Present perfect and simple past: Activity 1

Read Grammar Bank 1A. Then choose the correct form, simple present or
present continuous.
Listen and check.

Grammar Bank
2A present perfect and simple past
present perfect simple: have / has + past participle (worked, seen, etc.)

EXAMPLES

1 past experiences
I’ve inherited some money but I haven’t spent it.
Sally has never met Bill’s ex-wife.
Have you ever lost your credit card?

2 with yet and already (for emphasis)

I’ve already seen this movie twice. Can’t we watch another one?
My brother hasn’t found a new job yet. He’s still looking.
"Have you finished your homework yet?" "No, not yet."

FORM

1 We use the present perfect for past experiences when we don’t say exactly when they happened.
• We often use ever and never when we talk or ask about past experiences. They go before the main verb.

2 In American English, we also use the present perfect and the simple past with yet and already.

• We use already in + sentences. It goes before the main verb.

• We use yet with – sentences and ? . It goes at the end of the phrase.

already ever never yet

1. A _________ you _________ _________ a flight online? (book)

B Yes, of course. I’ve done it many times.
2. A When are you going to buy a motorcycle?
B Soon. I _________ _________ _________ $1,000. (save)
3. A _________ you _________ the phone bill _________ ? (pay)
B No, sorry. I forgot.
4. A _________ your parents _________ _________ you money? (lend)
B Yes, but I paid it back as soon as I could.
5. A How does eBay work?
 B I don’t know. I _________ _________ _________ it. (use)
6. A _________ you _________ _________ to Thailand? (be)
B No, I haven’t. But I’d like to some day.
7. A Why don't you have any money?
B I _________ _________ _________ my salary. I bought a new phone last week.
(spend)
8. A Would you like a coffee?
B No, thanks. I _________ _________ _________ one. (have)

Present perfect and simple past: Activity 2

Read Grammar Bank 2A. Then read the sentences. Are the bold phrases right or
wrong? Write OK if they are right. Correct them if they are wrong. Listen and
check.

Grammar Bank

2A present perfect and simple past

simple past (worked, stopped, went, had, etc.)

EXAMPLES

They got married last year.

I didn’t have time to do my homework.
What time did you wake up this morning?

FORM

• We use the simple past for finished past actions (when we say, ask, or know when they
happened).

present perfect or simple past?

EXAMPLES

I’ve been to Miami twice. (= in my life up to now)

I went there in 2010 and 2016. (= on two specific occasions)
I’ve bought a new computer. (= I don’t say exactly when, where, etc.)
I bought it last Saturday. (= I say when)

FORM

• We use the present perfect (NOT the simple past) to talk about past experiences and
recent past actions when we don’t specify a time.
 • We use the simple past (NOT the present perfect) to ask or talk about finished actions in the
past, when the time is mentioned or understood. We often use a past time expression,
e.g., yesterday, last week, etc.

1. Dean inherited $5,000 from a relative. ________________

2. Did your sister pay you back yet? ________________
3. We booked our vacation online a month ago. ________________
4. When have you bought that leather jacket? ________________
5. They've finished paying back the loan last month.
________________
6. We haven't paid the gas bill yet. ________________
7. Have you ever wasted a lot of money on something?
________________
8. I'm sure I haven't borrowed any money from you last week.
________________
9. I spent my salary really quickly last month. ________________
10. Have you seen the Black Panther movie on TV yesterday?
________________

Money: Activity 1
Complete the sentences with a verb from the list in the correct form. Then listen
and check.

be worth borrow can’t afford charge cost earn

inherit invest lend owe raise save waste

1. My uncle died and left me $5,000. I’m going to _________ $5,000.

2. I put some money aside every week for my next vacation. I _________ money every
week.
3. My brother promised to give me $50. He has promised to _________ me $50.
4. I need to ask my mom to give me $20. I need to _________ $20 from my mom.
5. I often spend money on stupid things. I often _________ money.
6. I don’t have enough money to buy that car. I _________ to buy that car.
7. I usually have to pay the mechanic $400 to fix my car. The mechanic _________ me
$400.
8. These shoes are very expensive. They are $200. They _________ $200.
9. Jim gave me $100. I haven’t paid him back yet. I _________ Jim $100.
10. I want to put money in a bank account. It’ll give me 5% interest. I want to _________
some money.
11. I work in a supermarket. They pay me $1,800 a month. I _________ $1,800 a month.
12. I could sell my house for about $350,000. My house _________ about $350,000.
13. We need to get people to give money to build a new hospital. We want to _________
money for the new hospital.

Money: Activity 2
Write the correct prepositions in the spaces after the sentences. Then listen and
check.

1. Would you like to pay cash or by / to credit card? __________

2. I paid on / for the dinner last night. __________
3. I spent $100 for / on books yesterday. __________
4. My uncle invested all his money by / in real estate. __________
5. I don't like lending money to / from friends. __________
6. I borrowed a lot of money from / to the bank. __________
7. They charged me $120 on / for a haircut! __________
8. I never get into / to debt. I hate owing people money. __________

Money: Activity 3
Match the nouns and definitions. Listen and check.

bill budget contactless payment insurance loan

mortgage salary tax

1. __________ a piece of paper that shows how much money you have to pay for something
2. __________ the money you get for the work you do
3. __________ money that you pay to the government
4. __________ money that somebody (or a bank) lends you
5. __________ money that you have available and a plan of how to spend it, e.g., a
vacation
6. __________ money that you borrow from a bank to buy a house
7. __________ a fast way of paying where you hold your card or phone over a reader and
don’t use your PIN
8. __________ money that you pay to a company and then they pay if you are sick, or if
you
lose or break something

o andor: Activity 1
Listen and read. Match the letter o words to the correct sound pictures.

1. borrow

2. clothes

3. contactless
 o

4. dollar

5. done
 o

6. honest

7. loan
 o

8. money

9. owe
 o

10. nothing

11. go
 o

12. some

o andor: Activity 2
Read some words with the letters or. Then listen to how or is normally
pronounced when it's stressed. Check the two words with a different or sound.
Listen again and repeat.

□ afford
□ mortgage
□ order
□ work
□ organized
□ store
□ worth

Managing your income: Activity 1

Listen to four speakers talking about how they manage on their incomes. Match
the descriptions to the correct speakers.

a family with children someone still living with their parents

a single parent a single retired person on a pension

Managing your income: Activity 2
Listen again and mark the sentences T (true) or F (false). You can read the
audio script to help you.
Speaker 1

Can I live on my salary? Well, I don’t really have many problems, because I’m still
living with my mom and dad. Don’t get me wrong, I give my mom some money for
rent, but it’s definitely much cheaper than living on your own. I actually have a pretty
good salary – I’m a graphic designer. I don’t really spend much – I buy some new
clothes every now and then, and I have to put gas in my car, of course, but apart from
that, it’s really just going out on the weekends. Most of my money goes into a savings
account so that I can buy my own house one day.

Speaker 2

I find it really hard to live on my income because I only have a part-time job. Being on
my own with my daughter means that my mom has to take care of her when I’m at
work. At least I don’t have to pay for childcare! The house we live in is rented, so
that’s where most of the money goes. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to afford our
own place because the bank won’t give me a mortgage. Apart from the rent, my money
goes to food and clothes for my daughter. Still, I shouldn’t complain. I have an
amazing daughter, and that’s all that really matters.

Speaker 3

I think I’m really lucky. I’m pretty healthy for my age, I have enough money to live on,
and I have my children and grandchildren! When I say I have enough money, I don’t
go on any fancy vacations or anything like that. But I’m comfortable. I’ve paid
the mortgage, so that’s one less expense, and I don’t have any loans to pay either. My
one little luxury is going out for lunch a few times a week with some friends. I guess
that’s where most of my money goes – on food!

Speaker 4

Can we live on our salaries? Well, I’m not so sure, actually! My husband is a teacher,
so he doesn’t earn that much – definitely not enough to raise two children! That means
I have to work, too – I have a full-time job at the local supermarket. And really,
that’s our biggest problem, because we need someone to take care of the children. Our
babysitter costs a fortune –we spend more on child care than we do on our mortgage!
Then there’s food and new clothes for the children, too. Honestly, it isn’t cheap having
kids these days!
Speaker 1
1. He doesn’t earn much money. _____
2. He saves most of his salary. _____
Speaker 2
3. She doesn’t own the apartment where she lives. _____
4. Her daughter is the most important thing in her life. _____
Speaker 3
5. He can’t live on his income. _____
6. He isn’t in debt. _____
Speaker 4
7. She only works in the store on weekends. _____
8. She spends most of her money on her children. _____