Dec 20, 2010

Present Perfect vs. Past Simple

When to use Present Perfect or Past Simple? This is one of the commonest questions among students of English. The difficulty of this issue is that there are not always explicit indicators that tell us which to use. Moreover, the fact that in Spanish there is a tense form that is similar to Present Perfect (Pretérito Perfecto Compuesto) but with a quite different use, only complicates things. I explained all this in class, but as usual, I'll leave you a summary of the contrast of both tenses here.

There are two major criteria for deciding whether to use the Present Perfect and the Past Simple:

(1) The type of period of time:

a) When the period involves the present moment, we use the Present Perfect:
- a definite time period:
I have lived in Liverpool since 2006.
Therefore, the Present Perfect is used in questions with how long? which make reference to a period that begins in the past and continues to the present: How long have you had your car?

- an indefinite time period:
I've seen this film before/recently.
I have already done my homework.

- a period of time not expressed:
Have you been to Paris?
If the answer to this question is affirmative and you give details, then it must be expressed in the Past Simple:
Yes, I have. I went there when I was a student.

b) When there is no link with the present moment, we use the Past Simple. This can be indicated by:
- Expressions that refer to time points clearly disconnected from the present:
I went to New York last year.
They got married two months ago.
She lost her wallet yesterday.
So, we use Past Simple in questions with when? which make reference to specific time in the past: When did you buy your car? I bought it last month.

- Expressions that refer to a period of time that does not involve the present:
I lived in Liverpool for five years and then I moved to Cambridge.

As you can see, what is usually said of the Present Perfect -that it is always used with since/for, is not completely correct. Nor is it correct that questions with how long? always contain a Present Perfect, because if it is a finished time we use Past Simple instead:
How long did you live in Paris? I lived there for five years (= you don't live in Paris now)
How long have you lived in Paris? I've lived here for five years (=you live in Paris still)

(2) The link that a situation has with the present:
a) When a situation has a link with the present moment, we use Present Perfect. Typically, this connection will provide the actual results of an action that was carried out in the past:
I have lost my keys (= I don't have them now)
Peter has written two books (= the books exist now)

It is not necessary that the action has happened shortly before the present moment. What matters is that the speaker believes that the results or effects are still relevant in the present.
I have read that book (= reading the book may have happened long ago, but the memory of its reading is still present).

b) When a situation has no connection whatsoever with the present moment, we use the Past Simple. It is not necessary to use a time expression:
My parents got married in Seville.

The lack of link with the present is evident when we refer to a person who has died:
Shakespeare wrote 'Romeo and Juliet'.

Want practice?
Exercise 1, Exercise 2, Exercise 3

Nov 28, 2010

Present Perfect Simple

Hi you!

Among the things we did this week that has just come to an end, you learnt more about a new tense: The Present Perfect Simple. As its name itself indicates, this is a tense that refers back to the past but extends somehow to the present time. As usual, I'm leaving here the summary of all I told you in class.

Form
Affirmative: Subject + HAVE/HAS + past participle
Negative: Subject + HAVEN'T/HASN'T + past participle
Question: HAVE/HAS + subject + past participle ?
Short Answers: Yes, I have. / No, I haven't.

Examples:
You have seen that film many times.
They haven't worked with this company.
Has Mark played chess? No
, he hasn't.

Remember that the past participle is formed by adding the -ed suffix to the infinitive form if the verb is regular, and if it is irregular you need the third form of the verbs in the irregular verbs list.

Use 1: Personal experiences and past actions that happened at an unspecified time.

I've lived in England.
People have travelled to the Moon, but they haven't been to Mars.
Have you watched a live football match?

Use 2: Finished action with an influence on the present.
She has had a shower.
We have cooked dinner.
They've lost their keys.

Use 3: With periods of time.
I've known him for long.
John hasn't seen his wife since his father's death.
We've studied English for fifteen years.

The Present Perfect is often used with time particles such as since (indicating the starting point of a period, Spanish desde) and for (indicating the period of time itself, Spanish desde hace).
since 2000, since I started university, since last Monday, since five o'clock.
for ten years , for seven months, for three days, for forty minutes.

Other adverbs which usually go with the Present Perfect Simple are just (acabar de), already (ya), yet (ya, todavía), still (aún, todavía), ever (alguna vez, jamás). Look at the examples below and notice the position of these particles in the sentence:
The headmaster has just gone to his office.
I've already done my homework.
The children still haven't got up.
The children haven't got up yet.
Have you had a shower yet?
This is the best film that I have ever seen.
Have you ever been to Britain?



For practice:Exercise1, Exercise2, Exercise3, Exercise4.

Would you like to listen to it?



Nov 15, 2010

Past tense review

Last week we revised the past simple, past continuous and past perfect. We stated that the past simple is used for past actions that are finished at a defined moment. The important thing is the action is completed and we know when it happened. Similarly, in the past continuous we know when the action takes place, but the action is uncomplete. So, it expresses an unfinished action at a defined moment in the past. Remember that if the time is not mentioned, the present perfect is used, mostly with periods of time or expressing personal experiences. When we referred to the past perfect I told you that it doesn't often appear in isolation, that's to say, it comes with subordinate clauses with the past simple. It expresses a past action that happened before another action in the past, I mean, it's the past in the past. The action that happened first is expressed with the past perfect, whereas the action that is nearer the present time is in the past simple. Look at these examples:

(A) Tom went to Madrid last week.
(B) The children were doing their homework at 9 o'clock.
(C) Tom has gone to Madrid.
(D) We couldn't get a hotel room because we hadn't booked in advance.

In sentence (A), the action is finished and we know when the action happened, so past simple must be used. Then in (B), at that defined time (nine o'clock) the children were in the middle of a process, they hadn't finished doing their homework, so past continuous is used. However in (C) we don't know when it happened, it may refer to a personal experience, or the result of it affects the present. In example (D), the action that happened first (book a room) is in the past perfect, and that which happened later (get a room) is in the past simple.

Used to

Hello learners:

Today in class we reviewed both the structures and uses of two different constructions: 'Used to' and 'Be/Get Used to'. Remember 'used to + infinitive' expresses past habits that are no longer true in the present. This idea is possible as well through 'usually + past simple' or the more literary one 'would always + infinitive' (typical in narratives). 'Would always' isn't employed with states. Never forget that 'used to' is only possible in the past. In order to express this idea in the present, you need to use 'usually + present simple.' The negative for 'used to' is the expected form 'didn't use to', although some people also use 'usedn't to', which grammatically is correct but a little bit archaic in use.

However, 'be/get used to + verb-ing' expresses that you are in the habit of doing something and thus you're accustomed to doing that something. This structure also admits a noun phrase instead of a verb. Remember it is possible in any tense, present, past, future. Look at these examples:

(A) I used to play the bass as a child.
I usually played the bass as a child.
I would always play the bass as a child.

(B) I'm not used to driving on the left.
She didn't get used to American food.
You'll be used to working overnight.

All the sentences in (A) have the same meaning: "you played the bass when you were a child, but you don't any more." The third sentence here is more literary and it would be used in narrative contexts. The examples in (B) are a bit different in meaning with respect to the previous group. You see the verbs are in different tenses, and also they are followed either by a gerund ('driving', 'working') or by a noun phrase ('American food'). In all of them the sense is similar, to be or get accustomed to something or to doing something.

Would you like to listen to it?




For practice: Exercise1, Exercise2, Exercise3, Exercise4, Exercise5.

Jun 26, 2010

The End of The School Year!


To my pupils

The first thing I'd like to post here is a desire for enjoyment and happiness to all of you, students of mine. Summertime is here at hand, at last. It's time to rest, have a good time with friends and relatives, it's time to pleasures, amusement, put aside long hours' study, hard work and anxiety. Efforts have been rewarded, better in some cases, worst in others, it depends on how hard you worked during the year. Now recharge for the next course start, which is very close. Enjoy and do not forget: I'll be watching you!!

May 13, 2010

Classroom Rules

Behaving accordingly in any place is crucial for interpersonal relations. And school and classroom are not an exception. One must know how to behave in a classroom and for that we all must strictly follow these rules of coexistence:

You must:
  1. be polite: be respectful when you talk to your teacher or a classmate.
  2. do your homework: work at home and revise what you learnt in class, daily.
  3. help your classmates: be a good partner to your mates, it's essential.
  4. ask questions: make your teacher solve your doubts.
  5. put your hand up to speak or ask a question: respect turn taking.
  6. study and work hard: that is the reason why you are here at school.
You mustn't:
  1. arrive late: please be punctual and quiet for the session to start.
  2. cheat in exams: be honest, don't cheat yourself.
  3. copy other students' work: work on your own, your work is your progress.
  4. eat or chew gum in class: wait for the breaktime.
  5. talk or shout: don't disturb other students and let work.
  6. throw litter on the floor: keep your classroom and school clean.
  7. write on the walls or desks: treat furniture and materials carefully.
  8. insult or hit: violence is out of place.
  9. answer back: speak with respect and accept criticism.

Language For Exchange


Fancy practising your English with native people? Are you going to Britain but you want to meet people in advance? Would you like to teach others your mother tongue?

Language For Exchange is a good point to start from. This is just a simple website where you only have to register to access a comprehensive database of people around the world who want the same as you: learn a language.

So simple: fill in your details and find your language partner. A free service that seems to have enough members, of whom you can see the profiles and in most cases even the photos, people of all ages and countries with whom to speak and practise English. The site also has forums and blogs in different languages, in which you will find resources to keep learning. Take a look at it and decide to practise real English.
Visit Language For Exchange.

May 6, 2010

Stop Bullying!


A bully is a person who purposely tries to hurt others by making them feel uncomfortable, by hurting them by kicking, hitting, pushing, tripping, etc., by name-calling, and by spreading nasty rumors. The bully hurts the other person over and over.
The person being bullied feels that he or she can do nothing to stop it: they might feel smaller or weaker than the bully; they might feel outnumbered by the bully and the bully's friends; they might feel there is no help: no one to talk to, no one is standing up for him or her; and they often feel very sad, but do not know how to change the situation.
Bullies can be boys or girls! Who do bullies pick on? Often, bullies are bigger kids, so they pick on kids they feel are smaller, kids they think won't stand up to them, and kids that have few friends to stand up for them.
Why do bullies do what they do? Sometimes they think that they will win or get what they want. Sometimes they want to impress or entertain their friends. Sometimes they enjoy feeling power over someone because sometimes they are being bullied by someone else! Sometimes they do not even realise that they are hurting the other person.
What to do if someone is bullying you: Tell someone you trust about it. If it is easier for you, write that person a note instead!! (People you might want to tell are: parents, teachers, the principal, playground safeties, or older friends). If the person you told cannot help you or does not do anything, find someone else! Never keep being bullied a secret! Try not to let the bully see you are upset. (Bullies are looking for signs that you are upset and they may do it more). Avoid areas where the bully feels comfortable picking on you (for example, places where teachers cannot see you - such as corners of the playground, lonely corridors, and behind large furniture in the classroom. Try to surround yourself with friends and people who will stand up for you.
What to do if you see someone who is being bullied: Get friends together and talk to the bully. Let the bullies in your school know that bullying is not accepted at your school. Don't cheer the bully on or stand around to watch. (The bully might like the attention, and pick on the kid even more). If you see someone being bullied, find someone to help stop it. (Get another friend, a teacher, a playground safety, a principal). Be nice to, include, and get to know the people who are being bullied: You may find they are similar to you!! Try to make friends with the bully too- show them other ways to interact with others. (They don't need to bully others to be accepted or cool). Let's help stop bullying among us all!

May 5, 2010

Verb Conjugator

Problems with the verb tenses? Do you need a helpful tool that conjugates any English verb for you?
Look no further, you got to the right place. Here I provide you with an interesting conjugator engine that will help you learn any verb in the different tenses. Through the following hyperlink, only put the verb in its infinitive form and click on the button, you will get basic conjugations in any of the tenses that the English paradigm has, so this way you will get rid of doubts. Click here to start: Conjugator.