§ 10 Tense and voice in written texts

Read the stories. Practise retelling them. Analyze the key structures, do the exercises.

1. A Pretty Carpet

We have just moved into a new house and I have been working hard all morning. I have been trying to get my new room in order. This has not been easy because I own over a thousand books. To make matters worse, the room is rather small, so I have temporarily put my books on the floor. At the moment they cover every inch of the floor space and I actually have to walk on them to get in or out of the room. A short while ago, my sister helped me to carry one of my bookcases up the stairs. She went into my room and got a big surprise when she saw all those books on the floor. "This is the prettiest carpet I have ever seen", she said. She gazed at it for some time, then added, "You don't need bookcases at all. You can sit here in your spare time and read the carpet!"

Key Structures:

We have just moved into a new house.

I have been working hard all morning.

I have been trying to put my new room in order.

This is the prettiest carpet I have ever seen.

Comprehension questions:

1. What has happened to the man? Has he just bought a new house?

2. What has been happening all morning in the new house?

3. Has the man been trying to put over a thousand books of his on the bookshelves?

4. Where and why has he temporarily put his books?

5. Has he finally got his new room in order?

2. The Greenwood Boys

The Greenwood Boys are a group of popular singers. At present, they are visiting all parts of the country. They will be arriving here tomorrow. They will be coming by train and most of the young people in the town will be meeting them at the station. Tomorrow evening they will be singing at the Workers’ Club. The Greenwood Boys will be staying for five days. During this time, they will give five performances. As usual, the police will have a difficult time. They will be trying to keep order. It is always the same on these occasions.

Key Structures:

At present they are visiting all parts of the country.

They will be singing at the Workers’ Club.

They will be staying for five days.

Comprehension questions:

1. Whom will the young people of the town be meeting at the station?

2. Where will the Greenwood Boys be singing?

3. Will they be giving 5 or 7 performances?

4. Are they visiting only big cities of the country?

5. Why will the police be having a difficult time?

Speak about a group of popular singers visiting Minsk now.

3. Do You Speak English?

I had an amusing experience last year. After I had left a small village in the south of France, I drove on to the next town. On the way, a young man waved to me. I stopped and he asked me for a lift. As soon as he had got into the car, I said good morning to him in French and he replied in the same language. Apart from a few words, I do not know any French at all. Neither of us spoke during the journey. I had nearly reached the town, when the young man suddenly said, very slowly, “Do you speak English?” As I soon learnt, he was English himself.

Key Structures:

After I had left a small village I drove on.

As soon as he had got into the cat I said good morning to him.

I had hardly reached the town when he asked if I spoke English.

Hardly had I reached the town when he asked if I spoke English.

Join these sentences:

1. The man left a small village in the south of France. He drove on to the next town.

2. The young man got into the car. The driver said good morning to him in French.

3. They nearly reached the town. The young man said, "Do you speak English?"

4. They were silent during the journey. They understood they both spoke English.

Comprehension questions:

1. Where did the man drive after he had left a small village in the south of France?

2. What did the young man who had waved to the driver ask him for?

3. What happened as soon as the young man got into the car?

4. What did the young man say hardly had they reached the town?

5. Did the two men laugh after they had learnt that they both spoke English? Why?