VB035/2 Grammar: present simple, present perfect simple, present perfect continuous, present perfect vs past 1 Grammar warm-up: Find out about your partner's experiences with different kinds of food and drink, using the questions below: Have you ever …. When did you first … How many times have you … How often … Do you ever … How long have you … When do you … What was it like? Unusual food they have eaten – vegetables, fruit, fish, sauces, sweets … Different cuisines – vegan, French, Japanese, Korean, Greek, Mexican … Strange things they have eaten – for breakfast, lunch, tea, on holiday, while travelling … Strange drinks they have drunk – hot/cold, alcoholic/soft … 1 Grammar warm-up: Find out about your partner's experiences with different kinds of food and drink, using the questions below: Have you ever …. When did you first … How many times have you …How often … How long have you … When do you … What was it like? Unusual food they have eaten – vegetables, fruit, fish, sauces, sweets … Different cuisines – vegan, French, Japanese, Korean, Greek, Mexican … Strange things they have eaten – for breakfast, lunch, tea, on holiday, while travelling … Strange drinks they have drunk – hot/cold, alcoholic/soft … 2 Find another speaking partner and discuss the differences in the following sentences 1 When we got to the station the train had just left. When we got to the station the train was just leaving. 2 He usually prepares the meal when his roommate gets home. He is usually preparing the meal when his roommate gets home. He has usually prepared the meal when his roommate gets home. 3 You are such a selfish person! You are being selfish! 4 I am reading a book by Oscar Wild. How long have you been reading that book? How much of that book have you read? 5 They always talk in class. They are always talking in class! 6 She lived abroad for two years. She has lived abroad for two years. She had lived abroad for two years… 3 Put the verb into the correct form: 1. I’m so tired! …..........................................(I/code) for a long time. 2. You see Joe fishing by the river. You ask: ….............(catch/any fish)? 3. I …..................(read) the book you lent me, but I ….................(I/not/finish) it yet. It is very interesting. 4. How long …................................. (you/study) at the FI? When ….......................(you/start)? 5. What do you think of my English? Do you think …............................(it/improve)? 6. While he ………… (have) a shower, his dogs ………. (eat) his steaks. 7. When I ……… (arrive) home last night, my wife ……….(already/cook) dinner and she ………….. (wait) for me. 8. How many plays …..................................(Shakespeare/write)? 9. Mary isn't at home. She ….....................(go) to Italy for holiday. 10. A: Where do you live? B: In Boston. A: How long......................................(you/live) there? B: 5 years. A: Where …......................................(you/live) before that? B: In Chicago. A: And how long …............................(you live) in Chicago? B: 2 years. Effective writing: Using an appropriate register In any piece of writing, you should use appropriate language and style, depending on what kind of text you are writing, who you are writing for and why. A) Look at the extracts from an informal interview with one of chef Jamie Oliver's trainees. Which of the expressions in italics was she more likely to use? 1. The training was really hard, wasn't it? It was very serious. / There was no messing about. 2. We had to attend / go through a demanding / rigorous course at the college. 3. He got us into/ We were given work placements in some top-class / reputable restaurant kitchens. 4. To round off / In order to complete our training, we all worked as chefs / cooked in Jamie's restaurants. 5. We’re shattered half the time. / It was rather exhausting. B) Which of these features can you find in the excerpts from the interview? Which are you likely to find in a more formal writing? • phrasal verbs • colloquial expressions • passive structures • question tags • clear sentence structure • linking words • contractions C) Rewrite the parts in italics to make the sentences less colloquial. Use the words below and any other language necessary. 1. Everyone thought the teaching was brilliant. 2. It wasn't the right course for people who didn't know anything. 3. When the course was over, everyone got a certificate. 4. The practical parts of the course were a bit of a mess – no planning. 5. They didn't let people know about the course, so not many turned up. 6. It was a real plus having such an experienced teacher. 7. Unfortunately, he sometimes got a bit ratty. 8. I'd like to give a pat on the back to everyone who took part. advantage attend beginners completion congratulate involved irritated disorganized outstanding prepared presented publicised suitable tuition