Good afternoon! How are you doing?
Can you think of a film you have seen that has taught you about a person/ event in history?
Listen to the first part of a radio programme about films and answer the questions What type of film does the programme talk about? Why are these films so popular?
Listen to the second part of the programme and answer the questions
Present Perfect or Past Simple? PP 1. Use the ______ to talk about experiences or 2. 3. 4. things that happened before now. The time is not specified or important. PP Use the ______ to talk about resent events, or action which started in the past and continues now. PS Use the ______ to talk about a specific event in the past (we know when the event happened). PS Use the ______ to talk about an action which starts and finishes in the past.
Present perfect and past simple (I have done and I did) The present perfect is a present tense. It always tells us something about now. The past simple tells us only about the past.
Examples: Jack grew a beard but now he has shaved it off. They went out after lunch and they have just come back.
Do not use the present perfect if there is no connection with the present (for example, things that happened a long time ago): The Chinese invented printing. How many plays did Shakespeare write?
Compare: Shakespeare wrote many plays. My sister is a writer. She has written many books.
We use the present perfect to give new information or to announce a recent happening: Ow! I have cut my finger! The police have arrested two men in connection with the robbery.
You can use the present perfect with just, already and yet. Just = ‘a short time ago’ ‘Hello. Have you just arrived? ’ We use already to say that something happened sooner than expected. ‘He’s already gone. ’ Yet = ‘until now’ and shows that the speaker is expecting something to happen. Use yet only in questions and negative sentences. ‘I’ve written the letter but I haven’t posted it yet. ’
Do not use the present perfect when you talk about a finished time (for example, yesterday / in 1985 / ten minutes ago). Use a past tense: I went to bed early last night. They arrived an hour ago.
Use a past tense to ask When. . . ? What time. . . ? When did they arrive? What time did you finish work?
Compare present perfect and past simple: Present perfect • for actions which have happened in your life before now. These are often general experiences. It isn’t important exactly when these things happened. For example, today, this week, since 1985, ever , never • Recent events (events which happened a short time ago) just, yet and already Past simple • For events that happened long time ago • for a finished time in the past. • A specific event which happened at a specific time. For example, yesterday, last week, from 1985 to 1991.
Compare present perfect and past simple: Past simple Present perfect I / You / We / They He/ She/ It I / You / We / They have + V-ed/ V 3 He/ She/ It has + V-ed/ V 3 I / You / We / They He/ She/ It have + not + V-ed/ V 3 He/ She/ It has+ not + V-ed/ V 3 Have ? Has I / you / we / they V-ed/ V 3 ? he/ she/ it V-ed/ V 3 ? V-ed/ V 2 ? Did did + not + V I / you / we / they he/ she/ it V?
Complete the text with the correct form of the verbs in brackets
EXERCISES Put the verbs in brackets in the correct form, present perfect or past simple. Mary _______ to Australia for a while but she’s back again now. (go) ‘Where’s Ken? ’ ‘He _______ out. He’ll be back in about an hour. ’ (go) I did German at school but I _______ most of it. (forget) I meant to phone Diane last night but I _______. (forget) I _______ a headache earlier but I feel fine now. (have) Look! There’s an ambulance over there. There _______ an accident. (be) They’re still building a new road. They _______ it. (not/finish) ‘Is Helen still here? ’ ‘No, she _______ out. ’ (just/go) The police _______ three people but later they let them go. (arrest) Ann _______ me her address but I’m afraid I _______ it. (give, lose) Where’s my bike? It _______ outside the house. It _______ ! (be, disappear) What do you think of my English? Do you think I _______ ? (improve)
Are the underlined parts of these sentences right or wrong? Correct the ones that are wrong. How many plays has Shakespeare written? Have you read any of Shakespeare’s plays Aristotle has been a Greek philosopher. Ow! I’ve cut my finger. It’s bleeding. My grandparents have got married in London. Where have you been born? Mary isn’t at home. She’s gone shopping
Are the underlined parts of these sentences right or wrong? Correct the ones that are wrong. I’ve bought a new car. Do you want to see it? _______ I’ve bought a new car last week. _______ Where have you been yesterday evening? _______ Jenny has left school in 1991. _______ I’m looking for Mike. Have you seen him? _______ I’m very hungry. I haven’t eaten anything today. _______ Diane hasn’t been at work yesterday. _______ When has this book been published?
Put the verb into the correct form, present perfect or past simple. When I _______ (get) home last night, I _______ (be) very tired and I _______ (go) straight to bed. Your car looks very clean. _______ (you/wash) it? George _______ (not/be) very well last week. Mr Clark _______ (work) in a bank for 15 years. Then he gave it up. Molly lives in Dublin. She _______ (live) there all her life. ‘_______ (you/go) to the cinema last night? ’ ‘Yes, but it _______ (be) a mistake. The film _______ (be) awful. ’ My grandfather _______ (die) 30 years ago. I _______ (never/meet) him. I don’t know Carol’s husband. I _______ (never/meet/him).
A: Is your father at home? B: No, I’m afraid he _______ (go) out. A: When exactly _______ (he/go) out? B: About ten minutes ago. A: Where do you live? B: In Boston. A: How long _______ (you/live) there? B: Five years. A: Where _______ (you/live) before that? B: In Chicago. A: And how long _______ (you/live) in Chicago? B: Two years.