Diana Funtana ESL Productions Short Grammar Lesson

Diana Funtana ESL Productions Short Grammar Lesson http://dianafuntanaesl.com

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 Final Notes: Lessons 1-4 have covered the most important and common uses of the present perfect to talk about: • changes that have taken place between the past and the present • life experiences with never, ever, before, and superlatives • routines, plans, expectations and frequency with already, yet, so far, and ordinals • facts that have been true with since, for and how long

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 You can also use the present perfect with: • recently, lately • just • always Recently and lately indicate actions that took place during a period of time that is relatively not very long ago. A good clue is to think of what has happened in the news. Examples: Recently an airplane has crashed in Egypt, killing all passengers. Food prices have risen recently by over 5%. I've had so much work to do lately that I haven't had any time to relax.

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 Just indicates an action has taken place within the last few minutes or seconds. Examples: The plan has just taken off. I've just solved this problem. Elvis has just left the building. Note that often native speakers use the simple past instead of the present perfect. John lost his job recently. Someone just called.

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 Using always is similar to using since and for, in that it indicates an action or fact that has been true for most of your life, and is still true. Examples: I've always loved music. My parents have always given me and my sister their support. Has Steven always been this obnoxious?

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 Present Perfect or Simple Past? As shown in previous lessons, the present perfect is used for actions that have occurred some time between the past and now, and could continue into the future. Either the action or the time frame is unfinished. When you want to include the exact time or the order in which actions took place, you must use the simple past. Here both the action and the time frame are finished. Think of the present perfect as the broad headline in the news, and the simple past as the nitty-gritty details. Watch the video, Hollywood Now, at http://dianafuntanaesl.com/act-ii-intermediate-grammar/ to see how you can use the present perfect and simple past in a simple conversation.

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 Examples: Present Perfect: We've already read the newspaper. Simple Past: We read the newspaper after dinner. Present Perfect: The train has just left. Simple Past: The train left 2 minutes ago. Present Perfect: How long have you known how to ski? Simple Past: How long did you take skiing lessons? Present Perfect: I've seen this movie before. Simple Past: I saw this movie before I went to bed.

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 Practice: Put the verb in parentheses into the present perfect or the simple past. Examples: Kelly (work) here since January. Kelly's worked here since January. When you (get) home from school? When did you get home from school?

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 You (not work) much last week. You didn't work much last week.

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 Jane (make) over 20 phone calls so far this morning. Jane has made over 20 phone calls so far this morning.

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 The Martins (fly) never overseas. The Martins have never flown overseas.

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 I (finish) reading that book 2 days ago. I finished reading that book 2 days ago.

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 Susan (break) her leg when she was 12 years old. Susan broke her leg when she was 12 years old.

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 The party (start) yet? Has the party started yet?

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 Why you (not come) to our last meeting? Why didn't you come to our last meeting?

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 Someone (turn off) the light. That's why it's so dark. Someone has turned off the light. That's why it's so dark.

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 We (drive) to town every day this week. We've driven to town every day this week.

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 This is the third time I (ask) you the same question. This is the third time I've asked you the same question.

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 I (run) into an old friend the other day. I ran into an old friend the other day.

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 The weather (be) miserable since last Friday. The weather's been miserable since last Friday.

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 The Smiths (be) married in 1982. The Smiths were married in 1982.

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 The Smiths (be) married since 1982. The Smiths have been married since 1982.

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 The Brownies (sell) all their cookies on Saturday. The Brownies sold all their cookies on Saturday.

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 You (eat) ever sushi? Have you ever eaten sushi?

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 How many countries you (travel) to in your career? How many countries have you travelled to in your career?

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 Who (win) the last tennis match? Who won the last tennis match?

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 How long your brother (be) interested in the martial arts? How long has your brother been interested in the martial arts?

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 My kids (be) always early risers. My kids have always been early risers.

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 When was the last time you (take) the bus? When was the last time you took the bus?

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 The Prime Minister (make) just an important announcement about the upcoming conference on climate change. The Prime Minister has just made an important announcement about the upcoming conference on climate change.

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 How long the United Nations (exist)? How long has the United Nations existed?

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 Everyone (have) lunch before their reading class. Everyone had lunch before their reading class.

Grammar Lesson: Present Perfect #5 Hundreds of people (die) in a recent earthquake. Hundreds of people have died in a recent earthquake.

Diana Funtana ESL Productions Short Grammar Lesson