Utter the Speech Reflexes below 4–5 times aloud. 

Group 1:

I am a musician.

I am not a soldier.

I am afraid of dogs.

I am not satisfied with this report.

I am pleased to meet you.

I am early.

I am not late.

It is me.

It isn’t me.

It is us.

It isn’t us.

I live in Pune.

Group 2:

He is a friend of mine.

He isn’t our neighbour.

She is the girl I wanted to see.

You are a likeable sort of person.

He was the wisest of them.

She was the best person to ask.

It was him.

It is them.

It wasn’t him.

It is her.

It isn’t her.

It was you, (wasn’t it?).

It wasn’t you, (was it?).

It is Rahul.

It isn’t Rahul.

It was Rahul and Rani.

Group 3:

We aren’t magicians.

You aren’t the person I’ve been looking for.

They aren’t the people who live here.

I wasn’t the Treasurer.

He wasn’t the man who pinched her purse.

She wasn’t the chairman’s wife.

This watch isn’t hers.

Those things aren’t mine.

That piece of land wasn’t ours.

Many of those things weren’t theirs.

It isn’t them.

It wasn’t her husband.

Group 4:

I was the captain of the college team.

He was tired and ill.

John was a brilliant student.

He was first.

You were the first person I met here.

You have made him President, (haven’t you?).

Group 5:

It was her son’s shirt.

All these things were besides his salary.

My back is painful.

That mobile is Neha’s.

The buildings opposite the library are his.

That shop down the street was yours, (wasn’t it?).

The things in that corner were someone else’s.

It belongs to their family.

Group 6:

She is a nice-looking girl.

He was the wisest of them.

I wrote my name in the book.

The owner of that shop doesn’t go out of there.

Group 7:

We are tax-payers.

They are the fellows I told you about.

We weren’t all silly fools.

They weren’t my friends.

We were proud of them.

We agree with them.

They trust you.

Group 8:

I am afraid of dogs.

I am pleased to meet you.

I was very upset over that.

She was very happy and cheerful.

They were very proud and happy.

We aren’t sorry about that.

You forget too quickly, (don’t you?).

We don’t believe in his innocence.

None directly.

I shouldn’t have grumbled about the salary so much.

I should have put the baby to bed earlier.

She oughtn’t to have attached his views like that.

She oughtn’t to have burnt those letters.

Group 9:

I am not satisfied with this report.

You aren’t sure, (are you?).

We weren’t right about that.

I haven’t understood the problem.

They have confessed (that) they’re guilty.

We haven’t blamed everything on her.

He doesn’t recognize the picture.

You don’t claim that they’re guilty, (do you?).

I may have said those things.

I may not have started by that time.

We may have spoken to the wrong person.

We may not have left the office before then.

He may have changed his mind.

He may not have begun the lessons now.

She may have forgotten the whole thing.

She may not have finished it by now.

It may have slipped his mind.

It may not have started raining by May.

They may have done their packing before you get there.

They may not have waited for him.

I might have said those things.

I might not have started by that time.

We might have spoken to the wrong person.

We might not have left the office before then.

He might have changed his mind.

He might not have begun the lessons now.

She might have forgotten the whole thing.

She might not have finished it by now.

It might have slipped his mind.

It might not have started raining by May.

They might have done their packing before you get there.

They might not have waited for him.

You might think we’re fools.

They may think that she was there.

Group 10:

My back is painful.

It is getting hot.

It isn’t melting.

He was tired and ill.

It is too heavy to lift.

It isn’t large enough.

My car breaks down too often.

Your hair wants cutting.

Her shoes don’t need cleaning.

It may give way to foul play.

It might shock him.

It might not blow up the building.

Group 11:

He is very efficient.

She is very pretty and sweet.

She isn’t sad at all.

He isn’t worse at all.

That sort of thing isn’t very common.

Bombs are awfully dangerous.

His behaviour was ugly and shameful.

Several things he said annoyed her.

Something on the floor made me look down.

It’ll come true some day.

It won’t please him at all.

It should have happened a few days back.

It shouldn’t have looked so simple.

It ought to have happened a few days back.

It oughtn’t to have looked so simple.

Group 12:

It is too heavy to lift.

He is very efficient.

She is very pretty and sweet.

They aren’t very polite to us.

I wasn’t lucky.

I won’t ride motor cycles from now on.

She won’t reach the top at all.

Group 13:

She wasn’t getting ready.

We weren’t prepared to wait.

I’ll wash the dishes tomorrow.

We’ll move it to another place.

I must clear away the rubbish.

We must warn him about it.

She must remember that.

They must arrange for his stay.

We needn’t have started so early.

I needn’t have taken so much trouble to do it.

You needn’t have worried.

He needn’t have worked so hard on this.

She needn’t have hurried.

It needn’t have bothered him so much.

They needn’t have made all those arrangements.

Group 14:

I am looking at the picture.

She is cooking our food.

You are helping him lift it.

They are running low on provisions.

The delivery boy is handing a packet to him.

She cooks very well.

He enjoys playing football.

You’ll bring me a present, (won’t you?).

I can throw it to you.

He can clean the wound.

She can drink all of it.

They can ring for the room-service.

These are mostly perfect/modality statements.

Group 15:

I was learning to drive.

He was having breakfast.

She was running to help him.

We were showing (that) we could do it.

You were putting your watch on.

I have seen that web series.

He has broken it open.

She has painted her car green.

We had started talking before they left.

You had allowed her to go out, (hadn’t you?).

He had compared her with an elephant.

The policemen had seized the stolen things from him by then.

I have to clear away the rubbish.

He has to try to be careful.

They have to arrange for his stay.

I will have learnt to speak English by the year end.

I won’t have picked up the children from school by then.

We will have become rich by this time next year.

We won’t have solved the problem before your return.

You will have washed up the dishes in an hour, (won’t you?).

You won’t have moved into the new house by Tuesday, (will you?).

He will have passed the driving test by next Sunday.

He won’t have changed his dress by now, (will he?).

She will have bolted the door by then.

She won’t have finished putting on her make-up.

It will have cooled down by now.

It won’t have boiled by then.

They will have replaced the bulb by the week-end.

They won’t have sent out all the letters by now.

Group 16:

We are washing the dishes.

She is cooking our food.

She cooks very well.

He enjoys playing football.

I used to oppose his ideas.

We used to watch them go.

You used to take it as a joke.

He used to demand that we should respect him.

She used to press him to do things like these.

It used to kill cockroaches.

They used to quarrel about petty matters.

I used to oppose his ideas.

We used to watch them go.

Group 17:

I was learning to drive.

He was having breakfast.

She was running to help him.

That useless friend of yours was laughing at me.

I had begun to read.

He hadn’t paid the porter.

They hadn’t made fun of him.

She had ordered that they should drop the plan.

I didn’t use to wish New Year greetings.

We didn’t use to stay in hotels like this.

You didn’t use to take advantage of our lenience.

She didn’t use to admit her faults.

It didn’t use to lean to a side like this.

They didn’t use to live on his income.

I couldn’t have left the door open.

We couldn’t have emptied the jar.

You couldn’t have seen me.

He couldn’t have marked it urgent.

She couldn’t have done all that by herself.

It couldn’t have dropped down from the clouds.

They couldn’t have done it without his knowledge.

I could have helped her with the cooking (if she wanted).

We could have given the baby his bath.

You could have pretended to be her brother.

He could have kept an eye on her baggage.

She could have kept from sending that e-mail for a day more.

It could have happened without his knowledge.

They could have managed it somehow.

Group 18:

He is just beginning to do it.

We aren’t planning for a holiday.

I would pick up the small ones.

We would let him go a little early.

You would weigh her baggage, (wouldn’t you?).

He would stay home today.

She would discuss the matter with him.

They would consult him on important matters.

I could do it over that weekend.

You could enjoy the holiday, (couldn’t you?).

He could do it over that weekend.

She could pick up the child.

I may win a prize this time.

We may sell our house next year.

You may get it this time.

He may force the door open.

She may lose her job.

They may think that she was there.

I would pick up the small ones.

Group 19:

I didn’t shut the door.

You didn’t attempt to escape, (did you?).

She didn’t avoid meeting him.

I can’t have raised the money by then.

We can’t have finished the job by next Sunday.

You can’t have kept it a secret for long.

He can’t have treated her badly.

She can’t have shouted at him.

It can’t have disappeared.

They can’t have examined your case already.

We weren’t planning for a holiday.

I wasn’t carrying the box.

Group 20:

I was downstairs.

I wasn’t upstairs.

She is there.

She isn’t here.

He is out.

He isn’t in.

It (= the bus) had left before we reached the bus stop.

She stayed in bed till ten.

He heard a dog barking.

We’ll move it to another place.

Group 21:

He was first.

He wasn’t last.

He is ahead of them.

She is at the back of this room.

Something on the floor made me look down.

My car breaks down too often.

Group 22:

You were across.

They weren’t across.

You weren’t through.

It dropped down from her hand.

Group 23:

Nobody was around here.

They aren’t outside.

They were everywhere.

They asked for his permission to do it.

They didn’t wash it clean.

Group 24:

It is next.

You are at the beginning of this course.

You aren’t at the end of this course.

You’ll bring me a present, (won’t you?).

They would consult him on important matters.

Group 25

We can tie this to that.

It (= That axe) can split this log in two.

It (= That iron bar) could serve as a tool.

You can set them free.

They can’t threaten to rise up against the government.

Group 26:

The buildings opposite the library are his.

That shop down the street was yours.

Group 27:

Something on the floor made me look down.

Group 28:

Many of those things weren’t theirs.

We don’t believe in his innocence.

Group 29:

We agree with them.

Group 30:

It belongs to their family.

Group 31:

Pens are for writing with.

Your hair wants cutting.

Her shoes don’t need cleaning.

Group 32:

He’ll manage to get free after some time.

I can throw it to you.

I can’t catch it.

We can tie this to that.

We can’t give you any discount.

You can set them free.

You can’t forgive her for that.

He can hope for their sympathy.

He can’t expect that she’ll support him.

She can’t decide which to choose.

It can’t increase your sales.

It can split this log in two.

They can’t threaten to rise up against the government.

He can clean the wound.

She can drink all of it.

I could have helped her with the cooking (if she wanted).

He could have kept an eye on her baggage.

She could have kept from sending that e-mail for a day more.

We could have given the baby his bath.

Group 33:

They asked for his permission to do it.

They can ring for the room-service.

You may get it this time.

We may sell our house next year.

We may not attend the meeting.

You might think we’re fools.

Group 34:

I won’t ride motor cycles from now on.

You wouldn’t strike a bargain with them.

I must clear away the rubbish.

I mustn’t smoke cigarettes.

We must warn him about it.

We mustn’t slip away without telling them.

You must catch a taxi.

You mustn’t hit it with a hammer.

He must try to be careful.

He mustn’t express his irritation like this.

She must remember that.

She mustn’t stop now.

It mustn’t happen anymore.

They mustn’t argue with him.

I must have spelt it correctly.

We must have done it in the wrong way.

You must have lost your way.

He must have collected a huge sum as donation.

She must have an explanation for all this.

It must have smelt awful.

They must have posted the cash-book by now.

I needn’t have taken so much trouble to do it.

We needn’t have started so early.

You needn’t have worried.

He needn’t have worked so hard on this.

She needn’t have hurried.

It needn’t have bothered him so much.

They needn’t have made all those arrangements.

Group 35:

You had allowed her to go out, (hadn’t you?).

I have to clear away the rubbish.

We have to warn him about it.

You have to catch a taxi.

He has to try to be careful.

She has to remember that.

They have to arrange for his stay.

He must have collected a huge sum as donation.

She must have an explanation for all this.

Group 36:

She would discuss the matter with him.

They would consult him on important matters.

I should call a doctor.

We should cut that rope.

You should explain it in English.

He should hand in his tickets.

She should save some money.

They should check with our office.

I should have put the baby to bed earlier.

I shouldn’t have grumbled about the salary so much.

We should have reported him to the police at once.

We shouldn’t have hung the washing outside.

You should have renewed your license in time.

You shouldn’t have laughed in their face in that way.

He should have opened his new shop there.

He shouldn’t have defended their policies.

She should have burnt those letters.

She shouldn’t have attached his views like that.

They should have divided the profits.

They shouldn’t have offered him a lift.

I ought to have put the baby to bed earlier.

I oughtn’t to have grumbled about the salary so much.

We ought to have reported him to the police at once.

We oughtn’t to have hung the washing outside.

You ought to have renewed your license in time.

You oughtn’t to have laughed in their face in that way.

He ought to have opened his new shop there.

He oughtn’t to have defended their policies.

She ought to have burnt those letters.

She oughtn’t to have attached his views like that.

It ought to have happened a few days back.

It oughtn’t to have looked so simple.

They ought to have divided the profits.

They oughtn’t to have offered him a lift.

Group 37:

It’ll come true some day.

It won’t please him at all.

I may win a prize this time.

I may not accept their offer.

I might spend some time with them.

He may force the door open.

She may lose her job.

It may give way to foul play.

It may not fit this lock.

It might shock him.

It might not blow up the building.

They may think that she was there.

They may not adopt a favourable attitude.

They might elect him Chairman.

They might not boil the water.

I may have said those things.

I may not have started by that time.

We may have spoken to the wrong person.

We may not have left the office before then.

You may have got thinner by the time you get back.

You may not have reached there by morning.

He may have changed his mind.

He may not have begun the lessons now.

She may have forgotten the whole thing.

She may not have finished it by now.

It may have slipped his mind.

It may not have started raining by May.

They may have done their packing before you get there.

They may not have waited for him.

I might have said those things.

I might not have started by that time.

We might have spoken to the wrong person.

We might not have left the office before then.

You might have got thinner by the time you get back.

You might not have reached there by morning.

He might have changed his mind.

He might not have begun the lessons now.

She might have forgotten the whole thing.

She might not have finished it by now.

It might have slipped his mind.

It might not have started raining by May.

They might have done their packing before you get there.

They might not have waited for him.

Group 38:

You don’t claim that they’re guilty, (do you?).

He didn’t suggest (that) I should bring it.

I can’t catch it.

He can’t expect that she’ll support him.

It can’t increase your sales.

I can’t have raised the money by then.

We can’t have finished the job by next Sunday.

You can’t have kept it a secret for long.

He can’t have treated her badly.

She can’t have shouted at him.

It can’t have disappeared.

It couldn’t have dropped down from the clouds.

They can’t have examined your case already.

They couldn’t have done it without his knowledge.

Group 39:

I wouldn’t strike a bargain with them.

You wouldn’t remind him to do it, (would you?).

I couldn’t bear to keep his company.

We couldn’t pull out this tooth.

You couldn’t even spread the bed properly.

She couldn’t change that 2000-rupee note.

It couldn’t earn money for him.

They couldn’t put an end to the ugly goings on.

I wouldn’t strike a bargain with them.

You wouldn’t remind him to do it, (would you?).

I couldn’t have left the door open.

I should have put the baby to bed earlier.

I shouldn’t have grumbled about the salary so much.

We shouldn’t have hung the washing outside.

You shouldn’t have laughed in their face in that way.

He shouldn’t have defended their policies.

She shouldn’t have attached his views like that.

It shouldn’t have looked so simple.

They shouldn’t have offered him a lift.

I oughtn’t to have grumbled about the salary so much.

We oughtn’t to have hung the washing outside.

You oughtn’t to have laughed in their face in that way.

He oughtn’t to have defended their policies.

She oughtn’t to have attached his views like that.

It oughtn’t to have looked so simple.

They oughtn’t to have offered him a lift.