LET'S PRACTISE PAST TENSES!

Don't forget that 'practice makes perfect'!  and you seem to have some problems using the different past tenses together in the proper way so, why don't you try these exercises? Remember that the best way to learn is practice, practice, practice ;)

In case you are stuck or just want to have a look at how to use them before trying, just go to 'Our Bits and Bobs' to see, download and/or print the theory.

Good luck!

Exercise 1 - Past simple or past continuous? A story

Exercise 2 - past simple or past continous? A story

Exercise 3 - Past simple or past continuous? A dialog

Exercise 4 - Past simple or past continuous? A story

Exercise 5 - Past simple or past continuous? A story

Exercise 6 -  Past perfect or Past simple? Sentences

Exercise 7 - Past perfect or Past simple? A story

Exercise 8 - Past simple or Past Perfect? Matching exercise

Exercise 9 - Past simple, past continuous or past perfect? Sentences

Exercise 10- Past simple, past continuous or past perfect? Sentences

Exercise 11 - Narrative sentences - A story

THE LITTLE GIRL AND THE BISCUIT

Let's get used to the Present Perfect and stories are a good way to learn English. Why don't you watch the video below and listen to the story "The Little Girl and the Biscuit" to practise the present perfect? You can follow the story either through the subtitles (you have to activate them) or through the images on the video. Also, at the end of the video, you have a list of irregular verbs which are read aloud. This is good practice since you learn vocabulary as well as you improve your listening skills and this leads to better speaking skills!

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

We have been studying when to use the 'Present Perfect Continuous' of verbs. If you still have problems, go to 'Grammar' to see, download and/or print a document with a more extensive explanation.
 

TENSE		USE	EXAMPLE
Present Perfect Simple	-	when the result of the action is important	I’ve written a play
Present Perfect Continuous	1	to describe how somebody or something has been occupying his/her or its time	I have been writing a play
	2	for repeated actions and actions of a continuous nature	I’ve been going to a new café a lot

And here you have some more practice!

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Exercise 5

Exercise 6

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

This is the presentation we saw in class, now you can watch it again, why don't you have a look at it again? It will help you understand when and how to use the present perfect continuous.



Present Perfect Continuous - Created with Haiku Deck, presentation software that inspires;

THE PRESENT PERFECT IN FILMS

Why don't you watch these videos with short clips from films where the present perfect is used? Don't worry, they have subtitles! It's a good way to get used to the present perfect tense.




Video 2

PAST SIMPLE vs PRESENT PERFECT II

Why don't you watch this video to revise the use of the past simple and the present perfect in English? Remember that grammar has meaning! And that different grammar tenses are used in different situations or contexts and they carry different meanings.

And now, time to practise!

- Exercise 1

- Exercise 2

- Exercise 3

- Exercise 4

- Exercise 5

- Exercise 6

PAST SIMPLE vs PRESENT PERFECT - Grammar

Use

In British English, the use of Simple Past and Present Perfect is quite strict. As soon as a time expression in the past is given, you have to use Simple Past. If there are no signal words, you must decide if we just talk about an action in the past or if its consequence in the present is important.

Certain time in the past or just / already / yet?

Do you want to express that an action happened at a certain time in the past (even if it was just a few seconds ago) or that an action has just / already / not yet happened?

Simple Past	Present Perfect Simple
certain time in the past Example: I phoned Mary 2 minutes ago.	just / already / not yet Example: I have just phoned Mary.

Certain event in the past or how often so far?

Do you want to express when a certain action took place or whether / how often an action has happened till now?

Simple Past	Present Perfect Simple
certain event in the past Example: He went to Canada last summer.	whether / how often till now Example: Have you ever been to Canada? / I have been to Canada twice.

Emphasis on action or result?

Do you just want to express what happened in the past? Or do you want to emphasise the result (a past action's consequence in the present)?

Simple Past	Present Perfect Simple
Emphasis on action Example: I bought a new bike. (just telling what  I did in the past.)	Emphasis on result Example: I have bought a new bike. (With this sentence  I actually want to express that I have a  new bike now.)

Signal Words

Simple Past	Present Perfect Simple
yesterday ... ago in 1990 the other day last ...	just already up to now until now / till now ever (not) yet so far lately / recently

 Remember, you can go to "Grammar" to download as a document.

THE PRESENT PERFECT

Sometimes we, Spanish speakers, don't find it easy to use the present perfect in English because their use and ours sometimes differs. Surfing youtube I came into this video which I find to be a good one to learn how to form the present perfect in English and how to use it. I hope it helps!

THE PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

This is the PowerPoint we used in class. Now you can go through the slides again. And if you want a document to overview when to use the Present Perfect or the Past Simple, just go to Grammar to see, print or download a PDF document.

FUTURE TENSES

Let's revise going to, will, and the present continuous to talk about predictions, decisions and plans in the future with the presentation we saw in class.

NON-ACTION VERBS

Remember that not all the verbs in English can be used in the continuous. These verbs are called state verbs or non-action verbs. Now you can see again the presentation we saw in class and if you want to have a more accurate explanation go to "Grammar" to see, download and/or print a document on the subject.

PRESENT SIMPLE - CONTINUOUS

Go to "Grammar" to see, download and/or print the document with explanations about when to use the Present Simple and when to use the Present Continuous.

If you don't have or don't remember the password, you can ask your teacher for it.

And if you need some more practice, try these exercises below:

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3

Exercise 4

Exercise 5

Exercise 6

PRESENT SIMPLE OR CONTINUOUS?

Now you can revise the use of present simple and the present continuous with the presentation we used in class.


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If you need some more pratice, you might like to try these exercises

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Exercise 3