Exercise to Practice Using the Correct Forms of Be

Exercise to Practice Using the Correct Forms of 'Be' This exercise will give you practice in applying the principles discussed in What Are the Present and Past Forms of the Verb Be? Instructions and Exercise Complete each of the following sentences with the correct form of the verb be. Use the tense (present or past) shown in parenthesis at the end of each sentence. The Hoovers (be) driving to California in an old VW bus. (present)The Hoovers (be) driving to California in an old VW bus. (past)Dwayne (be) writing another note to his grandfather. (present)George Bailey (be) visited by an angel named Clarence. (past)The Hoovers (be) planning another road trip. (present)I (be) happy to be here. (present)You (be) talking in your sleep last night. (past)Uncle Frank (be) reading a novel when the tornado struck. (past)The Hoovers (be) disqualified. (past)The game of hopscotch (be) invented by the Romans. (past)The elephant (be) the only animal with four knees in each leg. (present)The side door (be) broken. (present)King William IVs nickname (be) Silly Billy. (past)There (be) 206 bones in the human body. (present)Richard (be) once a motivational speaker. (past) Answers The Hoovers  are  driving to California in an old VW bus.The Hoovers  were  driving to California in an old VW bus.Dwayne  is  writing another note to his grandfather.George Bailey  was  visited by an angel named Clarence.The Hoovers  are  planning another road trip.I  am  happy to be here.You  were  talking in your sleep last night.Uncle Frank  was  reading a novel when the tornado struck.The Hoovers  were  disqualified.The game of hopscotch  was  invented by the Romans.The elephant  is  the only animal with four knees in each leg.The side door  is  broken.King William IVs nickname  was  Silly Billy.There  are  206 bones in the human body.Richard  was  once a motivational speaker.

10 Things You Should Never Say During An Exit Interview

10 Things You Should Never Say During An Exit Interview You’ve quit your job to move onto sunnier pastures. Or perhaps you’ve even been laid off. For whatever reason, if you’ve been called in for an exit interview, it’s best to be prepared. It’s a great opportunity to be honest about your experience at that company or in that position, and a great way to get honest feedback about your performance. And, while you may want to burn the place down on your way out the door, it’s important to keep things cordial and professional. You never know when you might run into this HR rep or that co-worker again. Take the high ground and refrain from burning any bridges.Here are 10 things you should never say before  your exit interview.1. â€Å"This place is ‘going downhill/a sinking ship/lost without me†If you’re really as invaluable and under-appreciated as you feel, they’ll notice the lack of you just fine on their own. Don’t  alienate anyone in the process. Avoid soundi ng egotistical or nihilistic. Keep it classy.2. â€Å"So-and-so was mean to me/did something bad/hates it here, too†Pointing fingers is just rude. So is getting a colleague, no matter how hated, into trouble. And outing someone for being miserable in a job is never a kindness. What if they can’t find a suitable substitute and are stuck there? You will have made their lives miserable for no reason.3. â€Å"SHOW ME THE MONEY!†Don’t make it about money. Don’t insinuate the company isn’t viable or solvent, or that you’re just a total mercenary out to make as much as you can with no sense of loyalty whatsoever. If you must cast your new job in a more favorable light, emphasize your need for more challenges and growth and thank them for the opportunities they’ve given you to learn.4. @%!$#You may feel like running naked through the office with both middle fingers pointed high and dropping f-bombs in your path as you depart, but pleas e curtail that urge. Stay professional, take the higher path, lead by example. The last thing you want is a reputation for being a loose-cannon lunatic in your industry. And believe me, word will get around if you fly off the handle.5. â€Å"Never, ever again.†You may know your limits. You may be 110% sure you’d never ever consider working there again. But it’s best to leave unsaid.6. â€Å"You could have made me stay, you know. If only you had†¦Ã¢â‚¬ Insert: â€Å"offered me more money,† â€Å"given me Karen’s office,† â€Å"bribed me.† There is nothing productive that can follow this. If they really wanted you to stay, they would have tried to make you a convincing offer. There’s no sense pointing out the obvious.7. â€Å"Nobody likes working here.†This is only marginally better than outing a particular colleague, but still not a wise choice. If management has no idea that everyone is miserable, then that is the ir problem. Nothing you do or say will make it any better. It might actually make it worse.8. â€Å"I really think you should have put in a snack machine.†Anything that makes a very specific point about equipment or physical office space is probably a waste of (both) your time. Keep it in the neighborhood of things that matter.9. â€Å"Hate†Even if you just want to mention that you hated a particularly vexing software system, don’t resort to using the word â€Å"hate.† It’s far too strong and makes you look weak and immature.10. â€Å"My boss was just awful.†This is probably the worst possible thing you can say in one of these situations. Even if it’s true and your boss was Machiavelli himself, stay classy and don’t let anyone accuse you of having a vendetta or a bias. There are ways to be honest about the working environment or impediments to your being able to faithfully execute your job without being vindictive.