LESSON 2

Present Perfect Tenses

At the end of the lesson, the student should be able to:

1. Revise and practise the Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Continuous

2. Correct grammar mistakes using basic proofreading symbols.

3. Write an informal letter

LESSON 2
Module Topic Present Perfect Tenses

(Theme: Been There, Done That!)

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO) 1. Revise and practise the Present Perfect Simple
and Present Perfect Continuous
 2. Familiarize the proofreading symbols.

3. Correct grammar mistakes using basic

proofreading symbols

4. Write an informal letter

Number of Hours 3 hours (1-2 hours synchronous; 1 hour

asynchronous/ independent learning time)

Delivery Mode Self-directed learning like readings, distance

learning, e-learning, synchronous and
asynchronous teaching

Learning Resources Required: Course module on Grammar and

Composition, College of Education, St. Paul
College Foundation, Inc.

Additional Learning Resources:

Cambridge New Headway 4th Edition (Upper-

Intermediate and Advance level)

Links: www.britishcouncil.org

Learning Activity 1. The students will do activities related to the

grammar topic: Present Perfect Tenses.

2. For further practice on the discussed topic, the

students will answer worksheets in their own
time. Checking and processing will be done on the
next meeting.

3. The students will familiarize the elements and

characteristics of the given writing assignment.

4. The students will submit the written output on

the assigned deadline.

5. The students will respond and/or comment on

the discussion threads to further engage on the
topic and theme of the lesson.

Required Output ⚫ Worksheets

⚫ Written Output: Informal Letter

- first version with proofreading marks from the

 partner

- final version

Assessment Tool/s ⚫ Rubric for grading a journal entry

⚫ Short Answer Rubric (for discussion threads)

Target Competency critical and analytical thinking, effective

communication, accuracy in the written language,
fluency, listening and reading comprehension

LESSON 2: Been There, Done That!

Present Perfect *Simple and Continuous *Proofreading * Informal Letter

Test Your Grammar

1. What is strange about these sentences? What should they be?

A. Columbus has discovered America.

B. Man first walked on the moon.

C. I travelled all my life. I went everywhere.

D. I’ve learnt English.

E. I’ve been losing my passport.

2. Which of these verb forms can change from simple to continuous or vice versa? What is the change
in meaning?

A. What do you do in New York?

B. I know you don’t like my boyfriend.

C. I had a cup of tea at 8: 00.

D. Someone’s eaten my sandwich.

E. I’m hot because I’ve been running.

EXPLORERS AND TRAVELLERS

Present Perfect
A. Look at the pictures below. Why did people go exploring hundreds of years ago? Why do young
people go travelling these days?

B. Read the first and last paragraphs of two articles about Marco Polo and Tommy willis. Then match
the sentences with the correct person. Write MP or TW before each number.

1. He was born in Venice, the son of a merchant. When he was 17, he set off for China. The
journey took 4 years.

2. He’s visited royal palaces and national parks in South Korea, and climbed to the summit
of Mount Fuji.

3. He’s been staying in cheap hostels, along with a lot of other young people.

4. His route led him through Persia and Afghanistan.

5. He was met by the emperor Kublai Khan. He was one of the first Europeans to visit his
territory, and he travelled extensively.

6. “I’ve had diarrhoea a few times.” Apart from that, his only worry is the insects. He’s been
stung all over his body.

7. He stayed in china for seventeen years. When he left, he took back a fortune in gold and
jewellery.

8. He’s been travelling mainly by public transport.

C. L 2.1 Listen and check. What other information do you learn about the two travellers?

D. Match a line in A with a line in B. Pay attention to the contractions.

A B

He’s been stung In cheap hotels

He’s visited All over his body

He’s been staying A lot of really great people

I’ve been To Vietnam and Japan

I’ve met Pickpocketed and mugged

He’s been Royal palaces

Language Focus
1. What is the main tense used in the sentences about Marco Polo? Why?

What are the main tenses used in the sentences about Tommy Willis? Why?

2. Compare the use of tenses in these sentences.

A. I’ve read that book. It’s good

I’ve been reading a great book. I’ll lend it to you when I’ve finished.

I’ve been reading a lot about Orwell recently. I’ve just finished his biography.

B. She’s been writing since she was 16.

She’s written three novels.

C. He’s played tennis since he was a kid.

He’s been playing tennis since he was a kid.

Grammar Reference:
Discussing Grammar:
A. Put the verb in the correct tense.

1. Charles Dickens __________ (write) Oliver Twist in 1837.

I write __________ two best- selling crime stories.

She __________ (write) her autobiography for the past eighteen months.

2. __________ you ever __________ (try) Mexican food?

__________ you __________ (try) chilles rellenos when you were in Mexico?

3. How many times __________ you __________(marry)?

How many time __________ Henry VIII __________ (marry)?

4. I __________ (live) in the same house since I was born.

He _________ (live) with his brother for the past week.

5. Cinda’s very pleased with herself. She __________ finally __________ (give up)
smoking. She __________ (try) to give up for years.
Language Focus: Simple and Continuous

1. Simple verb forms see action as a completed whole.

He works for IBM. It rained all day yesterday. I’ve lost my passport

2. Continuous verb forms see action in progress, with a beginning and an end.

I’m working with Jim for a couple of days.

It was raining when I woke up.

The company has been losing money for years.

3. State verbs don’t tend to be used in the continuous.

I know Peter well. I’ve always liked him.

I don’t understand what you’re saying.

B. Match a line in A with a line in B. Write 1 or 2 in the box.

Extended Activity:
Answer the worksheet provided. To be checked on the next meeting.

Writing: Informal Letters and Correcting Mistakes

Teachers often make corrections on a student’s output especially when it comes to writing.
In correcting written work, teachers sometimes use proofreading symbols to emphasize the
parts that needs changing. The students need to be oriented with these correcting marks as
to make sure that they understand what they need to do to improve their written output.
Below are the common symbols used by teachers.
EXERCISE
A. Correct the mistakes in these sentences.

B. Find the mistakes in each sentence. Use the symbols to mark them and then correct them
afterwards.

1. She studied for three years psychology.

2. There aren’t any milk.

3. He’s speaking French, German, and Spanish.

4. I want that I pass the exam.

5. Could you tell me how can I get in touch with Mr. Yamamoto?

6. They change often our seats at work.

7. She’s been very sick and has been at the hospital for two weeks.

8. If you would’ve told me, I would have given you my honest advice.

9. Unfortunately, the species has gotten extinct due to human activity.

10. He told me that he had never been in that restaurant before.

INFORMAL LETTERS

A. Read the letter.

B. Answer the questions based on the letter you just read.

1. Where was the letter written?

2. Who is the guest? Who is the host?

3. Which city is described? What is it like?

4. What season is it?

C. After reading and answering the questions above, find the mistakes and put the symbols on the letter.
Then correct the mistakes. The first line has been done to help.

WHAT IS AN INFORMAL LETTER?

An informal letter, also referred to as a friendly letter, is a personal letter written to friends or relatives. It
is written in personal fashion. You can write it to anyone with whom you have a non-professional
relationship, although this doesn't exclude business partners or workers whom you're friendly with either.

There are fewer formatting rules for informal letters than there are for business or formal letters. The
letter can be used for some reasons like conveying message, news, giving advice, congratulate recipient,
request information, asking questions, etc. It is a personal letter, written to whom you are familiar with,
like friends, siblings, parents or any other closed one. While writing an informal letter, one can afford to
be friendly, and make use of personal or emotional tone.

Format of Informal letter

There is no set format when writing an informal letter. But there is a general pattern, some conventions
that people usually follow. We will be looking at this pattern and certain tips on how to write effective
and attractive informal letters. These can act as guidelines when you are drafting a letter; they are not
hard and fast rules.

Address

The first thing to write is your address, i.e. the address of the writer (basically, the sender’s address). We
usually write the address on the left-hand side of the page at the very top. The address should be accurate
and complete. Even when writing to close friends or relatives the address must be written, so they can
reply back to the letter with ease. If the recipient of the letter is in another country, do not forget to write
your country as well in the address.
Date

Next just below the address we write the date. This allows the reader to have a reference as to when the
informal letter was written. He can then relate better to the contents of the letter. The date, preferably,
shold be in expanded form.

Greeting

Now since you know the person you are writing to, the greeting can be informal as well. If it is a friend or
someone close to your age you can greet them by their first name, like “Dear Alex”. If you are writing to
your relative like your mother/father/aunt/uncle etc, you may greet them as such, for example, “Dear
Mom”. And if you are writing to an elder person, someone you respect greatly you can address them as
Mr or Mrs. Like say for example you were writing a congratulatory letter to your teacher, it can be
addressed as “Dear Mrs. Alex”.

Introductory Paragraph

And now we begin writing the actual letter. The introductory paragraph sets the tone for the whole letter.
You might begin by asking the recipient about their well being. Or you may say that you hope the letter
finds them in good health and great spirits. The opening of informal letters should be casual and
comforting. It must not be formal and direct as in business letters.

Body of the Letter

The letter overall should maintain a friendly tone. But you have to adjust the language and the wordings
according to who you are writing to. With a friend, you can afford to be very casual and flippant even. But
if you are writing to an elder relative, you must be extremely respectful and considerate.

One way to determine the tonality of your letter is to remember how you talk to the person in a
conversation. And then apply the same syntax and sentiments to the letter.

Conclusion

In the conclusive paragraph sum up the reason for writing the letter, i.e. summarize the letter. Say a
meaningful and affectionate goodbye to the reader. And do not forget to invite the reader to write back
or reply to your letter. It shows an intention to keep the conversation going.

Signature
There is no one way to sign off informal letters. Since they do not follow a strict format, you may sign off
as you please. Some commonly used phrases are

Lots of Love

Best,

Best Wishes,

Kind Regards,

Kindly,

Pick the one that best suits the occasion and then simply sign your name below the greeting.

(Note you may refer to this site for more info: )

Output: Penpal Letter

Directions:
A. Write a letter of 250 words for either of the following scenarios:

You’re an exchange student and will be staying with your penpal’s family in an English-
speaking country
or
A foreign student is coming to stay with your family

B. Give some information about yourself, your family (optional), interests, school, your town (if
you choose B), expectations for each other for the duration of the stay, places you/ they would
like to show and things you/ they’ve tried and wanted to do it with you/ them. Feel free to
include other details that may relate to the given scenario.
C. Check your work carefully for mistakes.
D. Pass the said output during the given deadline.
E. Your work will be given to an assigned partner for a peer correction. Note: Your work will
remain anonymous during the peer correction.
F. You will also be given a letter that you’ll be correcting for grammar mistakes.
G. After the peer correction, correct the mistakes and revise your letter.
H. Compile everything and submit it for grading.

Note: Rubrics for this written output will be posted.