Technical English – II - Formation of Questions Examples

Anna University

Technical English – II

Formation of Questions Examples

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FORMATION OF QUESTIONS

1) What do you like best?

2) When does Bill get up in the morning?

3) Why don't you go by bus, Max?

4) What hobbies does Andrew have?

5) Where do they go to every week?

6) How old is Mike?

7) When is Susan's birthday?

8) Where are my exercise books?

9) What are you doing at the moment, Sally?

10) How do the Robinsons live?

1) What is the weather like today?

2) Why don't you like apple juice?

3) What about a walk through the forest?

4) When do you play volleyball?

5) Where is my red sweat shirt, Mum?

6) How do Anne and Betty get to school every day?

7) When does your father go to work?

8) Where is the dog's bone?

9) When are we going for a holiday by the sea again?

10) How do you like your coffee?

1) John is writing a letter. What is John writing?

2) She walks home from school. Who walks home from school?

3) The children are sitting in the garden. Where are the children sitting?

4) Peter runs with his dog on Sundays. When does Peter run with his dog?

5) My rabbit has a cage in the garden. What does your rabbit have in the garden?

6) They go to work by bus. How do they go to work?

7) David likes cats because they are nice. Why does David like cats?

8) Jenny isn't sleeping late today. Who isn't sleeping late today?

9) We are going to the cinema. Where are we going?

10) I'm leaving now. When are you leaving?

1) She is opening a present. What is she opening?

2) The boys are hiding under Tom's bed. Where are the boys hiding?

3) My sister prefers porridge for breakfast. Who prefers porridge for breakfast?

4) On Thursday Jack has German, History and Maths. What does Jack have on Thursday?

5) Yesterday Carol and Jane went to the swimming pool. When did Carol and Jane go to the swimming pool?

6) The plane is landing at the airport. Where is the plane landing?

7) The telephone is ringing. What is ringing?

8) Sarah has to stop because of a security check. Why does Sarah have to stop?

9) Andrew's new mountain bike costs €1000. What does Andrew's new mountain bike cost?

10) At sunset Peter is walking along the beach. Who is walking along the beach at sunset?

Correct questions in English 1) Speak you English? - Do you speak English?

2) What can I for you do? - What can I do for you?

3) Where live you? - Where do you live?

4) Played you football? - Did you play football?

5) From where do you come? - Where do you come from?

6) Understand you the question? - Do you understand the question?

7) Does Frank works in Sheffield? - Does Frank work in Sheffield?

8) What did you last Sunday? - What did you do last Sunday?

9) Where did Peter went? - Where did Peter go?

10) Like you Hip-Hop? - Do you like Hip-Hop?

1) When begins the race? - When does the race begin? 2) Sell you fish? - Do you sell fish? 3) Who does the trumpet play? - Who plays the trumpet? 4) Where flew the plane? - Who flew the plane? 5) Do you have got a brother? - Have you got a brother? 6) Plays Mike volleyball? - Does Mike play volleyball? 7) Can the man the car drive? - Can the man drive the car? 8) Why wrote you this letter? - Why did you write this letter? 9) Do you can remember her name? - Can you remember her name? 10) Think you not that it's time to go? - Don't you think it's time to go?

1) When begins the race? - When does the race begin? 2) Sell you fish? - Do you sell fish? 3) Who does the trumpet play? - Who plays the trumpet? 4) Where flew the plane? - Who flew the plane? 5) Do you have got a brother? - Have you got a brother? 6) Plays Mike volleyball? - Does Mike play volleyball? 7) Can the man the car drive? - Can the man drive the car? 8) Why wrote you this letter? - Why did you write this letter? 9) Do you can remember her name? - Can you remember her name? 10) Think you not that it's time to go? - Don't you think it's time to go?

Questions in the Past Progressive - Exercise Top of Form

1) Was Ashley working on the computer? 2) Were they repairing the bike? 3) Was Melissa taking out a book? 4) Were you listening to music? 5) Was Nicolas looking at a picture? 6) Were Emma and Bertha phoning her friend? 7) Was the girl opening the window? 8) Was he doing judo? 9) Were the friends coming home from school? 10) Was Tyler helping with the cooking?

Past Progressive Questions - Exercise 2

1) Was she visiting the museum? 2) Were you writing with a pencil? 3) Were the boys reading comics? 4) Was Kimberly asking questions? 5) Were Helen and Anne taking photos? 6) Was your brother making a lot of noise? 7) Was the teacher leaving the classroom? 8) Were the girls sending text messages? 9) Was the dog sitting under the tree? 10) Were they looking at pictures?

Questions in the Present Perfect - Exercise

1) Have you painted the kitchen door? 2) Has your brother done the shopping? 3) Has Julian ever touched a spider? 4) Has your father ever ridden on an elephant? 5) Has Lee already asked his parents? 6) What have you written in your text? 7) Has Bill turned off the radio? 8) Have you ever flown in a helicopter? 9) Who has broken the window? 10) Have you ever cooked for your friends?

Questions in the Present Progressive - Exercise 1

1) Is Richard working in the garden? 2) Is she having a cup of tea? 3) Are the children doing their homework? 4) Are you cleaning the kitchen, Tom? 5) Is the cat sleeping in the basket? 6) Are Cliff and Oliver meeting friends? 7) Is your mother making sandwiches? 8) Are the birds drinking water? 9) Is Carmen wearing a pullover? 10) Are they eating a pizza?

Present Progressive - Questions - Exercise 2

1) Is Lisa swimming in the lake? 2) Are you helping your brother? 3) Is he visiting a museum? 4) Is Doris washing her T-shirt? 5) Are they running home? 6) Is Henry listening to the radio? 7) Are the boys carrying the buckets? 8) Is she holding the string of the kite? 9) Are we making breakfast? 10) Are Ron and Fred checking the computer?

Questions in the Simple Past - Exercise 1

1) Did you close the door? 2) Did Claire finish the housework? 3) Did he have a bath yesterday? 4) Did the boy jump into the lake? 5) Did Ronald visit the Tower of London? 6) Did Peggy and Olivia look after the baby? 7) Did she make the invitation cards herself? 8) Did the girl drop the ketchup bottle? 9) Did Tim buy the green T-shirt last Monday? 10) Did they practise karate this morning?

Simple Past - Questions - Exercise 2

1) Did the dog run after the cat? 2) Did you take photos when you were on holiday? 3) Did Steven listen to music yesterday evening? 4) Did the ladies have a cup of tea in the café? 5) Did Nancy send text messages during the lesson? 6) Did Melissa and Ruth wear pullovers last Friday? 7) Did your brother say hello to people in the street? 8) Did the teacher open the windows in your classroom? 9) Did the girls in your class play chess two weeks ago? 10) Did your mother make breakfast last morning?

Simple Past - Questions - Exercise 2

1) Did the dog run after the cat? 2) Did you take photos when you were on holiday? 3) Did Steven listen to music yesterday evening? 4) Did the ladies have a cup of tea in the café? 5) Did Nancy send text messages during the lesson? 6) Did Melissa and Ruth wear pullovers last Friday? 7) Did your brother say hello to people in the street? 8) Did the teacher open the windows in your classroom? 9) Did the girls in your class play chess two weeks ago? 10) Did your mother make breakfast last morning?

Questions in the Simple Present - Exercise 1

1) Do you drink mineral water? 2) Do Sarah and Linda feed their pets? 3) Does your teacher check your homework? 4) Do they live in the old house? 5) Does the cat sit on the wall in the mornings? 6) Does Nina play computer games? 7) Do your parents watch TV in the afternoon? 8) Does your grandmother answer the phone? 9) Does Andy do the shopping? 10) Do Garry and Ken have a cup of tea in the afternoon?

Simple Present - Questions - Exercise 2

1) Do you walk to school? 2) Does Ronda eat a banana in the morning? 3) Does your father like parrots? 4) Does Wendy share a room with her sister? 5) Does it rain a lot in England? 6) Do the friends do sports after school? 7) Do Susan and Jack go camping in summer? 8) Do they invite their friends to the party? 9) Do we wait at the bus stop? 10) Does he smile in the mornings?

Questions with am, are, is - Exercise

1) Is this your apple? 2) Are you happy? 3) Is your name Josephine? 4) Are the comics old? 5) Is Charlie in your class? 6) Is your sandwich box blue? 7) Are they German? 8) Is the chair red? 9) Am I late? 10) Are the kids clever?

Questions with question words and am, are, is - Exercise

1) How old are you? 2) What is that in English? 3) How are you? 4) Where is your teacher? 5) Why is Gerry late? 6) Why are you upstairs? 7) Where is my pencil case? 8) Why are the children late? 9) When is his sister home? 10) What is for homework?

Questions with can, can't - Exercise

1) Can she play the trumpet? 2) Can they write e-mails? 3) Can I watch TV? 4) Can the cat climb the tree? 5) Can your brother draw pictures? 6) Can the parrot talk? 7) When can you come? 8) What can we do? 9) Where can our friends have lunch? 10) How can your sister sing?

Questions with do or does - Exercise 1

1) Does Peter live with his father? 2) Do you learn Spanish? 3) Do Andrew and Martin ride their bikes to school? 4) Do they play in the garden? 5) Does Sandy's hamster live in a cage? 6) Do the cats sit on the wall? 7) Do we work in front of the computer? 8) Do you play the drums? 9) Does Steve wear pullovers? 10) Do I clean the bathroom?

Questions with do or does - Exercise 2

1) Do you write with a pencil? 2) Does your father often make breakfast? 3) Do your teachers always check your homework? 4) Do you and your sister feed the pets? 5) Do you send text messages? 6) Does your friend visit museums? 7) Do your cats climb trees? 8) Do you learn to cook at school? 9) Does your sister play badminton? 10) Do your grandparents go on holiday in winter?

Short answers with can, can't - Exercise

1) Can she fly a kite? - Yes, she can. 2) Can they write these words? - Yes, they can. 3) Can he sing? - No, he can't. 4) Can I open the window, please? - Yes, you can. 5) Can Doris speak French? - Yes, she can. 6) Can we meet our friends? - Yes, you can. 7) Can he ride a snowboard? - No, he can't. 8) Can the girls swim? - Yes, they can. 9) Can you help me? - Yes, I can. 10) Can the frog sing? - No, it can't.

Short answers - Exercise 1

Short answers - Exercise 2

1) Does Linda read books? - Yes, she does. 2) Has she got a brother? - No, she hasn't. 3) Is this your pencil? - Yes, it is. 4) Does she play chess? - No, she doesn't. 5) Must we change at Victoria Station? - Yes, we must. 6) Do you like swimming? - Yes, I do. 7) Did he paint your room himself? - Yes, he did. 8) Are you going by bus - No, I'm not. 9) Do the girls take photos? - No, they don't. 10) Did they ride their bikes? - No, they didn't.

Short answers in English - Exercise 3

1) Did you watch TV last night? - Yes, I did. 2) Will it take us long to cross the Channel? - No, it won't. 3) Have they been waiting for long? - No, they haven't. 4) Will she write me a letter? - Yes, she will. 5) Was he running to the bus stop when the accident happened? - Yes, he was. 6) Are Michael and Lucas going to write a letter today? - No, they aren't. 7) Does Jane speak English? - No, she doesn't. 8) Had you locked the door before you left the house? - Yes, I had. 9) Must we come tomorrow morning? - No, we needn't. 10) Were they lazy on Sunday? - No, they weren't.

Technical English II - Business Letter Writing: Letters of Acknowledgment

Anna University

Technical English II Lecture Notes

Business Letter Writing: Letters of Acknowledgment

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Business Letter Writing: Letters of Acknowledgment

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Useful Key Phrases

· I hereby acknowledge the receipt of the following documents...

· I am acknowledging receipt of...

· It will be brought to his attention immediately upon his return.

· If I may be of any assistance..., please do not hesitate to call.

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Example Letters

Acknowledgment Of Receipt

[date] ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT

I hereby acknowledge the receipt of the following documents from the firm of [firm] :

____________________________

[Signature of Client]

Acknowledgment Of Letter

Dear ______

Because ______ is out of the office for the next two weeks I am acknowledging receipt of your letter dated May 20, l983. It will be brought to his attention immediately upon his return.

If I may be of any assistance during Mr. Jones' absence, please do not hesitate to call.

Yours Sincerely,

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Technical English II - Business Letter Writing: Claim Adjustment Letters

Anna University

Technical English II Lecture Notes

Business Letter Writing: Claim Adjustment Letters

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Business Letter Writing: Claim Adjustment Letters

Useful Key Phrases

· I was very disappointed to read your letter of ... dealing with ...

· As someone who values your business, I have already ...

· Also, we will deduct another X percent of the bill for the misunderstanding.

· Thank you for your patience.

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Example Letter

Document Makers
2398 Red Street
Salem, MA 34588

March 10, 2001

Thomas R. Smith
Drivers Co.
3489 Greene Ave.
Olympia, WA 98502

Dear Mr. Smith:

I was very disappointed to read your letter of August 17 dealing with the issue of incorrectly produced publicity leaflets. As someone who values your business, I have already begun to find a solution to resolve this problem.

My top photographer will call you to arrange an appointment at your earliest possible convience to re-take photos in full color. Also, we will deduct another 15 percent of the bill for the misunderstanding. Thank you for your patience.

Sincerely,

(signature here)

Richard Brown
President

RB/sp

If business letter writing is important to your career, I'd consider purchasing 3,001 Business and Sales letters. This reasonably priced package provides templates of English business letters for just about any business situation imaginable. For more detailed help with standard business writing skills, I highly recommend these business English books.

Here are some other basic business letters which you will find useful for typical English business correspondence.

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Technical English I & II - GRAMMATICAL TERMS / WORD CLASSES

Anna university

Technical English I & II Lecture Notes

GRAMMATICAL TERMS / WORD CLASSES

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GRAMMATICAL TERMS / WORD CLASSES

What is grammar?

- the rules of a language; rules for forming words and combining them into sentences (to have a good understanding of grammar)

- a book containing a description of these rules for a particular language (I’m writing a grammar of modern English)

- a person’s knowledge and use of a language (I’m trying to improve my grammar)

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PRESCRIPTIVE GRAMMAR

Rules about how language should be spoken or written

Advice on how to speak and write good English

Concerned with ”right” or ”wrong”

Conservative in nature; does not welcome new ideas

DESCRIPTIVE GRAMMAR

Description of how language is used in speech and writing by native speakers

Observes linguistic changes – does not try to stop them

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TERMINOLOGY

Phonology lydlære

Phoneme vowels and consonants (/b/, /e/, /d/, /i/)

Morphology formlære

Morpheme the minimum unit of meaning ({bed}+{s}

{un}+{friend}+{ly}

prefix suffix

Syntax setiningslære

Semantics betydningslære

Pragmatics the nature and intention behind a speech act / rules that must be followed to achieve successful interpersonal communication

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PARTS OF SPEECH

Function words

Closed classes, occur frequently, grammatical words: have little meaning, short and simple

Determiners Indefinite article (a)

Definite article (the)

Possessive determiner (your, my, our)

Pronouns Personal (I, you, she)

Interrogative (who, which)

Possessive (yours, mine, his, theirs)

Relative (who, that)

Reflexive (myself)

Reciprocal (each other)

Verbs Auxiliary (have, be) She is going

Modal auxiliary (can, may, must)

Prepositions at, over, under

Conjunctions and, but, that, if

Negator not

Infinitive marker to

Lexical words

Open classes: new words can be coined, words that carry meaning, may be complex or compound

Nouns man, house, water melon,

Verbs Copular (be) They are here

Transitive (buy)

Intransitive (talk)

Adjectives happy, big, beautiful

Adverbs happily, beautifully

THE SENTENCE

Phrase group of words which are part of a sentence

Noun phrase: a boy in my class

Prepositional phrase: in the morning

Adverbial phrase: late last night

Verb phrase: may have gone

Clause one or more phrases

Main clause: ’hovedsetning’

Subordinate clause: ’leddsssetning’

Finite: writes, is writing (conjugated)

Non-finite: writing, written, to write

Sentence one or more clauses / a complete unit of meaning / from capital letter to final stop

A sentence consists of one or more clauses. A clause consists of one or more phrases. A phrase consists of one or more words. A word consists of one or more morphemes. A morpheme consists of one or more phonemes.

TYPES OF SENTENCES

Statement declarative sentence

Question interrogative sentence

Command imperative sentence

SENTENCE ELEMENTS

Subject

Verb

Object (direct, indirect, oblique)

Predicative (subject-, object-)

Adverbial (time, place, frequency, manner…)

GRAMMATICAL TERMS / WORD CLASSES

· Try to explain the meaning of these words and give examples if you can:

Grammar

Morpheme

Syntactic

Determiner

Relative pronoun

Possessive pronoun

Conjunction

Adjective

Adverb

Clause

Declarative sentence

Indirect object

Subject predicative

Adverbial of time

· Identify the parts of speech in the following two sentences:

Peter is a man who lives in London

She has cleaned the house carefully

· Which word classes does round belong to in the following phrases:

A round table

A round of golf

To round the corner

To dance round a tree

To turn round

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Technical English II – Verb Tenses Lecture Notes

Anna University

Technical English II – Verb Tenses Lecture Notes

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VERB TENSES

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Terminology:

Tense a way of expressing time in the verbal system: the present and the past

Aspect the progressive aspect: -ing, the perfective aspect: -ed

Voice active or passive

Mood indicative, imperative, the subjunctive

Dynamic verbs denote a voluntary or deliberate action

Stative verbs denote conditions or properties over which human beings have no control / involuntary feelings. They refer to states rather than actions:

feelings (like,love)

beliefs (think, understand)

wants / preferences (prefer, want)

perception, the senses (hear, see)

being, seeming, having, owning

Simple forms	Progressive forms
Simple present I walk to school every day	Present progressive Ed and Tim are quarrelling
Simple past I walked to school yesterday	Past progressive Ed and Tim were quarrelling
Present perfect I have walked to school	Present perfect progressive Ed and Tim have been quarrelling
Past perfect I had walked to school	Past perfect progressive Ed and Tim had been quarrelling

The simple present

is used for repeated actions, routines or situations we see as permanent and about thoughts, feelings and states

The instantaneous present

These are situations of very short duration, eg sport commentaries:

Crane passes the ball to Leon, who shoots.

The historic present

is used in narratives and headlines about events which belong in the past to make them more vivid and immediate:

Racist attacks continue

Stage directions and plot summaries

are usually written in the simple present:

Lord of the Flies is a story about a group of boys who are stranded on a desert island.

Permanent truths

Summer follows spring

Present events, actions, situations of unlimited duration

She works in a shop

You are his friend, aren’t you?

Habitual actions

Something that happens repeatedly:

I usually get up at 6.15

I never do the dished

Do you ever swear?

The Future

Timetables, programmes, fixed schedules:

I leave for Brussels on Monday

The present progressive (the present continuous)

is used about routines, situations or actions we see as temporary, or lasting for a limited period of time. It can also indicate that we are in the middle of an action, something happening right now.

Going on at the moment

I am writing English sentences

Who’s knocking?

Temporary situations

I usually work for Mr. Smith, but this week I’m working for Mrs. Jones.

They are staying at The White House Hotel. They usually stay at Regent’s Palace.

Repeated actions

She is always driving them.

Why are you always complaining?

Always + the present progressive means ”very often” or ”too often”. It may indicate irritation on the part of the speaker.

I’m always making silly mistakes vs. (I don’t always make silly mistakes, but I make them too often)

I always make silly mistakes when I sit for an exam (I make silly mistakes every time)

The Future

We use the present progressive about a plan for the future which is subject to change:

We’re leaving early tomorrow

Compare:

He is a very nice person (He generally is nice)

He is being very nice today. I wonder why. (He usually isn’t very nice)

Stative vs. dynamic verbs (action verbs, durative verbs)

Stative verbs are verbs like:

seem, be, consist of, exist, belong, depend on, deserve, matter, mean, know, understand, think, remember, love, like

They generally do not occur in the progressive (but there are exceptions!):

The door is blue

He owns the land

I remember nothing

The box contains old magazines

I love vanilla ice cream

In these examples the progressive form would not be correct.

Dynamic verbs are action verbs like:

paint, buy, put, fight etc.

They can be used in both the simple present and the present progressive:

I buy a house I am buying a house

I paint pictures I am painting my first picture

Verbs that are normally stative may have a durative/dynamic meaning:

I think you are right (a mental impression – stative)

I am thinking about the problem (a mental activity – dynamic / durative)

I have two brothers (ownership – stative)

We’re having lunch (activity)

He’s an idiot (stative – there’s nothing you can do about it)

He’s being an idiot (dynamic - his behaviour now, he’s not always like that)

The picture looks nice (stative – not a voluntary act that can be stopped)

I’m looking at this picture (action/dynamic – a voluntary act that can be stopped)

My bag weighs 5 kilos (stative)

They are weighing my bag (dynamic/action)

The soup tastes wonderful (stative)

She is tasting the soup (action – maybe it needs more salt)

Stative verbs can also be used in the progressive when we talk about a short period of time:

I enjoy parties I’m enjoying this party very much

I like school I’m liking school a lot better now

Holidays cost a lot of money This trip is costing me a lot of money

You look wonderful tonight You’re looking wonderful tonight

We feel a bit sad We’re feeling a bit sad

NB! Norwegians tend to overuse the present progressive. Don’t use it unless you specifically intend to do so.

The simple past

is used about completed actions in the past

We are concerned with the time at which something happened and not the duration of the action:

I met him yesterday

She came to my home this morning

The Romans invaded Britain in AD 49

I never met your uncle

A time reference must be given or implied.

Past habits

I used to give up too easily

I smoked twenty cigarettes a day till I gave up three years ago

The immediate past

Used about an action which happened a very short time ago

Did you ring?

Who left the door open? (we can also say: Who’s left the door open?)

Polite inquiries

This is not a reference to past time; it is used when asking for favours

(I wonder if you could help me? Is possible, but we more often hear:)

I wondered if you could help me?

I thought maybe this would do?

The simple past usually occurs in combination with a time adverbial which refers to past time.

The past progressive

is used about actions that were in progress at some time in the past

I was living in London two years ago

She was working on her essay last night

It was raining all night

Actions that began earlier and lasted longer than something else

At eight he was having breakfast vs. (breakfast started before eight)

At eight he had breakfast (breakfast started at eight)

When I arrived, Tom was leaving vs. (Tom had decided to leave, and was in the process of doing so before I came)

When I arrived, Tom left (I might be the reason for his leaving)

? Yesterday we were listening to a play on the radio

(this sentence is odd, because listening to a play doesn’t take a whole day)

Yesterday at seven we were listening to a play on the radio (this sentence is OK because of the time reference ‘at seven’: we started listening before seven and we listened after seven)

Parallel actions

that were in progress at the same time

While I was working in the garden, my wife was cooking dinner

I was painting the wall at the same time as I was trying to prepare an after-dinner speech.

We use the past progressive about both actions in these sentences to indicate that one didn’t last longer than the other.

Repeated actions

He was always making mistakes

She was always spilling milk on the floor

The past progressive has the same function as the present progressive in this context.

Polite inquiries

I was wondering if you could help me

As we saw above we can also say: ‘I wondered if you could help me’, but the progressive form is perhaps slightly more modest.

It can be used as an alternative to the simple past, being more casual:

I was talking to Janet the other day (suggests it was not a deliberate action. I happened to meet her and we talked)

I talked to Peter the other day (suggests I took the initiative, perhaps because I needed to talk to him)

The simple past must be used when a time adverbial indicates how many times things happen:

I talked to Peter several times the other day

It is not natural to say: ‘I was talking to Peter the other day’.

The progressive form is sometimes more polite:

What were you doing before you came here?

What did you do before you came here?

But: What were you doing in my office? Suggests you had no right to be there, whereas

What did you do in my office? does not.

The simple present perfect

The present perfect tense is a mixture of present and past, implying a strong connection with the present. It is used more frequently in oral English than in writing.

Actions in the past continuing up to the present

I have read the instructions

implies that I did so recently, whereas

I read the instructions

may be further back in the past.

Therefore a simple present perfect sentence may combine nicely with the simple present:

I have read the instructions, but I don’t understand them

we are interested in the present results of something that happened in the past. In this respect we can say that the present perfect is a present tense which looks back into the past

(just as the past perfect is a past tense which looks back into a more distant past:

I had read the instructions, but I didn’t understand them)

I read the instructions, but I didn’ understand them

shows no such connection with the present. Therefore it is natural to choose a simple past tense for the second sentence: ‘I didn’t understand them’.

(‘I have read the instructions, but I didn’t understand them’ is an unnatural combination).

I haven’t seen him this morning (implies it is still morning)

I didn’t see him this morning (implies the morning has now passed)

Bill Peters has written several books (is said when he is still alive)

Bill Peters wrote a number of books (is said post-mortem)

Bill Peters wrote two short stories last month (the adverb ’last month’ cuts off the relation to the present) – therefore

* Bill Peters has written several books last month is not a valid sentence.

Adverbs not related to past time are frequently used with the present perfect:

before, so far, never, up till now, ever, ( since, for – conj.)

I have never seen him before

He has worked in that bank for two years (means he still works there)

(He worked in that bank for two years – means he doesn’t work there anymore)

A conversation about past events often begins in the present perfect, then continues in the simple past:

Where have you been?

I’ve been to Marks and Spencer?

Oh, did you buy anything?

Yes, as a matter of fact I did …I bought ….

Actions occurring at an unspecified time

Have you passed your driving test?(no time specified) Yes, I passed it when I was 18. (a specified time)

Often used in conversation, with or without a time adverbial (referring to recent time)

I’ve just done my homework

Have you finished already?

I haven’t passed my driving test yet

I still haven’t passed my driving test

Repeated and habitual actions

I’ve heard those words a hundred times

I have often wondered why they are doing this

My students have always worked hard

The simple present perfect is often used in broadcast news, newspapers and letters which have a connection with the present:

Inflation has increased again

The government has promised to cut taxes

As I have been away the whole morning, I haven’t had time to write to you yet

The present perfect progressive

is used about an activity beginning in the past and still continuing:

I’ve been waiting for an hour and he still hasn’t turned up

The emphasis is put on the duration of the action. The simple past is also possible, without an emphasis on duration: I’ve waited for an hour …

Whether you use the simple or the progressive form here is a matter of taste as both sentences are grammatically correct.

It is used about repeated actions in the past:

I’ve been writing letters all day

I’ve been running

The focus is on the activity. Thus we cannot say:

* I’ve been writing six letters (we cannot both focus on the activity and the result: six letters)

I’ve written six letters is therefore correct. We focus on the result, not the activity.

* I’ve been running a mile

I’ve run a mile is OK

We use the present perfect progressive to draw conclusions based on direct or indirect evidence:

Why are you so stiff? I’ve been running (my activity explains the stiffness)

Is it raining?

No.

But the ground is wet.

It has been raining

Your eyes are red. Yoy have been crying. (I conclude that you have been crying because your eyes are read)

Compare the simple and the progressive forms:

The ceiling was white. Now it is blue. She has painted the ceiling. (This implies a completed action)

Her clothes are covered in paint. She has been painting the ceiling. (The activity is not necessarily completed)

Somebody has smoked all my cigarettes. (A completed action)

Somebody has been smoking in this room. (Conclusion drawn on evidence)

How many pages of that book have you read? (focus on result)

How long have you been reading that book? (focus on activity)

The simple past perfect tense

The past perfect is the equivalent of the present perfect, denoting a more distant past:

When I arrived Peter said: ”Ann has just left” (When this is said the leaving is close to the present)

When I arrived Ann had just left. (The action is more distant in time)

They have had lunch (said at noon)

At noon they had had lunch (said at dinner time)

I am exited because I have never been in London before

I was exited because I had never been in London before

Sometimes we want to distinguish between events in the past, ie. state what happened before something else happened:

The patient died. The doctor arrived.

These two sentences can be combined in two ways depending on when the two events occurred:

The patient died when the doctor arrived – the two events occurred at the same time

The patient had died when the doctor arrived – death occurred before the arrival of the doctor

When I arrived, Ann left (ie. at that moment; I may have been the reason)

When I arrived, Ann had left (ie. before I got there)

(Recall the example: ‘When I arrived, Ann was leaving’. These three sentences give different messages.)

We can use the past perfect to describe things we hoped or wished to do but didn’t:

I had hoped to come to the party, but I couldn’t get away.

The past perfect progressive

is the past equivalent of the present perfect progressive:

I can see they have been arguing (present perfect progressive)

I could see they had been arguing (past perfect progressive)

He has been phoning her every night the past week

She was annoyed because he had been phoning her every night for a whole week

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THE FUTURE TENSES

The simple future tense

is formed by shall and will and the base form of the verb:

I will stay

Will is used with all persons, shall can be used as an alternative with I and we. Will contracts to ’ll in writing, shall does not. I will not contracts to I’ll not or I won’t, I shall not to I shan’t

(Other future tenses formed by shall and will:

Future progressive: I will be seeing

Future perfect: I will have seen

Future perfect progressive: I will have been seeing

Use of will/shall:

Predicted events:

They will win on Saturday. It will rain tomorrow. I don’t know if I shall ever see him again.

Scheduled events:

The reception will be at the Anchor Hotel

Hopes/expectations:

I hope you’ll get the job you applied for (also: I hope you get the job you applied for)

Ask him again. Perhaps he’ll change his mind.

The future progressive tense

I shall/will be expecting you

Actions in progress in the future:

Hurry up! The guests will be arriving at any minute.

By this time tomorrow, I’ll be lying on the beach.

The progressive may sound more polite than the simple form:

When will you see him? Vs. When will you be seeing him?

Sometimes there is a difference in meaning:

Will you join us for dinner? (is an invitation)

Will you be joining us for dinner? (is a question about future plans)

Arrrangements and plans:

Mrs. Homer will be giving a lecture on US economy

We will be spending the next year in London

The future perfect - simple and progressive

I will have received it

I will have been working here for five years by the end of January

Past in the future:

I will have retired by the year 2020 (by that time my retirement will be past event)

I hope you will have changed your mind by tomorrow

The ’going to’-future

I’m going to arrive tomorrow

NB! Pronunciation:

The future ’going to’ is often pronounced ’gonna’: I’m going to have a wonderful time/ I’m gonna have a wonderful time is not standard English and should not be accepted in writing.

The present progressive, however, can never have this pronunciation: I’m going to London

Prediction:

Look! It’s going to rain. (this includes the present, whereas It will rain is purely future)

They’re going to be married. (Her brother told me) They will be married on the 5th. (official announcement) The will-future is preferred in formal writing.

Plans/intentions:

I’m going to swim this afternoon (If you decide something at the moment of speaking, use will: Please wait, I’ll be back in five minutes [‘I’m going to be back in five minutes’ is not natural here])

I’m going to have dinner with Janet tomorrow. I’m having dinner with Janet tomorrow. I think I’ll have dinner with Janet tomorrow. All possible future sentences.

Other ways of indicating futurity:

Be to:

is used when actions are subject to human control:

We are to meet in London next week (an action I can control)

* I am to faint (this is out of my control) vs. I’m going to faint

You are not to tell him about our plans (ie. you must not)

You’re not going to tell him, are you?

Be about to:

is used to refer to the immediate future:

He’s about to start crying. (It’s just a matter of seconds)

Be due to:

The plane is due to arrive at 3pm. They are not due until 3pm. When is the baby due?

Future in the past:

We were just going to leave when Jane fell and hurt herself.

I was to leave for London tomorrow, but my mother has been taken to hospital.

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