Sunday, November 18, 2012
Present Tense of "be", Negative
1. Tom tired, just hungry.
2. We teachers, students.
3. It cloudy, sunny.
4. The books on the table, on the shelf.
5. Janet just a singer, also an actress.
6. The buses on time, very late.
7. Our house very large, kind of small.
8. Those cars very expensive, cheap.
9. Mary Simpson at all lazy, very energetic and hard-working.
10. The tables ready. Where the chairs?
11. Jim just a carpenter, also an electrician.
12. The furniture just beautiful, also large and comfortable.
13. Don't go to that movie. It just boring, also much too long.
14. Bob and Sally just my neighbors, also my friends.
15. Peter and Dave just fast, also very strong.
16. Our president just intelligent, also very kind.
17. The birds just fine singers, also beautiful.
18. Ms. April just a secretary, also an excellent accountant.
19. That TV just over-priced, also too large for our living room.
20. My cat hungry, so going to feed her.
21. The flight just late, also canceled.
22. Professor Ann Hopkins just interesting, also very entertaining.
23. just angry at my bank, afraid of it.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
The Verb "Be" in Present Tense
1. an intelligent person.
2. our classroom.
3. not home right now.
4. Nevada far from here?
5. at the camera store.
6. not at home. Please, leave a message.
7. our new secretary. Congratulations.
8. my car keys. Thank you for finding them.
9. The packages in front of your door.
10. a very intelligent student.
11. on the table.
12. at work. She'll be home soon.
13. a teacher at City College.
14. Are the at the house on Third Street?
15. expensive.
16. Los Angeles a large city.
17. an English teacher.
18. The salespeople very helpful. They will answer your questions.
19. 8:30 right now. The class is beginning.
20. not in Chicago yet. The plane is still in the air.
21. very good nurses.
22. These the wrong size.
23. My Mario Sanchez.
24. from Mexico.
25. five o'clock. We're going home.
26. The books in those boxes.
27. your pencils? No, they aren't.
28. closed on Mondays.
29. not home right now.
30. Are these windows clean?
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Information Questions. Choose the Words.
1. the first class of the day begin?
It begins at 8:30am.
2. Mr. Evans doing?
He's writing a letter to his friend.
3. you like to go for vacation?
I like to go to the beach.
4. Roberto going home now?
Because he doesn't feel very well.
5. Mr. and Mrs. Jones usually eat dinner?
Around 6:30 pm or 7:00 pm. It depends on when they finish work.
6. the children to school on Mondays?
Their father takes them because their mother works early on Mondays.
7. are these? I found them on this desk.
I think they're Alan's books. He was sitting there.
8. the buses so slow this morning? I've been waiting for twenty minutes.
They're always slower on the weekend.
9. Maria know how to cook so well? Her piaya is excellent.
She's been cooking it since she was a child.
10. they leaving for Los Angeles?
Next Wednesday, I believe.
11. your children have to walk to school?
Not far. Only about four blocks.
12. the first thing you do when you get to work?
I drink coffee.
13. Mary and Steve do their laundry?
Once a week.
14. your neighbors trying to do right now?
They're trying to clean their car.
15. the first class of the day begin?
It begins at 8:30am.
16. that window?
It's three feet wide.
17. crying?
I'm crying because I'm sad.
18. your son go to school in the morning?
He has to be there at 8:00 am.
19. play tennis?
They play tennis in the park.
20. wash his family's clothes? Does his apartment building have a washing machine for the tenants?
No, it doesn't. He washes his clothes at the laundromat.
21. coffee do you like?
I like Nicaraguan coffee.
22. your two younger sisters?
Let me think. Silvia is 5 feet 3 inches, and Ana is 5 feet 4 inches.
23. doing? I don't want to disturb her.
She's reading right now, but I'll tell her you called.
24. Tom and Mary going this afternoon?
I don't know. They didn't tell me.
25. you usually get up every morning?
I usually get up around 7:00 am.
26. Jose come to class more often?
Because his work schedule changes a lot.
27. playing soccer with today?
They're playing soccer with their friends.
28. usually go after school?
She usually goes to the supermarket after school.
29. you like, the green one or the red one?
I like the red one.
30. does Maria have?
She has three children, two boys and one girl.
31. the capital of California?
It's Sacramento.
32. it begin to get cold?
It begins to get cold in November.
33. tennis players do?
They play tennis.
34. the Giants playing this weekend?
They're playing in Chicago.
35. your daughter like to dance with?
She likes to dance with her fiance.
36. I found this jacket yesterday.
I think it's Paul's jacket.
37. they naming their new baby girl?
They're naming her Ana.
38 there on your block, on your side of the street?
There are about ten houses, I think.
39. you usually have for breakfast, Carlos?
I usually have cereal with bananas and strawberries.
40. celebrate Christmas every year?
We celebrate Christmas on December 25th every year.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Present Simple Tense - Fill the Blanks.
1909, Diego Rivera
1. Tom every day from 9:00am to 5:00 pm. (work)
2. Tom and I work at 5:00 pm. (finish)
3. Mary to school four nights a week. (go)
4. She a Level Two class at Mission Campus.(attend)
5. her sister also to Mission Campus? (go)
6. Mrs. Wilson one dog and one cat. (have)
7. Both her dog and her cat bowls. (have)
8. My grandmother always me a tie for my birthday. (give)
9. Jule and Roger in San Francisco. (live)
10. they the bus to work or drive? (take)
11. I always carefully. (drive)
12. It always in January and February. (rain)
13. it ever in June in San Francisco? (rain)
14. Mr. Jones usually breakfast for his family on Sunday. (make)
15. After breakfast, they usually to church. (go)
16. Mr. Jones Monday to Friday? (work)
17. Our fall classes every August. (begin)
18. Our students from many different countries. (come)
19. Sylvia from El Salvador? (come)
20. The bookstore at 9:30 every Tuesday and Wednesday. (open)
21. Mario in the front row every day. (sit)
22. this class at 8:30? (begin)
23. These students always the lesson in their notebooks. (write)
24. Susan very clearly. (write)
25. John how to use a computer? (know)
26. David is a baker. He bread and cookies. (bake)
27. When Elaine English? (study)
28. She English Monday night to Thursday night. (study)
29. your children in the playground everyday? (play)
30. Yes, they in the playground every afternoon after school. (play)
Dialogue Workout A - Present Simple Tense Practice
Dialogue Workout B - Present Simple Continued
Monday, December 27, 2010
Present Progressive or Simple Present: Quiz
1. The first class ____________ at 8:30 AM.
2. We're ____________ the present tense now.
3. Most of our students _____________ Spanish, but not all of them.
4. I don't see Maria. ______________ on her cell phone?
5. They __________________ breakfast because they're in class now .
6. The students often ___________ coffee between their classes.
7. Maria sometimes ___________ her children to school before coming to class.
8. Our class ____________ an exercise at the Mission Language Lab website.
9. Yan Ching ____________ to write English very well.
10. The second class ____________ at 10:30 AM.
11. _____________ you and Mario in Level Three or Level Four?
12. We often _______________ writing and speaking in our classes.
13. Jose _______ ___________ today because he has a sore throat.
14. Even though ____________ right now, you shouldn't miss your class.
15. Julio and Maria ________________ their books right now. They'll be back in just a few minutes.
16. Excuse me, teacher. ________________! I'm listening to every word you're saying.
17. My whole family _________ to church once a week.
18. Someone ____________ to our conversation right now.
19. My grandfather _____________ tomatoes every summer
20. After the cat _____________, __________ .
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Paragraph Cloze Exercises
Read the paragraph once. Then read the same paragraph again, but fill the blanks. Check your writing by looking at the original paragraph.
still very good
1. Maria and I _______ still very good friends.
2. We _____________ to college together.
3. We _____________ a lot together when we were kids.
4. ___________ she write to you very often?
5. __________ you and Maria going to see each other soon?
6. We __________ live in the same city now.
7. She often __________ ________ letters about her life in Mexico.
8. What _______ _______ ________ you for your birthday last year?
9. __________ Maria live in San Francisco or Mexico City?
10. We never _____________ each others' birthdays.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Reading a Map, Giving Directions

Exercise One
1. The hospital is , between Maple Street and Elm Street.
2. The Bellview Hotel is the bakery.
3. The pet shop the butcher shop and the newsstand.
4. The department store the post office.
5. The flower shop is Grand Avenue and Elm Street.
6. Could you tell me how to get from the park to the museum? Certainly. Walk up Maple Street to Brighton Boulevard and . Brighton Boulevard, and you'll see the museum between the shoe store and the bakery.
7. I'm at the zoo, looking at the animals. Suddenly, I remember something. Quickly, I walk along Brighton Boulevard past Maple Street, to Elm Street, and turn left. I walk up Elm Street, and just before reaching Grand Avenue, I enter the store on my right. Where am I? I'm
8. We're at the flower shop. Can you tell me how to get to the candy shop from here? Sure. Walk along Grand Avenue to , and turn left. Maple Street, and you'll see the candy shop , the restaurant.
9. Excuse me. Is across from the park? Yes, it is.
10. Excuse me. Is the newsstand on Maple Street? No, It's
11. Can you tell me how to get from the bakery to the butcher shop? Sure. Walk along Brighton Boulevard to , and turn right. Maple Street, and the butcher shop, at the corner of Maple Street and Grand Avenue.
12. Is the courthouse next to the laundromat? Yes,
Exercise Two
1. The fire station is the TV station.
2. From the park, Maple Street, and you'll see the candy store on the right.
3. There aren't any nearby.
4. The airport isn't .
5. Could you tell me to the laundromat from here?
6. Please tell me what is way to get to the park?
7. The museum isn't next to .
8. The flower shop is on the corner of Elm Street and .
9. The university is across from .
10 The hardware store is the drug store and the Bellview Hotel.
Exercise Three. I am at the park, and I'm asking for directions to different places nearby.
1. Excuse me. Could you please tell me how to get to the airport from here?
Certainly.
2. Excuse me. Could you please tell me how to get to the post office from here?
Sure.
Exercise Four. Mrs. Davis is at the laundromat, and she's asking for directions to different places nearby.
1. Excuse me. Could you please tell me how to get to the TV station from here?
Certainly.
2. Excuse me. Could you please tell me how to get to the hospital from here?
Certainly.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Partitives and Non Count Nouns

1. I need two bread.
2. She needs three bananas, but only one of broccoli.
3. How many apples do you want?
4. There are four quarts in one milk.
5. There are a eggs in one carton.
6. They need two lettuce. They're going to make a salad.
7. This vegetable soup is delicious. I'd like one more your vegetable soup, please.
8. I'm a gardener. I always bring a couple of water when I work outside.
9. There are 32 ounces in a tomato sauce.
10. How much is your ? It's $4.39 a loaf.
11. At La Taza you can get a good coffee for $1.50. I recommend it.
12. I'm going to make a big dinner for my friends. I need three rice.
13. One box of cookies isn't too expensive, but I want two cookies.
14. Mary usually has two of cereal for breakfast.
15. John sometimes has a orange juice with his lunch.
16. Would you like one or two ice cream for your dessert?
17. There are two milk in a half gallon.
18. We're going to barbecue some hamburgers, so we need a couple of ketchup.
19. Two ice cream equal one quart of ice cream.
20. I need about four hamburger meat for the barbecue I'm planning to have.
21. We'd better buy a jam because a peanut butter sandwich without jam is a little too dry.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Using the Base Form or the Infinitve

In English, the base form of the verb is its simple form.
Examples of base forms are as follows: "play", "cook", "stay",
"work", "make", "be", "do". Notice that there is no change in
this form: no "ing", "s", or "ed". Use the base form after
modals (will, can, must, might, should, would, may). Also,
use the base form in sentences with do, does, and did.
In English, the infinitive is always "to+verb". Examples of
infinitives are as follows: "to play", "to cook", "to stay",
"to work", "to make", "to be", "to do". Use the infinitive after
many first verbs, but not modals. First verbs that are followed by
infinitives are: want, like, be going, have, ought, know how,
plan, forget, remember, need, decide.
In the following sentences, supply a base form or an
infinitive in the blank. You will find the answer in the
drop down menu.
1. I want soccer with my friends. (play)
2. I can't to class tomorrow. (come)
3. Mary needs her doctor tomorrow afternoon. (see)
4. Tom must until 8:00 pm tonight. (work)
5. The students are going about infinitives this week. (learn)
6. You shouldn't too much about the exam. It's for your benefit. (worry)
7. We're going a story about Roberto Clemente next week. (read)
8. Did he finally a place for children to learn about sports? (build)
9. I don't early every morning. (get up)
10. Could you please me how to get to Oakland from here? (tell)
11. The landlord wants you a better apartment in this building. (show)
12. The workers couldn't the piano. It was too heavy. (move)
13. If it rains, the streets will very wet. (be)
14. They decided the house on the corner of 14th and South Van Ness. (buy)
15. Do you want to music or watch TV? (listen)
16. John has class early in order to get to work on time. (leave)
17. The plane will in San Francisco in just a few minutes. (arrive)
18. They might to Canada for their vacation, or they might to Mexico. (go)
19. We'll in Canada for a couple of weeks. Then, we'll to Iceland. (stay, travel)
20. The new library can't a larger collection of books than the old library. (hold)
Thursday, September 16, 2010
There's, There are

Exercise One - There's, There are
1. two bedrooms in this apartment.
2. an elevator.
3. a bus stop nearby?
4. any small grocery stores.
5. any buses after 1:00 am.
6. a garage in the building?
7. a bathtub in the bathroom?
8. No, a bathtub, but a shower.
9. a view?
10. Yes, .
a very nice view of downtown San Francisco.
11. four rooms in the apartment.
12. a fireplace in the living room?
13. How many sinks in the kitchen?
14. tiles in the bathroom.
15. any windows in the small bedroom?
16. How many electrical outlets in the kitchen?
17. a dishwasher in the kitchen? No, .
18. a very nice dining room in the apartment.
19. any windows in the dining room?
20. How many counters in the kitchen?
21. a washing machine in the basement? Yes,
Exercise Two - it, its, it's, are, is, there, they're, their, them, my
1. The cat likes to lick fur. The dogs don't like food.
2. almost noon. I want to eat lunch.
3. These shirts nice. I'd like to try on.
4. from China. native language is Chinese.
5. a good car. engine is top quality.
6. are several restaurants on this street. very good.
7. very cloudy today. I think going to rain.
8. This job difficult, but very interesting.
9. These vegetables delicious. How did you prepare ?
10. Those carpenters excellent, and not too expensive.
11. This pie delicious and too sweet.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Present Negative Helping Verbs
Use: "isn't", "aren't", "doesn't", "don't"
1. James a very good singer.
2. He sing very well.
3. His voice coach think he uses his voice correctly.
4. Mary cook every night. Her husband sometimes cooks.
5. Marvin like to go fishing because the lakes have very many fish.
6. Steve and Tom very good painters.
7. They paint very well, but they're good carpenters.
8. Alan enjoy working overtime, but he needs the cash.
9. Money grow on trees.
10. He usually home on weekends and he have a cell phone.
11. Sally is happy. She have to work on weekends.
12. She a good skier, so she like to go skiing. However, she skates very well.
13. Harold like to skate even through he's a good skater.
14. They need their tools today. They working until Monday.
15. These photographs clear because I have a very good camera.
16. Steve work on Wednesdays, but Thursday his day off anymore.
17. The students have to pay for the class, but they need books, and the books cheap.
18. My sister like to go bowling because she a very good bowler. She'd rather watch.
19. Evan like to write articles. He a very good writer. But he wants to learn.
20. Does Silvia like to act in plays? No, she . She a very good actor.
21. These TV shows very good. The actors remember their lines.
22. Our shower working and I know any good plumbers.
23. My son know how to fill out the form and there anyone who can help him.
24. It raining now. It usually rain in August.
25. Those chairs belong here. Please, take them to Room 405. That room have enough chairs.
26. Ronald have to finish his work today. There enough trucks for the products.
27. Several employees have their pay checks. Joanne still have hers.
28. I tried to call the employer. He in his office. His secretaries there either.
29. Those four houses have garages, and there any parking spots on the street.
30. Why Arnold like to play tennis? Because he a very good tennis player.
31. Those books sell very well because Wally a very good book salesman.
32. Ana walk to work because her new shoes very comfortable.
33. It difficult to learn a language, but it takes a lot of practice.


