Past Simple (or Past Indefinite) in Proverbs Examples and Worksheet

Three exercises on Past Simple (past indefinite) based on proverbs, common sayings and quotations.

Present Simple (Indefinite) in Proverbs and Sayings worksheet

Seven exercises on Present Simple (Present Indefinite) based on proverbs and sayings. Key included if necessary.

Exercise 1
Read these proverbs and sayings. Memorize them.  Pay attention to the forms of the third person singular of the verbs in the Present Simple Tense. Think of equivalents in your language.

Participle Examples in Proverbs and Quotations

1. Point out participle I and participle II in the following proverbs.

1. United we stand, divided we fall.
2. Better untaught than ill taught.
3. One volunteer is worth two pressed men.
4. Fear the Greeks bearing gifts.
5. Stolen sweets are sweetest.
6. Forbidden fruit is sweetest.
7. A forced kindness deserves no thanks.
8. The rotten apple injures its neighbours.
9. The beaten road is the safest.
10. A watched pot never boils.

Gerund examples in literature, proverbs and quotations

Proverbs and Sayings 

1. Comment on the use of the gerund in the following proverbs and sayings. Memorize them.

1. Be slow in choosing a friend, slower in changing him. 
2. He who likes borrowing dislikes paying. 
3. By doing nothing we learn to do ill. 
4. In doing we learn. 
5. Learn to swim by swimming. 
6. Think twice before speaking. 
7. Saying and doing are two things (Saying is one thing and doing another.) 
8. Doing is better than saying. 
9. The word spoken is past recalling. 
10. Seeing is believing. 

Modal Verb May Examples

There are examples of the use of modal verb MAY in proverbs, sayings and quotations.

Proverbs

I

Note the use of the verb 'may / might' in the following proverbs and sayings. Memorize them.

1. A cat may look at a king.
2. Cowards may die many times before their death.
3. A fair face may hide a foul heart.
4. Bitter pills may have blessed effects.
5. Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.
6. Hares may pull dead lions by the beard.
7. The remedy may be worse than the disease.
8. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.
9. When the oak is before the ash, then you will only get a splash; when the ash is before the oak, then you may expect a soak.
10. If you don’t like it you may lump it.
11. Between the cup and the lip a morsel may slip.

There is There are Dialogues

'There is - There are' construction through real life dialogues and proverbs

I hope this page will enable the English learner to see how to use There is/are rules in the right ways and put grammar learning into context.

Dialogues

1.
A: There is something I’d like to talk to you about.
B: Perhaps we leave it for tomorrow.

2.
A: There is a wonderful novel among your books. May I take it?
B: Of course, you may.

3.
A: Was there anything interesting in this book?
B: Yes, there is a lot of very useful material in Chapter 3.

Perfect Tense Examples (Proverbs and Quotations)

Proverbs

Note the use of the Present Perfect Tense in the following proverbs and sayings.

1. It is too late to lock the stable after the horse has bolted.
2. Who has never tasted bitter, knows not what is sweet.
3. The cow knows not what her tail is worth until she has lost it.
4. We know not what is good until we have lost it.
5. When children stand quiet they have done something ill.
6. Don’t sell the bear’s skin before you have caught the bear.
7. Every oak has been an acorn.
8. Drink as you have brewed.
9. Wine has drowned more men than the sea. (Bacchus has drowned more men than Neptune.)
10. A thief passes for a gentleman when stealing has made him rich.
11. A lot of water has run under the bridge.
12. Life is what you make of it. Always has been, always will be.
13. Success has brought many to destruction.

Modal Verb Can Examples

There are examples of the use of modal verb CAN in proverbs and quotations .

Proverbs

I

Note the use of the verb 'can' in the following proverbs and sayings.

1. No man can serve two masters.
2. A man can die but once.
3. A golden key can open any door
4. Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
5. A beggar can never be bankrupt.
6. None can play the fool so well as a wise man.
7. A man can do no more than he can.
8. Give a lie twenty-four hours’ start and you can never overtake it.
9. Two of a trade can never agree.
10. Blind men can judge no colours.
11. Two can live as cheaply as one.
12. Don't try to walk before you can crawl .

Passive Voice: Texts, Proverbs and Quotations.

Passive Voice Examples in Texts, Proverbs and Quotations

Texts

Concentrate on the use of the verbs in the Passive Voice.

Text 1. 

How Towns Have Arisen

Most villages and towns on the British Isles came into being because of their favourable situation for trade.
Rather more than a hundred years ago, a great change came over the land. Many machines were invented about that time. Spinning and weaving, for example, which had previously been done by hand, were done by machinery that were driven by water or steam-power.
The work which usually was done in the houses of the people began to be carried on in large mills or factories, and workers found it convenient to live near them.
More and more factories were built and men and women left the country districts in great numbers and crowded into towns.
Since then the movement of people into towns has been going on until now. England is dotted with great cities.
All over Britain, and especially in those parts were the coal needed for power is to be found, there are mining and manufacturing areas, such as the Lancashire cotton district, the Black county of Midland, and others. A great many towns are found close together in those districts, and a great many people live within a small area, so that the population is very dense.

(After “The British Isles, Their Life and Work” by S. Bryson and Maxton)