cc Review of verb forms Study the explanations and examples in the chart. Make your own examples based on each rule. Explanation Use the simple present for habits, routines, and facts. Use the present continuous* to describe things that are happening now, or are changing, Use the simple past to describe things in the past ang used to to emphasize that things were different in the past. Use the past continuous” to describe an activity that was in progress in the past, often to contrast it with a single event. ‘One way to use the present perfect is to describe past events that have an ettect on the present. Another use of the present perfect is to describe completed events at an unspecified time in the past. | A third use of the present perfect is to describe a period of time up to and including the present Past Use the present perfect continuous” | ‘to emphasize temporary nature of the ongoing nature of the activity. Use the past perfect to talk about events that happened before a past event. Use the past perfect continuous to stress the ongoing nature of the activity. Use will to make predictions Future | US? going to for plans. The future perfect describes something that will be in the past at a future time. Example ‘Some people check their email dozens of times each day. Online shopping is becoming more popular. In the past, people sent postcards and wrote letters. They used to buy books in bookstores. Scientists developed the internet when they were looking for a way to create a national computer communication network. Cell phones have expanded our friendship networks, A recent survey found that the majority of people have used the Internet at some time to buy or sell something, Most countries have had Internet service for a number of years. People have heen using social media to organize political protests. Cell phones were invented in the 1970s, but had been in development since the 1940s. ‘They had been trying to find a way to reduce the cizo of the phonos for sovoral yoars. In the future, personal computers will be ‘mall cnough to carry in our pockets. Our company is going to install a new computer network. In 20 years’ time, people will have forgotten how to read books. * Some verbs (including like, be, belong, believe) rarely take the continuous form. Note: For a full explanation of all verb forms and their uses, please consult a grammar reference bookwww. frenglish.ru GRAMMAR: REVIEW OF VERB FORMS: Practice Exercises ‘A Choose the correct verb form. 1. Nowadays cell phones get/ are getting smaller and more powerful. 2. The Internet starts / is starting to influence our social relationships. 3. Wireless technalngy pravides / is providing us many opportunities to study and learn. 4. Inthe past, people were communicating / communicated by DICTIONARY SKILLS letter or phone. POWERED BY COBULD 5. Twenty years ago, people didn’t take / didn’t use to take pictures | Use your dictionary o review the Sit correct simple past and past participle epee forms of irregular verbs. 6. Cell phones enabled’ have enabled us to stay in constant contact with each other. 7. Because of the Internet, people have communicated / have been communicating more than before. 8. Before the Internet, no one had / has ever tried to create one-to-one marketing tools. 9. By the year 2050, everyone in the world will / is going to have a cell phone. 10. In 20 years’ time, students will stop / will have stopped using libraries. B Complete the sentences with your own ideas. 1. Many people use the Internet to 2. — Many children are leaming how to ______________________ by using the internet. 3. The Internet is bringing people closer together because 4, — Inthe past, people used to. but now they 5, People in remote countries didn't _______________ but now they 6. The Internet has changed the way we 7. Inthe future, people will use the Internet to 8. By the time they are adults, children of today will have forgotten about € Each of these sentences contains errors in verb forms. Circle and correct the errors. More than one option may be possible. 1. In 20 years’ time electrical equipment isn’t need cables. 2. — When! started work 25 years ago, nobody having a computer on his or her desk. 3. I've noticed that people who commute by train to work often worked on the train. 4. Classrooms now having interactive whiteboards, so teachers can access the Internet while they were teaching 5. The government is implemented a new policy for the use of technology in education. 6. Due to the budget cuts, the university has had 10% less to spend on technology next year. 7. Atthe beginning of the last century, most people hadn't had the opportunity to go to university. 8. Many people are considering the Internet as the most significant invention of all time.www frenglish.ru GRAMMAR FOR THE TOEFL TEST. @ are) ‘When answering question 2 in the writing section (independent task), your introductory paragraph should restate the question in different words and should include your thesis stateueut, which is the main theme of your essay. In this example, the restatement introduces three ways in which the Internet hhas changed our lives and states whether the writer agrees or disagrees with the statement that it is the ‘most important invention ever, Test Practice ‘A Read the introduction and first paragraph of a response to the independent writing task in the writing section. Complete the text with the correct verb forms. Many people say that the Internet is the most important invention ever. Do you agree or disagree with this and if not, what do you believe to be morc important? Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. The invention of the Internet '_____________(affect) our lives in many ways. It a (transfarm) the way we communicate, the way we shop, and the way we get ‘our news. Many people *______________(say) that it is the most important invention ever. | 4 {agree) with this opinion for several reasons. One way in which our lives *________________ (change) because of the Internet is the way we ‘communicate. In the past, people wrote letters and postcards, It sometimes®__-— (take) several days for a letter to arrive by mail. Nowadays, people’___________ (send) each other emails and messages instantly. They often® ______________(hold) web conferences online. People ®_________(start) to communicate with a large network of people via the Internet. In the future, we "__________ (develop) even faster and better ways of communicating with people all around the world. In 20 years’ time, we "_____ (stop) usiny paper and pens and perhaps even paper books and magazines. B Now continue with the second paragraph of the essay. Try to use a variety of tenses in your writing. ‘A second way that the Intemietwww. frenglish.ru GRAMMAR: REVIEW OF VERB FORMS © Question 1 in the speaking section (personal experiences) is an opportunity for you to show that you can use a range ot verb forms fluently. Think about how you could respond to the question below. Write a transcript of your spoken response. What kind of technology do you like to use to help you study? Explain why you find it helpful. Use specific reasons and examples to support your choice. \__Wetes: — + T has changed the way we learn + Thave used my... t0. 7 «Ex. cell phones, lapteps, Internet = 1D asually om 7 + Lused to... dut now ZL... Dn the fedura, Im going to. Extra Practice Read the following paragraph from an integrated writing task and find the errors in the verb forms. Rewrite the correct form above them. In the reading, the author states that e-reading becomes more popular in the United States. The professor /s supporting this view and says that e-readers had an enormous effect on reading habits. He predicts that in the future, the price of e-books drops and the number of titles increases. By the year 2015, the number of e-books outnumbers print books. \ | ‘Keeping a journal is a good way to improve your writing. Try to write at least a paragraph every day. Here are some questions that will help you to practice a range of tenses. What or who has influenced you most in your life? What new skills are you learning right now? What have you done in your life that you are mast proud of? What are your plans forthe future? What will the world be like in 50 years’ time? 1