Tips for Tutors
March 6, 2017
(Teaching Grammar)
Activities:
What have you done?
In this activity, students write positive and negative present perfect sentences about
themselves. Half the sentences are true and half are false. As their tutor you will
try to determine which sentences are true or false by asking past simple follow up
questions.
Ask your student to complete the sentences in the present perfect tense (have /
haven’t + past participle). Ask them to make half the sentences true and half the
sentences false.
1. I _________________________ (stay) up all night.
2. I _________________________ (go) on a roller coaster.
3. I _________________________ (copy) homework.
4. I _________________________ (write) a story.
5. I _________________________ (sing) in a karaoke bar.
6. I _________________________ (sleep) under the stars.
7. I _________________________ (win) a competition.
8. I _________________________ (catch) a fish.
9. I _________________________ (run) up an escalator the wrong way.
10. I _________________________ (act) in a play.
11. I _________________________ (raise) money for charity.
12. I _________________________ (seen) my favorite singer or group in concert.
13. I _________________________ (play) a game online.
14. I _________________________ (climb) a mountain.
15. I _________________________ (travel) abroad.
Acting Adverbs
This activity is a great way to introduce the idea of how adverbs affect the way a verb
action is done. Divide the board in two sections and write as many verbs on one side
and as many adverbs on the other as you can (ask your student to help generate
verbs). You can also teach how adjectives 'turn into' adverbs by writing down
adjectives e.g. angry, happy, and adding the 'ily'.
Changing Active to Passive: (ask students to complete)
Example: People buy food at the market →Food is bought at the market.
He has fed the animals. → The animals have been fed.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Active : They take the child to school by car.
Passive: The child ...
Active : I saw two armed men in front of the jewelry shop.
Passive :Two armed men ...
Active : The reporter is announcing the results on the radio right now.
Passive : The results ...
Active : Emma had done the housework before the guests arrived.
Passive : The housework ...
Active : The doctor was treating the patient when the ambulance arrived.
Passive : The patient ...
Active : The ambulance will take the patient to the nearest hospital.
Passive : The patient ...
Active : The teacher had announced the results to the students.
Passive : The results...
Active : Tom will have calculated the cost before the end of the day.
Passive : The cost ...
Dear Diary
Writing about their day is a good way for your students to practice the written form of
the simple past. Have students write about what they did yesterday paying particular
attention to transitions of time (next, then, after that, finally, etc.).
Good and Bad Days
Together brainstorm what makes a day great, and then make another list for what
makes a day bad. Ask your student questions about a day in the past. For example,
you might ask, “Did you spill your coffee yesterday?” The other would answer, “No, I
didn’t spill my coffee yesterday.” This is a great way to practice questions and negative
use of the simple past.
Sources: http://www.learn-english-today.com/lessons/exercise-list.html
http://busyteacher.org/13649-teaching-simple-past-7-simple-activities.html
Some grammar worksheets follow.
ESLPDF.com
Another free worksheet from
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
topic: VERBS | Mixed verbs 1
Choose the correct verb tense. Several options might be acceptable - choose the
best response:
1. I _____________ with my mother yesterday. ( to speak )
a) didn’t speak
b) have not spoken
c) haven’t been speaking
2. I _____________ to this restaurant for 5 years (and I still do). ( to come)
a) was coming
b) have been coming
c) am coming
3. She _____________ him if he hadn’t asked her. ( to tell)
a) would not tell
b) would not have told
c) didn’t tell
4. How often are you at the beach? I _____________ there every day. ( to go )
a) will have gone
b) am going
c) go
5. The concert we _____________ to last Monday was amazing! ( to go )
a) will have gone
b) went
c) go
6. Please _____________ me the truth! ( to tell )
a) was telling
b) to tell
c) tell
7. I _____________ a bath when the phone rang. ( to take )
a) was taking
b) to take
c) took
8. She insisted on _____________ there alone. ( to go )
a) going
b) to go
c) to be going
9. I demanded __________ to his supervisor. ( to speak )
a) to be speaking
b) to speak
c) speak
10. I never _____________ of him as a good friend. ( to think )
a) was thinking
b) thought
c) have been thinking
© 2008 ESLPDF.com | Free to use for teachers and students
topic: VERBS | Mixed verbs 1
ANSWERS:
1) a
2) b 3) b 4) c 5) b 6) c 7) a 8) a
9) b 10) b
ESLPDF.com
Another free worksheet from
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
VERBS/ VERB TENSES | THE FIRST CONDITIONAL
LEVEL: Beginner/Intermediate
Complete the following sentences using the FIRST CONDITIONAL form:
EX: If you come to the party, you will meet my sister.
1. If you _________________ a lot of junk food, you will get fat. (to eat)
2. If they listen to our advice, they _________________ successful. (to become)
3. If Tom goes with us, he _________________ for the tickets. (to pay)
4. If you _________________ to her, she will be very happy. (to talk)
5. If he _________________ to me again, I will be very upset. (to lie)
6. Thomas _________________ tonight if he gets his mother’s car. (to come)
7. We _________________ a lot of money if we go there. (to spend)
8. If you study, you _________________ pass the test. (to pass)
9. I _________________ home if it rains. (to stay)
10. If we _________________ the lottery, we will be rich. (to win)
© 2009 ESLPDF.com | Free to use for teachers and students
VERBS/ VERB TENSES | THE FIRST CONDITIONAL
ANSWERS:
1) eat 2) will become 3) will pay 4) talk 5) lie 6) will come
8) will pass 9) will stay 10) win
7) will spend
ESLPDF.com
Another free worksheet from
…………………………………………………………………………………………….
VERBS/ VERB TENSES | TO HAVE (Present tense)
LEVEL: Beginner
Write the correct present-tense form of the verb TO HAVE:
Ex: I have a cat.
1. My parents _________________ a nice garden.
2. My brother _________________ three children.
3. We don’t _________________ time to go to the beach.
4. My cousin _________________ a good job.
5. Do you _________________ my money?
6. That woman _________________ very beautiful eyes.
7. My neighbors _________________ a dog.
8. My boss _________________ a new car.
9. I don’t _________________ a laptop.
10. My brother and his wife _________________ a beautiful house.
© 2009 ESLPDF.com | Free to use for teachers and students
VERBS/ VERB TENSES | TO HAVE (Present tense)
ANSWERS:
1) have 2) has 3) have 4) has 5) have
6) has 7) have
10) have
8) has
9) have