10 This bicycle (be) in our family for fourteen years. My father (use) it
for the first five years, my brother (ride) it for the next five, and I
(have) it for the last four.
11 I hear that your MP, Mr Simpson, (make) a very clever speech last
night. How long he (be) your MP?~
Oh, we only (have) him since January. His predecessor Mr Allen
(resign) suddenly because of ill-health and there (be) a by-election.
12 I hear that Mr Jones (leave). -
Yes, he (leave) last week.~
Anybody (be) appointed to take his place?
I believe several men (apply) for the job but so far nothing (be)
decided.
13 Peter (meeting Ann at the airport): Hello, Ann. You (have) a good
trip?
Ann: The actual flight (be) lovely, one of the best I (have) ever, but
it (take) ages to get into the plane. First they (think) that one of us
(be) a hijacker and they (search) us all for firearms; then they
(announce) that one of the engines (be) faulty. We finally (take off)
an hour later.
14 Peter: How you (spend) this extra hour before take-off)?
Ann: Oh, they (take) us to the restaurant and (feed) us and we (walk)
about and (buy) things we (not need). The time (pass) all right.
15 You (book) your hotel room yet? -
Well, I (write) to the hotel last week but they (not answer) yet.
16 Peter (meeting Paul unexpectedly in London): Hello, Paul! I (not -
know) you (be) here.
Paul: Oh, I (be) here nearly two months. I (arrive) on the 6th of
January
17 Peter: When we last (meet) you (say) that nothing would induce you
to come to England. What (make) you change your mind?
Paul: I (find) that I (need) English for my work and this (seem) the
quickest way of learning it.
18 Peter: You (know) any English when you first (arrive) here?
Paul: No, I (not know) a word.
19 Ann (to Yvonne, who is going to English classes): How long you
(learn) English?
Yvonne: I learn) off and on for about five and a half years. (Use the
continuous form.)
20 I (begin) English at secondary school and (do) it for three years.
Then I (drop) it for a year and (forget) most of it. Then I (spend) two
years at a secretarial college, where I (study) commercial English,
and for the last six months I (study) in London.
21 At 4 p.m. my neighbour (ring) up and (say), 'Is Tom with you?' Tom,
her son, (spend) most of his time in my garden playing with my
children, so whenever she (not be able) to find him she (ring) me.
I'm afraid I (not see) him today,' I (say). "But my children (go) to the
beach this morning and (not come) back yet. Perhaps he (go) with them.'​