Ready for C1 p 20. The Perfect Aspect. Grammar 2

Present Perfect Simple

·         Situations and states that started in the past and are still true.

I’ve been a member of MENSA for over five years.

·         A series of actions continuing up to now.

She’s done a BA, an MA and a PhD so far.

·         Completed actions at a time in the past which is not important or relevant.

Have you ever read any books by Edward Bono?

·         Completed actions where the important thing is the present result.    

She’s been awarded a scholarship to study at Harvard.

·         Actions completed recently

I’ve just received my exam results.

Words and phrases often used with the present perfect simple

Since / for / It’s the first/second/etc time / before / already / yet / ever / just / still / recently / up to now / (up) until now / so far

 

Present Perfect Continuous

·         Actions and situations continuing up to the present (or just before the present)

We’ve all been wondering what to get Tony for his birthday and we just can’t decide.

Words and phrases often used with the present perfect continuous

Since / for / just / all day/week/etc

WATCH OUT

·         We usually use the present perfect simple to specify a particular number of times/things.

I’ve written two essays this week.

·         We usually use the present perfect continuous to emphasise the duration of an action/situation.

I’ve worked here for five years. (no emphasis)

I’ve been working here for five years. (emphasises the duration)

 

Past Perfect Simple

·         Situations and states before the past.

Had you had your computer long before it broke down?

·         Completed actions before a moment in the past.

When Dimitra called, I had managed to fix her computer.

·         A series of actions continuing up to a moment in the past.

By the time of his death, Thomas Edison had invented a number of things that changed everyday life.

·         

Past Perfect Continuous

·         Actions and situations continuing up to a moment in the past (or just before a moment in the past).

She’d been writing computer games for over ten years before she finally had a hit.

Future Perfect Simple

·         Completed situations before a certain time.

It looks as if Jake will have lost his job by the end of the week.

·         Continuing situations up to a certain time.

This time next month, I’ll have worked at the company for exactly 25 years.

 

Future Perfect Continuous

·         Continuing situations up to a certain time (emphasises the duration).

This time next month, I’ll have been working at the company for exactly 25 years.

Perfect Infinitive

·         After verbs like seem and appear to look back to a previous time period.

He seems to have forgotten us.

·         Used with different time periods.

It’s great to have finished my exams.

He said he was sorry to have missed your party.

We hope to have done the work by 5.00

                                

EXERCISE

Complete the sentences with the correct perfect form of the verbs in brackets.

1.       When they found Chris, he said he __________________ (live) on the streets for years.
2.       I ______________ (not finish) the project by Monday. I still have to do all the research.
3.       Congratulations! It must be great _____________ (win) two major prizes in two years!
4.       Sorry about the delay. _____________________________________ (you / wait) long?
5.       Before he died he told us he _____________________ (bury) the money in the garden.
6.       Junko, the garage is a mess! _________________ (you / play) with the children there?
7.       We asked the neighbours, but they seem ________________ (not notice) anything strange.
8.       I hear you’re looking for a job. Who ______________________ (you / speak to) so far?
9.       By 2020, Martha ____________________ (work) for the same company for fifty years.
10.   Is Werner OK? He _______________________________ (hide) in his room all evening.
11.   Seeing Liz after twenty years, I realised she ___________________ (not change) at all.
12.   Jane looked at me suspiciously. ___________________________ (discover) my secret?

Sentences with KEYS:

1.       When they found Chris, he said he __________________ (live) on the streets for years.

KEY

 1. had been living 

2.       I ______________ (not finish) the project by Monday. I still have to do all the research.

 

KEY

 

 

2. won’t have finished 

3.       Congratulations! It must be great _____________ (win) two major prizes in two years!

 

KEY

 

 

3. to have won 

4.       Sorry about the delay. _____________________________________ (you / wait) long?

 

KEY

 

 

4. Have you been waiting 

5.       Before he died he told us he _____________________ (bury) the money in the garden.

 

KEY

 

  

5.had buried 

6.       Johnny, the garage is a mess! _________________ (you / play) with the children there?

 

KEY

 

 

6. have you been playing 

7.       We asked the neighbours, but they seem ________________ (not notice) anything strange.

 

KEY

 

 

7. not to have noticed 

8.       I hear you’re looking for a job. Who ______________________ (you / speak to) so far?

 

KEY

 

 

8. have you spoken to 

9.       By 2020, Martha ____________________ (work) for the same company for fifty years.

 

KEY

  

9. will have been working 

10.   Is Werner OK? He _______________________________ (hide) in his room all evening.

 

KEY

 

 

10. has been hiding 

11.   Seeing Liz after twenty years, I realised she ___________________ (not change) at all.

 

KEY

 

 

 

11. hadn’t changed 

12.   Jane looked at me suspiciously. ___________________________ (discover) my secret?

 

KEY

 

 

12. Had she discovered

Open World p 8. Making Conversation

This lesson is about making conversation

make conversation

to say things to someone who you do not know well, in order to be polite

E.g. 

I was just trying to make conversation.

 

What do you normally say to make conversation?

Sample answers

Introduce yourself   E.g. Hi, I’m Lisa. I’m new in this school and wanted to introduce myself.

Ask questions to the other person showing interest about them.

Pay a compliment. E.g. I really like your hair. The cut suits you.

Ask for information.

Comment on something pleasant E.g. Did you watch the football game last night? I think our team finally hit their stride.

hit your stride: to become familiar with and confident at something you have recently started doing: 

E.g.

Let's wait until she's hit her stride before we ask her to negotiate that contract

Both teams seem to have hit their stride in the second half.

Comment on the weather. It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?" or “Can you believe all the snow we’re getting?

Ask for an opinion. E.g. How do you like the coffee from the new café?
Who do you find inspiring?
What’s the most valuable piece of  advice you could give?

Mention a shared experience (Your shared experiences make getting along easier, and that aids the flow of the conversation and building of the relationship.) E.g. How do you like studying in this school?

Make an observation E.g. The views from this window are beautiful!

 

What topics do you talk about to make conversation? 

Sample answers

News, sports, entertainment,...  

 

 

What expression is used to describe polite conversation about subjects that are ordinary or unimportant, especially at social occasions?

 

KEY

small talk

 

E.g. 

They made small talk for half an hour.
He has no small talk (= is not good at talking politely about unimportant subjects).
She was good at making small talk to put guests at their ease.

 

Tell us about the last time you tried to make polite small talk?

Sample sentence

 I tried to make polite small talk with him although he didn't seem interested

 

Title of the unit:

take it from me (that…)

 

Meaning

 

KEY

(informal) used to emphasize that what you are going to say is the truth. Accept that what I say is true, because I know or have experienced it. I can assure you. 

E.g.  

Take it from me—he'll be a millionaire before he's 30. 

"take it from me, kid—I've been there, done it, seen it all" 

It won't work - take it from me.    

 

 

Can you think of a similar expression?

 

KEY

 

 

 

also take my word for it

 

take my word for it  

Used for emphasizing that what you are saying is completely true. If you say to someone take my word for it, you mean that they should believe you because you know that what you are saying is correct. 

E.g. 

You'll have nothing but trouble if you buy that house, take my word for it.

Take my word for it, she still loves you! 

"I'm afraid you'll just have to take our word for it"  

 

What expression do we use to say or do something that makes people feel more relaxed, especially at the beginning of a meeting, party, etc.?

 

KEY

Break the ice 

E.g.


Jim organized a few party games to break the ice when people first arrived.

 

What noun comes from the expression "break the ice"?

 

KEY

 

 

icebreaker

a thing that you do or say, such as a game or a joke, to make people feel more relaxed, especially at the beginning of a meeting, party, etc. 

E.g.

This game is an effective icebreaker at the beginning of a semester. 

How do you relate the picture to the topic?

 

How do you describe someone, especially a child, who talks too much?

 

chatterbox

E.g. 

She hardly said a word until she was two, but now she's a little chatterbox. 

 

Do Ex 1 p 8

memorable /ˈmemərəbl/
worth remembering or easy to remember, especially because of being special or unusual. Unforgettable. 

E.g.

The holiday provided many memorable moments. 

 

Can you tell us about a truly memorable occasion?

Sample sentence

The day my son was born was a truly memorable experience. 

 

Do Ex 2 p 8 

Do Ex 3 p 8  

What sentences do you use to maintain successful conversations? 

 

Sample answers:

How to do the Interaction task?

 

Do Ex 4 p 8 

not by any stretch of the imagination

also by no stretch of the imagination

 

used to say strongly that something is not true, even if you try to imagine or believe it. Sp. ni por asomo. De ningún modo. Bajo ningún concepto. Ni con mucha imaginación.
 

E.g.

She could not, by any stretch of the imagination, be called beautiful.
By no stretch of the imagination could the trip be described as relaxing. 

 

Yes way!

 

E.g. 

 

"You passed your driving test? No way!" "Yes way!"

 

have somebody on
​(informal) to try to make somebody believe something that is not true, usually as a joke.

E.g.
You didn't really, did you? You're not having me on, are you? 

 

Open World p 8 Ex 4. Listening Script. Track 002

Conversation 1

Speaker A: What aspects of learning English do you find the most difficult and the easiest?

Speaker B: I guess my weakest area would be my speaking. I’m quite a shy person really and when I speak I am really conscious of the errors I make, particularly with pronunciation.

Speaker A: Like what?

Speaker B: Well, there are certain words in English that aren’t pronounced as you read them or certain groups of letters which can have different sounds depending on the word.

For example, the letters o-u-g-h together. They can be pronounced oo as in through or oh as in though or ou as in thought. I am always mixing the sounds up.

Speaker A: I know what you mean. I have the same problem. And what about the things you find the easiest?

Speaker B: Oh, I don’t know. Probably reading.

Speaker A: Really? I have to say I struggle with multiple choice questions in readings.

At this level of English, it can sometimes be hard to decide which one is correct.

Speaker B: That’s true, but I would say that the fact that I read so much in my own language helps me.

Conversation 2

Speaker C: Tell me about any hobbies or interests that you have.

Speaker D: Music, that is to say, I’m a musician.

Speaker C: Oh, me too! What do you play?

Speaker D: The guitar. I’m actually in a moderately successful rock band. When I say moderately successful, I mean in my home city.

We are not international rock stars by any stretch of the imagination. Having said that, we have opened for Foo Fighters and Metallica.

Speaker C: No way!

Speaker D: Yes way! In fact, when Metallica played, we got to spend time with them backstage.

They’re really cool guys. James Hetfield, you know, the lead singer and rhythm guitarist, even gave me one of his guitars.

Speaker C: You’re having me on!

Speaker D: No. In fact, I played it for the first time that same night on stage.

My old guitar stopped working for some reason right in the middle of a song and my spare had a broken string.

Speaker C: What a nightmare!

Speaker D: Yes, not exactly what you want to happen when you are supporting Metallica. But one of the Metallica technicians lent me one of James’ guitars.

And it turns out that James himself was watching us play at the time. He was so impressed by my playing that he told me to keep the guitar. Of course, I had him sign it for me as well.

Speaker C: You’re so lucky! And I’m so jealous.

Conversation 3

Speaker E: Where did you go for your last holiday?

Speaker F: I went to Argentina.

Speaker E: Argentina, eh? That must have been lovely. Did you visit Buenos Aires?

Speaker F: Well, I flew into Buenos Aires airport and flew back from there as well, but I only spent two nights there in total.

Speaker E: Oh, why was that?

Speaker F: I was visiting some distant relatives on my father’s side for the very first time, and they live in the south, at the top of Patagonia. I had a great time.

Being so far south, we saw a lot of Antarctic wildlife. The penguins were amazing. And we took a boat trip and saw baby whales swimming with their parents.

They were so close to the boat - I could almost touch them.

Speaker E: That sounds amazing.

Speaker F: I know, right?

 

 

 

Do Ex 5 p 8

 

 

The Winter Solstice and Stonehenge

Watch the

Winter Solstice Sunrise 2021 LIVE from Stonehenge

The Winter Solstice  

The earth rotates on a tilted axis. When this axis leans towards the sun, it’s summer in the northern hemisphere and winter in the south. This is reversed as the earth continues on its orbit until the axis becomes tilted away from the sun.  During the solstice, the earth’s axis is tilted at its furthest point from the sun. This means that, for us in the northern hemisphere, the sun is at its lowest point in the sky. It’s also the shortest day of the year - and the longest night.

solstice   /ˈsɒlstɪs/        ​either of the two times of the year at which the sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky in the middle of the day, marked by the longest and shortest days.

E.g.

the summer/winter solstice.

 

Solstice and Stonehenge  

 

Marking the passage of time was important to many ancient cultures. For the people of Stonehenge who were farmers, growing crops and tending herds of animals, knowing when the seasons were changing was important. Winter might have been a time of fear as the days grew shorter and colder. People must have longed for the return of light and warmth. Marking this yearly cycle may have been one of the reasons that Neolithic people constructed Stonehenge – a monument aligned to the movements of the sun.  The stones were shaped and set up to frame at least two important events in the annual solar cycle – the midwinter sunset at the winter solstice and the midsummer sunrise at the summer solstice.  At the summer solstice, around 21 June, the sun rises behind the Heel Stone and its first rays shine into the heart of Stonehenge. Although the tallest trilithon at the monument is no longer standing, the sun would have set between the narrow gap of these uprights during the winter solstice. 

Read more on the English Heritage site.

Christmas UnWrapped The History of Christmas

 

Read about it here.

Carols in the Square