martes, 24 de junio de 2008

Present Perfect (2)

1.- We use the Present Perfect to talk about something that happened in the past, but we do not say exactly when it happened:

I've seen this film before (before = now)

We often use the Present Perfect in this way for things that happened in the past, and that have a result now:

I've seen this film before. I don't want to see it again now.
She's left the company. she doesn't work there now.


We often use the Present Perfect with ever ( = at any time) and never ( at no time):

Have you ever met a famous person?
He has never worked in a factory.


2.- We can use the Present Perfect with for and since , to talk about situations
or actions in a period of time from the past until now. We use for with a period of time (e.g three months), and since with a point in time (e.g tuesday):


past -------------------------------------> now
for six months

We've lived here for six months.

past Monday Tuesday Wednesday now
-----------------------> now

I haven't seen Tom since Tuesday.


3.- Gone and Been

Look at the difference between these two sentences:

He's been to Paris ( = He is now at home again.)
He's gone to Paris ( = He is in Paris now.)

He's been means "he has finished his trip".
He's gone means " he has begun his trip".


"Something Stupid"

I know I stand in line

Until you think you have the time
To spend an evening with me
And if we go someplace to dance
I know that there's a chance
You won't be leaving with me

Then afterwards we drop into a quiet little place
And have a drink or two
And then I go and spoil it all
By saying something stupid
Like I love you

I can see it in your eyes
You still despise the same old lines
You heard the night before
And though it's just a line to you
For me it's true
And never seemed so right before

I practice every day to find some clever
lines to say
To make the meaning come true
But then I think I'll wait until the evening
gets late
And I'm alone with you

The time is right
Your perfume fills my head
The stars get red
And oh the night's so blue
And then I go and spoil it all
By saying something stupid
Like I love you
I love you...

sábado, 14 de junio de 2008

Present Perfect 1

1.-we form the Present Perfect using the present tense of have + a participle:

Positive

Full Form

I/you have arrived
He/she/it has arrived
we/you/they have arrived

Short Form

I've arrived
he's arrived
we've arrived


Negative

Full Form

I/you have not arrived
he/she/it has not arrived
we/you/they have not arrived

Short Form

I /you haven't
she/he/it hasn't
we/you/they haven't

Questionns

Have I/you arrived?
Has he/she/it arrived?
Have we/you/they arrived?


2.-Regular past participles ending ed or d:

Many past participles are irregular:

Buy ---> bought go ---> gone
make ---> made

3.- we use the Present Perfect:


---> to talk about recent actions:


At 18.00, Anne arrived home
At 18.01, we can say:

Anne has arrived home.



From 18.30 to 19.00. Anne ate her dinner.
At 19.01, we can say:

She's eaten her dinner

---> to talk about our lives:


I've sailed across the atlantic.



I've seen gorillaz in Africa.
I haven't danced the Flamenco.




4.- when we ask people about their lives, we often use ever ( = at the time):

Have you ever been to Australia?

When people talk about their lives, they sometimes use never ( = not at any time):

I've never learnt French.


Note: that ever and never come before the past participle





miércoles, 4 de junio de 2008

Past Simple or Past Continuous

1.- Compare the Past Simple and the Past Continuous:


Past simple

He talked to her last week.
I didn't talk to her yesterday.
Did you talk to your sister?

2.- we use the Past Simple to talk about a complete action even in the past:


Last Saturday morning. Paul played football in the park.




Paul played football





Here are some more examples:

On Sunday I made a cake.
It rained a lot on Saturday morning.

Past Continuous

He was talking to her when I saw him.
I wasn't talking to anyone, I was watching the tv.
Were you talking to her before I came?

We use the Past Continuous to talk about an action that was in progress, when something else
happened:

Last Saturday, Paul was playing football in the park when he saw Jane



Paul was playing football
He saw Jane.

Here are some more examples:

The phone rang while I was making a cake.
It was raining when we left home.

In a story we often use the Past Continuousto say what was in progress, when something
happened:


The sun was shining. People were sitting under the trees or walking around the park.
Suddenly a car drove into the park ...........