For DICTOGLOSS: Postcard

Dear Sue, You won't believe it. I am in New York with my class. Have you ever been to New York? I am having the best time of my life. New York has the best hamburger in life. Ive already had 4 hamburgers since I came here. I am now sitting at the harbor writing postcard to you. I have stayed here for an hour and the night view is just amazing. I wish I could send you a postcard.See you soon.Mary

Dear Sue,

See you soon,

Mary

Present Perfect TenseA. Present Perfect with unfinished timeE.g. How many coffee have you had this morning?What have you done this year?

B. Experience in non-specified pastE.g.Ive ridden a camel before.He has never seen a UFO.

C. Finished action at an unspecific time / recent pastE.g.Ive had a coffee.My sister has finished her homework.

D. Unfinished action continuing to the presentE.g.I have lived in Vancouver for eight months.He has learnt English for more 10 years.

Read the following sentences and decide which category they fall into.1. How many times have you been to Canada?2. Have you picked up your certificate yet?3. I have already finished my homework.4. Have you and your boyfriend ever met a celebrity?5. I have been to China three times since I was a child.6. She has grown so much since the last time I saw her.7. Tommy has been to Seattle three times with his girlfriend this year.8. Man has walked on the moon.9. My parents have lived in this city for over 20 years.10. The army has attached the city many times.11. She has started a new college course.12. The woman has just finished her coffee.13. She still hasnt made up her mind.

PresentPastPerfect

go

drive

do

set

play

ride

see

learn

sleep

fall

FormAffirmative

Negative

Question

Complete the following sentences with the correct form of Present Perfect Tense1. The earth __________________ here for billions of years (be). 2. We ________________________ cards for the last few hours (play). 3. We ________________________ problems with our new car recently (have) 4. ____________________________ on anything interesting lately ?(you work) 5. Cuba ________________________ a socialist country since 1959 (be) 6. I ________________________ care of my neighbours cats while they are away (take) 7. I ________________________ my car for three years (have). 8. ________________________________ an important fight? (the boxer , ever, win) 9. John and Mary ________________________ with each other since the day they got married (quarrel). 10. It ________________________ hard since last night (rain). 11. Im tired because I ________________________ well lately. (not feel) 12. _________________________________ your problems? (your parents, always, understand) 13. The patient ________________________ penicillin for several days now (take) 14. A big earthquake ________________________ San Francisco since 1906. (not hit) 15. They ___________________________ in San Francisco since they arrived in the USA 20 years ago. (live)

Read the sentences again and highlight the adverbs which commonly appear in present perfect tense.

What are the words which commonly appear in past tense?

Fill in the following with the proper adverbial words.1. We can't have chips again. We've ________ had them three times this week.2. I haven't phoned Begonia ________. I'll do it when I get back from work.3. Monica says she's ________ this minute caught the train so she'll be here in half an hour.4. Daphne ________ hasn't bought the tickets. I hope she does it soon.5. Betty: Have you cleaned the bathroom yet?Billy: I've _________ done it. I did it an hour ago.6. I can't decide. I _____ haven't made a decision.7. Jim sends his love. I've ________ seen him in the high street.8. We're going to a concert on Friday, but we haven't bought the tickets _____ .9. Billy: Do you know anything about Sally?Betty: Oh she's fine. I've _______ spoken to her on the phone.10. The government ________ hasn't said anything about the oil slick.11. Have you seen the movie Bowling for Columbine ________?12. Bobby: Can I go online now, please?Begonia: Sorry. I ________ haven't finished using the computer.

Past or Present Perfect1. The weather _________________ (be) awful in the past few days. 2. We _________________ (wash) the dishes. Theyre clean now. 3. _____________________________ (your course, start) yet? 4. Emma _________________ (pack) her suitcase last night. 5. They _________________ (close) the factory. Really? When ______________________ (that happen) ? 6. Shall we play tennis? We _________________ (not play) since we were children. 7. The airplane _________________ (land) . The pilot is just getting out. 8. Prices _________________ (go) up. Everything is more expensive this year. 9. Im tired. We _________________ (walk) 10 miles. 10. The Queen _________________ (arrive) in an RAF helicopter last night. 11. How long __________________ (Vicky, have) that camera? For about a month. 12. We ______________________ (just come) back from our holidays. 13. You parcel _________________ (arrive). The postman _________________ (bring) it two hours ago. 14. He _________________ (be) at his computer for two hours. 15. We _________________ (live) there for ten years but we _________________ (be) in Birmingham for the last two. 16. We _________________ (not have) a party for ages. 17. My sisters car is only a year old but she ___________________________ (already crash) it. 18. Dinosaurs _________________ (roam) the earth millions of years ago. 19. It _____________________ (not rain) yet today. 20. __________________________ (you see) last weeks magazine? - It must be here somewhere.1. I(have) a problem with my computer yesterday.2. We(already see) that movie, but I will go with you again if you want me to.3. We(be) in Johns room when the storm(begin).4. I(not begin) my homework yet.5. He(not sleep) for three nights, even though he(go) to bed early yesterday evening.6. My uncle(never forget) my birthday.7. They(travel) around the world last summer.8. They(decide) this at a meeting a few days ago.9. (You ever be) to Paris?10. I know Manchester well. I(live) there for three years when I was a student.11. Jim does not have much money so he(not buy) a car yet.12. We(have) a good time at the party last weekend.13. Look at that. Someone(break) my bike.14. Emmi(just finish) packing her bags.15. The plane(land) ten minutes ago.16. I(do) all the housework. Everything is clean now.17. When(Columbus discover) the New World?18. We(not visit) him since last weekend.19. She feels great. She(lose) five pounds since Christmas.20. The last time I(play) tennis was four years ago.

Have you ever(ride) a horseeat (snake)(see) the Pyramid

(go) to London(oversleep)(fall) in love

(learn) another language(swim) in the sea at night(play) chess

Let's find Mr./Miss Strinex ...that is the person with the strangest and most interesting experiences in our class. 1. On your own: You have two minutes to brainstorm and list a number of interesting or strange experiences you have had in your life. They need not be big things, think of small but intereresting things you have seen, heard, people you have met... 2. In groups of four: Share your experiences IN ENGLISH!!! Remember to use the present perfect tense (I have seen, I have heard, I have been,...) to talk about such general experiences and the simple past to give further details and talk about specific events. (I met him in London last summer.) 3. Group voting: After sharing your strange and interesting experiences vote your group's candidate for the Mr/Miss Strinex award. 4. Election: Group candidates: Briefly present your strange and interesting experiences in the plenary. Then the class takes a vote and elects the two (or three) students who have had the most interesting experiences.

for, since,just,already,yet, lately, recently, so far, ever,