Grammar exercises

1. Continuous Tenses

Ex. 1. Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Continuous, the Past Continuous or the Future Continuous. Write these sentences in interrogative form:

1. Electronics (to become) very important in all branches of production now. 2. During the experiment the scientist observed that a small electrical current (to flow). 3. He concluded that some electrons (to move) through the vacuum. 4. Within several years nuclear power stations (to generate) a great amount of electrical power. 5. Yesterday morning he (to write) an article on the development of science and technology. 6. They (to apply) a new method of research. 7. She (to try) to enter the faculty of Physics.

Ex. 2. Write down the following sentences in negative form:

1. This scientist is checking the result. 2. They were developing his ideas at the meeting. 3. I’m using mathematical symbols. 4. The teacher was explaining this rule when I came back. 5. He will be making this experiment tomorrow at 12.

Ex. 3. Change verb tenses according to the adverbial modifier of time. Translate these sentences:

1. Mary was explaining the pattern. (now, tomorrow at 2). 2. Tom was proving the theorem. (now, tomorrow at 3). 3. Mary is speaking about the development of science and technology. (at this time tomorrow, yesterday at 3). 4. Tom and John are meeting Bob. (tomorrow at 12, on Sunday at 6). 5. John is working on the new system. (yesterday all day long, the whole week next month). They were building a new computer in 2011. (now, at this time in May). Ann is telephoning (now, when I came back home, when I come back home)

2. Modal verbs

Ex. 1. Translate into Russian paying special attention to the modal verbs "can", "may", "must", "need" and "ought to". Ask a general question about every sentence:

1. Atoms are held by electromagnetic forces, so their electromagnetic properties can be accurately predicted. 3. The photon is known to be stable; the most fundamental principles of quantum mechanics argue that it cannot decay. 4. No doubt that this field of science can provide challenges and opportunities for first-class research. 5. The scientists suggested that such elementary particles may be combinations of subunits, perhaps purely mathematical, called quarks. 6. There are a number of plausible ways in which nucleons might be grouped to make up a nucleus. 7. Although the experimental method has been developed successfully, its remaining insufficiencies may determine at present the limit of the capacity of the method. 8. The principle of the transformation and conservation of energy states that energy may be transformed from one type to another without loss, and that in a closed or isolated system the total amount of energy remains unchanged. 9. Even in early experiments creative ideas required the «clever implementation of measurement techniques, which might allow investigators to overcome experimental difficulties and to translate their ideas into action. 10. The science of physics is subdivided into several branches; the traditional subdivisions are mechanics, heat, sound, magnetism, electricity, and light. To these traditional subdivisions, we must now add one on atomic and nuclear physics. 11. Thus all nuclear matter, except for the neutron itself, must be positively charged. 12. Heat must be added to the solid to melt it. 13. Need they employ special plates in such instruments? 14. They needn't use such complicated models, there are some more simple and good ones. 15. This method ought to be described by means of examples. 16. These problems are predominantly technological, however, and we ought to solve them in the near future. 17. Physicists ought to advance some explanation for these facts. 18. As for the environment, the extent of public concern over improving the quality of air, water and the landscape needn't be elaborated, except for one point that is often overlooked: it will take large amount of electrical energy to run the many kinds of purification plants that will be needed to clean up the air and water and to recycle wastes.