XXIV - EXERCISES Connectors

CONNECTING THE CONNEXION OF THE CONNECTORS (BAZINGA!!!)

Here is a list of some “The big bang theory” comedy TV show episodes. In each one you will find the mentioned connector on top of the title. To help you understand the full meaning of each connector, watch the whole episode. At the same time be aware of when and how the connector is used. Good luck J!

Though:

Season 1 Episode 01 – Pilot Episode

However:

Season 1 Episode 01 – Pilot Episode

Yet:

Season 1 Episode 01 – Pilot Episode

Instead (of):

Season 1 Episode 01 – Pilot Episode

Except for:

Season 1 Episode 01 – Pilot Episode

Although:

Season 1 Episode 03 – The Fuzzy Boots Corollary

Despite / in spite of:

Season 1 Episode 04 – The Luminous Fish Effect

Besides:

Season 1 Episode 06 – The Middle Earth Paradigm

Therefore:

Season 1 Episode 13 – The Bat Jar Conjecture

Aside from:

Season 2 Episode 15 – The Maternal Capacitance

On the contrary:

Season 3 Episode 11 – The Maternal Congruence

By the way:

Season 3 Episode 14 – The Einstein Approximation

Apart from:

Season 3 Episode 16 – The Excelsior Acquisition

Consequently:

Season 4 Episode 01 – The Robotic Manipulation

Have you noticed that four of them are mentioned in the first episode?

Have found some other connectors? Let me know.

XXIII - EXERCISES Modal verbs VII

Related grammar:

Modal verbs

1: When we were children, we __________ tidy our rooms before we could watch TV.

a. must
b. had to
c. have to
d. should


2: Now I have a good salary, I __________ worry about paying the rent.

a. mustn't
b. have to
c. don't have to
d. must to not


3: Which sentence has the strongest obligation?

a. I have to call my mum because it's her birthday.
b. I ought to call my mum because it's her birthday.
c. I should call my mum because it's her birthday.
d. I could call my mum because it's her birthday.


4: You __________ use a video camera to record films while you are in the cinema. It's illegal.

a. oughtn't to
b. can't
c. shouldn't
d. don't have to


5: For us, the ideal house __________ have three bedrooms but it __________ have a big kitchen. Kitchens aren't very important for us as we rarely cook.

a. must/ mustn't
b. should/ shouldn't
c. can/ can't
d. has to/ doesn't have to


6: The doctor says he __________ be careful about his weight and diet because he has a history of heart disease in his family.

a. must
b. has to
c. should
d. all of the above


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1: When we were children, we __________ tidy our rooms before we could watch TV.

a. must
b. had to
c. have to
d. should

2: Now I have a good salary, I __________ worry about paying the rent.

a. mustn't
b. have to
c. don't have to
d. must to not

3: Which sentence has the strongest obligation?

a. I have to call my mum because it's her birthday.
b. I ought to call my mum because it's her birthday.
c. I should call my mum because it's her birthday.
d. I could call my mum because it's her birthday.

4: You __________ use a video camera to record films while you are in the cinema. It's illegal.

a. oughtn't to
b. can't
c. shouldn't
d. don't have to

5: For us, the ideal house __________ have three bedrooms but it __________ have a big kitchen. Kitchens aren't very important for us as we rarely cook.

a. must/ mustn't
b. should/ shouldn't
c. can/ can't
d. has to/ doesn't have to

6: The doctor says he __________ be careful about his weight and diet because he has a history of heart disease in his family.

a. must
b. has to
c. should
d. all of the above

IV - EXERCISES Modal verbs VI

Related grammar:

Modal verbs 

EXERCISE ONE

Complete with the modals can, could or with the conditional be able to:

1-      I……………………………….. never ……………………………….. to understand his handwriting.

2-      He used ……………………………….. to speak German well.

3-      If you spoke English, you ……………………………….. get a job in an international company.

4-      When I lived in Paris, I ……………………………….. go to the Louvre museum any time I wanted.

5-      I ……………………………….. see you this afternoon, if you want.

6-      When I pass the driving test, I ……………………………….. to drive anywhere I want.

7-       ……………………………….. you come to the party tomorrow?

8-      I love ……………………………….. to want what I want with my free time.

9-      The mechanic ……………………………….. to fix my car last week.

10-   To do this job you need ……………………………….. to use computers.

EXERCISE TWO

Complete with the modal could or with was/were able to (positive or negative forms):

1-      The police ……………………………….. (catch) the thief shortly after the robbery.

2-      He ……………………………….. (cycle) for hours when he was a kid and he wouldn't feel tired.

3-      She ………………………………..  (not/ write) until she was 10.

4-      We ………………………………..  (not/ fix) the central heating, so we had to call the technician.

5-      The house was on fire, but he ………………………………..  (escape) through the chimney.

6-      People ………………………………..  (not/travel) abroad under the communist regime.

7-      I ………………………………..  (study) all day and all night when I was a student.

8-      She ………………………………..  (answer) all the questions, so she failed her exam.

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EXERCISE ONE:

1. I have never been able to understand his handwriting.

2. He used to be able to speak German well.

3. If you spoke English, you could get a job in an international company.

4. When I lived in Paris, I could go to the Louvre museum any time I wanted.

5. I can see you this afternoon, if you want.

6. When I pass the driving test, I will be able to drive anywhere I want.

7. Can you come to the party tomorrow?

8. I love being able to want what I want with my free time.

9. The mechanic was able to fix my car last week.

10. To do this job you need to be able to use computers.

EXERCISE TWO:

1. The police were able to catch (catch) the thief shortly after the robbery.

2. He could cycle (cycle) for hours when he was a kid and he wouldn't feel tired.

3. She couldn't write (not/ write) until she was 10.

4. We weren't able to fix (not/ fix) the central heating, so we had to call the technician.

5. The house was on fire, but he was able to escape (escape) through the chimney.

6. People couldn't travel (not/travel) abroad under the communist regime.

7. I could study (study) all day and all night when I was a student.

8. She wasn't able to answer (answer) all the questions, so she failed her exam.

XXII - EXERCISES Modal verbs V

Related grammar:

Modal verbs

Conditionals and modals:

1: I wish it ____________ stop raining!

a. would
b. will
c. won't
d. does

               2: If only I _________ crashed the car!

a. had
b. hadn't
c. did
d. didn't

               3: He wouldn't have been late for the exam if he ____________ earlier.

a. leave
b. left
c. had left
d. hadn't left

               4: Where is he? He should ___________ home hours ago.      

a. be
b. were
c. have been
d. had been

               5: I decided not to do it at the last minute because I might ___________ myself.

a. had been hurt
b. hurted
c. have hurt
d. had hurt

               6: He must ____________ it, he was the only one who had a key.

a. have stolen
b. stole
c. has stolen
d. had stolen

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1: I wish it ____________ stop raining!

a. would
b. will
c. won't
d. does

               2: If only I _________ crashed the car!

a. had
b. hadn't
c. did
d. didn't

               3: He wouldn't have been late for the exam if he ____________ earlier.

a. leave
b. left
c. had left
d. hadn't left

               4: Where is he? He should ___________ home hours ago.      

a. be
b. were
c. have been
d. had been

               5: I decided not to do it at the last minute because I might ___________ myself.

a. had been hurt
b. hurted
c. have hurt
d. had hurt

               6: He must ____________ it, he was the only one who had a key.

a. have stolen
b. stole
c. has stolen
d. had stolen

XXI - EXERCISES Modal verbs IV

Related grammar:

Modal verbs

Choose the correct form and modal / conditional verb:

               1: She _______________ French and Japanese.                                             

a. does can speak
b. can speaks
c. is can speak
d. can speak

               2: When I was young my father ____________ me a story every evening before I went to sleep.                                          

a. will told
b. would told
c. would tell
d. can tell

               3: I _______________ the exam. I only answered two of the ten questions.

a. can't be passed
b. couldn't have pass
c. can't have pass
d. none of the above

               4: Excuse me sir. You ____________ smoke here. It's against the rules. Didn't you see the sign?                              

a. couldn't
b. can't
c. can
d. must

               5: After quite a few attempts, he finally ____________ smoking last year.          

a. managed to give up
b. could give up
c. managed to giving up
d. none of the above

               6: He knows he ____________ on a diet but he's just got no will power.              

a. should ought to go
b. ought should go
c. ought to go
d. oughts go

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               1: She _______________ French and Japanese.                                             

e. does can speak
f. can speaks
g. is can speak
h. can speak

               2: When I was young my father ____________ me a story every evening before I went to sleep.                                          

e. will told
f. would told
g. would tell
h. can tell

               3: I _______________ the exam. I only answered two of the ten questions.

e. can't be passed
f. couldn't have pass
g. can't have pass
h. none of the above

               4: Excuse me sir. You ____________ smoke here. It's against the rules. Didn't you see the sign?                              

e. couldn't
f. can't
g. can
h. must

               5: After quite a few attempts, he finally ____________ smoking last year.          

e. managed to give up
f. could give up
g. managed to giving up
h. none of the above

               6: He knows he ____________ on a diet but he's just got no will power.              

e. should ought to go
f. ought should go
g. ought to go
h. oughts go

XX - EXERCISES Giving directions

Related links:

VOCABULARY Asking & giving directions

GIVING DIRECTIONS

For each question choose the one correct answer.

1: If you go up to the fifth floor, you'll find his office ____ your right as you come out the elevator.

a: on

b: in

c: by

2:  Go to the end of the road and ____ left by the traffic lights.

a: bend

b: turn

c: twist

3: _____ a right just after the supermarket.  

a: Have  

b: Take  

c: Give

4:  You    ____ his house, it's painted bright pink!

a: can’t find  

b: can’t miss  

c: can't lose

5: Go ____ on to the end of the road.

a: straight  

b: near

c: towards

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1: If you go up to the fifth floor, you'll find his office ____ your right as you come out

the elevator.

a: on

2:  Go to the end of the road and ____ left by the traffic lights.

b: turn

3: _____ a right just after the supermarket.  

b: Take  

4:  You    ____ his house, it's painted bright pink!

b: can’t miss  

5: Go ____ up to the end of the road.

a: straight

XIX - EXERCISES Verb tenses

Related links:

Verb tenses timeline chart 
Verb tenses
Guide to tense usage

Exercise one:

Read the text:

John has always traveled a lot. In fact, he was only two years old when he first flew to the US. His mother is Italian and his father is American. John was born in France, but his parents had met in Cologne, Germany after they had been living there for five years. They met one day while John's father was reading a book in the library and his mother sat down beside him. Anyway, John travels a lot because his parents also travel a lot.

As a matter of fact, John is visiting his parents in France at the moment. He lives in New York now, but has been visiting his parents for the past few weeks. He really enjoys living in New York, but he also loves coming to visit his parents at least once a year.

This year he has flown over 50,000 miles for his job. He has been working for Jackson & Co. for almost two years now. He's pretty sure that he'll be working for them next year as well. His job requires a lot of travel. In fact, by the end of this year, he'll have traveled over 120,000 miles! His next journey will be to Australia. He really doesn't like going to Australia because it is so far. This time he is going to fly from Paris after a meeting with the company's French partner. He'll have been sitting for over 18 hours by the time he arrives!

John was talking with his parents earlier this evening when his girlfriend from New York telephoned to let him know that Jackson & Co. had decided to merge with a company in Australia. The two companies had been negotiating for the past month, so it really wasn't much of a surprise. Of course, this means that John will have to catch the next plane back to New York. He'll be meeting with his boss at this time tomorrow.

Once you have finished, re-read the text and make sure that you have understood everything. The next step is to complete the story (the text is exactly the same) putting the verbs into the correct tense.

John ________________ (always/travel) a lot. In fact, he _____ (be) only two years old when he first _____ (fly) to the US. His mother ___ (be) Italian and his father ___ (be) American. John ___ (be) born in France, but his parents ________ (meet) in Cologne, Germany after they ________ (live) there for five years. They ______ (meet) one day while John's father __________ (read) a book in the library and his mother ________ (sit down) beside him. Anyway, John ________ (travel) a lot because his parents also __________ (travel) a lot.

As a matter of fact, John ____________ (visit) his parents in France at the moment. He _______ (live) in New York now, but ______________ (visit) his parents for the past few weeks. He really _______ (enjoy) living in New York, but he also _______ (love) coming to visit his parents at least once a year.

This year he ___________ (fly) over 50,000 miles for his job. He _______________ (work) for Jackson & Co. for almost two years now. He's pretty sure that he ____________ (work) for them next year as well. His job __________ (require) a lot of travel. In fact, by the end of this year, he ____________ (travel) over 120,000 miles! His next journey _______ (be) to Australia. He really ________ (not like) going to Australia because it is so far. This time he __________ (fly) from Paris after a meeting with the company's French partner. He _______________ (sit) for over 18 hours by the time he ________ (arrive)!

John _____________ (talk) with his parents earlier this evening when his girlfriend from New York _________ (telephone) to let him know that Jackson & Co. ___________ (decide) to merge with a company in Australia. The two companies ______________ (negotiate) for the past month, so it really _______ (not be) much of a surprise. Of course, this _______ (mean) that John _______ (have to catch) the next plane back to New York. He ______________ (meet) with his boss at this time tomorrow.

XVII - EXERCISES Simple past & past continuous

Related links:

Verb tenses timeline chart
Verb tenses
Verb tenses guide

SIMPLE PAST & PAST CONTINUOUS

Exercise one:

Choose the correct verb forms. Use Simple Past or the Past Continuous.

1- We ……………………… (to sit) at the breakfast table when the doorbell ………………………….. (to ring).
2- He……………………… (to meet) a lot of friendly people while he……………………… (to work) in California.
3- When they……………………… (to leave) the museum, the sun………………………. (to shine).
4- The students……………………… (to play) cards when the teacher……………………… (to come) in.
5- While the children……………………… (to sleep), their parents ……………………… (to watch) TV.
6- It……………………… (to start) to rain while she……………………… (to water) the flowers in her garden.
7- When I……………………… (to open) the door, it………………………. (to rain).
8- While Henry……………………… (to have) a drink at the bar, his wife ……………………… (to swim) in the sea.
9- He……………………… (to hear) a loud bang while he ……………………… (to talk) to his friend.
10- While he ……………………… (to take) a shower, his dogs ……………………… (to eat) his steaks.

Exercise two:

Put in the verbs in brackets in the Simple Past or the Past Continuous into the gaps.

Example: I ________ my keys while I ________ to school. (to lose) (to walk)

Answer: I lost my keys while I was walking to school.

1) While I…………………………. , the school bus …………………………. (to text) (to arrive)

2) Cindy …………………………. her leg while she…………………………. . (to break) (to snowboard)

3) He …………………………. to the radio while he …………………………. breakfast. (to listen) (to prepare)

4) My father …………………………. at 70 km/h when a policeman …………………………. him. (to drive) (to stop)

5) The girl …………………………. that the boy …………………………. her. (to notice) (to watch)

6) My dad …………………………. the ladder while he …………………………. the carport. (to fall off) (to paint)

7) While we …………………………., we …………………………. crossword puzzles. (to wait) (to do)

8) Nick …………………………. sick while he …………………………. in Texas. (to become) (to travel)

9) What …………………………. when you …………………………. about 9/11? (to do) (to hear)

10) She said that she …………………………. happy, so I …………………………. to her. (not/to feel) (to talk)

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Exercise one:

1) We were sitting at the breakfast table when the doorbell rang.

2) He met a lot of friendly people while he was working in California.

3) When they left the museum, the sun was shining.

4) The students were playing cards when the teacher came in.

5) While the children were sleeping, their parents were watching TV.

6) It started to rain while she was watering the flowers in her garden.

7) When I opened the door, it was raining.

8) While Henry was having a drink at the bar, his wife was swimming in the sea.

9) He heard a loud bang while he was talking to his friend.

10) While he was taking a shower, his dogs were eating his steaks.

Exercise two:

1) While I was texting, the school bus arrived.
2) Cindy broke her leg while she was snowboarding.
3) He was listening to the radio while he was preparing breakfast.
4) My father was driving at 70 km/h when a policeman stopped him.
5) The girl noticed that the boy was watching her.
6) My dad fell off the ladder while he was painting the carport.
7) While we were waiting, we were doing crossword puzzles.
8) Nick became sick while he was travelling in Texas.
9) What were you doing when you heard about 9/11?
10) She said that she was not feeling happy, so I talked to her.

XVII - EXERCISES Simple past & past perfect

Related links:

Verb tenses timeline chart
Verb tenses
Verb tenses guide

SIMPLE PAST / PAST PERFECT

Exercise one:

Put the verbs in brackets into the gaps in the correct tense Past Perfect or Simple Past.

Example: Pat ……………………………… (to live) in London before he ……………………………… (to move) to Rome.

Answer: Pat had lived in London before he moved to Rome.


1. After Fred ……………………………… (to spend) his holiday in Italy he ……………………………… (to want) to learn Italian.

2. Jill ……………………………… (to phone) Dad at work before she ……………………………… (to leave) for her trip.

3. Susan ……………………………… (to turn on) the radio after she ……………………………… (to wash) the dishes.

4. When she ……………………………… (to arrive) the match ……………………………… already ……………………………… (to start).

5. After the man ……………………………… (to come) home he ……………………………… (to feed) the cat.

6. Before he ……………………………… (to sing) a song he ……………………………… (to play) the guitar.

7. She ……………………………… (to watch) a video after the children ……………………………… (to go) to bed.

8. After Eric ……………………………… (to make) breakfast he ……………………………… (to phone) his friend.

9. I ……………………………… (to be) very tired because I ……………………………… (to study) too much.

10. They ……………………………… (to ride) their bikes before they ……………………………… (to meet) their friends.


Exercise two:

Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses.

I can't believe I (get) ……………………………… that apartment. I (submit) ……………………………… my application last week, but I didn't think I had a chance of actually getting it. When I (show) ……………………………… up to take a look around, there were at least twenty other people who (arrive) ……………………………… before me. Most of them (fill, already) ……………………………… out their applications and were already leaving. The landlord said I could still apply, so I did.

I (try) ……………………………… to fill out the form, but I couldn't answer half of the questions. They (want) ……………………………… me to include references, but I didn't want to list my previous landlord because I (have) ……………………………… some problems with him in the past and I knew he wouldn't recommend me. I (end) ……………………………… up listing my father as a reference.

It was total luck that he (decide) ……………………………… to give me the apartment. It turns out that the landlord and my father (go) ……………………………… to high school together. He decided that I could have the apartment before he (look) ……………………………… at my credit report. I really lucked out!

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Exercise one:

1.       After Fred had spent his holiday in Italy he wanted to learn Italian.

2.       Jill had phoned Dad at work before she left for her trip.

3.       Susan turned on the radio after she had washed the dishes.

4.       When she arrived the match had already started.

5.       After the man had come home he fed the cat.

6.       Before he sang a song he had played the guitar.

7.       She watched a video after the children had gone to bed.

8.       After Eric had made breakfast he phoned his friend.

9.       I was very tired because I had studied too much.

10.     They had ridden their bikes before they met their friends.

Exercise two:

I can't believe I (get) got that apartment. I (submit) submitted my application last week, but I didn't think I had a chance of actually getting it. When I (show) showed up to take a look around, there were at least twenty other people who (arrive) had arrived before me. Most of them (fill, already) had already filled out their applications and were already leaving. The landlord said I could still apply, so I did.

I (try) tried to fill out the form, but I couldn't answer half of the questions. They (want) wanted me to include references, but I didn't want to list my previous landlord because I (have) had had some problems with him in the past and I knew he wouldn't recommend me. I (end) ended up listing my father as a reference.

It was total luck that he (decide) decided to give me the apartment. It turns out that the landlord and my father (go) had gone to high school together. He decided that I could have the apartment before he (look) looked at my credit report. I really lucked out!

XVI - EXERCISES Past perfect

Related links:

Verb tenses timeline chart
Verb tenses
Verb tenses guide

PAST PERFECT

Exercise one:

1.       John ……………………….. (not /see) an elephant before he went to Africa.

2.       It started to rain after we……………………….. (come) to the station. 

3.       They told us that the children……………………….. (eat) all the cakes. 

4.       She……………………….. (want) to become a champion before the shark attacked her. 

5.       I……………………….. (not/realise) that people can eat sharks before you told me. 

6.       The jellyfish……………………….. (swim) to the shore before the rain started. 

7.       Mark……………………….. (not /eat) seaweeds before he came to Japan. 

8.       Tonic fainted after the jellyfish……………………….. (sting) him. 

9.       By dinner time I……………………….. (catch) two sea urchins. 

10.    By four o'clock the children……………………….. (eat) all the cookies. 

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Exercise one:

1. John hadn't seen -or- had not seen (not /see) an elephant before he went to Africa.
2. It started to rain after we had come (come) to the station.
3. They told us that the children had eaten (eat) all the cakes.
4. She had wanted (want) to become a champion before the shark attacked her.
5. I hadn't realized -or- had not realized (not/realize) that people can eat sharks before you told me.
6. The jellyfish had swum (swim) to the shore before the rain started.
7. Mark hadn't eaten -or- had not eaten (not /eat) seaweeds before he came to Japan.
8. Tonic fainted after the jellyfish had stung (sting) him.
9. By dinner time I had caught (catch) two sea urchins.
10.By four o'clock the children had eaten (eat) all the cookies.