person will is more usual than shall, except in the interrogative.
The Future Continuous is used:
1. to describe an action or event which will be going on at a definite moment in the future.
/'// be having breakfast at seven o'clock tomorrow. When you come, he will be sleeping.
The definite moment is indicated either by a point of time at 5 o'clock) or by another future action expressed by a verb in the present Indefinite (when you come, when he arrives).
2. to describe an activity or state that covers the whole of a future time period.
I'll be watching TV all evening.
3. to describe a future event which is a part of regular routine. /7/ be working at home tomorrow. Call me at any time you want.
Compare:
I am meeting him tomorrow, (with a definite time, and for the near future)
I'll be meeting him tomorrow/next year/some time, (or without a time expression at all for the near or distant future)
4. to express future without intention.
/'// be seeing him at the university. He never misses lectures.
5. Will you be V-ingl Is used to ask about somebody's plans, especially if you want something or want them to do something.
- Will you be using your bicycle this evening? - No, I
won't.
-1 wonder if I could borrow it for the afternoon?
Compare: He won't cut the grass, (means he refuses to cut it) He won't be cutting the grass, (is a mere statement of fact, giving no information about his feelings) He isn't cutting the grass, (implies a planned action)
NOTES:
Will future: expresses intention, belief, hope, and
willingness.
Future Continuous: indicates future activity or event but does not express intention or willingness.
Practice
1. Read the text and analyze the tenses.
Your Horoscope Says...
Strange and wonderful things are going to happen to you next week, and you are suddenly going to become President of a small distant oil-rich country. This time next week you'll be sitting in the Palace discussing important problems. But years ago, you treated somebody very badly. You thought they'd forgotten. No. They'll be looking for revenge this week. But in vain.
At last your talent, beauty, intelligence and human warmth are going to be properly recognized. This time tomorrow you'll be starting a new career. A tall handsome man wearing a uniform will come into your life. Somebody you have always been
strongly attracted to will be sending you an invitation. Be careful in your relationships. In the great supermarket of life, you have to pay for anything you break - including hearts.
