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When do we use the Present Perfect Tense? 1. Unspecified point in the past I have been to Spain three times. (At some unspecified time in the past, I went to Spain).

Compare with the simple past: I went to Spain three times in 2005. (specified time in the past - the year 2005)

2. An action that occurred in the past, but has a result in the present (now) We can't find our luggage. Have you seen it? (The luggage was lost in the past, do you know where it is now?)

3. Talking about general experiences (ever, never) It usually refers to an event happening at some moment in your life. Has she ever tried Chilean wine before? (in her life) I've never eaten monkey brains before. (in my life)

4. Events that recently occurred (just) Do you want to go to a restaurant with me? No, thanks. I've just eaten lunch. (I recently ate lunch.)

5. Events that have occurred up to now (yet) Are Carlos and Rodrigo here? No, they haven't arrived yet. (they're still not here now)

6. Events that occurred before you expected (already) I've already graduated from University. (I expected to graduate at a later date.)

7. Events that began in the past and haven't changed (for, since) Mike has worked at Woodward for 3 years. (Mike started working at Woodward 3 years ago and he still works there now.) Julie has worked at Woodward since September last year. (Julie began working at Woodward in September of last year, and that hasn't changed - she still works here now.) Past simple or present perfect? Click one of the two forms of the verbs in brackets to select the correct tense. The first two have been done for you. 1. All samples ( failed / have failed) under the first test condition.

Reason Because we have the results, it is clear that the testing is complete; that is, past and finished. 2. Recent studies (showed / have shown) that... Reason It is unclear exactly when the studies were carried out.

1. Research conducted in the 1990s ( showed / has shown) that... 2. The studies ( were not completed / have not been completed) yet. 3. Two years ago, researchers ( demonstrated / have demonstrated) the link between... 4. Over the past six years, there ( were / have been) several exciting developments in the field of mechatronics. 5. Lewis's (2004) investigation ( proved / has proved) the effect of... 6. An investigation ( was carried out / has been carried out) recently into...

The following news report, which is an update on a major building project, uses both past simple and present prefect tenses. Write the correct tense of the verb in each gap. Where the passive voice is needed, be is given with the verb in brackets. Then check your answers by clicking on the button next to each box.
announced

The board of directors of Medway Medical Centre (announce) twelve months ago that an extension block would be built in the grounds beside the existing building. Although funding
has
has completed

not yet

been approved

(be approved), ProTec

Engineering Wilkes,

(complete) the design. The hospital CEO, Mr Bernard

released

(release) the design at a press conference yesterday.

While the new building is designed to blend aesthetically with the older building, Mr Wilkes
emphasised

(emphasise) yesterday that sustainability was one of the key

has been incorporated

design criteria. 'Green building technology of the design, as we

requested

(be incorporated) at all stages

(request) at the beginning of the project.'

Change the verb into the correct form of the past simple or present perfect
1) Last night I in.lost (lose) my keys I had to call my flatmate to let me
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2) I

(lose) my keys - can you help me look for them?'ve lost

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3) I

(visit) Paris three times.'ve visited

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4) Last year I

(visit) Paris.visited

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5) I (know) my great grandmother for a few years - she died when I was eight..knew 6) I known (know) Julie for three years - we still meet once a month..'ve

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7) I

(play) Hockey since I was a child - I'm pretty good!.'ve played

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8) She

(play) hockey at school but she didn't like it.played

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9) Sorry, I

(miss) the bus - I'm going to be late.'ve missed

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10) I (miss) the bus and then I well!.missedmissed

(miss) the aeroplane as

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11) Last month I

(go) to Scotland.went

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Check

12) I'm sorry, John isn't here now. He

(go) to the shops.'s gone

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13) We

(finish) this room last week.finished

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14) I

(finish) my exams finally - I'm so happy!.'ve finished

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15) Yesterday, I supermarket..went

(go) to the library, the post office and the

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16) I

(go) to the supermarket three times this week.'ve been

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17) She

(live) in London since 1994.'s lived

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18) She

(live) in London when she was a child.lived

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19) I

drank

(drink) three cups of coffee today.'ve drunk

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20) I

(drink) three cups of coffee yesterday.drank

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Simple Present arise awake be bear beat become begin bend bet bite bleed blow break bring build burn burst buy catch choose cling come cost creep cut deal dig dive do draw dream drink drive eat fall feed feel fight find fit flee fling fly forbid forget forgive forgo freeze get give go

Simple Past arose awoke was, were bore beat became began bent bet bit bled blew broke brought built burned or burnt burst bought caught chose clung came cost crept cut dealt dug dived or dove did drew dreamed or dreamt drank drove ate fell fed felt fought found fit, fitted fled flung flew forbade or forbad forgot forgave forwent froze got gave went

Past Participle arisen awoken been borne beaten or beat become begun bent bet bitten bled blown broken brought built burned or burnt burst bought caught chosen clung come cost crept cut dealt dug dived done drawn dreamed or dreamt drunk driven eaten fallen fed felt fought found fit, fitted fled flung flown, forbidden or forbade forgotten forgiven forgone frozen gotten or got given gone

grind grow hang have hear hide hit hold hurt keep kneel knit know lay lead leap leave lend let lie (down) light lose make mean meet pay prove put quit read ride ring rise run saw say see seek sell send set sew shake shave shear shine shoot show shrink shut sing sink sit

ground grew hung or hanged had heard hid hit held hurt kept knelt or kneeled knitted or knit knew laid led leapt or leaped left lent let lay lit or lighted lost made meant met paid proved put quit read rode rang rose ran sawed said saw sought sold sent set sewed shook shaved sheared shone or shined shot showed shrank or shrunk shut sang sank sat

ground grown hung or hanged had heard hidden hit held hurt kept knelt or kneeled knitted or knit known laid led leapt or leaped left lent let lain lit or lighted lost made meant met paid proved or proven put quit read ridden rung risen run sawed or sawn said seen sought sold sent set sewn or sewed shaken shaved or shaven sheared or shorn shone or shined shot shown or showed shrunk or shrunken shut sung sunk sat

slay sleep slide sneak speak speed spend spill spin spit split spread spring stand steal stick sting stink strew strike strive swear sweep swim swing take teach tear tell think thrive throw undergo understand upset wake wear weave weep win wind withdraw wring write

slew slept slid sneaked or snuck spoke sped spent spilled or spilt spun spat or spit split spread sprang stood stole stuck stung stank or stunk strewed struck strove or strived swore swept swam swung took taught tore told thought thrived or throve threw underwent understood upset woke or waked wore wove wept won wound withdrew wrung wrote

slain slept slid sneaked or snuck spoken sped spent spilled or spilt spun spat or spit split spread sprung stood stolen stuck stung stunk strewn struck or stricken striven or strived sworn swept swum swung taken taught torn told thought thrived or thriven thrown undergone understood upset woken or waked worn woven wept won wound withdrawn wrung written

PHRASAL VERBS Practice Exercise 1 EXAMPLE: The operator disconnected Paul. The operator cut him off. 1) Before you buy it, you should use it and test it. Before you buy it, _____________________. 2) He spent years developing and growing this business. He spent years _____________________. 3) They want to purchase a majority share holding in the company They want to _____________________. .4) You should make extra copies of all your computer files. You should _____________________. 5) Can you give me some assistance with this report? Can you _____________________ with this report? 6) Why do you always say negative things about Peter? Why do you always _____________________? 7) Have you completed the form in bold print? Have you _____________________ in bold print? 8) My New Years resolution was to stop smoking cigarettes. My New Years resolution was to _____________________. 9) I dont believe her; shes telling a story which isnt true. I dont believe her; shes _____________________. 10) Do you know if the meeting is going to be postponed? Do you know if the meeting is going to be ___________________

Practice Exercise 2 EMAIL 1 TO: Robert Booth FROM: Amy Cookson RE: 1 Service Lift The service lift in the warehouse has (1)____________ (stopped working) again. Could you please get the Shindler engineer to (2)____________ (investigate) what has gone wrong and fix it as soon as possible? This is urgent, because we really cannot (3)____________ (manage) it. We are having to move everything upstairs by hand. This is (4)____________ (occupying) a lot of time and soon everyone is going to (5)____________ (have no more) patience. EMAIL 2 TO: Robert Booth FROM: Amy Cookson RE: Mr Senai We are expecting Mr Senai from Japan some time this afternoon. I have rung the hotel, but he has not (6)____________ (registered) there yet, so he may just (7)____________ (arrive unexpectedly) at the office. If he does, could you (8)____________ (take care of) him and ask him to (9)____________ (wait) until I get back? I have to (10)____________ (visit) a client at about 3.30, but I should be back by 4.15 Practice Exercise 3

1) Did you ____________ your files last week? 2) Keith Sole quickly ____________ his shareholding to 10% of the company. 3) If we don't stop the losses, the company will have to be ____________. 4) After you've ____________ the form, can you leave it with Fiona, my secretary? 5) We've ____________ trying to get business from small companies. 6) Marvin Steel is in the process of ___________ many of the smaller shareholders. 7) Could you ask Paul to ____________ with arranging the company BBQ at the weekend? 8) If you don't know the meaning of a word, you should ____________ in a dictionary. 9) My plane gets in at 10.30. Could you ____________ at around 11? 10) The meeting has been ____________ until 17 April. 11) Have you had an opportunity to ____________ our evaluation software yet? 12) Don't forget to ____________ the air-conditioners when you leave the office this evening. 13) I'm afraid to say that the photocopier's ____________ yet again! 14) I think I'll ____________ Roger before I go home this evening. 15) During the recession, the company ___________ some difficult times. 16) Mary has decided to ____________ an offer from another company. 17) Whatever you do, don't ____________ to the meeting late. 18) Who will ____________ my children if I have to work full-time? 19) I ____________ John last night. 20) Please call Jane if you ____________ any stationery items.

ANSWER KEY Practice Exercise 1 1) Before you buy it, you should try it out. 2) He spent years building it up. 3) They want to buy it out. http://www.workplace-english-training.com 4 4) You should back them up. 5) Can you help me out with this report? 6) Why do you always put him down? 7) Have you filled it out in bold print? 8) My New Years resolution was to give them up. 9) I dont believe her; shes making it up. 10) Do you know if the meeting is going to be put off? Practice Exercise 2 EMAIL 1

TO: Robert Booth FROM: Amy Cookson RE: 1 Service Lift

The service lift in the warehouse has broken down (stopped working) again.

Could you please get the Shindler engineer to look into (investigate) what has gone wrong and fix it as soon as possible?

This is urgent, because we really cannot do without (manage) it. We are having to move everything upstairs by hand. This is taking up (occupying) a lot of time and soon everyone is going to run out of (have no more) patience.

EMAIL 2 TO: Robert Booth FROM: Amy Cookson RE: Mr Senai We are expecting Mr Senai from Japan some time this afternoon.

I have rung the hotel, but he has not checked in (registered) there yet, so he may just turn up (arrive unexpectedly) at the office. If he does, could you look after (take care of) him and ask him to hold on (wait) until I get back? I have to meet up with (visit) a client at about 3.30, but I should be back by 4.15. Practice Exercise 3 1) Did you back up your files last week? 2) Keith Sole quickly built up his shareholding to 10% of the company. 3) If we don't stop the losses, the company will have to be closed down. 4) After you've filled in the form, can you leave it with Fiona, my secretary? 5) We've given up trying to get business from small companies. 6) Marvin Steel is in the process of buying out many of the smaller shareholders. 7) Could you ask Paul to help me out with arranging the company BBQ at the weekend? 8) If you don't know the meaning of a word, you should look it up in a dictionary.

9) My plane gets in at 10.30. Could you pick me up at around 11? 10) The meeting has been put off until 17 April. 11) Have you had an opportunity to try out our evaluation software yet? 12) Don't forget to turn off the air-conditioners when you leave the office this evening 13) I'm afraid to say that the photocopier's broken down yet again! 14) I think I'll call on Roger before I go home this evening. 15) During the recession, the company went through some difficult times. 16) Mary has decided to take up an offer from another company. 17) Whatever you do, don't turn up to the meeting late. 18) Who will look after my children if I have to work full-time? 19) I met up with John last night. 20) Please call Jane if you run out of any stationery items.

Practice 1 put ... off build ... up buy ... out give ... up back ... up try ... out help ... out put ... down make ... up fill ... out Practice Exercise 2

look after hold on do without take up run out of break down meet up with check in turn up look into Practice Exercise 3 back up build up close down fill in give up take up try out break down pick up put off meet up with buy out turn off go through

look up turn up look after help out run out of

Many students are concerned about summary writing for several reasons: they are unable to identify information relevant to the answer and are unable to put the information together into a coherent paragraph. Weak students have an additional problem to grapple with language. While these concerns are genuine, there is no reason to fret as these problems can be easily overcome with proper guidance and help from teachers. Let me remind you that summary writing is not a writing skill. It is largely a reading skill (you are required to select relevant information in the text) with a bit of writing thrown in (you have to string the points together into a unified text). The task is made easier for you as you do not need to summarise the whole text, only certain aspects (usually two). Therefore, it is crucial that you read the question carefully and consider what information is relevant. Remember, you need to identify at least 10 points (for content). So do not worry too much about paraphrasing. Focus on getting marks for content, not language. Summary writing involves specific skills such as the following: Selection This means choosing information that is relevant to your answer.Information that is relevant to your answer depends on the aspect(s) of the text you are to summarise. Condensation This means reducing the length of the given information while preserving the important points. This can be done by omitting unimportant details, or using single words to replace phrases or clauses. Reorganisation or rearrangement This means taking the given information and arranging it in a different way. Paraphrasing or restatement This means saying something in a different way, without changing the meaning. Guidelines for summary writing: 1. Read the question carefully. Ask yourself: What am I required to summarise. 2. Mark the first and last lines of the passage you are asked to refer to. 3. Then select information that is relevant to your answer. To do this, underline the relevant lines or ideas as you read the text. Always ask yourself: Is this?? (For the summary below, you would ask: Is this what Yunus did to help the poor? Is this an improvement in the lives of the women?).

4. Look through the lines/ideas you have underlined. 5. Summarise these ideas, using condensation, reorganisation or paraphrasing skills. 6. If you cannot paraphrase ideas, see if there are words in the text that you can replace. 7. Begin the summary with the 10 words given and remember that the three dots after the tenth word mean you have to complete the sentence with some relevant information from the text. 8. Organise the ideas/points in the manner in which they are found in the text. 9. Adhere to the word limit. Writing more than the required number of words will not get you any marks. Anything far too short of the word limit means you lack content. 10. Pay attention to the tense (and sometimes pronoun) used in the given 10 words. 11. Write the summary in one paragraph. Things to avoid 1. Do not include information not in the text. 2. Do not include your own ideas or opinions. 3. Do not spend too much time paraphrasing as you might end up losing marks for content unless you can do so without altering/distorting meaning. 4. Do not repeat ideas. Sometimes, an idea is repeated in the text and you may not notice it as it may have been paraphrased. 5. Do not include material from other lines in the text.

Choose one of the novels above and answer the question below. With close reference to the text, write about a character you feel sorry for. Give reasons why you feel sorry for the character. In the novel, Catch Us If You Can written by Christine MacPhail, a character that I feel sorry for is the main character, Rory. Rory is an 11 years old boy who lives in a flat with his old and senile Granda. They have looked after each other since Rorys dad walked out on them. I feel sorry for Rory because of these reasons. The main reason of my sympathy towards Rory is because he believes that he is the only person to be responsible of taking care his Granda. Granda has raised him up since he was a little boy. Rory has to make sure that Granda takes his pills on time, cooks and cleans the house. He even quits playing football so that he does not have to attend the football practice after school hours. He needs to rush home during lunchtime and cannot leave Granda alone because he can accidently puts anything on fire He has once left his smoking pipe in his coat and ruined Mrs Foleyss dry cleaning coat and its matching scarf. Explaination : I feel sorry for Rory as he has to stay in Castle Street whereas Granda is placed in the old folk home in Rachnadar. They are being separated after Granda leaves the chip pan on the stove and causes the house on fire. Granda suffers from smoke inhalation and is hospitalized for few days. In Castle Street Rory is terrified with Tess who is a very mischievous girl. She has once grabbed hold his shirt so tightly, choking him and punching him right against his nose. It breaks his heart to see Granda cries for the first time in his life in Rachnada..He cannot bear to see his Granda dying inside. Granda has looked after him since he was a baby. Its time for him to take care of someone whom he loves so much Explaination: I feel sorry for Rory as he is always keeps on running from the authorities. He has to plan everything and at the same time worry about his Grandas health. He runs away from Castle Street and helps Granda to escape from Rachnadar. Both of them stay in Darrens mothers caravan for a while. After being warned by Darren they know that they cannot stay there anymore. With help from Sammy, Ruby and Tyrone they move along with them in their camper van. Rory and Granda have an enjoyable time together but after being spotted by the authorities they have to keep on the move.