International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Present Perfect (3rd Secondary)

I know that Present Perfect is not an easy verb tense to learn. Here you have a short summary in Spanish about its use.

En inglés utilizamos el tiempo presente perfecto cuando existe una conexión o relación entre el pasado y el presente. Tiene dos usos principales:

a) Lo utilizamos cuando nos encontramos interesados en el resultado presente de algo que ocurrió en un momento no definido del pasado:

- The secretary has decided to look for a new job.
  La secretaria ha decidido buscar un nuevo trabajo.

- I'm afraid I have forgotten your name.
Me temo que he olvidado tu nombre.


b) Lo utilizamos para hablar acerca de una acción o situación que comenzó en el pasado y aún continúa:

- How long have you worked here?
¿Cuánto tiempo has trabajado aquí?

- She has been away on business since last week.
Ella se ha ausentado por negocios desde la semana pasada.

- I haven't seen Sylvia for several years.
No he visto a Silvia durante varios.

Con el presente perfecto utilizamos How long...? (¿Cuánto tiempo...?) en preguntas relacionadas con la duración y for (durante) o since (desde) para las respuestas.

- How long have you worked here?
¿Cuánto tiempo llevas trabajando aqui?


Observa que usamos for para expresar la duración de una acción, y since para indicar cuándo comenzó la acción.

- I've worked here for twelve months (for twenty years, etc).
He trabajado aquí durante doce meses (durante veinte años, etc)


- I've worked here since January (since 1990, since Christmas, etc).
He trabajado aquí desde Enero (desde 1990, desde Navidad, etc)

A menudo el presente perfecto se utiliza con los adverbios just (justo/acabar de), yet (aún/todavia), still (todavía), already (ya), ever (alguna vez), never (nunca), recently (recientemente), lately (últimamente), so far (hasta aquí), up to now (hasta ahora). 
Observa algunos ejemplos:

- They 've just signed an important contract.
Ellos acaban de firmar un importante contrato.
(RECUERDA: Present Perfect + JUST + participio - Acabar de hacer algo)

- Sheila has already arrived home.
Sheila ya ha llegado a casa.

- Sheila hasn't received an answer yet.
Sheila no ha recibido respuesta aún.

- Have you ever used this type of machine?
¿Has utilizado alguna vez este tipo de máquina?

- We've had good results so far.
Hasta aquí hemos obtenido buenos resultados.

Present Perfect Exercises (3rd Secondary)

LEVEL 1.

Write sentences in present perfect simple. Then change into the negative form.

1. we / reach / our goal - ______________________________________

2. our team / lose / the match - ________________________________

3. she / underline / the word - _________________________________

4. they / discover / the treasure - ____________________________

5. Ron / talk / about the problem - _____________________________


Write questions in present perfect simple

1. you / knock / at the door - ______________________________

2. he teacher / mark / the tests - ____________________________

3. she / buy / a new computer - ____________________________

4. they / rescue / the girl - ____________________________

5. Brad / wear / a blue shirt - ____________________________


Ask for the information in the bold part of the sentence. 

1. They have seen him at the library. - ____________________________

2. Robby Robber has robbed another bank. - ____________________________

3. Bill has ordered three desserts. - ______________________________

4. Clara has repeated the sentence five times. - ____________________________

5. Jane has asked a question. - _________________________________

LEVEL 2.

Do we use FOR or SINCE with the following time references?

• I haven't phoned home for/since Christmas.
• We've been here for/since nine o'clock.
• I have worked for International House for/since more than eight years.
• I haven't visited my home town for/since I left school.
• I haven't been to the cinema for/since ages.
• I have studied non-stop for/since 9.15.
• I have had a driving licence for/since I was eighteen.
• She hasn't had a day off for/since 1999.
• Johan has been in England for/since more than two weeks now.
• Peter has been my best friend for/since we were nine.

Complete with the words in brackets. Choose just, already, yet, ever, never, for or since.

- Don´t forget to phone Alice. 'I have__________ phoned her. (yet, already, ever)

- Have you seen him anywhere? 'Yes, I have _________ seen him in the kitchen'
(just,already,ever)

- I have___________been to Japan. What about you? (yet, never, ever)

- Has Ann just phoned? 'Yes, she has__________phoned' (ever, yet, just)

- Why don't you read that paper? 'I have ________ read it' (yet, already, just)

- Has it stopped snowing? 'No, it hasn't stopped snowing _________ '
(just, yet, already)

- Sandra has studied French _______ May. She speaks very fluently. (for, since, yet)

- Have you _______travelled to space? 'Of course not' (never, since, ever)

- Poor man... he has ________had a girlfriend in his life! (ever, never, yet)

- It hasn´t rained _______ three months (since, for, ever)

- I haven't told my parents about my failure ________ (ever, just, yet)

- Would you like a sandwich? 'No, thanks. I have ________had lunch.' (just, yet, ever)

- Shall I pay the waiter? 'No, I have _______ paid him.' (already, yet, ever)

- Have you _______ been to Scotland? (ever, yet, just)



EXERCISES: Past Simple vs Present Perfect 

1. They ________ and are now on their honeymoon (To get married) 

2. I ________ studying 10 years ago (To finish)

3. ________ you my daughter? I can't find her (To see)

4. I ________ a very interesting book about the Spanish Empire (To finish)

5. I ________ the watch that my wife gave me on our honeymoon (To lose)

6. This morning I ________ to the Spanish Embassy in Paris (To be)

7. They ________ five years ago in Naples (To get married)

8. Today I ________ a programme on television about Africa (To watch)

9. This is the first time I ________ to the Theatre (To be)

10. Today I ________ tennis with my nephew (To play)

11. Where´s Jane? I _______________her this week (To see)

12. When I ________ to London I visited the National Gallery (To go)

14. A while ago I ________ a very interesting book about England (To read)

15. I ________ four men yesterday morning near my office (To see)

16. This year I ________ my studies (To finish)

17. When I was a child I ________ tennis with my dad (To play)

18. Your boss ________ you yesterday evening (To phone)

19. Americans ________ to the Moon in 1969 (To go)

20. I went to the Russian Circus when I ________ Moscow (To visit)

10. Today I ________ tennis with my nephew (To play)

11. Where´s Jane? I _______________her this week (To see)

12. When I ________ to London I visited the National Gallery (To go)

14. A while ago I ________ a very interesting book about England (To read)

15. I ________ four men yesterday morning near my office (To see)

16. This year I ________ my studies (To finish)

17. When I was a child I ________ tennis with my dad (To play)

18. Your boss ________ you yesterday evening (To phone)

19. Americans ________ to the Moon in 1969 (To go)

20. I went to the Russian Circus when I ________ Moscow (To visit)

Depeche Mode - Lie to Me

Sincerity never hurts, reality does. True words only hurt those who live in a world made of fantasy.
So, never make a promise you cant´t keep and don´t say something unless you mean it.
Tips for a free life and a good sleep.

Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars

Gary Lightbody, frontman of Snow Patrol, explains that he was once in love with a girl. His father thought it was only a whim and told him he was like a dog chasing a car. It would never catch it and it wouldn't know what to do with it if it would.

Nickelback - If Today Was Your Last Day

A good question...

"What would you do if today was your last day?"

I have no doubts.

Thanks, Auxi S. (4th B Secondary), for your contribution. A perfect song to review Second Conditional.

Lost Frequencies - Are you with me?

An easy to sing song. 

By the way...are you with me?

                                               

I want to dance by the water 

beneath the Mexican sky,

drink some Margaritas by a string of blue lights,

listen to the Mariachi play at midnight.

Are you with me, are you with me?

Today´s quote

11th of November - Remembrance Day

The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, 1918,  marks the signing of the Armistice and the of World War One after more than four years.

Remembrance Day, also known as Poppy Day, on the 11th of November, is a special day to remember those who were killed during the two World Wars and other conflicts. On this day, it is traditional to wear an artificial poppy. 

Last year, 888,246 ceramic poppies decorated the Tower of London, each poppy representing a British fatality during the first world war. I was lucky to be there and capture it with my camera. This is one of the pictures I took...

Finally, I´d like to thank Olga N. (4th B Secondary) for sending me a video about this exhibition! 

Verb Tense Revision (4th Secondary)

Os dejo aquí varios links a la página Englishpage.com,  para que podáis realizar ejercicios de autocorrección y repasar los tiempos verbales trabajados en las unidades 1 y 2. 
Ánimo y a esforzarse si queréis buenos resultados!!
"Every effort has its rewards"


Present Simple vs Present Continuous 1
Present Simple vs Present Continuous 2
Simple Past vs Past Continuous 1
Simple Past vs Past Continuous 2
Simple Past vs Present Perfect 1
Simple Past vs Present Perfect 2
Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous 1
Present Perfect Simple vs Present Perfect Continuous 2

Bonfire Night

November 5th marks the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot, a conspiracy to blow up the English Parliament and King James I in 1605. In England. on the  night of November 5th, people commemorate the capture of Guy Fawkes, the Catholic conspirator, with bonfires and fireworks, and by burning  his effigy.

Tradition allows British children to display their 'guys' to passers-by and asking for " A penny for the guy".

RHYME

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,

The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,

I know of no reason

Why the Gunpowder Treason

Should ever be forgot.

Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t'was his intent

To blow up the King and Parli'ment.

Three-score barrels of powder below

To prove old England's overthrow;

By God's providence he was catch'd (or by God's mercy*)

With a dark lantern and burning match.

Holla boys, Holla boys, let the bells ring.

Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!

And what should we do with him? Burn him!

 

 

Yazoo - Nobody' s diary

One of the most beautiful songs I' ve ever heard.  Wonderful music, wonderful message.

#lohacesypunto

Lo adivinas?

(Qué bueno verte aquí, José Carlos, mi compi, mi amigo, mi compañero de viajes en Proyecto Comenius y también, todo sea dicho, de mil sofocones para que todo saliera bien en ellos. Missing you so much)

Hay que cambiar el chip, absolutamente.