he is doing homework since 8 o'clock

• I have been reading for 2 hours. (I am still reading now.)
• We 've been studying since 9 o'clock. (We're still studying now.)
• How long have you been learning English? (You are still learning now.)
• We have not been smoking . (And we are not smoking now.)

For and Since with Present Perfect Continuous tense

We often use for and since with perfect tenses:

• We use for to talk about a period of time: three hours, two months, one decade
• We use since to talk about a point in past time: 9 o'clock, 1st January, Monday

Look at these example sentences using for and since with the Present Perfect Continuous tense:

• I have been studying for three hours.
• I have been watching TV since 7pm.
• Tara hasn't been feeling well for two weeks.
• Mary hasn't been visiting us since March.
• Anton has been playing football for a long time.
• He has been living in Bangkok since he left school.

Back to 12 English Tenses

Present Perfect Continuous Games

• Grammar & vocab

Since, for, from (examples, how to use)

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on X (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Practise this grammar

Intermediate grammar exercise: Since, for, from

Related Posts

• How to get the future right: using present tenses to express the future
• Intermediate grammar exercise (B1 level): present perfect simple or continuous 2
• Upper-intermediate grammar exercise (B2 level): future perfect simple vs. continuous
• Just (examples, how to use)
• As soon as: conjunction (examples, how to use)
• Until, till (examples, how to use)
• Intermediate grammar exercise (A2 level): past simple vs. past continuous
• Intermediate grammar exercise: past perfect vs. past simple
• Upper-intermediate grammar exercise (B2 level): present perfect simple vs. continuous (2)
• Present and past participles – misleading terms?

• Most answers
• No selected answer
• No upvoted answer
• Ask a question
• Post a note
• Register Login Remember

Past simple or past continuous?

Please log in or register to add a comment.

The first one is more natural if you are referring to an action that was in progress at 8 o'clock. But it is not possible to omit the subject in English, pronoun " I " in this case.

If you are referring to an action that was concluded before 8 o'clock, you should use Past Perfect and a different preposition, " by 8 o'clock" in this case.

E.g.: I had finished my homework by 8 o'clock last night.

Both sentences are syntactically incorrect, i.e. the word order is not respected. 

You have two options: 1) to use a comma for emphasis: At 8 o'clock last night , I was doing my homework; 2) to put the whole adverbial phrase after the object: I was doing my homework at 8 o'clock last night .

Your answer

• Share on Twitter
• Share on Google+
• Share on Facebook

Related questions

• When can you use present continuous? Difference between the present simple and the present continuous.
• What's the difference between 'Present Perfect Simple Tense' and 'Present Perfect Continuous Tense?
• when should i use past perfect and past simple?
• What's the difference when you use past simple and present perfect?
• Could someone give me examples about Past,Present and Future Perfect Continuous?

Latest Questions

Cpelle asked.

I need some english lessons

ahmad4altamimi asked

Speak english

Jasmins96 asked

Wegen viel Arbeit oder wegen vieler Arbeit?

Jahangir Alom asked

English speaking practice

The difference between "has + been + p.p" and "had + been + p.p"

LanguageLearningBase.com ( short: llb.re ) is an online community for learning foreign languages. It represents an open knowledge base. Every member can share and gain knowledge about a new language. Read more -->

Learn Vocabulary

Learn English Vocabulary Through Pictures with 150 Topics

Vocabulary Exercises A1

English Vocabulary Exercises for A1 with Answers.

Vocabulary Exercises A2

English Vocabulary Exercises for A2 with Answers.

Vocabulary Exercises B1

English Vocabulary Exercises for B1 with Answers.

Vocabulary Exercises B2

English Vocabulary Exercises for B2 with Answers.

FULL Grammar Exercises

FULL English Grammar Exercises with Answers

Verbs and Tenses Exercises

English Verbs and Tenses Exercises with Answers and Explanations

Grammar Exercises A1

English Grammar Exercises for A1 with Answers

Grammar Exercises A2

English Grammar Exercises for A2 with Answers

Grammar Exercises B1

English Grammar Exercises for B1 with Answers

Grammar Exercises B2

English Grammar Exercises for B2 with Answers

Listening Exercises Beginner

English Listening Exercises for Beginner with Answers

Listening Exercises A1

English Listening Exercises for A1 with Answers

Listening Exercises A2

English Listening Exercises for A2 with Answers

Listening Exercises B1

English Listening Exercises for B1 with Answers

Listening Exercises B2

English Listening Exercises for B2 with Answers

Listening Tests A1

Practice Listening Tests for A1 with Answers & Transcripts

Listening Tests A2

Practice Listening Tests for A2 with Answers & Transcripts

Listening Tests B1

Practice Listening Tests for B1 with Answers & Transcripts

Listening Tests B2

Practice Listening Tests for B2 with Answers & Transcripts

Word Skills Exercises A1

English Word Skills Exercises for A1 with Answers

Word Skills Exercises A2

English Word Skills Exercises for A2 with Answers

Word Skills Exercises B1

English Word Skills Exercises for B1 with Answers

Word Skills Exercises B2

English Word Skills Exercises for B2 with Answers

Reading Exercises Beginner

English Reading Exercises for Beginner with Answers

Reading Exercises A1

English Reading Exercises for A1 with Answers

Reading ExercisesC A2

English Reading Exercises for A2 with Answers

Reading Exercises B1

English Reading Exercises for B1 with Answers

Reading Exercises B2

English Reading Exercises for B2 with Answers

Speaking Exercises A1

English Speaking Exercises for A1 with Answers

Speaking Exercises A2

English Speaking Exercises for A2 with Answers

Speaking Exercises B1

English Speaking Exercises for B1 with Answers

Speaking Exercises B2

English Speaking Exercises for B2 with Answers

Writing Exercises A1

English Writing Exercises for A1 with Answers

Writing Exercises A2

English Writing Exercises for A2 with Answers

Writing Exercises B1

English Writing Exercises for B1 with Answers

Writing Exercises B2

English Writing Exercises for B2 with Answers

Business Listening A1

Business English Listening Exercises for A1 with Answers

Business Listening A2

Business English Listening Exercises for A2 with Answers

Business Listening B1

Business English Listening Exercises for B1 with Answers

Article Level 1

Improve your ability to speak English

Article Level 2

Article level 3, article level 4, conversations.

Listening Practice Through Dictation with Transcripts

English Grammar Exercises: Past continuous

Exercise  1   .

1    (at 8 o’clock yesterday evening) …………………….

2    (at 5 o’clock last Monday) …………………….

3    (at 10.15 yesterday morning) …………………….

4    (at 4.30 this morning) …………………….

5    (at 7.45 yesterday evening) …………………….

6    (half an hour ago) …………………….

1   I was having dinner

2   I was on a bus on my way home.

3   I was working.

4   I was in bed asleep.

5   I was getting ready to go out.

6   I was watching TV at home.

Exercise  2   

Use your own ideas to complete the sentences. Use the past continuous.

1   Matt phoned while we …………………….

2   The doorbell rang while I …………………….

3   The car began to make a strange noise when we …………………….

4   Jessica fell asleep while she …………………….

5   The television was on, but nobody …………………….

1   were having dinner

2   was having a shower

3   were driving home

4   was reading the paper

5   was watching it

Exercise  3   

Put the verb into the correct form, past continuous or past simple.

I ……………………. (see) Sue in town yesterday, but she ……………………. (not I see) me. She ……………………. (look) the other way.

I ……………………. (meet) Tom and jane at the airport a few weeks ago. They ……………………. (go) to Paris and I ……………………. (go) to Rome. We ……………………. (have) a chat while we ……………………. (wait) for our flights.

I ……………………. (cycle) home yesterday when a man ……………………. (step) out into the road in front of me. I ……………………. (go) quite fast, but luckily I ……………………. (manage) to stop in time and ……………………. (not / hit) him.

1   saw … didn’t see … was looking

2   met … were going … was going … had … were waiting / waited

3   was cycling … stepped … was going … managed … didn’t hit

Exercise  4   

1   Jenny ……………………. (wait) for me when I ……………………. (arrive).

2   ‘What ……………………. (you I do) at this time yesterday?’ ‘I was asleep.’

3   ‘ ……………………. (you / go) out last night?’ ‘No, I was too tired.’

4   How fast ……………………. (you I drive) when the accident ……………………. (happen)?

5   Sam ……………………. (take) a picture of me while I ……………………. (not / look).

6   We were in a very difficult position. We ……………………. (not / know) what to do.

7   I haven’t seen Alan for ages. When I last ……………………. (see) him, he……………………. (try) to find a job.

8   I ……………………. (walk) along the street when suddenly I ……………………. (hear) footsteps behind me. Somebody ……………………. (follow) me. I was scared and I ……………………. (start) to run.

9   When I was young, I ……………………. (want) to be a pilot.

10   Last night I ……………………. (drop) a plate when I ……………………. (do) the washing-up. Fortunately it ……………………. (not I break).

1   was waiting

2   were you doing

3   Did you go

4   were you driving … happened

5   took … wasn’t looking

6   didn’t know

7   saw … was trying

8   was walking … heard … was

    following … started

10   dropped … was doing … didn’t break

Related Posts

• English Grammar Exercises – Phrasal verbs (03)
• English Grammar Exercises – Phrasal verbs (02)
• English Grammar Exercises – Phrasal verbs (01)
• English Grammar Exercises – Adjective/verb + preposition
• English Grammar Exercises – Prepositions (general)
• English Grammar Exercises – Prepositions of place

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

• Bussiness English Listening for A1
• Bussiness English Listening for A2
• Bussiness English Listening for B1
• English for daily communication level 1
• English for daily communication level 2
• English for daily communication level 3
• English for daily communication level 4
• English for Daily Conversations
• English Grammar Exercises for A1
• English Grammar Exercises for A2
• English Grammar Exercises for B1
• English Grammar Exercises for B2
• English Listening Exercises for A1
• English Listening Exercises for A2
• English Listening Exercises for B1
• English Listening Exercises for B2
• English Listening Exercises for Beginner
• English Listening Tests for A1
• English Listening Tests for A2
• English Listening Tests for B1
• English Listening Tests for B2
• English Reading Exercises for A1
• English Reading Exercises for A2
• English Reading Exercises for B1
• English Reading Exercises for B2
• English Reading Exercises for Beginner
• English Speaking Exercises for A1
• English Speaking Exercises for A2
• English Speaking Exercises for B1
• English Speaking Exercises for B2
• English Vocabulary Exercises for A1
• English Vocabulary Exercises for A2
• English Vocabulary Exercises for B1
• English Vocabulary Exercises for B2
• English Word Skills Exercises for A1
• English Word Skills Exercises for A2
• English Word Skills Exercises for B1
• English Word Skills Exercises for B2
• English Writing Exercises for A1
• English Writing Exercises for A2
• English Writing Exercises for B1
• English Writing Exercises for B2
• Learn Vocabulary Through Pictures
• Listening Practice Through Dictation

Pin It on Pinterest

Exercise on Simple Present - Present Progressive

Complete the sentences. Use Simple Present and Present Progressive.

• Look! Jenny (go) to school.
• She (wear) a raincoat and wellies and she (carry) an umbrella.
• Jenny usually (cycle) to school, but today she (take) the bus because it (rain) .
• The bus (leave) at 7.35 and (arrive) at Jenny's school at 7.45.
• The first lesson (begin) at 8 o'clock.

T075 - Present Tense - Simple and Continuous

Gap-fill exercise.

Fill in the correct form of the Present Tense (Simple or Continuous) :

• The girls ( NOT ARGUE ) now. They ( WATCH ) a film together.
• Look ! Mary ( SING ) again. She often ( SING ) this song.
• My dad ( HAVE ) a lot of work to do every weekend.
• Please go to the supermarket and ( BUY ) me some food.
• Emma ( SPEAK ) English and French but her sister doesn't.
• He usually ( LEAVE ) home at 9.00 o'clock but today he ( LEAVE ) later.
• I ( VISIT ) my grandmother every Friday. My sister often ( VISIT ) her as well.
• She ( WRITE ) to her pen friend at the moment.
• They sometimes ( HAVE ) lunch at work, but today they ( GO ) to a restaurant.
• She can't talk to you. She ( HAVE ) a shower.
• Where ( ALEX , NORMALLY, LIVE ) ? - In France.
• Jane ( GIVE ) a party today because it ( BE ) her birthday.
• My mother always ( COOK ) in the morning.
• The lesson ( START ) at 9 every morning.
• What ( YOU USUALLY DO ) at the weekends ?
• After school I always ( CHECK ) my Facebook posts before I do my homework.
• Pay attention ! The teacher ( WRITE ) some examples on the blackboard.
• She never ( SMOKE ).
• He ( LIKE ) watching TV but he ( NOT WATCH ) at the moment because he is asleep.
• My brother can't play tennis because he ( HAVE ) a racket.

Parts Of Speech Grammer Interactive English First Year Intermediate Study Material With Answers

Prepositions grammer interactive english first year intermediate study material with answers, articles grammer interactive english first year intermediate study material with answers, tenses grammer interactive english first year intermediate study material with answers.

Table of Topics

12. Fill in any four of the following blanks with a suitable form of the verbs given in the brackets [4×1=4]

1. fill in the blanks with the present simple or present continuous form of the verbs given in the brackets. ( page no 151 ).

1] Custard apple is (be) a tasty and healthy fruit. 2] The moon appears (appear) at night 3] It is raining (rain) now. We can’t go out at present. 4] A ray of the sun does not (not, pass) through a wall. 5] Hyderabad is (be) the Capital of Telangana state. 6] All banks are open (open) on the first and the third Saturday of the month. 7] People speak (speak) Telugu all over AP and Telangana. 8] My English teacher usually speaks (speak) English in the class room, but surprisingly she is speaking (speak) Telugu now. 9.] Do North Indians eat (eat) chapatis daily? 10] Is he doing (do) any job at present? 11] Usually I close (close) all doors before going to bed. 12] Do you believe (believe) in ghosts? 13] My father is watching (watch) a serial at the moment. 14] Water freezes (freeze) during winter in some areas of the Atlantic Ocean.

1. Fill in The blanks with the Present Perfect or Present Perfect Continous Form Of the Verbs Given in the brackets. ( Page no 158 )

1. fill in the blanks with the simple past, past continous, past perfect continous form of the verbs given in the brackets. ( page no 159 ).

1] The tsunami broke (break) while the sailors were rowing (row) the boats. 2] How did you spend (spend) your childhood? 3] I was browsing (browse) the internet when he came to our house. 4] The audience has occupied (occupy) their seats before the cinema began. 5] The farmers had been sowing (sow) seeds for two hours when the sun set. 6] There was a stampede when the pilgrims suddenly rushed (rush) into the temple. 7] I wish I had (have) a car. 8] When were (be) you born? 9] How long had your brother been staying (stay) in the US when you went there for MS? 10] Gandhi passed away (Pass away) in 1948.

1. Fill in The blanks with the Simple Future, the Future Continous, the future perfect, Future Perfect Continous Form of the verbs Given in the brackets. ( Page no 165 )

2. fill in the blanks with the appropriate forms of the verbs given in the brackets. (page no 165 to 166), 3. rewrite the following sentence correcting the underline parts ({age no 166 ).

1. He is doing homework since 8 o’clock. A] He has been doing homework since 8 o’clock.

2. If they are going out, we will follow them. A] If they go out, we will follow them.

4. If you have your mother, she would have felt happy. A] If you had helped your mother, she would have felt happy.

6. Mukesh Ambani has constructed the world’s costliest house four years ago. Mukesh Ambani constructed the world’s costliest house four years ago.

7. He has returned from Dubai a month ago. A] He returned from Dubai a month ago.

8. He is not having any cash. A] He does not have any cash.

10. Is he remembering our help? A] Does he remember our help?

13. Did you leave for Hyderabad last year. A] Did you left for Hyderabad last year.

14. Sangeetha joined tomorrow. A] Sangeetha will join us tomorrow.

3. Fill in The blanks with the appropriate forms of the verbs Given in the brackets. (Page No 166)

How satisfied are you.

Best Students Deals & Teachers Discounts on Streaming Sites 2024

Role play for first year intermediate english practicals, jam just a minute for first year intermediate english practicals, student record format and accumulated marks for intermediate first year english practical record.

Home of English Grammar

Prepositions of Time – At, On, In

The prepositions at, on and in indicate time. Can you use them correctly? Test your understanding with this interactive grammar exercise.

1. I usually get up ………………… six o’clock.

We use at with clock times.

2. Phone me ……………… lunchtime.

3. i work best ………………. the evening..

We use ‘in’ with parts of the day. For example, we say in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening.

4. I usually go for a walk ……………….. the morning.

5. we met …………….. a cold afternoon in winter..

We use ‘on’ when we say which morning / afternoon / etc., we are talking about.

6. I will call you ……………. Sunday.

We use ‘on’ with days.

7. What are you doing …………….. the weekend?

Please select 2 correct answers

We can say at the weekend or on the weekend.

8. They got married ……………… the week after Easter.

We use in for longer periods.

9. We are having the house painted …………… Easter.

We use ‘at’ to talk about the whole of the holidays at Christmas, Easter etc.

10. I wrote the book …………. a month.

11. are you free ........................

Prepositions are not used in expressions of time before next, last, this, that, each, every etc.

12. Let’s meet ………………

1. I usually get up at six o’clock. 2. Phone me at lunchtime. 3. I work best in the evening. 4. I usually go for a walk in the morning. 5. We met on a cold afternoon in winter. 6. I will call you on Sunday. 7. What are you doing at / on the weekend? 8. They got married in the week after Easter. 9. We are having the house painted at Easter. 10. I wrote the book in a month. 11. Are you free this evening? 12. Let’s meet one day.

5 Simple Rules for Telling Time in English

Hello, Friends!

Telling time in English can be confusing. I’m happy to help! There are a few rules to remember, please:

#1. Telling Time in English: Using ‘Past’ or ‘To’

As we know, there are 60 minutes in an hour. With minutes 1 – 29, we say it’s past (or after ) the hour. For example, “It’s ten past three”, or 3:10. Or another example, “It’s twenty after eight”, or 8:20. With minutes 31 – 59, we say to (the next hour). For example, when it’s 10:40, we say “It’s twenty to eleven” (Eleven minus twenty minutes). Or when it’s 3:50, we say “It’s ten to four” (Four minus ten minutes). Remember, it’s always correct to say “It’s 3:50”. But many times, you will hear people say “It’s ten to four”. English learners should be aware of that. And they should be comfortable using “past , after , and to ” to express time.

#2. When to Use ‘a Quarter’ and ‘a Half’

Like we said, there are 60 minutes in an hour. We divide our time in quarters and halves. It’s confusing at first, but it does make expressing time easier. At minute 15, we say it’s “ quarter past ”. Or we say, it’s “ quarter after ”. Both “ quarter past ” and “ quarter after ” are equally correct. So, when it’s 7:15, we say it’s “ quarter past seven”. Or when it’s 1:15, we say it’s “ quarter after one”. At minute 45, we say it’s “ quarter to ” the next hour. For example, at 5:45, we say it’s “ quarter to six” (or 15 minutes before 6:00). At minute 30, we say it’s “ half past ”. So at 9:30, we would say it’s “ half past nine” (or half an hour after 9:00). Again, please remember that it’s okay to say “It’s 7:15”. Or “It’s 5:45”. But you will definitely hear people say “It’s quarter after seven”. Or “It’s a quarter to six”. So I encourage you to get comfortable and confident expressing time in quarters and halves.

#3. A.M or P.M: What Time is it?

As we all know, there are 24 hours in a day. Hours 1 through 11 are pretty simple. In the 9th hour, we just say “It’s 9:00”. But hours 12 to 24 might be a little different than what other cultures are accustomed to. For hours 0 through 12, we call this “ A.M. ”. So for hour 7 (in the morning), we say “It’s seven A.M. ” (7:00 A.M.). For hours 12 to 24, we call this “ P.M. ”. So for example, at hour 14, we say “It’s two P.M .” Again, there are cultural differences that might make “ A.M .” and “ P.M .” a little confusing. For example, my Brasilian students told me that at the 17th hour, they say “It’s seventeen hundred.” We just say “It’s five P.M .” (5:00 P.M.).

*** It’s NOT important to know this. But “A.M.” stands for “Ante Meridiem” (Latin). And “P.M.” stands for “Post Meridiem” (also Latin).

#4. Noon. Midday. Midnight

At hour 12, we say it’s “ noon ”. You also sometimes hear people say “ midday ”. At hour 24, we say it’s “ midnight ”. “ Noon ” is 12:00 P.M. And “ midnight ” is 12:00 A.M. (The start of a new day or 24 hour cycle.)

#5. When to Use O’clock

At the beginning of each hour, we use the term “ o’clock ”. For example, “It’s one o’clock ” (1:00). Or “It’s four o’clock ” (4:00). A common mistake that I have noticed with English learners is that they will use the term “ o’clock ” at the wrong time. For example, we do NOT say “It’s six-thirty o’clock” (6:30). And we do NOT say “It’s eleven-fifteen o’clock” (11:15). We only say “ o’clock ” at the exact hour. For example, “It’s four o’clock ” (4:00). Or “It’s eight o’clock ” (8:00).

Last ‘Telling Time in English’ Advice From Jeff

I hope this helps? Time is very important. And I hope you will be more confident and comfortable expressing time in English. If you have questions or comments, please let me know!

Thank you, friends!

Related Articles

Your English reading list for 2019

Common Abbreviations and Acronyms

Top techniques to memorize English phrases

TS Inter 1st Year English Grammar Tenses

Telangana TSBIE  TS Inter 1st Year English Study Material Grammar Tenses Exercise Questions and Answers.

Q.No. 12 (4 × 1 = 4 Marks)

A verb is a word that tells about an action, a state of being or existence, possession, or a change in state. ఒక పనిని గురించి గాని, ఒక స్థితి గురించి గాని యాజమాన్యం గురించి గాని, స్థితిలో మార్పు గురించి గాని తెలిపేది verb. e.g. : The boy cried , (action) I have a watch, (possession) She is a nurse, (a state of being) He became weak, (change in state) పై వాక్యాలలోని cried, have, is, became అను పదాలు పనిని గాని స్థితిని గాని తెలుపుతున్నాయి. అందుచే అవి verbs.

Tense : Tense is the form of the verb. It shows the time of the action or event. There are three tenses. They are :

• Present Tense
• Future Tense

THE USE OF THE TENSES

1. SIMPLE PRESENT OR PRESENT INDEFINITE TENSE :

• Here comes John.
• Children do not sit quietly in one place.
• It is used to express habitual action : e.g. : I get up early in the morning.
• It is used to express general or universal truths : e.g. : The earth is round. Stars twinkle We grow paddy. Speed thrills but kills .
• It is used to express future action that has already been planned : e.g. : Our college reopens on 16th June. He sails for England next Monday.
• Sivaji now sees the danger and immediately kills Afzul Khan with his lion-claws,
• Birbal now seizes the chance and cracks a joke on his rivals.

2. PRESENT CONTINUOUS TENSE :

• It is used to express an action that is going on at the time of speaking : e.g. :She is dancing . They are writing .
• It is used to express an action that will happen in the future. e.g. : 1) I am going to Mysore tomorrow.
• It is used to show that some action is in the middle though it is not being done at that time. e.g. : I am reading a novel.

Note : The following verbs are not generally used in the Continuous Tense : (ఈ క్రింది verbs ను సామాన్యంగా continuous Tense లో ఉపయోగించరాదు )

Verbs of sense of perception : hear, see, smell, notice, recognise, taste, feel. Verbs of appearing : look, seem, appear. Verbs of thinking : Suppose, think, believe, realise, understand, know, imagine, mean, agree, consider, trust, remember, forget, expect, recall. Verbs of emotions : want, wish, desire, feel, like, love, hate, prefer, hope, refuse. Miscellaneous : own, possess, keep, concern, matter, owe etc. e.g. : He is looking fine. (Wrong) He looks fine. (Correct) I am believing you. (Wrong) I believe you. (Correct) She is understanding me. (Wrong) She understands me. (Correct) I am hating you. (Wrong) I hate you. (Correct)

3. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE :

i) It is used to denote an action that has just been completed. e.g. : The train has arrived . They have finished the work.

ii) It is used to express a past action the result of which continues : e.g. : I have not seen Ravi for many months. He has been ill since Monday.

iii) It is used to refer to a past action in a more general way : e.g. : Have you ever been to Simla ?

iv) A few adverbs or adverbial phrases are used with the Present Perfect Tense : just, never, ever, so far, till, yet, already, since, today, this week etc. e.g. : I have just posted the letter. So far he has not come . He has not received the money yet . This week there have been no rains.

4. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE :

It is used to refer to an action that begins in the past and continuous through a given period of time up to the present moment. e.g. : I have been waiting here for Ramu for two hours. I have been waiting here for Ramu since 3 p.m.

Note : ‘For’ denotes period of time. ‘Since’ denotes point of time.

Observe the following sentences :

• He has been painting the door for 2 p.m. (Wrong) He has been painting the door since 2 p.m. (Correct)
• The workers have been demanding more wages since ten days. (Wrong) The workers have been demanding more wages for ten days. (Correct)

5. SIMPLE PAST OR PAST INDEFINITE TENSE :

i) It is used to express the action completed in the past. Adverbs and adverbial phrases expressing Past time are often used with this tense. (భూతకాలంలో పని పూర్తయినట్లయితే దానిని తెలుపుటకు Simple Past లేక Past Indefinite Tense ను వాడెదరు. భూతకాలాన్ని తెలిపే క్రియ విశేషణ పదాలు యీ tense లో ప్రయోగింపబడతాయి.) e.g. : She met me yesterday. The clerk did his work hurriedly.

ii) It is used to express a habitual action in the past. (భూతకాలంలో అలవాటుగా చేసే పనులను విశదపరచుటకు Simple Past Tense వాడెదరు.) e.g. : People performed child marriages in olden days. While I was in Chennai, I spoke to others in Tamil.

6. THE PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE :

It is used to express an action that was still going on in the past time. (భూతకాలంలో పని కొనసాగింపును Past Continuous Tense తెలుపును.) e.g. : I met Raghu while he was standing at the college gate. We noticed some birds which were flying .

7. PAST PERFECT TENSE :

It is used to express an action which had been completed at some point in the past time before another action in the past. We use Past Perfect to refer to the earlier action and Simple Past to refer to the later action. (భూతకాలంలో ముందు జరిగిన పనిని Past Perfect Tense లోను రెండవ పనిని Simple Past Tense లోను చెప్పాలి.) e.g. : The train had left before they reached the station. I had finished my work when Alfred came in. పై వాక్యాలలోని మొదటి దానిని ఉదాహరణగా తీసుకుందాం. ఇందులో గతంలో జరిగిన రెండు పనులు సూచింపబడ్డాయి. The train left. They reached the station. ఇందులో ముందు జరిగినది The train left. దీనిని Past Perfect Tense లో చెప్పాలి. అప్పుడు వాక్యం The train had left before they reached the station. అయింది.)

8. PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE :

It is used to show an action that had begun in the past and continued till some point of time in the past. (భూతకాలంలో ఒక పని ఎప్పుడో ప్రారంభమై, అదే పని కొంత కాలము వరకు కొనసాగుతున్నదని Past Perfect Continuous Tense లో తెలపాలి. ) e.g. : I had been watching TV for an hour when my uncle came to see me. We had been playing hockey for three hours when it started to rain. She had been passing the information to the rivals for a long time before she was caught.

9. SIMPLE FUTURE (OR) FUTURE INDEFINITE TENSE :

It is used to express an action that will take place in the future. (భవిష్యత్తు కాలంలో జరగబోయే పనిని Simple Future తెలుపును. ) e.g.: I shall meet you tomorrow.

10. FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE : It is used to express an action going on at some point in future. (భవిష్యత్తు కాలంలో జరగబోయే పనిని Future Continuous తెలుపును.) e.g. : She will be sleeping then. We will be playing the match at this time tomorrow. I shall be writing a letter at this time on Monday.

11. FUTURE PERFECT TENSE : It is used to express an action that will be completed at some point in the future : (భవిష్యత్తులో ఒక నిర్ణీతకాలానికి పని పూర్తగునని Future Perfect Tense విశదపరచును.) e.g. : I shall have done my work before you come.

12. FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE : It is used to refer to an action that will be in progress at a point in Future after continuing for a given period. e.g. : I s hall have been completing thirty years of service by next March. I shall have been writing the examination for two hours by this time on Monday.

TENSES IN CONDITIONAL CLAUSES :

Clauses that show conditions are called conditional clauses. Sentences with conditional clauses use fixed patterns of Tenses. Conditions are of four types :

• Real conditions
• Unreal or improbable conditions
• Past unfulfilled conditions and
• Zero conditions.

The tense forms used in a sentence are determined by the type of the condition in that sentence.

Look at the following examples :

• If it rains, I will not come to your home. (Real condition-Simple present in the conditional clause and Simple Future in the main clause)
• If I were a bird, I would fly high in the sky. (Unreal condition – Simple Past (were-even with I) in the conditional clause and ‘would+V’ in the main clause)
• If he had worked hard, he would have passed the examination. (Past unfulfilled condition-Past Perfect in the conditional clause and would + have + Past Participle of verb in the main clause).
• If you heat metals, they expand . (Zero conditions : The action certainly leads to the second action. Simple present is used in both the clauses).

The information may easily be noted in the table form.

ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES

1. SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE :

• Indians love cricket.
• He looks awful.
• My father works in the USA.
• South Indians eat a lot of rice.
• We play in the field every week.
• The train leaves at 5 pm.
• The sun rises in the east.
• Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius.
• He practises yoga daily in the morning.
• Heat evaporates water.
• What goes up must come down.
• Do you go for a walk every day ?
• A cobra hisses when it is disturbed.
• Cocks crow every morning.
• He doesn’t wake up early in the morning.

Look at the following examples.

Which do you like more ? Tea or coffee ? I like coffee. What channel does your mother, watch usually ? My mother watches ETV, mostly serials. Do you read any English newspaper ? Yes, I do / No, I don’t. Does your father allow you to use a mobile ? Yes, he does / No, he doesn’t. Do your parents check your studies ? Yes, they do / No, they don’t.

• I am reading an interesting novel.
• I am also learning English.
• We are going home late this week.
• Ravi : Why are you mewing like a cat ? Sonu : I am trying to learn mimicry. Ravi : Are you undergoing training in mimicry ? Sonu : No, I am learning on my own with the help of my brother. In fact he is going to an institute.
• Notice the difference. Where do you come from ? refers to your home town. Where’ are you coming from ? refers to the immediate place from where you are coming.
• It is raining heavily. (Now actually happening) _
• She is going to the market.
• They are doing business.
• He is trying for a job.

i) He has just entered the room. ii) I have seen the movie. iii) Pussy cat, pussy cat where have you been ? iv) I have been to London to see the queen. v) I have been to Kashmir four times. vi) The shop has been open for a month. vii) He has just finished his homework. viii) They have just gone out. ix) He has painted die door. (It is still wet) 5 x) She has received the mail. (She is yet to read and respond) xi) They have learnt dance for two weeks. xii) My niece has lived in Delhi for two years. (over this two year period extends till the present moment) xiii) It has rained heavily this morning. (It is morning still) xiv) My parents have been to the USA ten times. xv) Have you ever met a film star or a sports star? xvi) Has your teacher ever praised you ? xvii) Have you ever seen a horse flying ? xviii) When have you met a famous person ? (wrong) When did you meet a famous person ? (right) xix) 1 have met him last year, (wrong) I met him last year, (right) xx) We have lived in Warangal for years. xxi) The players have arrived. xxii) The beauty parloUr has been closed. xxiii) They have noticed some printing mistakes in the book. xxiv) I haye repaired the bike, (activity completed)

xxv) Some expressions used with the present perfect tense : just, recently, lately, already, before, so far, still, ever / never, today, this morning, for weeks / years, since 2000, etc.

xxvi) Husband : Have you packed die luggage ? Wife : Yes. I have. Husband : Have you informed the neighbours about our trip ? Wife : Yes. I have. Husband : Have you phoned our daughter about our visit ? Wife : No, I haven’t. Let’s give her a surprise. Husband : Have you locked the door properly ? Wife : Yes, 1 have. Husband : Have you checked all the doors ? Wife : Oh ! God ! I have forgotten to bolt the back door. Husband : What!

4. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

• Harika has been reading a novel since morning.
• The ladies have been playing Holi for two hours.
• I have been repairing the bike for the last two hours. (the continuation of an activity is stressed)
• I have been repairing the bike for two hours. (How long have you been repairing it ?)
• We have been preparing seriously for the examination since 1st January.
• We have been living in Hyderabad since 2000/ for over twenty years.
• Keerthi : Hai Shravya ! So late ? I have been waiting here for an hour. Shravya : Oh ! Sorry Keerthi. But it has been raining for over an hour and my brother has been quarrelling with me for this umbrella. That’s why I am late.

Note : Since refers to a point of time – since yesterday, since morning For refers to a period of time – for two days, for four weeks

5. SIMPLE PAST TENSE :

• We lived in Hyderabad for thirty years.
• Yesterday an accident took place near the railway station.
• I walked a lot when I lived on campus.
• They settled in Hyderabad ten years ago.
• They didn’t eat anything yesterday.
• Where did you go last week ?
• Did he participate in the last week’s meeting ?
• My brother completed degree last year.
• India had a glorious past.
• The player relaxed for ten minutes. (over that period in the past)
• I contacted the secretary this morning. (It is afternoon or evening)
• I attended all classes last week.
• They lived here for a long time.
• We went to school every day.

6. PAST CONTINUOUS TENSE :

• It was raining at that time.
• People were running all over the platform; they were pushing each other.
• Two women were walking when the bus came from the opposite direction.
• When I reached my home at eight, my daughter was playing the guitar and my parrot was singing the tunes. My son was eating a chocolate and my wife was relaxing in a chair.
• You were doing home work at 6 p.m. yesterday, (a past point of time)
• The children were playing cricket all the day yesterday. (over a period of time in the past)
• I was making tea when her friend came, (at the time of another past event)
• What were you doing when your father returned home ?
• What was your sister doing why your mother was reading a novel ?
• My friend had completed the homework by the time I went to his room.
• The bus had left before we reached the bus station.
• I h ad typed the letter before the officer came. (= First I typed the letter and then the officer came.)
• The chain snatcher had escaped before the police arrived. (= First the chain snatcher escaped and then the police arrived)
• We had already consulted a doctor before my father had an attack.
• He rushed to the station but the train had left .
• I realized that my pocket had been picked .
• I recognized the man as I had met him last week.
• Our trip was comfortable as we had made arrangements earlier.
• Reshma felt sleepy as she had stayed Up through the night.
• The student was punished as he had not done his homework.
• Srikanth had never seen skyscrapers before he went to New York.
• She did not see me till I had seen her. (= First I saw her and then she saw me)
• I had received your letter yesterday. (NOT acceptable) I received your letter yesterday. (When we talk about only ONE past action in a sentence, simple past is acceptable, Not past perfect.) (acceptable)
• He had been playing cricket since he was a boy but gave it up later when he took up a job.
• I had been singing a song for five minutes when my friend came.
• Sureshan had been doing research for two years when his sister joined the university.
• The murderer had been holding the knife for five minutes when the police entered the room. (Both activities happened in the past.)

9. SIMPLE FUTURE TENSE :

• Srihan and Srihith will come from the US next August. They will stay here for three weeks.
• I will conduct a quiz competition on spelling tomorrow.
• The President will stay in Hyderabad for a month.
• The Chief Minister will conduct a press meet.
• They will not start the road-work tomorrow.
• Will they plant the saplings ?
• When will you inform them ?
• Shall we have some coffee ?
• Shall we sit here ?

10. FUTURE CONTINUOUS TENSE :

• We will be spending our holidays in Shimla this summer.
• She will be sleeping when I reach home.
• Dinesh : Vijay, What’s your tomorrow’s programme ? Vijay : I will be washing my car at this time tomorrow. Dinesh : Don’t you have a driver ? Vijay : No, I myself do it every Sunday. What about you ? Dinesh : I will be spending my time in the library. Vijay, : Good. I like it.
• As tomorrow is a holiday they will be playing at this time.
• He will be meeting Venkat next week. (Perhaps, they are colleagues.)

11. FUTURE PERFECT TENSE :

• We will have cleared the entire loan amount in four years from now.
• She will have recovered from her illness by next week.
• Sloka : When are you going to start your medical practice ? Sneha : My medical course is not yet over. Sloka : Is it so ? Sneha : Yes, I will have completed the M.B.B.S. course by 2022. Sloka : Oh ! I will have put jn two years of experience in a software job by then. Sneha : Of course, but I want to serve the rural poor as a doctor. Sloka : Great! You are right. There are very few committed people like you. Sneha : In fact, my uncle serves as a doctor in a village in Karimnagar District. He will have served there for ten years by next year. Sloka : Great! A family of committed doctors !!
• We save Rs. 1000/- a month. We started saving in January last. We shall have saved Rs. 12,000/- by the end of the year.
• They boarded the train at 6 o’ clock in the evening. They will have reached Delhi tomorrow morning by 7.
• The teachers will have completed the lessons by the end of the acedemic year.

12. FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE :

• They will have been travelling for 26 hours in the train when they reach Varanasi.
• I will have been teaching them grammar for five years when they leave school next year.
• He will have been staying in the USA for three years when I go there next month.

FUTURE TIME REPRESENTATION : a) Using simple present tense : The President visits Hyderabad tomorrow. My examinations begin next week. (These are events that are scheduled and are sure to happen. In such cases we use simple present to express a future action.)

b) Using present progressive tense : (Present continuous tense) We are planning an exhibition of paintings in December this year. You are visiting Bali on your trip to Indonesia next month. (These are events that have been planned. Very likely these events will take place in the future, but there is a likelihood of these events being rescheduled. However, they are yet to happen.)

c) Using going to I am going to buy a new car on the 1st of next month. I am going to be a doctor in five years from now. (The phrase going to is used to of talk actions that we intend to do or plan to achieve. To express a future possibility, this structure is used.)

d) Use of modal will / should : I will buy a gift when you pass the examination. You will join a good engineering college if you get a first class. You should join the army if you choose to serve the country. We shall be in touch and discuss this matter. (Will and Shall are modal verbs that help us to express our desire or propositions.

I. Fill in the blanks with the present simple or the present continuous of the verbs given in brackets.

1. Custard apple ………………….. (be) a tasty and healthy fruit. 2. The moon ………………….. (appear) at night. 3. I ………………….. (rain) now. We can’t go now. 4. A ray of the sun ………………….. (not, pass) through a wall. 5. Hyderabad ………………….. (be) the Capital of Telangana state. 6. All banks ………………….. (open) on the first and the third Saturday of the month. 7. People ………………….. (speak) Telugu all over AP and Telangana. 8. My English teacher usually ………………….. (speak) English in the classroom, but surprisingly she ………………….. (speak) Telugu now. 9. ………………….. North Indians ………………….. (eat) chapatis daily ? 10. ………………….. he ………………….. (do) any job at present ? 11. Usually I ………………….. (close) all doors before going to bed. 12. ………………….. you………………….. (believe) in ghosts ? 13. My father ………………….. (watch) a serial at the moment. 14. Water ………………….. (freeze) during winter in some parts of the Atlantic Ocean. Answer: 1) is 2) appears 3) is raining 4) does not pass 5) is 6) open 7) speak 8) speaks, is speaking 9) Do, eat 10) Does do / is doing 11) close 12) Do, believe 13) is watching 14) freezes

II. Fill in the blanks with the present perfect or the present perfect continuous of the verbs given in brackets.

1. Aarthi ………………….. (act) in films since her marriage with Raghu, a film director. 2. She ………………….. (appear) in about twenty films so far. 3. I ………………….. just ………………….. (receive) a call. 4. She ………………….. (not, pay) the exam fee yet. 5. How ………………….. you ………………….. (watch) this TV programme. Answer: 1) has been acting 2) has appeared 3) have, received 4) has not paid 5) have, watched

III. Fill in the blanks with the Simple Past, the Past Continuous, the Past Perfect or Past Perfect Continuous forms of the verbs given in brackets.

1. The tsunami ………………….. (break) while the sailors ………………….. (row) the boats. 2. How ………………….. you ………………….. (spend) your childhood ? 3. I ………………….. (browse) the internet when he came to our house. 4. The audience ………………….. (occupy) their seats before the cinema began. 5. The farmers ………………….. (sow) seeds for two hours when the sun set. 6. There was a stampede when the pilgrims suddenly ………………….. (rush) into the temple. 7. I wish I ………………….. (have) a car. 8. When ………………….. (be) you born ? 9. How long ………………….. your brother ………………….. (stay) in the US when you went there for MS ? 10. Gandhi ………………….. (pass away) in 1948. Answer: 1) broke, were rowing 2) did, spend 3) was browsing 4) had occupied 5) had been sowing 6) rushed 7) had 8) were 9) had, been staying 10) passed away

IV. Fill in the blanks with the Simple Future, the Future Continuous, the Future Perfect or Future Perfect Continuous forms of the verbs given in brackets.

1. Telangana ………………….. (become) a developed state in two years. 2. The umpire ………………….. (resolve) the controversy within a few minutes. 3. At this point of time tomorrow the children ………………….. (watch) a cartoon film. 4 ………………….. you ………………….. (solve) all these problems by next week ? 5. If we follow A.RJ. Kalam’s advice, India ………………….. soon ………………….. (become) a superpower. 6. He ………………….. (do) the job for two years by next year. Answer: 1) will become 2) will resolve 3) will be watching 4) will, have solved 5) will, become 6) will have been doing

V. Fill in the blanks with appropriate forms of the verbs given in brackets.

1. Surya Namaskar ………………….. (consist) of twelve postures. 2. Gandhi ………………….. (influence) by the writings of Tolstoy. 3. Bandla Sirisha ………………….. (be) the first Telugu woman (third Indian origin woman) to go into the space on July 11, 2021. 4. Rohit Sharma ………………….. (bat) for two hours when rain interrupted the match. 5. The meeting ………………….. (start) by 10.00 a.m. tomorrow. 6. Usually my father ………………….. (take) rice for lunch, But now he ………………….. (take) chapatis. 7. People ………………….. (speak) Telugu in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. 8. Mary ………………….. (eat) her supper by 7.00 p.m. 9. Don’t disturb ! The child ………………….. (sleep) 10. If I ………………….. (be) a bird, 1 would fly high in the sky to have a beautiful view of the earth. 11. It is time we ………………….. (start) working hard. 12. If I were you, I ………………….. (construct) an independent house. 13. Don’t get off the train till it ………………….. (stop). 14. Listen ! Somebody ………………….. (scream). 15. A parrot ………………….. (repeat) our voice as soon as it listens to it. 16. Vinay ………………….. (lose) the job last year because of his misbehaviour. 17. Dhirubai Ambani ………………….. (not, live) in a costly house even when he was a famous industrialist. 18. ………………….. he ………………….. (play) tennis dally ? 19. While I ………………….. (teach) grammar, a student raised a doubt. 20. A philanthropist ………………….. (think) about the welfare of others. 21. My nephew ………………….. (do) business in Hyderabad for the last ten years. 22. The moon ………………….. (wax) and ………………….. (wane) during the cycle of a month. 23. I ………………….. (know, not) the right answer right now. 24. We ………………….. (have) hot coffee one hour ago. 25. The birds ………………….. just ………………….. (fly) away. Answer: 1) consists 2) was influnced 3) is 4) had been batting 5) will have started 6) takes … is taking 7) speak 8) will have eaten 9) is sleeping 10) were 11) started 12) would construct 13) stops 14) is screaming 15) repeats 16) lost 17) did not live 18) Does … play 19) was teaching 20) thinks 21) has been doing 22) waxes … wanes 23) do not know 24) had 25) have … flown

VI. Rewrite the following sentences correcting the underlined parts :

1. He is doing homework since 8 o’ clock. 2. If they are going out, we will follow them. 3. If you will depend on others for everything, you will not learn anything. 4. If you have helped your mother, she would have felt happy. 5. He is trying for a job since last year. 6. Mukesh Ambani has constructed the world’s costliest house for his wife in Mumbai four years ago. 7. He has returned from Dubai a month ago. 8. He is not having any cash. 9. I am knowing them for the last many years. 10. Is he remembering our help ? 11. He has borrowed a thousand rupees from me yesterday. 12. Don’t disturb him. He reads . 13. Did you left for Hyderabad last year ? 14. Sangeetha joins us tomorrow. 15. Are you smelling anything bad ? Answer: 1. He has been doing homework since 8 o’ clock. 2. If they go out, we will follow them. 3. If you depend on others for everything, you will not learn anything. 4. If you had helped your mother, she would have felt happy. 5. He has been trying for a job since last year. 6. Mukesh Ambani constructed the world’s costliest house for his wife in Mumbai four years ago. 7. He returned from Dubai a month ago. 8. He doesn’t have any cash. 9. I have known them for the last many years. 10. Does he remember our help ? 11. He borrowed a thousand rupees from me yesterday. 12. Don’t disturb him. He is reading . 13. Did you leave for Hyderabad last year ? 14. Sangeetha will join us tomorrow. (Sangetha is joining us tomorrow) 15. Do you smell anything bad ?

VII. Fill in the blanks with suitable forms of the verbs given in brackets.

Two Sides of Life

Question 1. There …………………… (be) quite a number of divisions into which life …………………… (be + divide). Answer: are ……………………. can be divided

Question 2. You …………………… …………………… (sometimes / find) two persons who …………………… (get up) in the morning, perhaps a morning that …………………… (be) overcast with shadows. Answer: will sometimes find … get up … is

Question 3. A good teacher …………………… (say) frankly and dearly, “I …………………… (not know). I …………………… (not answer). that question.” Answer: will say; don’t know, cannot answer

Question 4. I …………………… (hear) those tales so manytimes that I …………………… (not want) to get into the atmosphere of the people who …………………… (tell) them. Answer: had heard; didn’t want; told

Question 5. In nine cases out of ten, the person who …………………… (cultivate) the habit of looking on the dark side of life …………………… (be) the little person, the miserable person, the one who …………………… (be) weak in mind, heart and purpose. Answer: cultivates; is; is

Question 6. No teacher …………………… (know) everything about every subject. Answer: knows

Question 7. They …………………… (be) the people who never …………………… (go) forward. Answer: are; go

Question 8. You …………………… (not, accomplish) the task we expect of you if you go with a moody, discouraged, fault-finding disposition. Answer: will not accomplish

Father, Dear Father

Question 9. This …………………… (be) in answer to your letter about my transgression. Answer: is

Question 10. The operating word ‘think’ …………………… (make) me muse. Answer: did make

Question 11. Father, we’ve never really been close, and I can’t rightly say you …………………… ……………………(be) my friend, philosopher, guide etc. Answer: have been

Question 12. …………………… you …………………… (apply) Pythagoras Theorem or Newton’s law of Gravity ? Answer: Do apply

Question 13. My grandfather …………………… (speak) of a carefree and beautiful childhood. Answer: speaks

Question 14. Father, …………………… he …………………… (fib) ? Answer: is… fibbing

Question 15. She …………………… (be) at peace with her pots, pans and Bhagavad Geeta. Answer: is

Question 16. …………………… it Adam arid Eve …………………… (eat) the Tree of knowledge, all over again ? Answer: is … eating

Question 17. Last week my rose plant …………………… (die). Answer: died

Question 18. I …………………… (ask) my Biology teacher what I …………………… (do) to save it. Answer: asked; should do

Question 19. If I …………………… (be) to meet Newton face to face, I …………………… (fail) to recognise him, so busy am I learning about him ! Answer: were; would fail

Question 20. If he …………………… (say) George Bush is the president of India, it (have) to be so. Answer: says; will have

The Green Champion – Thimmakka

Question 21. Every year, the count of these trees …………………… (keep) increasing. Answer: kept

Question 22. Thimmakka (She) not only …………………… (plant) those trees but also …………………… (fence), …………………… (water) and …………………… (guard) them. Answer: planted; fenced; watered; guarded

Question 23. Although Thimmakka …………………… (not receive) a formal education, her work …………………… (honour) with the National Citizen’s Award of India. Answer: did not receive; has been honoured

Question 24. Saalumarada Thimmakka …………………… (be) an individual who …………………… (bring) worldwide recognition to the state of Karnataka through her incredible and massive environmental services. Answer: is … has brought

The First Four Minutes

Question 25. If I …………………… (falter), there …………………… (be) no arms to hold me and the world …………………… (be) a cold, forbidding place, because I …………………… (be) so close. Answer: faltered; would be; would be; had been

Question 26. Blood …………………… (surge) from my muscles and …………………… (seem) to fell me. Answer: surged; seemed

Question 27. I …………………… (know) it would be some time before I …………………… (catch) up with myself. Answer: knew; caught

Question 28. I felt that the moment of a lifetime …………………… (come). Answer: had come

Question 29. The air I breathed …………………… (fill) me with the spirit of the track where I had run my first race. Answer: filled

Question 30. I felt suddenly and gloriously free of the burden of athletic ambition that I …………………… (carry) for years. Answer: had been carrying

Box and Cox

Question 31. At present I …………………… (be) entirely of your opinion because I …………………… (have) not the most distant particle of an idea what you …………………… (mean). Answer: am; have; mean

Question 32. The gentleman who …………………… (get) the attic …………………… (be) hardly ever without a pipe in his mouth and there he …………………… (sit) with his feet upon the mantelpiece. Answer: has got; is; sits

Question 33. I …………………… (be) so dreadfully puzzled to know what to say when Mr. Cox …………………… (speak) about it. Answer: was; spoke

Question 34. Why …………………… (not) you …………………… (keep) your own side of the staircase, sir ? Answer: don’t; keep

Question 35. She …………………… (think) to cook her breakfast while I …………………… (be) asleep with my coals. Answer: thought; was

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Jill Colvin, Associated Press Jill Colvin, Associated Press

Michelle L. Price, Associated Press Michelle L. Price, Associated Press

Adriana Gomez Licon, Associated Press Adriana Gomez Licon, Associated Press

Leave your feedback

• Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-trump-holds-news-conference-at-mar-a-lago

WATCH: Trump holds news conference at Mar-a-Lago

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Donald Trump recommitted to debating Vice President Kamala Harris after recently backing out, holding a lengthy news conference Thursday in which he taunted his new rival, boasted of his crowd on Jan. 6, 2021, and lashed out at questions about the enthusiasm her campaign has been generating.

Watch Trump’s remarks in our player above.

As the Republican presidential nominee addressed reporters at his Palm Beach, Florida, estate, ABC announced that Trump and Harris, the Democratic nominee, have agreed to a Sept. 10 debate, setting up a widely anticipated faceoff in an already unparalleled election. Trump said he had proposed three debates with three television networks in September.

Trump again insisted there had been a “peaceful transfer” of power in 2021 and renewed attacks on Republican rivals like Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, whom Trump has harshly criticized since Kemp refused to go along with his false theories of election fraud.

In taking questions from reporters for more than an hour, Trump tried to draw a contrast with Harris, who has not held a news conference since she became the likely Democratic nominee following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race.

Another key moment in the election is set

Trump’s decision to go on ABC, days after posting on his social media account that he would not appear on the network, sets up a highly anticipated moment in an election where Biden’s catastrophic performance in the last debate set in motion his withdrawal.

“I think it’s very important to have debates,” Trump said Thursday. “I look forward to the debates because I think we have to set the record straight.”

A few hours after the news conference, Harris wrote on X that she heard Trump “has finally committed” to debate her on ABC on Sept. 10, the date her campaign has long stuck to.

“I look forward to it,” she wrote.

READ MORE: Trump and Harris have agreed to a Sept. 10 presidential debate on ABC, network says

Thursday’s event was Trump’s first public appearance since Harris selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate. Trump called Walz a “radical left man.”

“Between her and him, there’s never been anything like this,” Trump said. “There’s certainly never been anybody so liberal like these two.”

He repeatedly suggested Harris was not intelligent enough to debate him. Harris, for her part, has tried to goad Trump into debating and told an audience in Atlanta recently that if he had anything to say about her, he should “say it to my face.”

Trump grew visibly perturbed when pressed on Harris’ crowds and newfound Democratic enthusiasm, dismissing a question about his lighter campaign schedule as stupid.

Trump says he has not “recalibrated” his campaign despite facing a new opponent, a dynamic some Republican strategists have quietly complained about.

When asked what assets Harris possessed, Trump said: “She’s a woman. She represents certain groups of people.”

Trump has repeatedly — and falsely — accused Harris, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, of previously downplaying that she is Black.

Trump acknowledges weakness with Black women

Trump recognized some changing patterns with his new opponent, acknowledging he may not be as popular with Black women, one of Democrats’ key voting blocs. He expressed a lot of confidence in his support from Black men.

“It could be I’ll be affected somewhat with Black females but we’re really doing well,” he said. “And I think ultimately they’ll like me better because I’m going to give them security, safety and jobs. I’m going to give them a good economy.”

WATCH: After combative interview at NABJ convention, Trump faces new criticism

Trump campaign officials told reporters ahead of the news conference they believe Harris is currently enjoying a honeymoon period they likened to an “out-of-body experience.”

They argued the fundamentals of the race have not changed and the mood of the country remains sour, with Americans frustrated by the state of the economy, the administration and the country’s directions.

They argued that while Harris has energized the Democratic base — which Biden had not done — she will not be able to win over Republicans or convert independents or the persuadable voters they are focused on targeting.

Trump’s campaign plans to spend the next three months hammering Harris as “failed, weak and dangerously liberal,” blaming her for every one of the the Biden administration’s unpopular policies and mocking her mannerisms and speaking style.

Trump takes questions about abortion

Trump suggested abortion will not be a major issue in the campaign and the outcome in November.

He insisted that the matter “has become much less of an issue” since the Supreme Court ended the federal constitutional right to abortion services and returned control of the matter to state governments. But the issue is widely seen as a general election liability, and Trump named states such as Ohio and Kansas that have since voted to protect abortion rights.

READ MORE: 24 things Donald Trump is promising to do

Trump also said he expected Florida “will go in a little more liberal way than people thought” when it votes to repeal an abortion ban later this year, but he did not respond to questions asking how he would vote.

Trump argued that Democrats, Republicans and “everybody” are pleased with the results of the 2022 ruling that overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.

Trump’s actions within the GOP, however, suggest he knows that Democrats already have capitalized on Republican opposition to abortion rights and could do so again this fall. Trump single-handedly ensured that the Republican Party platform adopted at the 2024 convention in Milwaukee does not call for a national ban on abortion, and he has said repeatedly that hardliners in the party could cost the GOP in November.

The court’s decision, issued months ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, is widely cited as a reason that Democrats fared much better than expected in House and Senate contests. And Democrats have hammered Trump in paid advertisements blaming him and the justices he appointed for ending Roe.

Trump again makes false claims on Jan. 6

Donald Trump falsely claimed during the press conference that “nobody was killed on Jan. 6,” the date in 2021 when pro-Trump rioters breached the U.S. Capitol amid Congress’ effort to certify Biden’s 2020 election victory after Trump refused to concede.

Ashli Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran from San Diego was shot and killed by a police officer as she climbed through a broken part of a Capitol door during the violent riot that breached the building.

To be sure, Trump has often cited Babbitt’s death while lamenting the treatment of those who first attended a rally outside the White House that day, then marched to the Capitol, many of whom fought with police and entered the the building.

WATCH: Key takeaways from Homeland Security watchdog’s report on Secret Service’s Jan. 6 actions

“I think those people were treated very badly. When you compare it to other things that took place in this country where a lot of people were killed,” Trump said Thursday, adding “nobody was killed on Jan. 6.”

He also falsely claimed more people attended his speech at a “Stop the Steal” rally before the riot than the famous March on Washington in 1963, the iconic event at which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his “I Have a Dream” speech.

Trump was asked about Biden’s comments in a CBS interview that he was “not confident” there would be a peaceful transfer of power if Trump were to lose.

“He should have brought this up at the debate if he had a problem. Of course there’ll be a peaceful transfer, and there was last time.”

While Biden was inaugurated on schedule, Washington was on lockdown that day, with the streets patrolled by military personnel and domestic police two weeks after Trump’s supporters had attacked the Capitol.

Associated Press writer Will Weissert in Washington contributed to this report.

Support Provided By: Learn more

Educate your inbox

Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else.

Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm.

Advertisement

Trump Says He Will Hold a News Conference at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday

The former president’s prominence in news coverage has slipped since President Biden withdrew from the race and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.

• Share full article

By Maggie Haberman

• Aug. 8, 2024

Donald J. Trump plans to hold a “general news conference” on Thursday afternoon at his private club and home, Mar-a-Lago, the first such event he has held in months.

Mr. Trump announced the event on his website, Truth Social, on Thursday morning.

The former president’s prominence in news coverage has slipped since President Biden abruptly announced last month that he was ending his re-election campaign and then endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris, who secured the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination this week.

Mr. Trump has been seeking ways to make headlines. But he has also sought to highlight how Ms. Harris has yet to give interviews and allow reporters to pose wide-ranging questions since she became a presidential candidate.

During Mr. Trump’s civil court cases in New York earlier this year, he sometimes held news conferences at a building he owns near the courthouse. But since his criminal trial started in Manhattan on April 15, he has not held any. He has also given relatively few interviews to mainstream news outlets.

Mr. Trump has been playing cat-and-mouse over a debate he had agreed to with Mr. Biden, which had been set to be hosted by ABC News in September. Ms. Harris said she planned to attend in Mr. Biden’s place, but Mr. Trump repeatedly suggested he would pull out of the debate. He then declared it was “terminated” and said he wanted a debate hosted by Fox News instead, but he had not discussed the terms of such a debate with Ms. Harris. Among the reasons he cited for not doing the ABC News debate was the fact that he is suing the network over comments by one of its anchors, George Stephanopoulos.

Mr. Trump sounded more open to the possibility of the ABC News debate in a telephone interview on “Fox and Friends” this week.

On Truth Social on Thursday morning, Mr. Trump promised to “expose” Ms. Harris during a debate.

Maggie Haberman is a senior political correspondent reporting on the 2024 presidential campaign, down ballot races across the country and the investigations into former President Donald J. Trump. More about Maggie Haberman