Grammar: revising simple tenses (Present Simple Tense, Past Simple Tense, Present Progressive Tense, Past Progressive Tense)
Lexical topic: Personal Qualities. Appearance
Ex. 1. Complete the sentences. Do not forget about the difference in the Tenses: if you speak about something typical or regular, you should use the Present Simple Tense; if you speak about something untypical or going on at the moment of speech, you should the Present Progressive Tense.
1. He (to be) a very serious person, and he (to prefer) …. 2. What is wrong with Ann? She (to be) so passive today! – I (not to know) even how to explain it. Generally she (to be) very energetic and active. Probably …. 3. Kate is so industrious! Even now, when everybody (to enjoy) their holidays, she (to do) her home task. – It is quite possible that ….4. I need your help! You (to be) the most educated and broad-minded person among us. – Ok. What’s the problem? – My parents (to come) back from their vacation today and I (not to know) how to explain…. 5. I think you (to be) very careless. – What (to make) you think that? – Only a careless or stupid person (to leave) the house without an umbrella when it (to rain) cats and dogs like now. – (not to be) so tactless! I’m just in a hurry. I must ….6. How can you be so narrow-minded? He just (to use) you selfishly all the time, and you (to treat) him as the most respectable person in the world! – You (to be) jealous now! You just ….
Ex. 2. Translate into English. The rule given in exercise 1 may help you.
1. Привет! Что ты здесь делаешь? – Я жду своего друга. К сожалению, он не слишком обязательный. – Ты часто его ждешь? – Да, довольно-таки. – Твоему терпению можно позавидовать. 2. Два человека едут в автобусе. Один спрашивает другого: «Вы идете сегодня на лекцию мистера Брауна? – Да, иду. – отвечает другой. – Лучше не ходите. Я слышал, что он очень ограниченный и скучный лектор. – Не могу. Я – Браун.» 3. «Ах, какой приятный человек! Он такой скромный, терпеливый, искренний! – Не будь такой наивной: он ведет себя так, только когда ему что-то нужно. На самом деле он эгоистичный, хвастливый и хитрый.» 4. «Что с тобой сегодня? Ты всегда такая спокойная, бесстрастная, рассудительная, уравновешенная, а сегодня тебя как подменили – эмоциональная, нетерпеливая! – Я просто хочу расслабиться для разнообразия. Неужели тебе не хочется чего-нибудь новенького?»
Ex. 3. Insert the verb in the proper form. Remember that you should use the Past Simple Tense, if you want to state the fact, which took place in the past, and the Past Progressive Tense, if you want to underline that the action was in progress when another event happened or if it was thought of as a continual process. Analyze use of the Present Continuous Tense.
1. Hello! Yesterday I (to meet) Kate! – Really? How she (to look) like? – Oh, she (to become) a real beauty. – But she probably (to remain) narrow-minded and uneducated as earlier. – You are being not very polite and kind today, you know. 2. Let’s invite Nick to the party. – Don’t even think of that. When I (to come) to his place last Sunday he (to do) his homework and (not to turn) his head to chatter with me. I hate such unemotional impassionate people who are constantly studying. 3. How (to be) your visit to the theatre with Ann yesterday? – Awful! When I (to come) at her place she still (to dye) her hair. Then she (to comb) her hair, (to polish) her nails, (to do) her make-up and even (to measure) her waist to improve her mood. And imagine – she (to grumble) that I (to be) too impatient!
