THE VERB to be

Exercise 1. Read and translate the sentences with the verb «to be».

1. Our work will be completed next week. 2. He is to deliver a lecture on International Law. 3. Hard work is a guarantee of success. 4. The students of group No 4 are having a seminar now. 5. The train was to come at 5, but it was late. 6. A for­eign delegation was to visit the exhibition. 7. He is not at home now. 8. Which party is in power now in Great Britain? 9. My aim is to master two foreign languages. 10. The report was in­teresting.

E xercise 2. Make the sentences negative.

1. I shall be at home tonight. 2. My friend will be a lawyer in two years. 3. My parents are teachers at the University. 4. At two o'clock our family is having dinner. 5. The decision will be passed on Monday. 6. He is working in the library now. 7. They are to meet at 5. 8. There is a TV set in this room. 9. There were many new words in the dictation. 10. There will be a stadium near our school.

Exercise 3. Answer the questions.

1. Where is the students hostel? 2. Is it far from the Institute? 3. How old is your friend? 4. Is he a student? 5. Was the lesson interesting? 6. Is your group preparing for the winter session? 7. Are you reading or writing now? 8. Were the students of your group invited to the conference? 9. Are you to finish this work by Monday? 10. Were you to meet your friends at the station? 11. Were there any mistakes in your grammar test? 12. What is there on your desk? 13. Will there be any new guests at your birthday party?

Exercise 4. Fill in the gaps using the verb to be (Past, Present or Future Simple).

1. Last year their son … 26, so he … 27 now. 2. Today the weather … nice, but yesterday it … cold. 3. I … cold. Can I have something hot to drink? 4. … you … at school tomorrow? 5. I … hungry last night, so I had something to eat. 6. Where … you at 10 o’clock last Sunday morning? 7. He … in St. Petersburg tomorrow. 8. Don’t buy those shoes. They … too expensive. 9. Why … you so tired yesterday? 10. We must go now. It … very late. 11. This time last year I … in England. 12. When I grow up I … an engineer. 13. We … tired when we arrived home, so we went to bed. 14. Anton Chekhov died in 1904. He … a famous Russian writer. 15. “Where … the dogs?” – “I don’t know. They … in the garden ten minutes ago.” 16. There … many people waiting outside when I came up. 17. The weather … changeable in England.

Exercise 5. Translate into English.

1. Все студенты на лекции. 2. Мой друг - первокурсник. 3. Моя мечта - выучить английский язык. 4. Мой друг готовит­ся поступать в университет. 5. Декан будет ждать тебя в два ча­са. 6. Эти книги переведены на различные языки мира. 7. Бе­лорусский государственный университет был основан в 1921 г. 8. Мне нужно окончить работу к понедельнику. 9. Студентам нашей группы нужно подготовиться к конференции. 10. Деле­гация должна прибыть завтра вечером. 11. Наша задача - овла­деть иностранным языком в течение года. 12. В вашем городе есть университет? 13. В этом районе будет кинотеатр, кафе и несколько школ в следующем году.