Illustrative Situations

/. Study these example situations. Learn them.

We use the Present Perfect (have done) to give new informa­tion or to announce a recent happening. But if we continue to talk about it we normally use the Past Simple (did):

1. — Oh! I've burnt myself!

— How did you do that?

— I touched a hot dish.

2. — I've bought a very good raincoat.

— Where did you buy it?

— In one of the small shops in Regent Street.

— How much did it cost?

— £ 50.

Do not use the Present Perfect when you are talking about a fi­nished time in the past (for example: yesterday, two years ago, in 1979, when I was a child, etc.):

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Tom lost his key yesterday. I translated the article on Friday. I last saw him in 1985.

Use the Simple Past to ask WHEN something happened: What time (when) did he arrive?

Compare: I've smoked 20 cigarettes today, (it is still today) I smoked 20 cigarettes yesterday, (the event is past)

3. Julia has just come to work. She is late again. She is asking one of the typists about her boss. He often comes in late, too. "Has the boss come yet?"

"Yes, he has. He's in the office now." "When did he come?"

"He came very early. He noticed you weren't here." Questions: What has Julia just done? Has her boss come yet? What did he notice? Did he come early or late?

4. __ Have you ever studied a language before?

— Yes, I have.

— Oh, which one did you study?

— I studied French at school.

5. — Have you ever been to a wedding?

— Yes, I have.

— Whose wedding was it?

— It was my brother's.

6. — Have you ever eaten at the Royal Hotel?

— Yes, I have.

— When did you eat there?

— Mary and I ate there two months ago.

7. — Have you ever broken a bone?

— Yes, I have.

— What did you break?

— I broke my leg.

8. — Have you ever had flue?

— Yes, I have.

— When did you have it?

— I had it last winter.

9. — Have you seen any films lately?

— Yes, I've ьееп "The White Canyon". -- When did you see it?

— Last week,

10. — Have you sold your car?

— Yes, I have.

— Why did you sell it?

— I'd like to buy a Jaguar.

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Practice

/. Respond to the following using the Present Perfett and the Simple Past:

e.g. — Why don't you buy this dictionary? (yesterday)

— I've already bought it. I bought it yesterday.

1. Why don't you send her a telegram? (this morning) 2. Will you make tea, please? (a few minutes ago) 3. Do your homework, (before supper) 4. You should read the book, (in summer) 5. Put the towel into the suitcase, (some minutes ago) 6. Why don't you speak to the boss? (the day before yesterday) 7. What about seeing "Oliver"? (on Tuesday) 8. You should build a garage, (last year) 9. Why don't you phone Peter? (in the afternoon) 10. Tell Dick about the expedition, (last Friday) 11. Why don't you invite the Browns? (yesterday) 12. You must repair the TV set. (yester­day morning) 13. You should book the tickets in advance, (last Saturday) 14. Give her your typewriter for a few days, (yester­day)

//. Say "when":

e.g. Henry has fallen ill. He fell ill on Tuesday.

1. They have begun the experiment. 2. I've found my ticket. 3. He has finished the work. 4. They have rung him up. 5. I have written the letter. 6. He has passed his exam. 7. She has paid for the furniture. 8. They have bought a boat. 9. They have seen the mu­seum. 10. The porter has already brought our suitcases. 11. I've lost my umbrella again. 12. They have changed their flat. 13. She has broken her watch. !4. They have got married. 15. I've already had dinner. 16. The delegation has already arrived. 17. The train has left. 18. Victor has gone to Moscow on business. 19. I've already swum in the sea today. 20. Kitty has already woken tip. 2i I have sold my garage. 22. I have told Jack about the picnfc.

///. Answer the questions using the prompts:

e.g. — Has he seen Ann? (yesterday)

— Yes, he saw her yesterday.

1. Have you sold your car? (last month) 2. Have you spoken to Jack? (on Friday morning) 3. Have you written to Mary? (the day before yesterday) 4. Have you thrown the letter away? (some minutes ago) 5. Have you burnt the documents? (three nours ago) 6. Have you found your keys? (this morning) 7. Has your husband ever forgotten your birthday? (last year) 8. Have you rung Tom* (yesterday afternoon) 9. Has Jack ever been to Italy? (in 1990) 10. Have you heard the news? (yesterday) 11. Has she begun

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work yet? (at 10 o'clock) 12. Have you eaten the cake? (in the morning)

IV. Ask your friend whether he has done certain things and when he did them. Use the prompts:

e.g. buy a house

— Have you bought a house?

— Yes, I have.

— When did you buy it?

— Two months ago.

1. pay the bill 2. send for the doctor 3. see "Gone with the Wind" 4. book a ticket 5. read "War and Peace" 6. have dinner 7. re­ceive the documents 8. type the papers 9. do one's homework 10. rest in the Crimea 11. hear "Aida" 12. choose a present 13. write the test paper 14. sell one's tent

V. Study the model conversations. Then, make conversations of your own on the same model. Ask WHEN and other questions like that:

1. Patricia Riley is an Irish girl. She is trying to get a job as a shorthand-typist. At interviews people ask her questions like the­se:

"Have you ever done this sort of work before?"

"Where did you work last?" "How long did you work there?"

2. — Have you ever been to Paris?

— Yes, 1 have.

— When were you there?

— Last spring.

— What did you think of it?

— It was very beautiful.

3. Richard never believes what the critics say about a film He always asks his friends instead. He wants to know if the new Fellini film is any good He is talking to a friend now. His first

question is:

"Have you seen the new Fellini film?"

The answer is: "Yes, I have."

Richard then asks different questions like: When did you see it? Where did you see it? Was it good?