Advanced Grammar 2013

Lesson 1 – verb forms and tenses

With your partner, complete the table with an example of each tense. Make the example true for both of you.

Begin, each one, 'We…' Make a negative sentence if necessary.

Imperative, infinitive without to (bar e infinitive), base form / live
Present simple / We live in Hong Kong.
Present continuous / We're taking a course at HKU SPACE.
Present perfect / We've known each other since 6.30.
Present perfect continuous / We've been doing this lesson for an hour.
Past simple / We both arrived at 6.30.
Past continuous / We were both sitting here when the teacher arrived.
Past perfect / We'd never met each other before this lesson.
Past perfect continuous / We'd both been thinking of taking an English course for some time before we signed up for this one.
Future / We'll both probably take another course at some time in the future.
Future continuous / We'll both be working at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.
Future perfect / We'll both have worked more than 40 hours by the end of the week.
Future perfect continuous / We'll both have been doing the same job for more than ten years by the end of next year.

Lesson 1 – verb forms and tenses: present simple and continuous

Look at the pairs of sentences below. How can you explain the different tenses?

We usually have dinner around seven.

I'm just having dinner – I'll call you back later.

My sister works for a publishing company. She's been there five years.

My brother is working in a fast food restaurant until he finds a better job.

He's very well-behaved usually.

He's being a bit silly at the moment. I think he wants attention.

What is wrong with the following sentences?

My wife and I are living in Mei Foo. We've bought a flat there.

I'm smelling gas. Did you turn the heater off?

I'm thinking Andy Lau is great singer.

She's looking like my sister. They have the same eyes.

These days people will spend a lot of time playing computer games.

Correct the errors

I am working for a company that is building roads and bridges. We are involved in projects all over Asia, which means I am travelling a lot for my work. At the moment we are building an expressway in Thailand, so I live in Thailand while we work on this project. I stay in a hotel near the construction site. It's quite comfortable and there's a great gym, so I get plenty of exercise. I'm thinking of taking a few weeks' holiday in Thailand when we've finished as I'd like to travel around and see the sights.

Writing

Write two or three sentences saying what you do at work or in your life generally and what you are doing this week or around now. When you have finished, exchange your sentences with your partner's and ask him / her some follow up questions.

______

Answers

We usually have dinner around seven. – Something that happens regularly.

I'm just having dinner – I'll call you back later. – An action in progress.

My sister works for a publishing company. She's been there five years. – A permanent current situation.

My brother is working in a fast food restaurant until he finds a better job. – A temporary current situation.

He's very well-behaved usually. – A typical state,

He's being a bit silly at the moment. I think he wants attention. –A temporary state.

What is wrong with the following sentences?

My wife and I live in Mei Foo. We've bought a flat there. – This must be permanent.

I can smell gas. Did you turn the heater off? – Verbs of the senses – see, smell, hear etc.- usually take the modal 'can' when the meaning is 'now'.

I think Andy Lau is great singer. – 'Think' is a state when it refers to an opinion.

She looks like my sister. They have the same eyes. – This is a state.

These days people will spend a lot of time playing computer games. 'Will' is not used for present unless you are talking about typical behavior, or with emphasis, to criticise:

He'll get up around seven, go for a walk and then he'll have his breakfast. (Typical behavior)

She will insist on talking at the top of her voice even though I'm sitting right next to her. (Criticism)

Correct the errors

I work for a company that builds roads and bridges. We are involved in projects all over Asia, which means I travel a lot for my work. At the moment we are building an expressway in Thailand, so I am living in Thailand while we are working on this project. I am staying in a hotel near the construction site. It's quite comfortable and there's a great gym, so I am getting plenty of exercise. I'm thinking of taking a few weeks' holiday in Thailand when we've finished as I'd like to travel around and see the sights.