Времена английского глагола в сравнении = English Tenses Compared. Пособие

9.David soldier / now policeman

10.Amelia write love stories / now detective stories

Now what about you? Can you think of some similar statements you could make about yourself?

•Think back to when you were a child. Answer the following questions as truthfully as possible, using used to.

Where did you go to school?

I used to go to school in Linz.

1.Give the name of a child you played with when you were young.

2.What sort of food did you like then? 3. What games did you enjoy?

4.What was your favourite season of the year? 5. What sort of things did you do in the holidays? 6. What did you dislike doing? 7. Where did you live? 8. What toys did you have? 9. How did you go to school? 10. Which lessons did you like?

•The negative form of used to is didn’t use to and to ask questions we use the form: Did you use to...?

Look at this conversation:

Lousie, ‘Did you use to like school?’ Sally, ‘Yes, I did, didn’t you?’

or ‘No, I didn’t, did you?’

•Make more conversations like this. Here are some ideas:

have many friends like your teachers

enjoy writing compositions play a lot of games

dislike any lessons

•Think back to your first year at school. Write a short account of the things you used to do, and the way you used to feel.

My Childhood

Sometimes I think about my childhood and remember how simple my life used to be. My life is different today. I have more responsibilities today and more pressure.

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I used to live in a big house with my parents and brothers and sisters. My mother used to cook my meals and wash my clothes. My father used to play soccer with me. Sometimes, on the weekend, we used to go fishing together. If I needed something, I used to ask my family. They used to give me money for school books and clothes. Sometimes they gave me money so I could go to the movies. When I was little, I didn’t have to get up too early and I didn’t have much homework.

Today, I have to take care of myself. No one else cooks my meals or washes my clothes. And no one else pays my rent. Today, I don’t have much time for soccer and fishing. I have to get up early, and I have to work hard. If I want to go to the movies or go on a date, I have to save my money. No one else gives it to me. And I have to worry about my flat tires and running out of gas. Yes, it’s hard work being an adult!

•Now use the composition as a model and write about yourself. Compare your life now with your life before. Give your composition a title, and be sure to answer these questions:

Paragraph I

1.What do you remember about your childhood?

2.Is your life different today?

3.How is it different?

Paragraph 2

1.Where did you use to live or who did you live with?

2.Who used to take care of you?

3.What did you use to do in your free time?

4.Where did you use to get your spending money?

Paragraph 3

1.Do you take care of yourself today?

2.What kinds of things do you have to do for yourself?

3.Do you have much free time?

4.How do you spend your time?

5.What do you do when you need money for special things?

6.Is it hard work being an adult?

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I Remember...

I remember sailing on a pond that used to be my grandfather’s sawmill — we had a boat, and we used to go sailing on this. Also we used to do a lot of climbing trees. We used to climb those trees for apples, which we then ate and made ourselves very sick. And my mother would come along and complain very strongly, but I don’t think that stopped us at all. And of course in those days I had a bike, too, and I remember I used to push it up this very long hill near our house and then I’d get on and ride down as fast as I could go. My mother used to complain about that, too.

•Fill in: used to or would.

I ... live in a small house in the country when I was a little girl. I ... get up every day at 7 o’clock and get ready for school. My mother ... get our breakfast ready and then she ... walk to the bus stop with us and wait for the school bus to pick us up. The bus ... be on time. We stayed at school until 3.00 pm and then we ... catch the bus home again. In the afternoon we ... walk home alone because Mother didn’t pick us up. She ... work in an office, but she stopped working last year and now she stays at home.

•Fill in: was going to, would or used to.

Last week I ... visit an old house where we ... play as children, but I didn’t have the time. We ... go there every weekend and play cowboys and Indians. We ... love it! My friend ... buy it and turn it into a hotel or so he ...

say, but of course he didn’t.

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Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous

Present Perfect

■FORM

The Present Perfect is the present tense of have + Past Participle.

■USE

The Present Perfect describes past events which are connected to the present.

There are a number of different uses:

1.It expresses an action which started in the past and continues up to the present, especially with stative verbs such as be, have, like, know, etc.

Kate and Ken have been married for twenty years. (=They are still married now.)

She has worked in London for six months. (=She still works in London now.)

How long have you lived here? (=You still live here now.)

Note the time expressions that are common with this use. We use for with a period of time, and since with a point in time.

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Vicky has had that camera for three days. She hasn’t visited us since July.

Cath hasn’t phoned since he went to Berlin.

He left home two weeks ago and we haven’t heard from him since.

Note some adverbs that are common with this use.

Have you seen her lately (= recently)?

I haven’t seen them recently. (= it is some time since I saw them) BUT: We received a letter from them recently. (= not long ago) I’ve met a lot of people in the last (past) few days.

Everything is going well. We haven’t had any problem so far. He has always loved you. (a state)

We have often visited Spain. (a repeated event)

2. It expresses an experience that happened at some time in one’s life. The action is in the past and finished, but the effects of the action are still felt. When the action happened is not important.

I’ve been to the States. (I still remember.)

She’s written poetry, children’s stories and biographies. (In her writing career)

Have you ever had an operation? (At any time in your life up to now)

How many times has he been married? (In his life)

Note the adverbs that are common with this use.

Have you ever been to Australia?

It’s the fastest car I’ve ever seen.

I have never tried salmon before. It is very nice.

Note that questions and answers about definite times are expressed in the Past Simple.

When did you go to the States?

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Was her poetry published while she was alive?

I broke my leg once, but I didn’t have to stay in hospital. He met his second wife in the dry cleaner’s.

3. It expresses a past action that has a present result. The action is usually in the recent past.

I’ve lost my wallet. (= I haven’t got it now.)

The taxi hasn’t arrived. (= We’re still waiting for it.)

What have you done to your lip? (= It’s bleeding.)

Peter has shaved his beard off. (= He looks different.)

We often announce ‘news’ in the Present Perfect, because the speaker is emphasizing the event as a present fact.

Have you heard? The Prime Minister has resigned.

Susan’s had her baby!

I’ve ruined the meal. It’s burnt.

Note the adverbs that are common with this use.

I haven’t done my homework yet. (Negative) Has the postman been yet? (Question)

I’ve already done my homework.

Cathy has just (very recently) phoned from the airport. BUT: I saw her just now. (only a short time ago)

Again, details about definite time will be in the Past Simple or Past Continuous.

The police have finally arrested Peter Duncan.

He was trying to leave the country when they caught him.

4. It expresses an action which has happened within a specific time period which is not over at the moment of speaking. We often use words and expressions such as today, this morning / evening / week / month, etc.

She has taken fifteen pictures today. (The time period – today – is not over yet. She may take more pictures.)

BUT: She took twenty pictures yesterday. (The time period – yesterday – is over.)

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5. We say: It’s the (first) time something has happened. For example:

Don is having a driving lesson. It’s his first one. It’s the first time he has driven a car. (not drives)

or He has never driven a car before.

Sarah has lost her passport again. This is the second time this has happened. (not happens)

Bill is phoning his girlfriend again. That’s the third time he’s phoned her this evening.

Present Perfect Continuous

■FORM

The Present Perfect Continuous is the present tense of have + been + an -ing form.

■USE

We use the Present Perfect Continuous:

1. to put emphasis on the duration of an action which started in the past and continues up to the present, especially with time expressions such as for, since, lately / recently, all morning / day / year, etc.

We’ve been waiting here for twenty minutes. (We’re waiting now.) How long have you been sitting here?

Listen. That burglar alarm has been ringing since eight o’clock this morning.

I’ve been working all day.

She has been going out a lot lately / recently.

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2. for an action which started and finished in the past and lasted for some time. The result of the action is visible in the present.

I’ve been swimming. That’s why my hair is wet.

Her feet hurt. She has been walking all morning.

3. to express anger, irritation or annoyance.

Somebody has been giving away our plans. (The speaker is irritated.)

Who has been reading my business papers? (The speaker is irritated.)

Present Perfect Continuous and Present Perfect Simple

There is sometimes no difference between the Simple and the Continuous.

I’ve played / I’ve been playing the piano since I was a boy.

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I’ve been living / I’ve lived in this flat for ten years.

How long has she been working / has she worked for the company?

Remember that state verbs rarely take the Continuous.

I’ve had this book for ages.

I’ve always loved sunny days.

Present Perfect and Past Simple

1. The Present Perfect always connects the past and the present; the Past Simple tells us only about the past:

2. When we say a definite past time eg yesterday, last week, six weeks ago, we always use the Past Simple, never the Present Perfect.

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I lost my wallet yesterday. (not: I’ve lost my wallet yesterday.) Someone stole my bicycle last week. (not: Someone has stolen my bicycle last week.)

We use the Present Perfect to talk about an indefinite time up to the present eg ever, never, recently. Compare:

In conversations, we often begin indefinitely, with the Present Perfect, then we use the Past Simple when we think about the definite time that something happened.

‘Have you ever been to the United States?’ ‘Yes, I went there in 1985.’

‘Did you go to New York (= when you were there in 1985)?’ I’ve seen that film. I enjoyed it (= when I saw it) very much.

3. We can use today, this morning, this afternoon, etc:

4. We normally use a past tense, not the Present Perfect, to ask when something happened.

When did you arrive home last night? (not: When have you arrived home last night?)

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