Learning English requires a lot of practice from us, both speaking and practicing grammar. This will allow not only to follow jagged rules, but also to understand what is the correct order in a sentence, add the necessary endings, speak intuitively, and not think about translating each word said. A variety of tasks for Present Simple and Past Simple allows you to carefully check and apply all the learned rules.
Types of grammar tasks
There are many different tests and exams to test the level of knowledge of tenses in English:
- choose the correct option from those offered;
- change the form of the verb (tasks in English for Past Simple and other tenses);
- deliver the entire offer at the specified time;
- choose the correct word order.
The above are just some of the mostcommon types of exercise.
Tips for passing tests
To get top marks, you can practice your grammar and speaking skills by taking small tests at least once a day. For their successful passage, you should follow a few rules:
- Always reread a sentence several times, preferably even aloud. Sometimes, already at the level of intuition, you can understand where the mistake is if you do not remember the right rule.
- When choosing from several options, you must answer yourself not only the question of why A (for example) is correct, but also why the rest are wrong.
- Tests often offer very similar or confusing options. Don't rush to choose when you see the first answer that suits you.
- Read the directions carefully.
- When learning grammar, remember important nuances. For example: nouns often end in -ment, -ion, -ness, -ity.
- In tasks for Past Simple to change the form for the verb in quotation marks, ask yourself leading questions: is there a question or negation in the sentence, is the verb correct or not, is the passive form needed, and the like.
- Check your work.
Present Simple
The Present and Past Simple tenses are some of the easiest to learn. Present Simple is used in English for the following purposes:
- Repetitive actions - this time is often used for constant actions, onthis is indicated by words denoting: always, never, often, every day (I often go home late).
- Simple statements of fact - when you need to state a fact or ask a question without reference to time (She speaks five languages).
- World truths - the laws of nature and the world are always spoken about in Present Simple (Leaves fall in autumn).
- With verbs of feelings and mental processes, the most common: love, like, smell, know and others.
- In jokes and stories, the present simple tense is very often used in jokes and when telling a story to make the story more direct. This use of the present tense is sometimes referred to as pictorial presence. Time is also used to retell events in a book or movie.
- To refer to the future that is planned or events beyond our control (Hurry up, please! The bus departs in 15 minutes!).
Examples of tasks for Present Simple
Fill in the table using the already supplied sentences:
| Statement | Denial | Question |
| She goes to school | ||
| He doesn't sing | ||
| Is she tall? |
From Past Simple to make Present Simple:
1. He wrote a story about animals. 2. Did you like that ice cream? 3. The tree was huge and had green leaves. 4. She didn't want to go there. 5. Jane wanted to goto France on holiday. 6. Where was your jacket? 7. The bus came in time. 8. The weather was strangely fine. 9. He could do this task by himself. 10. I read that book too fast.
Put the words in the sentence in the correct order:
- likes/Nancy/to/games/play.
- so Candies tasty are.
- have I of lot toys a.
- about What know do stars you?
- school doesn't to Steve go.
Past simple tense
Past simple tense most commonly used:
- For actions that happened in the past - Past Simple is used for processes that have already happened, in a sentence this is often indicated by an auxiliary word denoting the past tense (last year, yesterday, ago).
- In direct speech - if you were told something in the present tense, you will tell this information already in the past (She said she lived in London).
- In conditional sentences (If i knew it i would tell you).
Irregular verbs are the most difficult in tasks for Past Simple. These are words that change their form (spelling or sound) in the past tense. Frequently used ones should be memorized, and for the rest, have a special table with all irregular verbs (send-sent-sent).
Assignments for Past Simple
Write the second form of the irregular verb: run, lose, lie, buy, put, meet, speak, know, hold.
Put sentences in past tense:
- They move to a new town.
- She sells toys.
- Do you go there?
- I don't play chess.
- He fights for freedom.
Assignment for Past Simple - choose a word from brackets:
- I visited my aunt (yesterday/tommorrow).
- He (sold/sold) all his cars.
- Did they (payed/pay) for a bill?
- (Did/Does) she go there last night?
- Students (was/were) very noisy.
