Present perfect, present perfect continuous and simple past compared

Illustrative Situations

1. Patrick Connor was born in Dublin. He lived there until he was 18. He went to India for five years. Then he spent another five years in Canada. Five years ago he came to London where he is living now.

He lived in Dublin for 18 years. Then he lived in India for five years and in Canada for 5 years. He has been living in London for the last five years.

Questions: Where was Patrick born? How long did he live in India and Canada? Where is he now? How long has he been in London?

2. Two people are waiting at the bus-stop. It is 9 30. They are waiting for the 9.10 bus. One person is very angry. "This bus is ne­ver on time!" he says.

"I've been wating for it for twenty minutes now. Yesterday I waited half an hour for it!"

Questions: What are the people doing? How late is the bus? What does one of the people say? How long has the man been wai­ting for the bus? How long did he wait for it yesterday?

Practice

/. Notice the change in form as the situation changes:

Situation: Mary got to the station at 9. The train came at 10. She waited for an hour.

Situation: Peter got to the station at 9. It is 12 now and the train hasn't come yet. He has been waiting for 3 hours.

1. Mary got a job in the bank 5 years ago. She left the job last week. 2. Tom got a job in the bank 10 years ago. He's still there.

3. I started teaching 6 years ago. As you can see I'm still a teacher.

4. My grandfather became a teacher at 20. He was still one when he died 40 years later. 5. Betty opened the book at 6. She put it down again at 12. 6. Peter opened that book 6 hours ago and he hasn't closed it yet! 7. My brother started coughing at this time last year. He still has the cough. 8. The baby started crying and stopped an hour later.

//. Respond to the following^ statements:

e.g. 1 last smoked a cigarette a month ago.

You haven't smoked a cigarette for a month, e.g. They last came to see us at Christmas.

They haven't come to see us since Christmas. 1. I last played football ten years ago. 2. He last ate at 6 o'clock this morning. 3. We last had a holiday three years ago. 4. John saw Mary on Monday morning. 5. I last had a bath a week ago. 5. Mr Fox last wrote to me in February. 6.1 last won a race five years ago. 7. We last went to the theatre 3 months ago. 8. I last called Mike on Tuesday. 9. I last rode a bicycle ten years ago.

///. Ask questions with "how long" and "when":

e.g. It is raining.

How long has it been raining? When did it start raining?

1. Ann is learning Italian. 2. Paul is preparing for his exam. 3. The Johnsons are travelling around France. 4. Bill is doing his homework. 5. Bob and Alice are married. 6. Mr Morgan is in Mos­cow on business. 7. It is snowing. 8. Lucy is swimming. IV. Ask and answer questions using the prompts:

e.g. write to Peter/ages

When did you last write to Peter?

Oh, I haven't written to him for ages, e.g. see Tom/January

When did you last see Tom?

I haven't seen him since January.

1. drive a car/two years 2. shave/summer 3. speak to Bill/we quarrelled 4. hear from Nick/October 5. fly by plane/ages 6. catch a fish/weeks 7. eat out/my birthday 8. discuss the matter/a month 9. take part in a competition/I was at school 10. sleep well/months

V. Complete the utterances: e.g. I know Tom. I first met him six months ago. I have... .

I have known Tom for six months.

It started raining at 2 o'clock. It has... .

It has been raining since 2 o'clock.

1. Tom's ill. He became ill three days ago. He has.....2. We have

been married for five years. We got.....3. Jim has a beard. He grew

it ten years ago. He has.....4. Paul has been in France for 3 weeks.

He went.....5. He has had his car since February. He bought .... 6.

Dick last wrote to me a month ago. He hasn't ..... 7. Kate came

to the university at 9. She has.....8. It started snowing at II. It has

..... 9. I have been collecting stamps for ten years. I began .....

Fluency

/. Listen to the conversations. Ask and answer questions. Role-play the conversations:

1. Jill- How's Pam? I haven't seen her in town lately.

Jeff: Oh, she's fine. She has been very busy. Last week she started an office job, only for summer months. She has never worked in an office before, so it's difficult for her. She has only been there a week, but she has already learnt a lot about office life.

2. Mike: Have you seen my new tie, Mum? Mother: Which new tie?

Mike: The red one I bought in London a couple of weeks ago. I wore it to the dinner party at the Dawsoiis' place on Saturday and I haven't worn it or seen it since.

Mother: No, I don't think I've seen it this week, but have you looked for it properly? I expect you threw it carelessly into the back of the wardrobe after the party — the way you usually do.

Mike: I've looked for it everywhere.

Mother: You probably wore it when you went out with Janet on Friday.

Mike: Ah! I remember now. It was a bit hot and I took my tie off in the car on the way home. I suppose it's still on the shelf under the dashboard. Thanks, Mum.

Self check

/. Use the proper tense forms:

1. Mr Clark (work) in a bank for 15 years. Then he gave it up. 2. Mary lives in Dublin. She (live) there all her life. 3. Bob and Alice are married. They (be) married for 20 years. 4. When we (be) on holiday the weather (be) awful. 5. The weather (be) very nice recently, don't you think? 6. I don't know Carol's husband. 1 never (meet) him. 7. Yesterday I met my school mate. We (speak) about our school years for an hour. 8. How's your son getting on at school? — I don't really know. I (not, speak) to the teachers for some time.

//. Translate into English:

1. Вчера мы с Аней договорились пойти в кино. Я прождала ее полчаса у кинотеатра, но она не пришла. Я не знаю, что с ней слу­чилось. 2. Когда ты в последний раз видел Роберта? — Я не видел его уже две недели. 3. Как долго ты женат? — Я женился

три года назад. 4. Где ты отдыхал прошлым .четом? — На

Кавказе.__Сколько времени ты там пробыл? — Около месяца

5. Вчера я вернулся домой с работы в 6 часов, отдохнул около часа, а затем пошел навестить друга. 6. Где ключ? Я ишу его уже полчага. 7. Ты давно здесь находишься? — Я пришел сюда час назад.__ТЫ встретил Николая? — Да, мы поговорили с ним ми­нут десять, и он ' шел. 8. Сколько времени у тебя этот автомо­биль? __Пять лет 9. Сколько времени вы живете в Минске? —

С 1978 года.

Review

/ listen to the conversations. Ask and answer questions. Role-play the conversations. 1. Steve: What have you been doing?

Jill I've been preparing lessons for tomorrow, but I've fini­shed now. What have you been doing?

Steve: I've been watching a very interesting programme on television about education in China. It's just finished. Jill: Oh, dear, then I've missed it. I thought it was on tomor­row, not today. That was Pam on the phone ten minutes ago. She's been sewing new curtains all the evening, and Jeff's been painting radiators. Apparently they've been working hard all the week. By the way, have you ⁴ put the car in the garage?

Steve: Yes, why? Has it been raining again? Situation: You had a very busy day at the office and stayed there later than usual. You are home at last. Your wife wants to know what kept you late. You ask what she and the kids have been

doing.

2. Carol Fenton: I'm Carol Fenton. I'm Mrs Hunt's sister. This evening my sister's family is coming to celebrate my nephew's birthday. I've planned a small par­ty but Simon doesn't know about it yet. It's a surprise. I'm very excited. 1 haven't seen Sa­rah's family for five years. My husband and I are from Bristol but we haven't lived there for eight years. Many of our friends still live in Bristol. Next month we're going there to visit my hus­band's family. We're staying at his brother's house. All my relatives are going, too. 3. Mr Fenton: Someone's at the door, Carol. Mrs Fenton: Is everything ready?

Mr Fenton: Yes, dear, everything's fine. Answer the door. Mrs Fenton: Hello! I'm so happy to see you. Come in!

Mrs Hun't: Carol, you look'very well.

Mrs Fenton: Thank you, Sarah .. you look very well, too And the children ... they're both so tall!

Mrs Hunt: Well ... you haven't seen them for five years.

Mr Hunt: Sarah, you've forgotten to introduce Sheila.

Mrs Hunt: I'm very sorry. Carol, we've brought a friend with us. This is Sheila Morgan. She hasn't visited Lon­don before.

Mrs Fenton: Hello, Sheila.

Sheila: How do you do, Mrs Fenton?

Mrs Fenton: Please call me Carol. Now sit down everyone. I've made some tea. It's in the kitchen. Can Jane help me?

Mrs Hunt: Of course she can.

4. Mrs Fenton: How long have you been here?

Mrs Hunt: We've been here since Sunday. Today's Wednes­day ... we've been here for three days.

Mrs Fenton: And what have you seen since Sunday?

Mrs Hunt: We've been very busy but we haven't seen very many things. London's so big! We've seen some of the sights and we've shopped in Oxford Street.

Mrs Fenton: And have you bought anything?

Mrs Hunt: I've seen a few nice things but I haven't bought anything yet.

Mrs Fenton: I'm going to Oxfort Street on Friday. Come with me. I know the good shops.

5. Mrs Hunt: How are your sons? Mrs Fenton: Tim's living with us.

Mrs Hunt: Has he finished University yet?

Mrs Fenton: Yes, he has. He's worked here in London for

eighteen months. Mrs Hunt: What does he do? Mrs Fenton: He works in an export company. He's worked

there since January. Mrs Hunt: And what does Chris do' Mrs Fenton: He works in Dad's company in Bristol.

6. Torn. Is everything ready?

Sue: No, I haven't bought the melon yet.

Tom: Are there any sandwiches?

Sue: Yes .. well ... no. I've bought the bread but I haven't made

the sandwiches yet Tom: Have you made the pies? Sue: No, I haven't made them yet. Tom: Is the wine here? Sue: No, it hasn't arrived and the shop's closed now.

Situation: You've come to Moscow on business.¹ You've got accomodation at the Minsk hotel. You are sharing the room with another person who came to Moscow 2 days ago. You introduce yourself and have a talk with your neighbour.

Self check

/. Use the proper tense forms.

1. It still (rain) when I (come) in just now. It (rain) all mor­ning. 2. I (sit) here waiting for you for nearly an hour. I already (drink) four whiskies. 3. What you (do) all this time? I (not, see) you for weeks. 4. They (not, work) for several days now. They (be) too ill. 5. It (not, ram) for a month now. The grass is very dry. 6. I (go) to this pub every evening for the last ten years. 7. Peter (write) letters since two o'clock. He already (write) five letters.

8. I (sleep) for the last two hours and 1 (not, wake) up properly yet.

9. I (buy) a new tie last week, but I (not, wear) it yet. 10. He alrea­dy (see) that film. He (see) it when he (be) in London. 11. When you (meet) Mr Smith?" "I (meet) him the day before yesterday." 12. "You ever (speak) to him?" "Yes. I (speak) to him before the party." 13. Peter (live) in Greece for the last three years. He (live) in Africa before he (go) to Greece. 14. I just (have) my lunch. 1 (fi­nish) eating five minutes ago. 15. I (make) five mistakes so far to­day. Yesterday I only (make) three mistakes altogether. 16. I never (play) rugby in my life, but I (play) football when I (be) at school 17. I (not, hear) from Kate since she (go) abroad. 18. On Sunday 1 was at the beach. I (lie) in the sun for two hours. 19. "You ever (tra­vel) by sea?" "Yes, I (go) to Batumi by sea last year." 20. "What a lovely old village Overton is! You (live) here long?" — "I (live) he­re all my life. I (be born) in Overton." "You (be) to other countri­es^" "Yes, I (go) to France two years ago." 21. "Hello, Mr Thomp­son. Glad to see you in London. How long you (be) here?" "Oh, only a few days. I (arrive) here on Monday." "Is it your first visit to London?" "No, I (be) here several times before." "You (see) many places of interest in London?" "Yes, quite a lot." 22 Charles and Barbara Williams (live) at a village called Harpole. They only (live) there for a few weeks. They (arrive) on 28 August and they quickly (arrange) the furniture in their new house. They (not, make) many friends yet, but they (think) that they soon will. The neighbours (be) very kind so far, and Mr

-- Williams (invite) some of them to a party he ^hold) next week. His friends from London and Oxford (corne) to the party.

The Williams family (live) in London before they (come) to Harpole. Mr Williams (not, like) living in London.

While he (visit) some friends in Southampton last year, he (meet) a company director who (offer) him a job. Mrs Williams (want) to stay in London, but when they (arrive) in the village, the sun (shine) and she (begin) to enjoy her country surroundings. 23. Jack (look) at his watch for the twentieth time. Suddenly Jill (arrive). "I (wait) for over an hour", he (say) angrily. "You never come on time." "Oh, is that so?" Jill answered. "You (be) here at 2.30?" Jack (go) red. "Well", he (say), "I (get) here five minutes late myself, but you (not, be) here." "I (come) here at exactly 2.30", Jill said, "and (wait) for five minutes, but you (not, come)." "What you (do) since then?" Jack (ask). "I just (be) to the hairdresser's", Jill answered brightly.

//. Translate into English:

1. — Вас ждет мистер Смит.

— Он долго ждет?

— Около двадцати минут.

— Пусть войдет.

2. — Где письма? Я хочу отправить их сегодня.

— Секретарь только что их принесла. Она печатала целый день.

3. — Могу я поговорить с мистером Вороновым?

— Боюсь, что нет. Он только что вышел.

4. — Давай сходим в кино. Мы не были в кино уже целую

вечность.

— Хорошая идея. Николай говорит, что он видел интересный детектив в кинотеатре «Москва». Хочешь посмот­реть его?

— Да, я очень люблю детективы.

5. — Когда ты закончил институт?

— В 1975 году.

— Сколько времени ты работаешь на этом заводе?

— Пять лет.

— Где ты работал раньше?

— В научно-исследовательском институте.

UNIT 4

COMMUNICATION: SOCIALIZING (GREETINGS

AND LEAVETAKINGS)

GRAMMAR: REFLEXIVE, RECIPRICAL,