In general, each unit is organized around a group of related structures and usages. The text is intended to be taught in the order in which it is presented; however, you may wish to change the order of presentation somewhat to suit the needs of your students and your purposes.
Grammar receiving major emphasis is presented in charts consisting of examples accompanied by explanations. The explanations are simplified as much as possible with a minimum of terminology. The grammar charts serve various functions for various students. Some students devour the charts while other pay them little or no attention depending upon their learning strategies. Some students need to gain initial understanding from the charts risking use, while others freely risk anything during usage exercises and refer to the charts only incidentally. In any case, the charts are not intended to be “learned” as an out-of-class homework assignment. A chart is only a starting point and a later reference source.
VOCABULARY
The text views vocabulary development as integral to the development of structure usage ability. For the most part the vocabulary used in the exercises is familiar to intermediate students but unfamiliar vocabulary and expressions are introduced regularly. The new vocabulary is meant to be easily handled in the classroom so that students should not have to spend a great deal of time at home looking up words in their dictionaries.
EXERCISES
The goal of the exercises is to get the students talking about themselves – their activities, their ideas, their environment – as soon as possible, using the target structures. In general, the exercises in any given unit move from those that focus almost entirely on manipulation of form and meaning to those that demand more independent usage and involve a combination of skills.
Most of the exercises, other than the oral exercises, are intended for out-of-class preparation and then in class- use. Typically, a teacher might discuss the grammar in a chart, have the students do the first three or four entries of an exercise in class, and then assign the rest of the exercise to be prepared for the next class.
CHAPTER 1
PRESENT TIME
Below is an example of a possible conversation:
Exercise 1 – Oral:
A: Hi. My name is Mike
B: Hi. My name is Victor. I’m glad to meet you.
M: I’m glad to meet you, too. Where are you from?
V: I’m from NN. Where are you from?
M: I’m from Kstovo.
V: Where are you living now?
M: On Gagarin Avenue in an apartment. And you?
V: I’m living in a dorm.
M: What is your field of study?
V: Radiophysics. After I study English I’m going to attend the post-graduate courses and work on my PhD. How about you? What’s your major?
M: Chemistry.
V: What do you like to do in your free time? Do you have any hobbies?
M: I like to swim. How about you?
V: I read a lot and I collect stamps from all over the world.
M: Really? Would you like some stamps from Kstovo?
V: Sure! That would be great. Thanks.
M: I have to write your full name on the board when I introduce you to the class. How do you say your name is?
V: My first name is Victor. My last name is Petrov.
M: That’s OK. Thank you.
1 – 1 EXPRESSING PRESENT TIME: THE SIMPLE PRESENT AND THE PRESENT PROGRESSIVE
a) I take a shower every day.
b) Ann usually eats lunch in the cafeteria.
c) The sun shines.
d) The earth revolves around the sun.
The simple present expresses daily habits or usual activities.
The simple present expresses general statements of fact.
Basically the simple present is used for events or situations that exist always, usually, habitually in the past, present and future.
e) Bob can’t come to the phone right now because he is taking a shower.
f) It’s noon. Ann is eating lunch in the cafeteria right now.
g) It’s a nice day today. The sun is shining.
The present progressive expresses an activity that is in progress, is happening right now. The event is in progress at the time the speaker is saying the sentence.
Exercise 2. Complete the sentences by using the words in brackets. Use the Simple Present or the Present Progressive.
1. Shhh. The baby (sleep). The baby (sleep) for ten hours every night.
2. Right now I’m in class. I (sit) at my desk. I usually (sit) at the same desk in class every day.
3. Vera (speak) Russian. Russian is her native language, but right now she (speak) English.
4. Our teacher (stand up, not) right now. He (sit) on the corner of his desk.
5. It’s 6:00 p.m. Mary is at home. She (eat) dinner. She always (eat) dinner with her family around six o’clock.
6. Alice (take, not) the bus to school every day. She usually (walk) instead.
7. It (rain, not) right now. The sun (shine).
8. It’s 7:30 a.m. and the Wilsons are in their kitchen. Mrs. Wilson (sit) at the breakfast table. She (read) the morning paper. She (read) the newspaper every morning. Mr. Wilson (pour) a cup of coffee. He (drink) two cups of coffee every morning before he goes to work. There is a cartoon on TV, but the children (watch, not) it. They (play) with their toys instead. They usually (watch) cartoons in the morning, but this morning they (pay, not) any attention to the TV. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson (watch, not) the TV either. They (like, not) to watch cartoons.
Exercise 3. Describe your daily activities by making sentences with frequency adverbs
Frequency adverbs:
100% always
usually
often
sometimes
seldom, rarely
0% never
1. eat breakfast 10. come to class
2. drink coffee in the morning 11. get to class on time
3. drink tea in the morning 12. walk to school
4. drink orange juice in the morning 13. take a bus to school
5. drink tomato juice in the morning 14. take a taxi to school
6. drink milk in the morning 15. drive to school
7. put sugar in your coffee 16. ride a bike to school
8. have a sandwich for lunch 17. watch TV in the evening
9. eat dinner around six o’clock 18. study at the library
Exercise 4. Practice using the Simple Present. Speak on your daily activities beginning with the time you get up until the time you go to bed.
Example: from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
S1. What time do you usually get up?
S2. I get up at 7.
S1. Always?
S2. Usually. I put on my clothes (get dressed). I eat breakfast.
S1. Do you always eat breakfast?
S2. Yes.
S1. What do you usually have for breakfast?
S2. Bread and cheese and coffee. Sometimes I have an egg (hard-boiled, soft-boiled, poached).
S1. Do you ever have cereals for breakfast?
S2. No, I don’t.
1 – 2 NONPROGRESSIVE VERBS
a) I hear a bird. It is singing.
b) I’m hungry. I want a sandwich.
Some verbs are not used in the present progressive.
CORRECT: I hear a bird (right now)
INCORRECT: I’m hearing a bird.
NONPROGRESSIVE VERBS
be hear prefer
believe know see
belong like think (meaning believe)
hate love understand
have (meaning possess) need want
Exercise 5. Complete the sentences with the words in brackets. Use the Simple Present or the Present Progressive.
1. Right now Vladimir (read) an article in the newspaper, but he (understand, not) it. Some of the vocabulary (be) too difficult for him.
2. Right now I (look) at the board. I (see) some words on the board.
3. I (need) to call my parents today and tell them about my new apartment. They can’t call me because they (know, not) my new telephone number.
4. This tea is good. I (like) it. What kind is it? I (prefer) tea to coffee. How about you?
5. Sam is at the library. He (sit) at a table. He (write) a composition. He (use) a dictionary to look up the spelling of some words. The dictionary (belong, not) to him. It (belong) to his roommate. Sam (look) up words in the dictionary because he (want) to make sure that he doesn’t misspell any words.
6. Right now the children are at the beach. They (have ) a good time. They (have) a beach ball, and they (play) catch with it. The (like) to play catch. Their parents (sunbathe). They (try) to get a tan. They (listen) to some music on a transistor radio. They also (hear) the sound of sea gulls and the sound of the waves.
7. Right now I (think) about sea gulls and waves.
8. I (think) that sea gulls are beautiful birds.
Exercise 6. Complete the following dialogues by using the words in brackets. Also give short answers to the questions as necessary. Use the Simple Present or the Present Progressive.
1. A: (Mary, have) a bicycle? Does Mary have a bicycle?
B: Yes, she does. She has a ten-speed bike.
2. A: (it, rain) right now?
B: No, it …. . At least, I (think, not) so.
3. A: (you, like) sour oranges?
B: No, I …. . I (like) sweet ones.
4. A: (your, friends, write) a lot of letters?
B: Yes, they …… . I (get) lots of letters all the time.
5. A: (the students, take) a test in class right now?
B: No, they …. . They (do) an exercise.
6. A: You, know) Tom Adams?
B: No, I …. . I’ve never met him.
7. A: (your desk, have) any drawers?
B: Yes, it …. . It (have) six drawers.
8. A: (Jean, study) at the library this evening?
B: No, she … . She (be) at the student union. She (play) pool with her boyfriend.
A: (Jean, play) pool every evening?
B: No, she … . She usually (study) at the library.
A: (she, be) a good pool player?
B: Yes, she … . She (play) pool a lot.
A: (you, know) how to play pool?
B: Yes, I … . But I (be, not) very good.
Exercise 7. Complete the sentences by using the words in brackets. Use the Present Simple or Present Progressive.
1. A: Where are the children?
B: In the living room.
A: What are they doing? (they, watch) TV?
B: No, they …. . They (play) a game.
2. A: Shhhh. I (hear) a noise. (you, hear) it too?
B: Yes, I … . I wonder what it is.
3. A: My sister (have) a new car. She bought it last week.
B: (you, have) a car?
A: No, I … . Do you?
B: No, but I have a ten-speed bike.
4. A: Shhhh.
B: Why? (the baby, sleep)?
A: Yes, she (take) her afternoon nap.
B: Okay, I’ll talk softly. I (want, not) to wake her up.
5. A: Ron, (be) this your hat?
B: No, it … . It (belong, not) to me. Maybe it (belong) to Howard. Why don’t you ask him about it?
A: Okay.
6. A: Johnny, (you, listen) to me?
B: Of course I am, Mom. You (want) me to take out the garbage. Right?
A: Right! And right now!
7. A: What (you, think) about every night before you fall asleep?
B: I (think) about all of the pleasant things that happened during the day. I (think, not) about my problems.
8. A: A penny for your thoughts!
B: Huh?
A: What (you, think) about right now?
B: I (think) about English Grammar. I (think, not) about anything else.
A: I (believe, not) you!
B: But it’s true.
Exercise 8. Prepositions: Complete the sentences with prepositions.
1. Mr. Porter is nice ….. everyone.
2. Kathy was absent …… class yesterday.
3. Jack’s thermos bottle is full …… coffee.
4. I’m angry …… Tom.
5. I’m mad ….. Tom.
6. Are you afraid ….. dogs?
7. Sometimes people aren’t kind …. animals.
8. One inch is equal ….. 2.54 centimeters.
9. I’m thirsty ….. a big glass of ice water.
10. Joe has good manners. He’s always polite … everyone.
11. I’m not familiar ….. that book. Who wrote it?
12. Are you ready …. the test?
13. I don’t understand that sentence. It isn’t clear … me.
14. Mark Twain is famous …. his novels about life on the Mississippi in the nineteenth century.
15. I’m hungry …. some chocolate ice cream.
16. Our daughter graduated from the university. We’re very proud …. her.
17. A lot of sugar isn’t good … you. Sugar is especially bad … your teeth.
18. Who was responsible … the accident?
19. My coat is similar …. yours, but different …. Al’s.
20. Some people aren’t friendly …. strangers.
CHAPTER 2
PAST TIME
2 –1 EXPRESSING PAST TIME: THE SIMPLE PAST
a) Mary walked downtown yesterday.
b) I slept for ten hours last night.
The Simple Past is used to talk about activities or situations that began and ended in the past (yesterday, last night, two days ago).
c) Bob stayed home yesterday
morning.
d) Our plane arrived on time.
e) Jack studied last night.
Most Simple Past verbs are formed by adding –ed to a verb.
f) I ate breakfast this morning.
g) Sue took a taxi to the airport.
h) The phone rang while I was in the shower.
Some verbs have irregular past forms.
Exercise 1. Irregular verbs: Complete the sentences by using the Simple Past of the given verbs. Use each verb only one time.
begin go read
cut hold shake
drink keep shut
eat lose speak
find meet spend
1. Sue …….. a cup of coffee before class this morning.
2. We …….. dinner at a Mexican restaurant last night.
3. When it …….. to rain yesterday afternoon I ……. all of the windows in my apartment.
4. Bob hurt his finger when he was fixing his dinner last night. He accidentally ….. it with a sharp knife.
5. I don’t have any money in my pocket at all. I …… my last dime yesterday. I’m flat broke.
6. Mary didn’t throw her old shoes away. She ….. them.
7. I …….. an interesting article in the newspaper yesterday.
8. Jack …… his pocketknife at the park yesterday. This morning he …… back to the park to look for it. Finally he …… it in the grass. He was happy to have it back again.
9. Peter was nervous when he ……… his baby in his arms for the first time.
10. I …….. Sue’s parents when they visited her.
11. Yesterday I called Marvin on the phone. He wasn’t home so I …… to his sister.
12. When I introduced Tom to Bob they …….. hands.
Exercise 2. Irregular verbs.
bite feel leave
draw forget lend
drive get ride
fall hear steal
feed hurt take
1. Mary walked to school today. Sue ……. her car. Alice …….. her bicycle. Sandy …… the bus.
2. When Alan slipped on the icy sidewalk yesterday, he ……. down and …… his back. His back is very painful today.
3. I didn’t have any money yesterday, so my roommate ……. me five bucks.
4. The children had a good time at the park yesterday. They …… the ducks small pieces of bread.
5. Alice called the police yesterday because someone ……. her bicycle while she was in the library studying. She’s very angry.
6. Dick ……… his apartment in a hurry this morning because he was running late for school. That’s why he …… to bring his books to class.
7. The children ……. pictures in art class yesterday.
8. I have a cold. Yesterday I …… terrible. But I’m feeling better today.
9. Last night I ….. a strange noise in the house around 2:00 a.m., so I ….. up to investigate.
10. My dog isn’t very friendly. Yesterday he …… my neighbor’s leg. Luckily, however, my dog is very old and doesn’t have sharp teeth.
Exercise 3. Irregular verbs.
break dig teach
bring freeze think
buy ring wake
catch rise wear
ñome sleep write
1. I dropped my favorite vase. It fell to the floor and ……… into a hundred pieces.
2. When I went shopping yesterday, I ……. some light bulbs and a cooking pot.
3. Alex ……. his books to class this morning. He didn’t forget them.
4. My brother and his wife ……… to our apartment for dinner last night.
5. Last night around midnight, when I was sound asleep, the telephone …… . It …… me up.
6. Ms. Manning ………. chemistry at the local high school last year.
7. The sun ……. at 6:04 this morning.
8. I ………. a letter to my folks after I finished studying yesterday evening.
9. The police ……..the bank robbers. The robbers are in jail now.
10. Last night I had a good night’s sleep. I …….for nine hours.
11. Today Paul is wearing slacks and a sports jacket, but yesterday he ……. jeans and a sweatshirt to class.
12. It was really cold yesterday. The temperature was around –20 degrees C. I nearly ……to death when I walked home.
13. I …….about going to Florida for my vacation, but I finally decided to go to Mexico.
14. My dog …….a hole in the yard and buried his bone.
Exercise 4. Complete the following dialogues. Use the words in brackets. Give short answers to questions where necessary.
1. A: (you, go) Did you go to class yesterday?
B: No, I didn’t. I stayed home because I (feel, not) didn’t feel good.
2. A: (you, sleep) well last night?
B: Yes, …… . I (sleep) very well.
3. A: (Tom’s plane, arrive) on time yesterday?
B: Yes, ………. . It (get in) at 6:05 on the dot.
4. A: (you, stay) home and (study) last night?
B: No, …….. . I (go) to a new movie, The Valley of the Vampires.
A: (you, like) it?
B: It was okay, I guess, but I don’t really like horror movies.
5. A: (Mary, study) last night?
B: No, …….. . She (watch) TV.
6. A: (Mark Twain, write) Tom Soyer?
B: Yes, ……. . He also (write) Huckleberry Finn.
7. A: (the children, go) to the zoo yesterday?
B: Yes, …… . And they (have) a wonderful time.
8. A: (you, eat) breakfast this morning?
B: No, …… . I (have, not) enough time. I was late for class because my alarm clock (ring, not).
Exercise 5. Pair up with a classmate. Practice questions, short answers and
irregular verbs.
Example: eat breakfast this morning
S 1: Did you eat breakfast this morning?
S 2: Yes, I did. I ate breakfast at 7:30 this morning.
Part 1
1. sleep well last night 11. do your homework last night
2. wake up early this morning 12. give your friend a birthday present
3. eat breakfast this morning 13. catch a cold last week
4. take the bus to school 14. feel terrible
5. drive your car to school 15. see a doctor
6. ride your bike to school 16. lose your cell phone
7. bring your books to class 17. find your cell phone
8. read the newspaper this morning 18. go to a party last night
9. hear the news about an air crash 19. have a good time
10.say something 20. think about me
Part 2 (Switch roles)
21. come to class yesterday 31. make your own dinner last night
22. buy some bread yesterday 32. leave home at 8 this morning
23. drink a cup of tea before class 33. fly to New York City
24. run to class 34. fall down yesterday
25. write your parents a letter 35. hurt yourself when you fell down
26. send your parents a letter 36. break your arm
27. lend your friend some money 37. understand the question
28. wear a coat yesterday 38. speak to Jon yesterday
29. go shopping last night 39. meet Ben the first day of class
30. feed the ducks in the park 40. shake hands with Ben
Exercise 6. Practice using irregular verbs by answering the questions.
Example: Where did you sit in class yesterday?
Response: I sat in a back seat.
1. What time did class begin this morning?
2. What time did the sun rise this morning?
3. What time did you get up this morning?
4. What time did you leave home this morning?
5. What did you have for breakfast?
6. What did you drink this morning?
7. What did you wear yesterday?
8. What time did you wake up this morning?
9. Where did you grow up?
10. What did you eat for lunch yesterday? How much did it cost?
11. What did you buy last week?
12. How many phone calls did you make yesterday?
13. Where did you go yesterday?
14. How long did you sleep last night?
2-2 EXPRESSING PAST TIME: THE SIMPLE PAST AND THE PAST PROGRESSIVE
SIMPLE PAST
a)Mary walked downtown yesterday.
b) I slept for ten hours last night.
The simple past is used to talk about activities that began and ended at a particular time in the past (yesterday, last night, two days ago).
PAST PROGRESSIVE
c) I sat down at the dinner table at 7:00. My friend came to my house at 7:30. I was eating when my friend came.
The past progressive expresses an activity that was in progress at a particular time in the past.
Exercise 7. Complete the sentences with the words in brackets. Use the simple present and the present progressive.
1. At 6:00 p.m. Bob sat down at the table and began to eat. At 6:05 Bob (eat) dinner.
2. While Bob (eat) dinner Ann (come) through the door.
3. In other words, when Ann (come) through the door Bob (eat) dinner.
4. Bob went to bed at 10:30. At 11:00 Bob (sleep).
5. While Bob (sleep) the phone (ring).
6. In other words, when the phone (ring) Bob (sleep).
7. Bob left the house at 8:00 a.m. and began to walk to class. While he (walk) to class he (see) Mrs. Smith. When Bob (see) Mrs. Smith she (sweep) the front porch.
8. Sally (eat) dinner last night when somebody (knock) on the door.
9. I began to study at 7 p.m. last night. Fred (come) at 7:30. I (study) last night when Fred (drop by) to visit me.
10. My roommate’s parents (call) him last night while we (watch) TV.
11. My mother called me around five. My husband came home a little later after five. When he (come) home I (talk) to my mother on the phone.