martes, 26 de agosto de 2008

Past Perfect

1.- We form the Past Perfect with had and the past participle of a verb (e.g. started, taken):

full and short form

I/you/he/she/it had started or ´d started
We/they

I had taken it. or I´d taken it


2.- Look at this

A year ago:

Jenny is flying to Rome. She thinks, I have never been on a plane before now.

Now:

Jenny flew to Rome last year. she had never been on a plane before that.

When we talk about an event or situation in past time we use the Past Simple (e.g. flew);
if we talk about an event before that time, we use the Past perfect (e.g. had been). Here
is another example:

Last Saturday at the cinema:

Mary: We don't need to queue because I've already bought the tickets.

Now talking about last Saturday

Mary: We didn't need to a queue because I had already bought the tickets.


Note that we can use never and already before the past participle (e.g. been bought).


3.- If we talk a series of past events in order, we use the Past Simple:

A: I saw a beautiful bird in my garden.
B: I went to get my camera.
C: The bird flew away
D: I returned with my camera


A B C D
-------------> now

We need the Past Perfect to talk make it clear that one use of the events is not in order:

D: I returned with my camera.
C: The bird had already flown away.
(The bird had gone before I returned.)

Also, compare these sentences using when:

Past Simple: When I returned with my camera, the bird flew away.
( It went after I returned.)

Past Perfect: When I returned with my camera, the bird had flown away.
( It went before I returned.)

4.- The Past Perfect is used in reported speech:

I have suffered from asthma for many years. She told the doctor that she had suffered
from asthma for many years.



miércoles, 6 de agosto de 2008

Present Perfect Simple or Continuous

Compare the Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Continuous:

1.- We use the Present Perfect Simple
( have painted) to talk about a past activity
that is now completed:

We've painted the rooms. (= The rooms are now painted.)
Anna's mended her bike. (= She can ride it now.)

We use the Present Perfect Continuous ( have been painting)
to emphasize the activity itself, which may or may not be completed:

We've been painting the flat. That's why it smells
We still have three rooms to paint.
Anna's hands are dirty because she's been mending her bike.

2.- We use the Present Perfect Simple to ask and answer How many?
and How much?:

A: How many rooms have you painted?
B: We've painted three of them.

We usually use the Present Perfect Continuous to ask How long?, and
with since and for:

I have been travelling for six months

A: How long have you been waiting? Have you been queuing for a long time?
B: Yes, I've been waiting since two o'clock.


3.- Note that usually use the Present Perfect Simple (not the Continuous):

----> to talk about short actions with have, stop, break, etc.

Tony has had an accident on his bike.

----> with verbs of thinking (e.g. know, decide, forget, notice):

I'm sorry. I've forgotten your name

----> to talk about the last time that something happened:

I haven't eaten meat for two years.
(= I last ate meat two years ago.)

Note that we can use the Present Perfect Simple or the Continuous with
work, teach and live, with no difference in meaning:

I have tought here for two years.
or I have been teaching here for two years.



"Come Undone"

So unimpressed, but so in awe
Such a saint, but such a whore
So self-aware, so full of shit
So indecisive, so adamant
I'm contemplating, thinkin' about thinkin'
It's overrated, just get another drink and

Watch me come undone
They're selling razor blades and mirrors in the street
I pray when I'm coming down, you'll be asleep
If I ever hurt you, your revenge will be so sweet
Because I'm scum, and I'm your son
I come undone
I come undone

So rock 'n' roll, so corporate suit
So damn ugly, so damn cute
So well-trained, so animal
So need your love, so fuck you all
I'm not scared of dying, I just don't want to
If I stop lying, I'll just disappoint you

Come undone
They're selling razor blades and mirrors in the street
Come undone
I pray when I'm coming down, you'll be asleep
Come undone
If I ever hurt you, your revenge will be so sweet
Because I'm scum, and I'm your son
I come undone

So write another ballad, mix it on a Wednesday
Sell it on a Thursday buy a yacht on Saturday
It's a love song, a love song
Do another interview, sing a bunch of lies
Tell about celebrities that I despise
And sing love songs, we sing love songs so sincere

So sincere

Come undone
They're selling razor blades and mirrors in the street
Come undone
I pray when I'm coming down, you'll be asleep
Come undone
The young pretend you're in the clouds above the sea
I come undone
I am scum
Love your son
You've gotta love your son
Come undone
You've gotta love you son
Come undone

Love your son
I am scum
I am scum
I am scum
I am scum
I am scum
I am scum



viernes, 1 de agosto de 2008

Present Perfect Continuous

1.- We form the Present Perfect Continuous like this:


Positive

Full Form and Short Form

I/you/we/ they have or 've
been cooking.

She/he/it Has or 's
been cooking.

Negative
Full Form and Short Form

I/you/we/they Have not or haven't
been cooking.

She/he/it Has not or hasn't
been cooking

Question


Have I/you/we/they been cooking?
Has She/he/it been cooking?


2.- We use the Present Perfect Continuous for an action or situation that began
in the past continues until now:

You're late! I've been waiting for you.

We often use for and since Present Perfect Continuous. We use for a period of
time, and since with a point in time:

I've been waiting for you for two hours
I've been waiting for you since six o' clock


3.- Here are some more examples:

Julia has been talking on the phone for an hour
(= She started talking on the phone an hour ago and she is still talking.)

You've been sitting there since one o' clock
( = You started sitting there at one o' clock and you are still sitting there.)

4.- We use the Present Perfect Continuous for an actions that are done many times
in a period of time from the past until now:

She's been having driving lessons for a couple of months.
(= she started a couple of months ago; she is still having lessons.)

I've been playing tennis since I was a small child.

5.- We can use How long ...? with the Present Perfect Continuous:

How long have been living here?
I living here for three years.



these songs are dedicated some special's friends