Fluency Listen, read and practise. Mrs Bell is out. Jenny and Nick are cooking dinner to surprise her.
Mrs Bell is out. Jenny and Nick are cooking dinner to surprise her.
Jenny: I've washed the lettuce and I've chopped the tomatoes. I can make the salad now.
Nick: No you can't. You haven't peeled the potatoes yet.
Jenny: Oh yes, I have. Look! Here they are. I've already cooked them. And what have you done? Have you finished the washing up yet?
Nick: Yes, I've just finished the washing up.
A. Questions
\. What are the children doing at the moment? 2. What has Jenny done? 3. What has Nick done?
B. It V Saturday, and Judy and Paul Johnson are doing lots of things around the house. They are checking the list of things they have to do today. On the list below, check the things they've already done.
— do the laundry
— wash the kitchen windows
— pay the bills
— clean the garage
— fix the bathroom sink
— vacuum the living room
C. Tell about your experience in the place where you live. What have you done''' What haven 'tyou done yet?
D. Make a list of things you usually do at school, at work, or at home Check the things you 've already done this week. Share your list with other students in your class. Tell about what you 've done and what you haven't done.
Nick: Have you seen Ben?
Tom: Yes, I saw him about ten minutes ago.
Nick: Where did you see him?
Tom: In the park. He was arguing with Jason.
Nick: Jason? But he's twice as big as Ben. Have you ever
had an argument with him?
Tom: I once had a fight with him and two other boys. Nick: Did you win?
Tom: No, I lost. But it wasn't a fair fight. Later...
Nick: Ben! Are you all right? What's happened? You've torn your trousers, and you've lost all your buttons.
Ben: Well, I've only lost a few buttons, but Jason has lost the fight.
A. Study and practise the conversation.
B. Complete the letter with the Present Perfect Simple or the Past Simple of the verbs in brackets.
Dear Jenny,
I'm sorry I (not write) for a long time.
I (get) your last letter in July. A lot of things (happen) since then.
In August we (go) on holiday to Spain. It was great! I (never have) such a good time. I (even learn) a few words of Spanish.
Only two bad things (happen) there. I (lose) my new camera, and my sister (fall) off our hotel balcony and (land) in a palm tree. She almost (destroy) the poor tree. I (send) you a postcard from Grenada, (you get) it?
In September I (start) at my new school. I (already make) a lot 3f new friends.
One more bit of news: I (paint) my room — bright orange! Mum and Dad aren't too happy, but my friends think it's great. Please write soon. Much love. Sandra
Victor is talking to a cashier in the school bookstore.
Cashier: You aren't from here, are you?
Victor: No, I'm from Madrid.
Cashier: How long have you been in Dallas?
Victor: I've been here since Saturday. I've only been in the
States for a couple of months. Cashier: Really? You haven't been here for very long. How
long have you studied English? Your English is very
good. Victor: I've studied English for about ten years — since I
was thirteen. Cashier: Well, I've studied Spanish since I was in the eighth
grade, and I still can't speak it.
A. Say "That's right" or "That's wrong" and correct the statements that are wrong.
1. Victor is from Dallas. 2. Victor has been in Dallas for a month. 3. Victor has been in the States for a couple of years. 4. Victor's English is good. 5. Victor has studied English for five years. 6. The cashier can speak Spanish very well.
B. Roleplay the conversation.
C. Complete the sentences with the Present Perfect Simple or the Past Simple of the verbs in brackets.
1 . Victor (live) in the United States for two months. 2. He (not speak) Spanish since he (arrive) here. 3 , Victor's wife and daughter (write) him every day since he (leave) Spain. 4. They (not come) to the U.S. with him. 5. Victor (not work) since June. 6. He (live) in the US since July. 7. He (be) in Dallas for three days. 8. He (not start) his English class. 9. He (buy) his books. 10. He (not meet) his classmates. 1 1. Victor's classmates (be) in Dallas longer
than Victor. 12. They (study) here before. 13. But they (not arrive) at school. 14. And they (not go) to the bookstore.
Frank is from a small town near Dallas. He's giving Gina a tour.
Frank: The building on our right is City Hall. They've been working on it for two years, but they haven't completed it yet.
Gina: What's that on the left?
Frank: That's the police station, and next to it is the post office. The post office is the oldest building in the town.
Gina: And what's that little building over there?
Frank: Which one?
Gina: The building across the street.
Frank: Oh, that's the newspaper office. You've read the Bloomington Daily News, haven't you?
Gina: No, as a matter of fact, I haven't.
Frank: Well, it's not really a very good paper, but it's been improving lately. The reporters have been writing better stories, and it has some new photographers.
Gina: Hey, there's your mother.
Frank: Yeah, she works in that office building next to the newspaper. She's been working there since 1987 for over ten years now.
Gina: Really? I didn't know that.
Frank: Yeah. Come on. Let's go and say hello.
A. Answer "True" or "False" and correct the false statements.
\. They have finished the new city hall building.
2. The police station is as old as the post office.
3. The Bloomington Daily News is an excellent newspaper.
4. The Bloomington Daily News is getting better.
5. Frank's mother has just started a new job.
B. Make sentences about the members of Frank's family. Follow the examples.
eg Frank's mother/work in the same office building since 1987
Frank's mother has been working in the same office building since 1987.
eg She/not work for the same person, however
She hasn't been working for the same person, however.
1. Frank's father/relax at home since he retired
2. He/not go out with his friends from the factory
3. Frank's elder sister/live in New York since she got married
4. She/not enjoy herself in that busy city
5. Frank's younger brothers/work full time during the day and part time at night for over two years
6. They/not try to save money to go to college
7. They/try to save enough money to start their own business
8. Frank/work for an insurance company in Dallas
C. Ask and answer questions about the people in exercise B.
eg — Has Frank's mother been working for the same person
since 1987? — No, she hasn't.
1. Frank's father/relax at home since he retired?
2. he/go out with his friends from the factory?
3. Frank's elder sister/live in New York since she got married?
4. she/enjoy herself in that busy city?
5. Frank's younger brothers/work hard for over two years?
6. they/spend all their money?
Now ask and answer these questions.
7. you/live in this city for a long time?
8. your father/do the same job for over ten years?
9. you/drive since you were sixteen?
10. your classmates/enjoy themselves in this class9
11. you/learn a lot since you started this class?
12. you/think about living or working in another country?
Alan: Hello, Charles — I haven't seen you all day. What
have you been doing?
Charles: Actually, I've been working on my first novel. Alan: Oh yes? How far have you got with it? Charles: Well, I've thought of a good title, and I've made a
lot of characters, and I've designed the front cover.... Alan: Have you started writing it yet? Charles: Oh yes, I've written two pages already. Alan: Only two? Charles: Well yes—I haven't quite decided yet what happens
next.
A. Roleplay the conversation
B. Have you done any exciting or interesting things? Write down t\vo or three things. Find out what other people in your class have done
A: What are you going to do tonight?
B: I'm not sure. I really want to see a good movie. I haven't
seen a good movie in a long time.
A: What movie are you going to see?
B: I don't know. Have you seen any good movies recently?
A: Yes, I have. I saw a very good movie just last week.
B: Really? What movie did you see?
A: I saw the Return of Superman.
B: And you liked it?
A: I loved it. I think it's one of the best movies I've ever seen.
A. Study and practise the conversation.
B. In pairs, discuss one of the latest films you 've seen.
Laura Scott has flown to a desert island to take photographs of Keith Rogers. Keith is alone on the island as an experiment.
Laura: Hello. You're Keith, aren't you?
Keith: Yes, I am. Who are you?
Laura: I'm Laura Scott. I'm a photographer.
Keith: From England?
Laura: Yes. How long have you been here, Keith?
Keith: Since 30 th January. But what's the date today? You
see my watch has stopped. Laura: 29th June.
Keith: 29th June! That means I've been here for six months. Laura: Is there anything you miss, Keith? Keith: Oh, yes! I haven't spoken to anyone for six months
and I haven't had a cup of tea since the end of February. Laura: But you like the island, don't you? Keith: No, I don't! I hate it! I've hated the place ever since I
arrived. Take me back to civilization!
A. Ask and answer questions.
B. Roleplay the conversation.
A: Have you ever been to Britain on holiday?
B: Oh, yes, I've often been to Britain.
A: Where have you been?
B: Well, last year we went to the Lake District, but we've also
been to Scotland and Ireland. We always go in sum-
mer because the weather is better. A: Yes, but there are more tourists. B: Yes, that's right. But it's the same in every country.
A: Where are you going on holiday this year?
B: I don't know yet. I'm thinking about Spain.
A: I'm going to Spain.
B: Are you? When?
A: In August. Let's go together. Spain's lovely, you'll like it
B: Oh, that's a nice idea. I've already been to Spain. I love the
food, and the beaches are superb! A: Have you ever been to Cresta?
B: No, I've heard about it, but I haven't been there yet. Actually, I wanted to go there last year, but I couldn't. I was ill.
A: Oh, that's a shame. But let's go this year, we can visit Barcelona, too.
A: Oh yes! I've already been to Barcelona but I'd love to go again. It's very hot and crowded, of course, but there are a lot of lovely shops and we can ...
A. Study and practise the conversations.
B. Situation: Your friend and you are making plans for your summer holidays. You'd like to spend your holidays together.
(I=Interviewer; J=Jane)
I: Now what sort of things have you been doing over the last week?
J: Well, I've been to - er - a couple of parties with friends. And I've been to the theatre once - and I went to see Dra-cula which is on at the West End of London. I've been shopping a few times. I: What have you bought?
J: Oh, very basic things — food. I bought a lot of food the other day to stock up for a week and just things I need for college. I've been out with friends quite a lot. I've been out for a drink in several pubs. I went to visit a South American friend on Saturday and I'm helping him with his English. He's learning English and he's also teaching me Spanish which is quite good.
Interviewer: And Christine, what about you? What have you
been doing this summer? Christine: Working, mostly. Interviewer: You mean you've been studying? Christine: Oh no, I've been doing a job to earn money. Interviewer: And have you made your fortune yet? Christine: Hardly! But I haven't done too badly. I've been
getting about£40 aweek, plus my meals and my accommodation, so I've earned over £500 and I've managed to save most of it.
Interviewer: That sounds pretty good. What kind of work have you been doing exactly?
Christine: I've been working in a hotel.
Interviewer: What, as a waitress?
Christine: No, I've been helping in the kitchen most of the time — washing and peeling potatoes, preparing breakfast trays, washing up — that sort of thing.
Interviewer: And have you been enjoying it? Or has it been rather boring?
Christine: No, it hasn't been too bad. I've found it quite interesting here, in fact. Not so much the work itself, but the people I've got to know and the friends I've made, and I've managed to do lots of things in my spare time too. It's a seaside town, so there's been quite a lot going on in the evenings — you know, dancing, bowling, cinemas and so on— and on my afternoons off I've been doing quite a lot of sunbathing and swimming.
Interviewer: Yes, I can see you've got quite brown. You've obviously been having some reasonable weather here.
A. Study and practise the conversations.
B. Interview your partner on his/her recent activities.
A television team working on a programme about the Amazon have just discovered a young Oxford undergraduate living with a primitive tribe of Indians. They interviewed him for their programme.
Interviewer: Of course we were very surprised to discover a white man living here. What exactly are you doing?
Young man: I've been living in this village for about six months. I'm studying the lives and customs of these people, and I'm going to write a book about it.
Interviewer: And have you learnt a lot?
Young man: Oh, yes. I've been sharing the daily lives of the inhabitants. I've been on their hunting expeditions. I've taken part in their rituals and festivals. I've learnt to understand their language. I feel they have really begun to trust me.
Interviewer: And how long do you plan to stay?
Young man: Well, that depends on various factors. I've been here since last September. I plan to stay until next August at least, but possibly a bit longer. A. Study and practise the conversation.
Harry: Nora, you look a bit tired — what have you been
doing all day?
Nora: I've been cleaning the whole house. I said I was going to. Harry: But I wanted you to wait until the weekend so that
I could help.
Nora: Oh well, I thought I might as well get on with it. It was about time: the furniture has been looking shabby for months, so this morning I took all the covers off the armchairs and washed them. That bit of sun early this afternoon helped to dry them. Harry: Well, I hope you had a rest this afternoon. Nora: No, since lunchtime I've been turning out the rooms upstairs. I haven't quite finished them yet. I've done our room and Robert's.
Harry: My goodness, you have been working hard! Nora: You know, Harry, you do make it hard for me to keep the place looking nice when you leave your things about everywhere. For years I've been asking you not to keep your books in the kitchen and not to leave gardening tools inside the house. Harry: And for years I've been telling you that you are perfectly free to throw out anything that I leave about if it gets in your way.
Nora: Harry, could you turn out your workroom? I've been meaning to ask you for days.
Harry: Yes, I will... Hullo, who has been playing with my
pipes? Three of them are missing. Nora: Yes, I gave three dirty old pipes to an old man at
the door. You haven't been smoking them lately. Harry: But Nora, you've thrown out my three oldest and
best pipes!
A. Analyse the uses of the tense forms in the conversation.
B. Give a brief account of the conversation.
C. Roleplay the conversation.