Esercizio intermediate in inglese: tempi verbali in contesto • 1

Metti i verbi tra parentesi nel tempo giusto, scegliendo sempre la forma più semplice nel caso di più possibilità. Sono previsti tutti i tempi più consueti sia della lingua parlata che della lingua scritta informale, compresi i tempi condizionali e gli imperativi. Laddove viene indicato il verbo potere, bisogna usare sempre can/could quando questo è possibile. Le mie soluzioni si trovano in fondo alla pagina, ma eventuali alternative o richieste di chiarimenti si possono postare nei commenti.
Buon divertimento!

Dear Lucy,
I just (sentire) that my mother (avere) an accident and (dovere) stay in bed for several days. I (piacere) to go and stay with her for a week but the problem (essere) that I (non poter portare) my dog, Tim, with me. You (pensare) that you (potere) possibly look after him for a week? You (avere) him for a few days last year and you (dire) he (essere) no trouble.
If you (non dispiacere) having him, I (portare) him to your house whenever it (essere) convenient for you. He (avere) his own bed and bowl and I (portare) enough dog food to last him for a week.
But if it (non essere) possible, (non esitare) to tell me. There (essere) quite good kennels near here and they (prendere) him if I (chiedere). He (essere) there once before and (sembrare) to be quite happy.
Love,
Kate

Dear Kate,
I (essere) very sorry to hear about your mother’s accident and (essere) glad that you (andare) to Scotland to see how she (essere). It (essere) nice for her to see you.
Of course, I (prendere cura) Tim for you. We really (piacere) having him last year and my dog (sentire la mancanza) him when he (partire) and (cercare) him everywhere. I (essere) sure he (essere) very happy to see him again.
You (potere portare) him on Tuesday afternoon? Or, if that (non essere) convenient for you, then any time on Wednesday. (Non portare) dog food: I (avere) plenty. I hope you (avere) time to stay for tea when you (portare) Tim and that you also (avere) better news of your mother.
Love,
Lucy

ATTENZIONE
VERSIONE CORRETTA QUI SOTTO

Dear Lucy,
I just have just heard that my mother has had an accident and will have to stay in bed for several days. I would like to go and stay with her for a week but the problem is that I can’t take my dog, Tim, with me. Do you think that you could possibly look after him for a week? You had him for a few days last year and you said he was no trouble.
If you don’t mind having him, I will bring him to your house whenever it is convenient for you. He has his own bed and bowl and I will bring enough dog food to last him for a week.
But if it isn’t possible, don’t hesitate to tell me. There are quite good kennels near here and they will take him if I ask. He has been there once before and seemed to be quite happy.
Love,
Kate

Dear Kate,
I am/was very sorry to hear about your mother’s accident and am glad that you are going to Scotland to see how she is. It will be nice for her to see you.
Of course, I will look after Tim for you. We really liked having him last year and my dog missed him when he left and looked for him everywhere. I am sure he will be very happy to see him again.
Can you bring him on Tuesday afternoon? Or, if that isn’t convenient for you, then any time on Wednesday. Don’t bring dog food: I have plenty. I hope you will have time to stay for tea when you bring Tim and that you will also have better news of your mother.
Love,
Lucy

mixed exercises

verb tenses

gym

Your comments are always very welcome.

Author: Tony

Born and raised in Malaysia between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Educated at Wycliffe College in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, England. Living in the foothills of Mount Etna since 1982 and teaching English at Catania University since 1987. View all posts by Tony

2 thoughts on “Esercizio intermediate in inglese: tempi verbali in contesto • 1”

Patrizia T. says:

01/07/2024 at 17:46
Hi Tony,

I tried to do the exercise (quite good) but I still have some doubts:
1. In a few sentences I used the subjunctive: “But if it weren’t possible…”, “Or, if that weren’t convenient…”
2. In other parts of the test I used “can/could” instead of the future and, following, the subjunctive: e.g. “…and they could take him if I asked“.
3. But the most basic doubt, for me, is the different use of “bring” (in the most sentences) and “take” at the end of the first letter (as above)…, in both of cases referred to the dog to move… I knew a rule but I often notice that it’s not always followed…Could you solve this mistery?
Thanks!

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1. Tony says:
  
  01/07/2024 at 18:29
  Hi Patrizia.
  1. Why did you want to use the subjunctive in these sentences? Both your examples are “if” clauses and the person speaking is making a realistic proposition: 1° conditional.
  2. This is really the same as point 1. Kate wants Lucy to understand that the kennels alternative is equally realistic (1° conditional) so that she doesn’t feel obliged to say yes.
  3. “Bring” is when the movement is towards the person being spoken to: in this case, Lucy at her house (Kate porterà Tim verso Lucy). The same thing applies to the dog food. In the second letter, it is Lucy who is speaking and she is referring to a movement towards herself, so once again “bring”.
    The use of “take” at the end of Kate’s letter is in the sense of “ricevere/accettare” and not “portare”.
  N.B. Use “bring” when the sense of movement is “VENIRE” and “take” when the sense of movement is “ANDARE“. Think about it: it works! 😉
  
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