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Material Ive Been Doing My Best PDF
Material Ive Been Doing My Best PDF
In this fourth activity of English Dot Works 4, you will learn how to describe events
and situations that started in the past and are still taking place in present time. For
that purpose, we will be contrasting the present perfect simple and continuous
tenses and introducing language related to careers and jobs and learning to use
some common phrasal verbs.
Introductory material
Dear learner,
This material will help you study the topics related to learning activity 4.
1. Present perfect simple and present perfect continuous: how long / for /
since.
5. Phrasal verbs.
Let’s begin!
1. Present perfect simple and present perfect continuous: how long / for /
since
A. Two friends are talking about their life in the USA. Read the conversation.
Jane: Well, I have been studying a lot. I finished elementary school here.
Then, I started high school which is almost over. I have learned
English. I have also traveled with my family and friends a lot. For
the last year I have been working in a cafe.
Jane: Sometimes. Some customers are really difficult. I have had awful
experiences there. Sometimes it is hard but I really enjoy my job. I
have met wonderful people since I started working there, and the
pay is so good.
Jane: The people. Before coming to the USA I was absolutely afraid
about moving to a new country but people here are amazing. I fell
in love with American people since I arrived.
Note: We use the present perfect continuous to talk or ask about unfinished actions.
To make the present perfect continuous use have / has + been + verb - ing.
Use the present perfect continuous with for and since with actions verbs.
With non-actions verbs (know, be, etc.) use the present perfec simple not the
present perfect continuous with for and since.
Correct Incorrect
Use since with the beginning of a period of time. For example: since 1997, since
last year, since, etc.
Use for + period of time. For example: For five years, for three weeks, etc.
We’ve had this apartment for two years.
Correct Incorrect
A: How long have you lived here? A: How long do you live here?
B: I’ve lived here since 1995. √ B: I live here since 1995. X
B. The form of the present perfect continuous is: have / has been + verb - ing.
Read the following sentences from the conversation between Johnathan and
Jane to see how the structure is formed. Then, look at the box to see all the
possible forms:
a. I have been studying a lot.
In English, there are words that can be pronounced in two ways: either strongly or
weakly. These words are function words, the ones that do not carry the essential
meaning in a sentence. Some function words are:
Function words
Articles: <a> <the>
Conjunctions: <and> <but>
Prepositions: <of> <to>
Pronouns: <he>
Auxiliary verbs: <have> <has>
Note: There are a few function words that do not weaken. For example, on
/ɑn/ is always /ɑn/.
These kinds of words can be pronounced strong in some positions but aren’t in
most cases, because they are not stressed they are weaken. As you will notice,
most of the weak forms take the form of Schwa /ə/, which is the most common
vowel in English. Go to the multimedia and listen to some examples and compare
the two forms:
[hæv] [əv]
However, some other times, the spellings are just the same. As in:
[bʌt] [bət]
Let’s go to the multimedia, listen to and compare some phrases pronounced with
strong and weak forms.
Although it may sound weird to you, it is more difficult for native speakers of
English to understand sentences such as those in the first column. Weakening
unstressed syllables is very common in English and native speakers do it all the
time!
Students of English as a second language usually don’t know about weak forms.
Usually, they pronounce all words as strong which leads to an unnatural
pronunciation. Now that you know about weak forms, keep on practicing!
A. You can use be able to + infinitive or good at to talk or ask about the things
you can do. They can be used in the present, past, future and present perfect.
Be able to can be used as a gerund or infinitive.
Examples:
He is good at languages.
I am good at Maths.
B. Be able to and good at can be used to talk about careers and jobs. Look at
the following expresions and vocabulary related to this topic.
Jobs - careers
English Spanish
Accountant Contador(a)
Actor Actor
Actress Actriz
Archeologist Arqueológo(a)
Architect Arquitecto(a)
Artist Artista
Astronomer Astrónomo(a)
Author Autor(a)
Banker Banquero(a)
Barber Barbero(a)
Biologist Biólogo(a)
Bodyguard Guardaespaldas
Builder Constructor(a)
Bus driver Conductor(a) de bus
Cameraperson Camarógrafo
Car mechanic Mecánico(a) automotriz
Cardiologist Cardiólogo
Carpenter Carpintero(a)
Cashier Cajero
Chef Cocinero
Chemist Químico(a)
Composer Compositor (a)
Consultant Asesor / Consultor
Dancer Bailarín(a)
Dentist Dentista
Designer Diseñador(a)
Detective Detective
Director Director(a)
Doctor Doctor(a)
Driver Conductor(a)
Economist Economista
Engineer Ingeniero(a)
Executive officer (CEO) Director(a) / ejecutivo(a)
Farmer Granjero(a)
Fashion designer Diseñador(a) de modas
Film director Director(a) de cine
Firefighter Bombero
Flight attendance Auxiliar de vuelo
Graphic designer Diseñador(a) gráfico
Guard Guardía
Hairdresser Peluquero(a)
Hair stylist Estilista
Head cook/chef Cocinero(a) jefe
Historian Historiador(a)
Jounarlist Periodista
Judge Juez
Lawyer Abogado(a)
Librarian Bibliotecario(a)
Management Administración
Mathematician Matemático(a)
Mechanic Mecánico(a)
Model Modelo
Musician Músico
Painter Pintor(a)
Paramedic Paramédico
Pediatrician Pediatra
Philosopher Filósofo(a)
Photographer Fotógrafo(a)
Physicist Físico(a)
Pilot Piloto
Plumber Plomero(a)
Police officer Agente de policía
Politician Político(a)
Priest Sacerdote
Principal Rector / director
Producer Productor
Professor Profesor(a) universitario
Psychologist Psicólogo(a)
Receptionist Recepcionista
Reporter Reportero(a)
Sales manager Gerente de ventas
Salesperson Vendedor(a)
Scientist Ciéntifico(a)
Sculptor Escultor(a)
Secretary Secretario(a)
Singer Cantante
Student Estudiante
Surgeon Cirujano(a)
Tailor Sastre
Taxi driver Conductor(a) de taxi
Teacher Profesor(a)
Technician Técnico(a)
Teller Cajero (únicamente en un banco)
Travel agent Agente de viajes
Truck driver Conductor(a) de camión
Writer Escritor(a)
Places of work
English Spanish
Agency Agencia
Company Compañía
Factory Fábrica
Firm Firma
Hospital Hospital / clínica
Hotel Hotel
Office Oficina
Plant Planta
School Escuela
Shop Tienda
Describing a job
English Spanish
A badly paid job Un empleo bajamente pagado
A boring job Un empleo aburrido
A challenging job Un empleo demandante
A difficult job Un empleo difícil
A full-time job Un empleo de tiempo completo
A good job Un buen empleo
A highly paid job Un empleo altamente pagado
A low-paid Un empleo mal pago
A part-time job Un empleo de medio tiempo
A permanent job Un empleo permanente
A temporary job Un empleo temporal
A well-paid job Un empleo bien pago
An interesting job Un empleo interesante
Verbs
English Spanish
To hire Emplear
To be promoted Ser promovido
To fire Despedir
To quit one’s job Reunciar al trabajo
Related terms
English Spanish
Accident insurance Seguro de accidentes
Annual pay Ingreso annual
Bonus Bono
Contract Contrato
Deductions Deducciones
Employee Empleado
Employer Empleador
Expenses Gastos
Freelance worker Trabajador independiente
Gross pay Ingreso bruto
Health insurance Seguro de salud
Holiday / vacation Vacaciones
Hourly pay Paga por hora
Income Ingresos
Interview Entrevista
Jobless Sin trabajo
Letter of application for a job Una carta de postulación a un empleo
Life insurance Seguro de vida
Maternity leave Licencia de maternidad
Medical insurance Seguro médico
Monthly pay Pago mensual
Net pay Pago neto
Overtime pay Pago de horas extras
Pay Pago
Pension plan Plan pensional
Raise Aumento
Resume Hoja de vida
Salary Salario
Season worker Trabajador por temporadas
Sick leave Licencia por enfermedad
Staff member Miembro del equipo de trabajo
Take-home pay Ingreso neto
Taxes Impuestos
Temporary work Trabajo temporal
Tips Propina
To apply for a job Postularse a un trabajo
To be on staff Ser miembro del equipo de trabajo
To be paid by the hour Ser pagado por horas
To be paid by the month Ser pagado por meses
To have a part-time job Tener un trabajo de medio tiempo
To look for a job Buscar trabajo
To work full-time Trabajar tiempo completo
To work overtime Trabajar horas extras
To work part-time Trabajar medio tiempo
Unemployed Desempleado
Wages Salario/sueldo/paga
Weekly pay Pago semanal
Work agreement Acuerdo de trabajo
Yearly pay Pago anual
Nicole has a job interview for a job. Read the following interview.
Interviewer: So, Nicole; you’ve applied for the seller position, right?
Interviewer: Could you, please tell me what made you reply to our advertisement?
Nicole: Well, I think I would be really good at this kind of work. Additionally, I am
looking for a temporary job this summer holidays. I’m going to start my university
soon and I want to earn some money to help me through college.
Interviewer: Nicole, let me ask you something. Do you know what do you have to
do as a seller?
Nicole: As far as I know, I will have to help customers, check the supplies in the
store and keep the products organized.
Interviewer: You’re right. That’s pretty much what you have to do. Now, Nicole,
what sort of student you think you are? Did you enjoy high school?
Nicole: Yes. Last summer I worked part-time in a coffee shop. This is the second
time I apply for a job.
Nicole: Yes. Could you, please tell me about the job schedule? How long is the
lunch time?
Interviewer: The store opens at 9:00 a.m. but you have to be here at 8:00 a.m.
Employees usually have lunch from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Then, we close at 8:00
o’clock, so you would be able to leave at about 8:30 p.m.
Interviewer: Great! Well, that’s it Nicole. I think I’ve collected all the information we
need. Thank you very much for coming. We will give you a call in a few days.
A. Phrasal verbs are verbs that are followed by another word which can be either a
preposition or an adverb. Read Richard’s routine in the morning and have a look
of the phrasal verbs he uses.
Fuente: SENA
Phrasal verbs
Structure
Verb Meaning
(verb + particle)
Example:
c. To take off: What time did your plane to New York take off?
2. Some other phrasal verbs require an object and are separable. This means
you can include the object between the verb and the preposition or adverb.
Example:
a. To turn off: Please, turn your cell phones off before class.
b. To fill in: Could you fill this form in for me, please?
3. Finally, there are phrasal verbs that require an object and are inseparable.
c. To look after: Could you please look after my car for ten minutes?
C. Now, have a look at some common phrasal verbs and their use.
Phrasal verbs
Hurry up! The train is This jacket is beautiful. We are lost. We need to
leaving soon! I’ll try it on. ask for help.
Contextualization
Gordon Blair
DOB: 25/03/1969 –
BlairGordon@mx.com
Telephone: 555-87596325
Fuente: SENA
Ross Carter
DOB: 17/09/1985 –
cross85@hetmail.com
Telephone: 555-58746985
Fuente: SENA
Jennifer Hawk
DOB: 21/12/1990 –
hawkj@agro.com
Telephone: 555-25846321
Fuente: SENA
Louise Clark
DOB: 30/01/1974 –
lmclarkb@expertfashion.com
Telephone: 555-88669956
Fuente: SENA
Comprehension
A. The following words are included in the texts above. Relate them to their
definition.
1. Sous-chef.
2. Salesperson.
3. Phytogenetics.
4. Head chef.
5. Fashion house.
6. Junior Engineer .
7. Fashion designer.
8. Multinational company.
9. Sales manager.
10. Gastronomy.
Application form 1
Name:
Last name:
Sex:
Date of birth:
Address: Woodhouse Lane 49.
Post code: LS6 2QJ City:
Country:
Telephone:
Present occupation / Studies:
Application form 2
Earth first – Agriculture Investment
Name:
Last name:
Sex:
Date of birth:
Address: Malibu Street 558
Post code: LW7 3NP City:
Country:
Telephone:
Present occupation / studies:
Application form 4
General Oil Enterprise ®
Name:
Last name:
Sex:
Date of birth:
Address: Bradley Place 3576
Post code: RL4 9PL City:
Country:
Telephone:
Present occupation: Studies:
True False
1. Gordon has been working as head chef.
Practice 1
Jesse: Well, when I picked up the umbrella, I left my cell phone on the
kitchen countertop.
Luciana: Now I am going to be late for my job interview. I don’t know why I
have to drive you everywhere.
Jesse: Why didn’t you leave without me? Next time I’ll take a bus. See?
Problem solved.
Jesse: Don’t worry. Pretty soon I’ll be getting my driver’s license. I’ve been
taking driving lessons for the last two weeks. I am tired of your
complaints.
a. He isn’t on time.
b. He left the keys at home.
c. He has a job interview.
C. Complete each statement with the present perfect continuous. Use the verb in
parenthesis.
Fuente: SENA
3. That poor dog _____________ (wait) for his owner since he left at 5:00 a.m.
D. Check the sentences that describe an unfinished activity and then rewrite them
in the present perfect continuous.
E. Select and write the expressions in the box into the right column.
For Since
F. Answer the following questions using the information in parenthesis.
2. How long have your cousins been drinking beer? (two hours).
___________________________________________
Practice 2
A. Put the correct form of either "can" or "be able to" for each sentence. Only use
"be able to" if it is absolutely necessary.
3. When I was 3 years old, I ___________ speak very well. I just stammered.
5. They lived in Germany for nine years, so they must __________ speak
German fluently.
6. Even though it was raining very hard, they ____________ finish the soccer
match.
7. When I was very young, I used to ____________ do front flips, but I can't
now!
8. My grandmother was one of the best musicians in the neighborhood. She
__________ play the guitar like a professional.
9. She ___________ type two hundred words per minute. She will finish
transcribing the recording very fast.
B. Write the profession under the picture. Use the vocabulary from the introductory
part.
1. 2. 3.
4. 5. 6. 7.
8. 9.
D. Complete the following anecdote using the appropriate form of the phrasal verbs
in the box.
come back - got up - write down - hurry up - looked for - asked/for - take off
I remember I _________ very early that day because I had to be on the airport
on time. When I got there, I ________ my visa, but I couldn’t find it anywhere. I
totally panicked. If you don’t have it with you, they won’t let you travel. I ______
a police officer _____ advice. He told me I’d better go home; get it, and
_________ as soon as possible. I didn’t want the plane to ________ without me.
I took a taxi and told the driver to ___________. When I got home my mom
called me to remind me I had left my passport at her place the night before. In
the end, I missed my flight. Now I_____________ a list of things I need to do
before I travel.
E. Complete the sentences with phrasal verbs you have learned in this level. Use
the correct form.
1. Alice is not a girl anymore. She has ____________ a beautiful young woman.
5. That’s an excellent idea. Let’s find some paper and ________ it _______
before we forget.
6. ________________ your jacket. It’s freezing outside.
9. She decided to _____________ for a few days. The city was driving her
crazy.
In order to be a nurse, you need to have some special abilities. Nurses are good at
monitoring and operating medical equipment, recording patients' medical histories
and symptoms, and educating patients and family members on caring for their
ailments.
Registered nurses have very good salaries because theirs is a specialized field.
The level of technological proficiency they should have rises every year. They need
to have updated medical understanding to perform their job.
Another reason why it pays well is because it is a high risk job where the human
component is also necessary. Nurses need to have interpersonal skills to connect
with their patients and attention to detail because one mistake could lead to
disaster.
In order to become a Registered Nurse in the United States, you need to complete
at least one of the following alternatives:
Once you get an official certificate, you must get a license in order to apply for a
job.
If you are looking for a good job with benefits such as life insurance, health
insurance, pension plan and overtime pay, look no further. Nursing is the right job
for you.
a. Selfish.
b. Compassionate.
c. Extrovert.
2. Nurses teach people:
True False
Pronunciation practice
Note: This practice must be completed using the multimedia version of the
study material. There you will find the corresponding sound files.
A. Look at the transcription of the following words. Write the words. One word is
given to you as an example.
For example:
morning mathematician
ˈmɔr·nɪŋ ˌmæθ·ə·məˈtɪʃ·ən
B. Go to the multimedia and listen to the following words. Notice the stress patterns
in the following nouns which are composed by noun + noun or by an adjective +
noun.
Now, classify the words on the following list according to their stress pattern.
Barman Sales person
D. Go to the multimedia and listen to the following sentences. Click on the word
that has been pronounced with a weak form.
Most of all.
Eat an orange.
Who is she?
As quickly as possible.
I could do it!
Document control
Centro
Luz Clarena Copy editor – Línea October
Adaptation Agroindustrial.
Arias González de producción 2014
Regional Quindío