WARM-UP VIDEO FOR PAST TENSES

Instructions. Listen to the story and type verbs in Past Simple and Past Continuous forms.

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Exercise. Complete each gap with suitable words and expressions you hear from the video.

Now Stephen, your father, being responsible - (1) ………….. to kind of teach you fiscal responsibility when you (2) ………….. , I believe. Is he an accountant? Well, that's a generous way of puttin it. My father is, I think the politically correct term is, stingy. Frugal. Frugal? It's actually funny, talking about your mother reprimanding you in that way, it felt like sometimes (3) ………….. the adults. Like one time I remember we.. were on hol[iday] (4) ………….. .. (5) ………….. at Flambards, the aerial theme park. And (6) ………….. very young and (7) ………….. a camera under a bench. You know, a nice family camera. (8) ………….. it to my dad and (9) ………….. , dad, (10) ………….. this camera - we should hand it in. And (11) ………….. , no, we shouldn't. You know the law of the land: Finders keepers, losers weepers. And (12) ………….. that camera for five years! (13) ………….. the family camera. This was before digital so (14) ………….. on there. This other poor family...just (15) ………….. that film out - (16) ………….. gone! (17) ………….. that for five years and then I remember (18) ………….. on holiday in Greece And (19) ………….. it in a restaurant. And (20) ………….. back and (21) ………….. gone. And the first thing (22) ………….. ,“Thieving bastards!” And in his mind, (23) ………….. with much money and so, where you could cut corners, or thieve, clearly...I remember one time, (24) ………….. young again... Does your dad watch this show? He doesn't have a TV. Can't afford a TV. Watches through the neighbour's window. He won't be able to hear the sound. I remember once (25) ………….. very young and (26) ………….. a lot of her teeth and (27) ………….. .. you know, (28) ………….. them under the pillow, and (29) ………….. money from the tooth fairy. And one time (30) ………….. and (31………….. all there and (32) ………….. , “Dad, why is it that when I put a tooth under the pillow, I only get 50p, when all my friends get a pound from the tooth fairy?” And my dad, quick as a flash, just (33) ………….. at my mum and (34) ………….. , “'Cos all the other tooth fairies have wives that work.” Amazing.

Key: Look at the key and say aloud the script from the video to improve your English.

Now Stephen, your father, being responsible - (1) ( he tried) to kind of teach you fiscal responsibility when you (2) ( were growing up) , I believe. Is he an accountant? Well, that's a generous way of puttin it. My father is, I think the politically correct term is, stingy. Frugal. Frugal? It's actually funny, talking about your mother reprimanding you in that way, it felt like sometimes (3) ( we were) the adults. Like one time I remember we.. were on hol[iday] (4) ( I was) .. (5) ( we were) at Flambards, the aerial theme park. And (6) ( I was) very young and (7) ( I found) a camera under a bench. You know, a nice family camera. (8) ( Took) it to my dad and (9) ( I said) , dad, (10) ( I've found) this camera - we should hand it in. And (11) ( he went) , no, we shouldn't. You know the law of the land: Finders keepers, losers weepers. And (12) ( we used) that camera for five years! (13) ( It was) the family camera. This was before digital so (14) ( we couldn't download what was) on there. This other poor family...just (15) ( ripped) that film out - (16) ( that was) gone! (17) ( We used) that for five years and then I remember (18) ( we went) on holiday in Greece And (19) ( I left) it in a restaurant. And (20) ( we went) back and (21) ( it was) gone. And the first thing (22) ( my dad said) ,“Thieving bastards!” And in his mind, (23) ( he hadn't grown up) with much money and so, where you could cut corners, or thieve, clearly...I remember one time, (24) ( we were) young again... Does your dad watch this show? He doesn't have a TV. Can't afford a TV. Watches through the neighbour's window. He won't be able to hear the sound. I remember once (25) ( my sister was) very young and (26) ( she was losing) a lot of her teeth and (27) ( getting) .. you know, (28) ( putting) them under the pillow, and (29) ( getting) money from the tooth fairy. And one time (30) ( she came down) and (31) ( we were) all there and (32) ( she said) , “Dad, why is it that when I put a tooth under the pillow, I only get 50p, when all my friends get a pound from the tooth fairy?” And my dad, quick as a flash, just (33) ( looked) at my mum and (34) ( went) , “'Cos all the other tooth fairies have wives that work.” Amazing.

Sources: 

Channel: BBC. How stingy was Stephen Merchant's father? - The Graham Norton Show - BBC One: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F0d1R32vFo

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Compiled by Top Grade Edu