WEEK 1 Present Perfect Practice Present perfect Dee e renee eae urn A Context listening [EB You are going to hear two university students, Carl and Sue, talking about an assignment. Before you listen, look at the list of activities (A-F). Put the activities in the order which you think is best when writing an assignment. A make notes B start to write © do research D make a plan E re-read books F get a book list [By DE Listen to the first part of the conversation. Which five activities does Sue mention? Write the letters A-F in the correct order in boxes 1-5 on the flowchart. 1 2 3 4 5 EX) (Listen to the second part of the conversation and fill in the gaps. 1 Sue: T plenty of information for the assignment. 2 Sue: When I was in the library last week [o.oo those leaflets, red since I started this course! and I'm already tired, [E® Look at your answers to Exercise 3 and find examples of each of the following: a something that only happened recently .......... 'b something that happened at some time before now, but we do not know when ....... © an action + the length of time it has been going 0 4 something that happened at a stated time in the past Which tense is used in each of the examples a~d above?We use the present perfect when we want to show a link between the present and the past. 1 Present perfect simple have/has + past participle She's started the assignment have/has not + past participle haven’s started the assignment havelhas .. + past participle? Have you started the assignrneni? We use the present perfect simple © to talk about a time period that is not finished (e.g. today, this week): Pve written c rough plan this morning. (itis still morning) I've written a rough plan Now + to show that something happened at some point in the past before now. We don’t state when it happened: Pve collected plenty of information. (at some point before now and I will use it to write my essay) The following time expressions are often used: ever, never, before, up to now, still, so far. Tes the longest Pve ever had to write. (at any point before now) A If we state when something happened we must use the simple past: T wasted a lot of time last week. (not Fhave-wasted-a-lot-of thme-last-weeh) * to talk about a present situation which started in the past, usually with for/since: Tve worked really hard ‘for the last two weeks _ NOW INEP ADP PAP <2 Wes —___» P've worked really hard for the last two weeks. (I've worked hard till now) We use for with a length of time (e.g, for two hours, for three days, for six months) and since with a point in time (e.g, since 2001, since Monday, since ten o'clock, since I was four, since I started the course). # to talk about something that happened at an unstated time in the past but is connected to the present: Pve read all the books on the reading list. (I have the notes now) ‘The following time expressions are often used: recently, just, already, and yet with negatives or questions. Pve just got up. Have you written your assignment yet?Compare the use of the present perfect with the past simple: Present perfect Past simple * links the past with the present: + only talks about the past: Tve made quite a lot of notes. (at some point ‘I made notes on the most important things. before now and I may make more notes) (when I did the reading and Pve finished making notes) does not talk about a specific time in © mater = specific past time, or the time is past: understood: Have you read the leaflet? (at some time I read the leaflets when I was in the brary. before now) ('m not in the library now and the reading is finished) ‘© uses time expressions that show the time _ uses time expressions that show the time is period is unfinished: finished: Fve read six articles this week. (the week Tread five books last week. (last week has isn't finished) finished) Note the position of the following time expressions that occur with the present perfect: between the auxiliary and main verb (eg, recently, already, always, ever, just, never) Tve already written the notes. ve just finished my essay. Ever is generally used with questions or negatives: Have you ever been to Buenos Aires? + after the main verb (e.g, all my life, every day, yet, before, for ages, for two weeks, since 2003, since I was a child etc.) Ive felt tired for weeks. T haven't flown before. If there is an object clause, the time expression comes at the end: Pve gone to bed early every night since then. ve written more than ten assignments since I started this course. 2 Present perfect continuous hhave/has been verb+-ing I've been studying really hard... haveshas not been-* verb + ing He hasn't been studying really hard. hhave/has.. been + verb + ing? Have you been seudying really hard? We can use either the present perfect simple or the present perfect continuous to say how long a situation or activity has been going on (often with for or since): Pee felt tired for weeks. Pve been feeling tired since I started this course. I've worked at the restaurant since I moved here. I've heen working at the restaurant for three years.Compare the different uses of the present perfect simple and the present perfect continuous: Present perfect continuous Present perfect simple ¢ emphasises how long: says how many times: Tve been reading for the past two weeks. I've read three articles. ¢ focuses on the activity itself (it does not show ¢ focuses on the result or completion of the whether the activity is completed or not): activity: I've been writing my essay. (we don't know if Tve written my essay. (the essay is finished the essay is finished or not) but we don’t know when) L What have you been doing? (the boy's What have you done? (the boy's mother is mother is interested in the activity that interested in the result of the action: the made him so dirty now) broken window) A State verbs (see Unit 1) do not generally have a continuous form: Pve known them since F was a child. (not- $ Grammar extra: This Is the first time etc. We use the present perfect tense with the following structures: it/this/that is the first / the second / the best / the only / the worst .. It's the first time I've ever had to write such a long assignment. Is this the only time you've travelled abroad? That's the sixth cup of coffee you've had today.OE ee Ce Tle cat) Tick (/) the correct underlined verbs, and correct the verbs that are wrong. Twould Ike to be considered for your degree course in Zooloay: stapting: in October next yean J feel 1 am a good canddate for this course os I 1 have always been interested in natural history and even as a chil T 2 have enjoyed studying arimals and insects in my gordien Your science focutty has a good reputation and T would very mach fke to be pant oF tt 1's you 3 dheady saw in Section A of this appteation, Ihave good ‘ocadenic record and I 4 Just received the nesaits of my recent exams, cl of which 5 have been excellent: Tr addttion, your university attracts me because I enjoy sports and I 6 have read in your prospectus about the lange runber of sports on offer: Lest yeor 17 have represented my school at bachicton ond 8 played in football teans since I was eleven 9 have recently joined a basketball tecmn ‘Which conpetes at 0 nationd level 110 ddinot travel cbroad mich yet clthough as a young chil J 11 bave been ‘fo Singopore and Hong Kong with my forily Irecize that I 12 have not spent mach time crway from home up to now. but am keen to become more independent: —— [PB Look at the chart and fill in the gaps with the past simple or present perfect simple of the verbs in brackets to make true sentences. Percentage of UK adults to have used the Internet 100 B95 2000 Bi 2005 BB present 80: 40} 20De 1 The chart shows the percentage of British adults who Joa vgsiéa... (use) the Internet since 1995. 2 The number of women who have ever used the Internet nnn (increase) by more than 60% since 1995. 3. The percentage of men who have accessed the Internet... (rise) to 60% in 2005. 4 The number of women to have accessed the Internet 5. The percentage of men who used the Internet .... percentage of women from 1995 to 2005. __ (rise) each year. _. (be) greater than the 6 However, British women . 2005. 7 The total number of people accessing the Internet . .. (grow) each year although the most significant rise ,.,,... (occur) between 1995 and 2000. . (overtake) British men in Internet usage since EY Underline the correct form of the verbs. 9008 e To: | Paul Johnson From: , Sunita Soh Subject: Seminar presentation on Friday Dear Paul 1 I've just received / I’ve just been recelving your message to us all about the seminar on Friday. 2 T've worked / I’ve been working on my presentation for the last week, and 3 have | now finished / now finished it, so I am happy to be one of the first to present it. However, 4 I've made / I made an appointment to see the university careers advisor immediately after the seminar, so J will need to leave on time. 1/d like some advice about my presentation, At last week's lecture 5 you've sald / you sald that we should use visual aids as much as possible. 6 I haven't found / I didn’t find anything to use. Is it essential? 7 I’ve done / I did lots of presentations before, and 1 feel OK about | this one, In my last presentation 8 J used / J have been using the overhead projector, and | want to do this again - does this count as a visual ald? | One last question: 9 re been / J went to Professor Russell’s lecture yesterday, and 10 have | been learning / learnt quite a lot that is relevant to this course. Is it okay to refer to another course in my presentation? 11 I’ve been wondering / I wondered about this ~ maybe it is better to stick to the materials and references 12 you've given / you've been giving us. 1 hope you can let me know. ‘Thanks for your help. Sunita L(as fale [E% Fill in the gaps with a verb from the box in the present perfect simple or present perfect continuous. You will need to use some verbs more than once. be do feel have live pass study start take travel want work co.living. (1 you) here? (2) in London for the past three years. I come from. .u. (3) at a college here since [ arrived. Interviewer: How long ..)s3us2..y0u..£ Japan originally. 1 (4 you) any travelling over the past three years? ..-» (8) really lucky. I have long holidays so (6 all over Europe. I especially liked Spain. Interviewer: What is the most interesting thing you sox (7) recently? Student: Well, I, (8) to play tennis, and 1. (9) singing lessons for a few months now too. But the thing that I am most proud of is that I .. .. (10 just) my driving test. It's the first time I... (11) it so I'm really pleased but ie _. (12 never) so nervous in all my life! Interviewer: How do you think English will be useful in your life? Student: I (13) a Hospitality and Tourism course over here, so T need English for my studies and my job. I . (14 always) to work in the tourist industry because I (15 always) interested in history and cultural sites, and I .. (16 already) asa tour guide in my home town, Now answer these questions about yourself. 17 How long have you been studying English? 18 Have you studied any other languages? (Which ones? For how long?) 19 Have you travelled very much? (Where have you been to?) 20 What have you been doing to prepare for this exam? 21 How has your life changed over the past ten years? waLP Chaylee tC} General Training Writing Task 1 You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. You have seen an advertisement for a weekend job as a local tour guide showing visitors around your city. Write a letter of application to the tourism office. In the letter + give your reasons for wanting the job + explain why you think you can do the job + describe any relevant experience you have Write at least 150 words. You do NOT need to write any addresses. Begin your letter as follows: Dear Sir or Madam,Look at the model answer. Find one example each oft 1 a sentence which uses the present perfect simple to show something which started in the past and is still going on 2 a sentence which uses the present perfect continuous to show something which starved in the past and is still going on 3 a sentence which uses the present perfect simple to show something happened at an unstated time in the past but has a present result Dean Sir or Madam, Lam writing to appy for the post of tour guide advertised on your website. Tbelieve I fulfil the necessary criteria and very much hope that you wil consider my application. Thane lived in this town all my fe. and therefore Know all about the places of interest end their history I have visited the castle and the cathechal mary times and T have nead many guide books full of interesting historical facts. I therefore feel that I am in a good position to lead visitors onound these sites. have always been interested in history and over the past few years T have regulary participated in activities at the caste and at other sites. Recently I have been working as a receptionist at a local hotel n the evenings, so Thave experience of decing with overseas visitors, and I enjoy talking to them, T.do hope you will consider me for this post and I bok forward to hearing, from you Yours sinoerely