English Grammar in Context

U n i t 2

PRESENT PERFECT VS.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

11

4) we list the accomplishments of individuals and humanity. You cannot mention a specific time.

Man has walked on the Moon.

Our son has learned how to read.

5) we talk about several different actions which have occurred in the past at different times. Present Perfect suggests the process is not complete and more actions are possible.

12

Time expressions

Difference in Meaning:

Present Perfect vs. Present Perfect Continuous

13

2. Write negative sentences in present perfect simple.

The weather was wonderful today. So the children were in the park all afternoon and have not done their household chores:

Sarah / not / wash the dishes Anita / not / clean the kitchen

Maureen and Gavin / not / water the plants Joey / not / make his bed

Aran and Jack / not / do their homework

3. Write questions in present perfect simple.

you / answer / the question Jenny / lock / the door Walter / call / us

you / see / the picture

your parents / get / the letter

Loch Ness is famous for its friendly monster, Nessie. Most people think that this is only a legend, but every

year tourists from all over the world come to Loch Ness and hope that they will see the monster.

1.Tourists from all over the world (be) ____________ to Loch Ness.

2.Most of them (see / not) __________________ Nessie, however.

3.Only very few people say that the Loch Ness Monster (appear)

_______________ in front of them.

4.Even scientists (come) ___________ to Loch Ness to find the monster.

5.And the boss of the Guinness brewery (promise) ____________ to pay 500,000 pounds to the person who catches Nessie.

5. What are some of the things have you already accomplished at this time in your life?

Make a list of two or three things you have already done in life. Share what you are most proud of, and talk about some of your peers’ greatest achievements. You need to ask follow-up questions to find out the details.

15

6.Which form is correct: Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Continuous?

1.We want to tell how we have spent our time: We have played football /

We have been playing football.

2.The action is completed now: Charly has sent the letter. / Charly has been sending the letter.

3.I want to tell how I have spent my time: I have watched TV. / I have been watching TV.

4.I want to emphasise that the door is open now: Elizabeth has opened the door. / Elizabeth has been opening the door.

5.I want to emphasise that the house is ready now: My friends have built a house. / My friends have been building a house.

7.Put the verbs into the correct tense: Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Continuous

1.I (play) ____________________ football for five years.

2.My team (win / only) ________________ wo matches so far.

3.The others (be / always) __________________ better.

4.Are we not there yet? We (walk) ______________ for hours.

5.But we (cover / only) _____________ an area of five miles so far.

8.Complete the conversation with the appropriate tenses: Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Continuous

Robin: I think the waiter (forget) ____ us. We (wait) _____

here for over half an hour and nobody (take) ____ our order yet.

Michele: I think you're right. He (walk) ______ by us at least twenty times. He probably thinks we (order, already) ______.

Robin: Look at that couple over there, they (be, only)

________ here for five or ten minutes and they already have

their food.

Michele: He must realize we (order, not) _______ yet! We (sit) _______

here for over half an hour staring at him.

Robin: I don't know if he (notice, even) ____________ us. He (run) from table to table taking orders and serving food.

Michele: That's true, and he (look, not) ______________ in our direction once.

16

U n i t 3

PAST SIMPLE VS. USED TO

William Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright and an actor. He was born and grew up in Stratford- upon-Avon. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children. Between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor and a writer. Shakespeare produced most of his known work between

1589 and 1613. He died in 1616.

Was / grew up / married / had / began / produced are all past simple

(+)

We use Past Simple:

1) to express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in the past. Sometimes, the speaker may not actually mention the specific time, but they do have one specific time in mind.

Example: I saw a movie yesterday.

18

2) to list a series of completed actions in the past. These actions happen 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and so on.

Example: I finished work, walked to the beach, and found a nice place to swim.

3) to describe a duration which starts and stops in the past. A duration is a longer action often indicated by expressions such as: for two years, for five minutes, all day, all year, etc.

Example: I lived in Brazil for two years.

4) to describe a habit which stopped in the past. It can have the same meaning as “used to”. To make it clear that we are talking about a habit, we often add expressions such as: always, often, usually, never, when I was a child, when I was younger, etc.

Examples: I studied French when I was a child.

•He played the violin.

•He didn't play the piano.

•Did you play a musical instrument when you were a kid?

•She worked at the movie theater after

school.

•I used to go to the beach every day.

•I would go to the beach every day.

•I am used to going to the beach every

day.

used to do = would (past habit)

Be used to doing (present habit)

19