OROMIA STATE UNIVERSITY

COMMON COURSES DEPARTMENT

COMMUNICATIVE ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS II (FLEN 1012) NOTES AND
WORKSHEET
1. Tense
Tense is a characteristics of verbs that indicates the time of the action or state of being
described.

1.1 Kinds of Tenses

1. Present Tense
2. Past Tense
3. Future Tense
1.2 Forms of Tenses
Each tense has four forms:
1. Indefinite: It refers to an action in process.
2. Continuous: It refers to an action in progress.
3. Perfect: It refers to an action, which is complete.
4. Perfect continuous: It refers to an action in progress that was started in the past.
Thus, there are twelve tenses in all.
1.3. Uses of Tenses
1. Simple Present Tense or Present Indefinite
The present indefinite is used:
A. To express habitual or repeated actions.
Examples
She gets up early in the morning.
Every teacher goes to school daily.
I sometime go swimming.
She comes to visit us once in a month.
B. To express universal truth/(general) truth/ facts
Examples
The earth revolves around the sun.

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 Ice melts when heated.
The sun rises in the east.
Honey is sweet.
C. To express predetermined event in the future / arranged (planned) future action
(timetables, schedules, programs, etc.)
Examples
The match begins at 8:30 next Monday evening.
The shengo Reassembles on october2nd.
He sails for America next week.
Our university reopens on 21st June.
The 8:10 commuter train leaves in five minutes.
D. To express a state or condition with verbs that indicate mental or emotional state: stative
verbs describe a permanent state and do not have continuous forms. These include verbs
of :-
Senses= see, hear, smell, feel, taste.
Thinking= agree, believe, consider, doubt, expect, feel, think
Emotional and feelings= feel, forgive, hate, loath, like, love, wish, etc.
Verbs of appearing= appear, seem, look
Others= keep, continue, matter, consist, concern, be
Examples
She looks ill.
I love my children.
She appears to be a good student.
He does not agree with me completely.
Notes
1. Verbs of the senses can have continuous forms, but then there is a change in meaning.
Examples
I am seeing my dentist tomorrow. (=I am visiting)
But: Do you see those birds? (Ability to see)
2. The verbs think, consider, and expect can have continuous forms when they refer to
an activity.
Examples
Be quite, please! I am thinking.
But: I think you are right (=I believe)
3. Have can have continuous forms in certain expressions such as: have a bath, have a
nap, have fun, etc.
Examples
We were having a good time at the party before the fire broke out.
But: since you have this phone number, you can call him. (=possess).
2. Present Continuous Tense
The present continuous tense is used:
A. To express the action going on at the time of speaking.
Examples
She is studying now.
He is sleeping now.

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 Prices are rising nowadays.
B. To express a near future that is planned/ definite arrangement or plan.
Examples
They are going on an excursion tomorrow.
Bona is coming to visit us next week.
I am going to tell you a strange tale tomorrow.
I am staying here until Monday.
C. To express a repeated action with always, forever continually, and perpetually, often to
show annoyance, anger or disappointment.
Examples
Abdi is continually asking such problems.
He is always bragging about his family.
I am forever picking up my elder brother’s dirty socks!
3. Present Perfect Tense
The present perfect tense is:
A. To express a recently completed action (with already, just, etc.)
Examples
He has just painted his room.
I have already done my homework.
She has just gone out.
B. To express indefinite past action ( action whose time is not given and definite)
Examples
She has been to America. (We do not know when)
I have never known her to be angry.
Have you read “The Bourne Identity?”
Have you ever heard him cry?
C. To express an action beginning at some time in the past and continuing up to the present
moment (when used with for or since).
Examples
I have taught English for ten years.
She has been sick since last Monday.
He has lived in Finfine for 20 years.
In the example above, notice the difference between since and for.
Since + a particular/ definite time.
For + a duration of time.
D. To express a past action the effect of which is still present.
Examples
I have lost my keys; I am unable to open the door.
I have cut my finger (and it is bleeding now).
I have finished my homework (=now I am free).

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 Notes
The use of has (have) been to/ has (have) been in/ has (have) gone to
Examples
I have been to America. (= I have gone and come back)
She has been in Nekemte for two years. (She lives there)
He has gone to London. (=he has not come back yet)
4. Present Perfect Continuous Tense
The present perfect continuous is used:
A. To express an action that began in the past and is still going on. It is used especially with
‘for’, ‘since’, and ‘then’
Examples
They have been learning English for five years.
I have been going to church for many years.
We have been discussing the issue since seven o’clock.
I have been writing this script since 1994.
B. To express an action already finished.
In such cases, the continuity of the activity is emphasized as an explanation of something.
Examples
Abdi: Why are you clothes so wet?
Nesra: I have been watering the flowers.
I am very tired; I have been studying all day.
5. Simple Past Tense

The simple past tense is used:

A. To indicate that an activity or situation began and ended at a particular time in the past. It
is usually used with adverbs of past times such as yesterday, this morning, last week,
(year, month), etc.
Examples
President Mohammed was assassinated in October 1994.
He left an hour ago.
She failed last year.
B. To express a past habitual action.
Examples
He always invited me to his dinner parties.
People lived happily in the past days.
She worked hard when she was a student in our college.
Another way of expressing habit in the past is to use “used to”
Example
She used to smoke cigarettes. (She is no longer smoking now).
 Used to/ Get used to/Would
 Used to + infinitive (past habitual action)

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 Examples
I used to sleep late. (I do not anymore).
I used to be very shy.
 Be /get used to + gerund / noun (present habitual action)
Examples
I am not used to driving on the right.
The foreigner is used to eating with his hands.
 Would + infinitive (past repeated action and routine).
Examples
When I was a child, my father would read me story at night before bed.
Whenever a stranger came to our house, I would hide in a closet.
6. Past Continuous Tense

The past continuous is used:

A. To express the action/ activity that was still going on in the past time referred to.
Examples
She was still working at eight o’clock yesterday evening.
We were listening to radio all evening.
B. To express a long action during which a short action occurred.
Examples
She was studying when I knocked at her door.
They were playing football when it started raining.
C. To express two long actions going on together.
Examples
While Kedir was getting dressed, Damesa was enjoying his drink.
While the patients were waiting in the surgery, the doctor was dealing with a complicated
case.
D. To express a polite inquires.
Examples
I was wondering if you could help me.
I was wondering if you could tell me where the nearest bank is.

7. Past Perfect Tense

The past continuous is used:

A. To express an action which happened before another past action.

Examples
The secretary had already typed all the letters before her boss arrived.
I had done my homework when my father came in.
B. To express duration up to a certain time in the past.

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 Examples
By the time he left job, he had served it for 30 years.
My brother had taught the students for ten years by the time he resigned.
C. To express unfulfilled desire in the past.
Examples
I wish I had studied hard (but I did not study).
I wish I had accepted his offer (but I did not)
8. Past Perfect Continuous

The past perfect tense is used:

A. To express an action that began before a certain point in the past and continued up to that
time.
Examples
At that time, she had been playing for two hours.
When Abdi came to the school in 1994, I had already been teaching for two years.
B. To express an action continued for some time in the past before some other action took
place in the past.
Examples
I had been doing this job for 10 years before I resigned.
The doctor had been pushing the bell for 30 minutes before I opened the door.
9. Simple Future Tense

The simple future tense is used to express an action that take place in the future.

The following list of verbs are usually used for describing a future time.

I. Shall/will + infinitive forms. (Simple future)

Shall/will + infinitive form is used:
A. To express predictions, offers, promises, requests, and suggestions.

Examples
Shall I get you some tea?
Will you help me with the dishes?
B. To express opinions, hopes, fears especially with think, expect, suppose, etc.
Examples
I think she will pass the exam.
I expect they will come soon.
C. To express on-the-spot decisions.
Examples
Your clothes are dirty, “Aren’t they?” I will wash them.

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II. Present Simple Tense Form
The present tense form is used to express a future time in sentences that concern events that
are on a definite schedules or timetables.

Examples
Class begins next week.
WE leave for Bahir Dar next week.
The plane leaves at 4:00pm.
III. Present Progressive Form
The present progressive maybe used to express future time when the idea of the sentence
concerns a planned event or definite intentions.
Examples
I have already made my plans. I am leaving at noon tomorrow.
I am taking four courses next semester.
I am leaving for Jimma next week.
IV. Be Going to form
The Present Continuous Tense of To Go + To +infinitive is used to show a future time when
the speaker is expressing a prior plan.
Examples
Kenaol: Are you busy this morning?
Kenean: Yes, I am going to meet Hawi at the library at seven.
Wada: Do you want to go shopping with me? I am going to go to the shopping mall
downtown.
Naflet: Sure. What time do you want to leave?
Other way of expressing the future
V. Be + infinitive
It is used to express future plans.
Examples
The meeting is to take place on Wednesday.
VI. Be about + infinite or be on the point of + gerund.
Examples
They are about to leave.
They are on the point of leaving.
10. Future continuous Tense
Continuous future tense is used to:
A. To express action in progress at a certain time in the future.
Examples
She will be flying to Paris this time tomorrow.
My children will be sleeping when I arrive.
B. To express a logical assumption about the present.
Examples
My baby will be sleeping now. (it is midnight)
Put the bags down or you will be dropping the the milk!
C. To express planned action (instead of present continuous)
Examples
I will be seeing my brother tonight. Shall I tell him the news?

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 I will be seeing the the dentist this afternoon.
11. Future Perfect Tense
The future perfect tense is used to express an activity that will be completed before another time
or event in the future.
Examples
Bayise was born in 1950. By the year 2010, she will have lived on this earth for sixty years.
They have been married for a long time, by their next anniversary; they will have been married
for 43 years.
12. Future Perfect Continuous Tense
The future perfect continuous is used to express an action as being continuous over a period of
time that will end in the future.
Examples
When you get your bachelor’s degree, you will have been learning English for ten years.
By next Sunday, they will have been painting that house for two weeks.

Questions

Direction: Choose the correct answer from the given alternatives.

1. I met a woman_____________can speak six languages.

A. who B. whom C. which D. A & B

2. This is George, _____________class you will be taking.
A. who B. whom C. whose D. that
3. Christopher Columbus was the sailor_____________ discovered America.

A. Which B. who C. whose D. A & B

4. ‘She chose the books.’ ‘She wanted to buy them.’ The best combination of the couple
sentences:
A. She chose the books that she wanted to buy.
B. She chose the books whom she wanted to buy.
C. She chose the books whose she wanted to buy.
D. She chose the books who she wanted to buy.

5. “Lucy will come later,” she said. The correct form of reported :

[Link] said (that) Lucy would come later. B. She said (that) Lucy would be coming later.

C. She said (that) Lucy will come later. D. She said (that) Lucy will be come later.

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6. DS: She asked me, ‘Have you ever been to Mexico?’
RS: ________________________________
A. She asked me if I have ever been to Mexico.
B. She asked me if she had ever been to Mexico.
C. She asked me if I had ever been to Mexico.
D. She asked me if she has ever been to Mexico.
7. DS: She told me, ‘Please don't smoke.’
RS: ____________________________.
A. She requested me not to smoke. C. She advised me not to smoke.
B. She suggested me not to smoke. D. All of the above.
8. DS: The director told me, ‘Never be late again.’
RS: __________________________________.
A. The director told me to be late again.
B. The director warned me never to be late again.
C. The director apologized me to be late again.
D. None of the above.
9. DS: They asked us, ‘Where do you live?’
RS: ________________________
A. They asked us where we lived. C. They inquired us where he lived.
B. They asked us where you lived. D. A & B
10. DS: “We can help you tomorrow,” the volunteers said.
RS: ________________________________________
A. The volunteers said that they could help them the following day.
B. The volunteers said that they can help them the following day.
C. The volunteers said that they could help you the following day.
D. The volunteers said that we could help them the tomorrow.
11. Birhanu-------------------- in to the army next year.

A. was going B. will go C. will going D. go

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12. What----------you------------next Monday?

A. were/doing B. are/done C. will/do D. have/done

13. They----------------for Canada tomorrow.

A. are leaving B. have left C. had to leave D. shall be left

14. She---------------to learn Afan Oromo next year.

A. was going B. are going C. will be going D. is going to

15. Ask the boss when the team leaders ----------------finish the discussion.

A. will B. have C. had D. do

16. When we met, Mohammed ______________ to see me in such wonderful clothes.

A. surprised B. was surprised C. surprising D. surprise

17. There is somebody walking behind us. I think ___________________.

A. we are following C. we are followed

B. we are being followed D. we are being following

18. The new hospital _____________________ next year.

A. will be opened B. is opened C. was being opened D. has been opened

19. Most of the Earth’s surface _____________________ by water.

A. was covered B. will be covered C. is covered D. will have covered

20. We ______________________ final exam at the end of the coming December.

A. will had B. will has C. will had have D. will have

21. They _________________________ get together in the eve of Christmas.

A. are going to have B. were going to have C. is going to have D. B & C

22. Does he _______________________soon?

A. arrive B. arrives C. arriving D. were arriving

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23. Helen arrived much earlier than expected. She _______ have driven very fast.

A/ should B/ would C/ must D/ could

24. Abdi is the boy _______ ball was thrown out of the school compound.

A/ whose B/ whom C/ which D/ who

25. Mrs. Brown is the woman _______ this was addressed to.

A/ who B/ whom C/ whose D/ which

26. When he was young, he_____ swim very well. He won medals & championships.
A/ can B/ could C/ should D/ would
27. Father is not at home yet. He _____ be on his way.
A/ will B/ can C/ must D/ could
28. Which sentence is correctly written?
A/ Mandy Arrow, which was a famous journalist, has just passed away
B/ Mark Zuckerberg, who went to Harvard, is one of the founders of Face book.
C/ The companies who they connect people to the internet are called ISPs.
D/ He is the man that I met him.
29. Bona said to me, “I am working hard.” Its reported form is _______.
A/ Bona told me that I was working hard. B/ Bona told me that he is working hard.

C/ Bona told me that he was working hard. D/ Bona told me that I am working hard.

30. You may borrow the books in this section of the library. The meaning of the modal may
in this sentence is ______.
A/ obligation B/ prohibition C/ permission D/ necessity
31. Students must not talk loudly in the library. Must not expresses _______
A/ prohibition B/ obligation C/ permission D/ certainty
32. That is the house ________ windows were broken.
A/ whose B/ of which C/ where D/ A and B are answers
33. _______ you stand on your head for more than a minute?
A/ Can B/ May C/ Should D/ Would

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 34. The bad weather is the reason _______ I was late for class.
A/ whom B/ when C/ why D/ which
35. Do not be late. You ________ be there on time.
A/ can’t B/ must C/ will D/may
36. 'My best friend at school became a nurse first, then a paramedic.' → He told me that his
best friend at school ___ a nurse first, then a paramedic.
A/ was becoming B/ had become C/ has become D/ had became
37. "Where is the post office?" The reported form of this sentence is:
She asked me ___________________________
A/ which is the post office B/ where the post office was C/ if the post office was D/
all

38. I _______ mail you my address.(Promise) A/ will B/ can C/ may D/ could

39. The people _______ names are on the list will stay here.
A/ whose B/ where C/ that D/ whom
40. We ___ take care of our parents.
A/ could B/ ought to C/ shall D/ do not

41. Everybody ________ by the terrible news yesterday.

A/ shocked B/ was shocked C/ were shocked D/ shacked

42. I think they ______ the issue at the next meeting.

A/ going to discuss B/ discussing C/ will going to be discussed D/ are going to

discuss

43. There is a lot of dissatisfaction at present, but I am sure that things ______ in the coming
years.

A/ is improving B/ will improving C/ are improved D/ will improve

44. All of the participants of the meeting ______ to express their opinions freely.

A/ allow B/ allowed C/ were allowed D/ were allowing

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45. The boat is full of water. It _______ sink.

A/ is going to B/ will be C/ will be going D/ was going to

46. Nokia mobile phones ______ in Finland.

A/ are made B/ made C/ are making D/ is made

47. I met a woman _____________can speak six languages.

A/ whose B/ what C/ which D/ who
48. My mother, ____________ jworked as a nurse, is retired now.
A/ who B/ whom C/ whose D/ that
49. I _______ play tennis when I was younger.
A/ can B/ would C/ could D/ should
50. We booked a really comfortable hotel room, ............... was a very good idea.
A/ which B/ who C/ whose D/ that
51. ‘That is the student’ ‘She won the competition prize.’ The best combination of the couple
sentences is:
A/ That is the student who won the competition prize.
B/ That is the student which won the competition prize.
C/ That is the student whose she won the competition prize.
D/ That is the student won the competition prize.
52. The city _____ I was born is in London.
A/where B/ whose C/ that D/ which

53. Peter, whom everyone suspected, turned out to be innocent. The underlined part is a ____
A/ defining relative clause B/ non-defining relative clause C/ relative pronoun D/ All

54. In a sentence ‘I can put you in contact if you need’, what does the modal verb can
express?
A/ probability B/ possibility C/ ability D/ certainty
55. This is the letter ____ arrived this morning.
A/ when B/ which C/ whose D/ whom

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 56. Food _______ is imported from other countries is expensive.
A/that B/ where C/ why D/ whose
57. I thanked the man ____ helped me move the refrigerator.
A/ whose B/ where C/ which D/ who
58. The people ____ I saw at the park were having a picnic.
A/ what B/ whom C/ where D/ which
59. Do you know anyone ________ can repair cigarette burns on clothes?
A/ who B/ which C/ why D/ where
60. I would like to know the reason --------------- you decided not to join us.
A/ what B/ why C/ when D/ that
Direction: Change each of the following direct speech into reported speech and write the
answers in front of the questions.

61. “We went out last night,” she said. She said that _______________________________
62. He said, “I can help you tomorrow.” He said that ______________________________
63. “Where is he?” she asked me ______________________________________________
64. “Do you live in Adama?’ The man asked me ___________________________________
65. The teacher ordered us, “Don’t disturb!” ______________________________________

66. “Turn off the TV.” his mother, told him. His mother told him _______________________

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