BURSA ULUDAĞ UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES

2020-2021 / Spring Term
MATERIAL DEVELOPMENT UNIT
B1+ GRAMMAR EXERCISES

YDYO_MAT_2

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE AND PAST SIMPLE

A. Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).
A: (you / buy) 1__________________ the tickets for our journey yet?
B: Yes, I (go) 2_______________ to the station yesterday and (buy) 3__________________ the tickets.
A: What time (you / go) 4____________________ there?
B: I (take) 5_________________ a friend to the station in the morning. His train (leave)
6__________________ at 9:45.
A: (you / pack) 7___________________ your bags yet?
B: Of course. And I (ask / already) 8_________________ my neighbour to water my plants. What about
you?
B: I (pack) 9_______________ my bags two days ago.
B. Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).
A: (you / taste / ever) 1_______________________ sushi?
B: Yes, I (eat) 2_______________________ sushi at least five times so far.
A: When (you / eat) 3___________________ sushi for the first time?
B: I (eat) 4_____________________ sushi for the first time on my dad's 50th birthday. He (invite)
5______________________ the whole family to a Japanese restaurant.
A: (you / like) 6______________________ it?
B: Absolutely. In fact, it (be) 7_________________ so good that we (be) 8_________________ to that
restaurant three times so far. And on my mum's birthday, we (order) 9_______________ some sushi and
(have) 10_________________ it at home.
C. Choose the correct option.
1. Here are your shoes. I have just cleaned / just cleaned them.
2. Chopin has composed / composed some of his music in Majorca.
3. I read his books when I was at school. I have enjoyed / enjoyed them very much.
4. He has broken / broke his leg in a skiing accident last year.
5. My brother has written /wrote several plays. He has just finished / just finished his latest.
6. Have you ever bought / Did you ever buy clothes online?
7. Sally hasn't answered / didn’t answer my email yet.
8. We have seen / saw a concert when we went to London.

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9. A: Have you played / Did you play chess before? B: Yes. I’m very good at chess. I haven’t lost a game
/ didn’t lose a game so far.
D. Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).
A: I (see / not) 1____________________ you for a long time. Where (you / be) 2_____________________?
B: I (come / just) 3____________________ back from Canada.
A: Oh really? What (you / do) 4_____________________ in Canada?
B: I (take) 5______________________ a nature tour.
A: Wow! (you / see) 6____________________ many wild animals there?
B: Of course. I (watch) 7_____________________ bears, wolves and whales in the wild. That (be)
8_____________________ so interesting. (you / spend / ever) 9______________________ a holiday in
Canada?
A: Yes, I (travel) 10______________________ around Canada twice so far.
B: When (you / go) 11_________________________ there?
A: The first time I (go) 12______________________ there (be) 13______________________ in 1997 and
the second time in 2004.
B: (you / enjoy) 14 _________________________ it?
A: I absolutely (love) 15_________________________ it, especially the west coast.
E. Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).
Last week Susan (be) 1_________________ very busy and she (have not) 2_________________ the time to
do a lot in the household.
On Monday she (work) 3___________ three hours overtime and (come)4 _________________ home very
late in the evening. From Tuesday to Thursday she (be) 5______________________ on a business trip.
On Friday she(go) 6________________ to a friend's birthday party.
Tomorrow some friends are coming over. She (see / not) 7 _________________ them for ages and they (be /
never) 8 _______________________ at her place before.
She (clean / just) 9 _____________________ her house so she can show them around. Now everything is
perfect.
F. Fill the blanks with the suitable form of the verbs in bracket. Use Simple past or present perfect
tenses.
My best friend (always / want) __________________ to travel in South America. Therefore, he (go)
______________________ to Brazil after he (graduate) ___________________ from university. He loved
the country so much that he (decide) ___________________ to move there. He (live)
______________________ in Brazil for 2 years now. He (make)____________________ a lot of friends
and he (already /learn) _____________ Spanish and Portuguese. However, he (not find) ______________ a
permanent job yet. Whenever he is unemployed, he travels to other countries in South America. He (be)
_______________________ to Venezuela, Bolivia and Colombia so far and he (see)
___________________many interesting places such as Angel Falls in Venezuela. Surprisingly, he (not
have) ___________________ the opportunity to see the ancient Incan site of Machu Picchu in Peru yet. He
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(travel) _________________ to Argentina last week. Actually, he (just/send) ______________________ me
some photos of his trip.

PRESENT AND PAST ABILITY

A. Choose the correct option.
1. We were _____ get a boat from the island that day because of the bad weather.
a) not able to b) not manage to c) couldn’t
2. I can't believe you _____ get us a table at the restaurant. It's always full!
a) could b) managed to c) able to
3. Luckily, I _____ get to the airport on time although the traffic was terrible.
a) managed to b) could c) can
4. When they first moved to Argentina, they _____ only speak a few words of Spanish.
a) could b) managed to c) be able to
5. She _____ touch her toes until she started doing yoga and became more flexible.
a) could b) couldn't c) is able to
6. I _____ understand a word she says. She speaks too quickly.
a) not manage to b) can’t c) am able to
7. ______ to use a computer is a requirement of many jobs today.
a) Being able b) Manage c) Can
8. I think I know what's wrong with the TV. I hope to _____ fix it.
a) manage b) can c) be able to
9. We were surprised when grandma ______ to pass her driving test at the age of 60.
a) able b) could c) managed
10. How did he _____ find the place without asking for directions?
a) manage to b) able to c) could
11. A lot of women are______ to raise children and pursue a career at the same time.
a) can b) able c) manage
12. Many people who try to climb Mount Everest ______ reach the top of the mountain.
a) are able b) don’t manage to c) manages
13. We were _____ leave our baggage at the hotel reception and spend the day sightseeing.
a) able to b) managed to c) could
B. Put the words in order to make sentences.
1. the woods / escape / into / several / managed / criminals / to.
_________________________________________________________________________
2. couldn’t / problems / deal with / the financial / the company.
___________________________________________________________________________
3. think of / people / able / interesting / creative / to / ideas / are
___________________________________________________________________________

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4. wasn’t / the speaker / attend / due to / able / the conference / to / illness
___________________________________________________________________________
5. to / want / around / I / the / travel / to / be / World / able
___________________________________________________________________________
Cross the incorrect sentences.
1. a. Yesterday we were able to get tickets for the concert.
b. Yesterday we could get tickets for the concert.
2. a. When I was a teenager, I could stay up all night without getting tired.
b. When I was a teenager, I was able to stay up all night without getting tired.
3. a. We were able to go sailing yesterday because the weather was so nice.
b. We could go sailing yesterday because the weather was so nice.
4. a. We weren’t able to get a flight to Chicago.
b. We couldn’t get a flight to Chicago.
5. a. They had a big problem, but they managed to find a solution.
b. They had a big problem, but they could find a solution.
6. a. I could speak Italian when we lived in Italy.
b. I managed to speak Italian when we lived in Italy.
ANSWER KEY
PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE AND PAST SIMPLE
A. Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).
A: (you / buy) 1___Have you bought_______________ the tickets for our journey yet?
B: Yes, I (go) 2____went___________ to the station yesterday and (buy) 3________bought__________
the tickets.
A: What time (you / go) 4________did you go____________ there?
B: I (take) 5_____took____________ a friend to the station in the morning. His train (leave)
6_______left___________ at 9:45.
A: (you / pack) 7________Have you packed___________ your bags yet?
B: Of course. And I (ask / already) 8_____have already asked____________ my neighbour to water my
plants. What about you?
B: I (pack) 9_______packed________ my bags two days ago.
B. Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).
A: (you / taste / ever) 1_______Have you ever tasted________________ sushi?
B: Yes, I (eat) 2_____have eaten__________________ sushi at least five times so far.
A: When (you / eat) 3_______did you try____________ sushi for the first time?
B: I (eat) 4_____ate________________ sushi for the first time on my dad's 50th birthday. He (invite)
5____invited__________________ the whole family to a Japanese restaurant.
A: (you / like) 6______Have you liked________________ it?

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B: Absolutely. In fact, it (be) 7_____was____________ so good that we (be) 8_____have
been____________ to that restaurant three times so far. And on my mum's birthday, we (order)
9_______ordered________ some sushi and (have) 10_________had________ it at home.
C. Choose the correct option.
1. Here are your shoes. I have just cleaned / just cleaned them.
2. Chopin has composed / composed some of his music in Majorca.
3. I read his books when I was at school. I have enjoyed / enjoyed them very much.
4. He has broken / broke his leg in a skiing accident last year.
5. My brother has written /wrote several plays. He has just finished / just finished his latest.
6. Have you ever bought / Did you ever buy clothes online?
7. Sally hasn't answered / didn’t answer my email yet.
8. We have seen / saw a concert when we went to London.
9. A: Have you played / Did you play chess before? B: Yes. I’m very good at chess. I haven’t lost a game
/ didn’t lose a game so far.
D. Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).
A: I (see / not) 1_____haven’t seen_______________ you for a long time. Where (you / be)
2__________have you been___________?
B: I (come / just) 3______have just come______________ back from Canada.
A: Oh really? What (you / do) 4_______did you do______________ in Canada?
B: I (take) 5____took__________________ a nature tour.
A: Wow! (you / see) 6______Did you see______________ many wild animals there?
B: Of course. I (watch) 7_____watched________________ bears, wolves and whales in the wild. That (be)
8____was_________________ so interesting. (you / spend / ever) 9______Have you ever
spent________________ a holiday in Canada?
A: Yes, I (travel) 10______have travelled________________ around Canada twice so far.
B: When (you / go) 11______did you go___________________ there?
A: The first time I (go) 12_________went_____________ there (be) 13________was______________ in
1997 and the second time in 2004.
B: (you / enjoy) 14 ________Did you enjoy_________________ it?
A: I absolutely (love) 15____loved_____________________ it, especially the west coast.
E. Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).
Last week Susan (be) 1____was_____________ very busy and she (have not) 2_____didn’t
have____________ the time to do a lot in the household.
On Monday she (work) 3_____worked______ three hours overtime and (come)4 _____came____________
home very late in the evening. From Tuesday to Thursday she (be) 5_______was_______________ on a
business trip.
On Friday she(go) 6_______went_________ to a friend's birthday party.
Tomorrow some friends are coming over. She (see / not) 7 _____hasn’t seen____________ them for ages
and they (be / never) 8 ____have never been___________________ at her place before.
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She (clean / just) 9 __has just cleaned___________________ her house so she can show them around. Now
everything is perfect.
F. My best friend (always / want) ____has always wanted______________ to travel in South America.
Therefore, he (go) ________went______________ to Brazil after he (graduate)
______graduated_____________ from university. He loved the country so much that he (decide)
_______decided____________ to move there. He (live) _____has lived_________________ in Brazil for 2
years now. He (make)_______has made_____________ a lot of friends and he (already /learn) _______has
already learnt_________ Spanish and Portuguese. However, he (not get) __hasn’t got____________ a
permanent job yet. Whenever he is unemployed, he travels to other countries in South America. He (be)
_______has been________________ to Venezuela, Bolivia and Colombia so far and he (see) ______has
seen_____________many interesting places such as Angel Falls in Venezuela. Surprisingly, he (not have)
_____hasn’t had______________ the opportunity to see the ancient Incan site of Machu Picchu in Peru yet.
He (travel) _______travelled__________ to Argentina last week. Actually, he (just/send) _____has
sent_________________ me some photos of his trip.

PRESENT AND PAST ABILITY

A. Choose the correct option.
1. We were _____ get a boat from the island that day because of the bad weather.
a) not able to b) not manage to c) couldn’t
2. I can't believe you _____ get us a table at the restaurant. It's always full!
a) could b) managed to c) able to
3. Luckily, I _____ get to the airport on time although the traffic was terrible.
a) managed to b) could c) can
4. When they first moved to Argentina, they _____ only speak a few words of Spanish.
a) could b) managed to c) be able to
5. She _____ touch her toes until she started doing yoga and became more flexible.
a) could b) couldn't c) is able to
6. I _____ understand a word she says. She speaks too quickly.
a) not manage to b) can’t c) am able to
7. ______ to use a computer is a requirement of many jobs today.
a) Being able b)Manage c) Can
8. I think I know what's wrong with the TV. I hope to _____ fix it.
a) manage b) can c) be able to
9. We were surprised when grandma ______ to pass her driving test at the age of 60.
a) able b) could c) managed
10. How did he _____ find the place without asking for directions?
a) manage to b) able to c) could
11. A lot of women are______ to raise children and pursue a career at the same time.

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a) can b) able c) manage
12. Many people who try to climb Mount Everest ______ reach the top of the mountain.
a) are able b) don’t manage to c) manages
13. We were _____ leave our baggage at the hotel reception and spend the day sightseeing.
a) able to b) managed to c) could
B. Put the words in order to make sentences.
1. the woods / escape / into / several / managed / criminals / to.
Several criminals managed to escape into the woods.
2. couldn’t / problems / deal with / the financial / the company.
The company couldn’t deal with the financial problems.
3. think of / people / able / interesting / creative / to / ideas / are
Creative people are able to think of interesting ideas.
4. wasn’t / the speaker / attend / due to / able / the conference / to / illness
The speaker wasn't able to attend the conference due to illness.
5. to / want / around / I / the / travel / to / be / World / able
I want to be able to travel around the World.
C. Cross the incorrect sentences.
1. ✔ a. Yesterday we were able to get tickets for the concert.
✘ b. Yesterday we could get tickets for the concert.
2. ✔a. When I was a teenager, I could stay up all night without getting tired.
✔b. When I was a teenager, I was able to stay up all night without getting tired.
3. ✔a. We were able to go sailing yesterday because the weather was so nice.
✘b. We could go sailing yesterday because the weather was so nice.
4. ✔ a. We weren’t able to get a flight to Chicago.
✔ b. We couldn’t get a flight to Chicago.
5. ✔ a. They had a big problem, but they managed to find a solution.
✘ b. They had a big problem, but they could find a solution.
6. ✔ a. I could speak Italian when we lived in Italy.
✘ b. I managed to speak Italian when we lived in Italy.