Telling the time

The English (especially in American English) don’t use the 24 hours day system. Instead they
use a 12 hours system, split into two parts:

 morning (A.M. – antemeridian) (between 00:00 and 12:00)

 past noon – (P.M. – postmeridian) (between 12:00 and 00:00)

Thus:

10:10 – ten past ten

10:15 – a quarter past ten / 10:15 AM

But:

10:30 – half past ten

And:

10:35 – 25 to 11 / 10:35

10:45 - a quarter to eleven / ten forty five

10:50 – ten to eleven / ten fifty

Present perfect

Observe this following situation:

Kevin is looking for his wallet. He can’t find it anywhere.

He has lost his wallet!

Has lost = He lost it recently , and still doesn’t have it

Formation:

Auxiliary to have in present tenese (have/has) + past participle = present perfect simple

 I/we/they/you have (I’ve)

 he/she/it has (he’s)
The present perfect simple is made by adding the have/has + past participle. The past
participle often ends in –ed, but, many verbs could also be irregular.

When we say that something „has happened”, this is usually new information

 Ow! I’ve cut my finger.

 I’ve heard John has the Coronavirus. Is this true?
 The Police have fined a series of people that gathered in the Square.

When we use the present perfect, there i a connection with now! The action in the past has a
result now!

 Where is your key?” „I don’t know. I’ve lost it” ( = I don’t have it now)
 He told me his name, but I’ve forgotten it. (= i can’t remember it now)
 I can’t find my bag. Have you seen it? ( = do you know where it is now?)

We can use the present perfect with just, already and yet.

Just = a short time ago (abia)

 „Are you hungry?” No, I’ve just ate”

 I’ve just learnt this, don’t rush me.

We use already yo say that something happened sooner than expected (already = deja)

 I’ve already done my homework, don’t worry.

 „What time is the class starting?” „It has already started...”

Yet = until now (yet = încă/deja). Yet shows that the speaker is expecting something to
happen. Use yet only in questions and negative sentences:

 Has it stopped raining yet?

 Have they found a vaccine for Corona yet?

ATTENTION!

There is a slight difference between gone (to) and been (to):

Jim is on holiday. He has gone to Italy (=he is there now or on his way there )

Jane is back home now. She has been to Italy (=she has now come back)

EXERCISES:
1. Read the situations and write sentences. Use the Following verbs:

arrive break fall go up grow improve

1. Tom is looking for his keys. He can’t find them. He has lost his keys.
2. Margaret can’t walk and her leg is in plaster. She_________________
3. Last week the bus fare was 80 pence. Now it’s 90. The bus fare_______________
4. Maria’s English wasn’t very good. Now it’s better. Her English _______________
5. Dan didn’t have a beard before. Now he has a beard. He ____________________
6. This morning I was expecting a letter. Now I have it. The letter _______________
7. The temperature was 20 degrees. Now it;s only 12. The ______________________

2. Complete B’s sentences. Use the verb in brackets + just/already.yet

A: Would you like something to eat? B: No, thanks. I’ve just had lunch (I/just/have/lunch)

A: Do you know whhere Julia is? B: Yes ___________________ (I/just/see/her)

A: What time is David leaving? B: ____________________ (he/already/leave)

A: What is in the newspaper today? B: I don’t know. __________________ (I/not/read/yet/)

A: Is Sue coming to the cinema with us? B: No, _______________ (she/already/see/the film)

A: Are your friends here yet? B: Yes, ______________ (they/just/arrive)

A: What doest Tim think about your plan? B: ________________________ (we/not/tell/him

yet)

3. Read the situations and write sentences with just, already and yet.

1. After lunch you go to see a friend at her house. She says „Would you like something
to eat?” You say: No thank you. I’ve just had lunch (have lunch)
2. Joe goes out. Five minutes later, the phone rings and the caller says, „Can I speak to
Joe?” You say: I’m afraid ____________________ (go out)
3. You are eating at a restaurant. The waiter thinks you have finished and starts to take
you plate away. You say: Wait a minute! _____________________________
(not/finish)
4. You are going to a restaurant tonight. You phone to reserve a table. Later, your friend
says, „Shall I phone to reserve a table?” You say: No
____________________________ (do it)
5. You know that a friend of ours is looking for a place to live. Perhaps she has been
successful. Ask her. You say: ___________________________________? (find)
 6. You are still thinking about where to go for your holiday. A friend asks, „Where are
you going for your holiday?” You say: ___________________________________
(not/decide)
7. Linda went to the bank, but a few minutes ago she returned. Somebody asks, „Is Linda
still at the bank?” You say: No, _______________________________ (come back)

4. Put in been or gone

1. Jim is on holiday. He’s gone to Italy.

2. Hello! I’ve just ___________________ tot the shops. I’ve bought lots of things.
3. Alice isn’t here at the moment. She’s ________________ tot the shop to get a
newspaer.
4. Tom has _____________ out. He’ll back in about an hour.
5. „Are you going to the bank?” „No, I’ce already _____________ there”
6. Adam felt sick. He has _____________ to the doctor, and now he’s feeling better.

Present Perfect II

When we talk about a period of time that continues from the past until now, we use the
present perfect (have been/ have travelled etc.).

DAVE: Have you travelled a lot, Jane?

JANE: Yes, I’ve been to lots of places.
DAVE: Really? Have you ever been to China?
JANE: Yes, I’ve been to China twice.
DAVE: What about India?
JANE: No, I haven’t been to India.

Here, Dave and Jane are talking about the places Jane has visited in her life (which is a period
that continues until now)

Examples:

 Have you ever eaten caviar? (in your life)

 We’ve never had a cat.
  Have you read Hamlet? No, I haven’t read any Shakespear at all.
 Susan loves that film so much, she’s seen it eight times!
 This has to be the most boring class I’ve ever attended.
We can use it when talking about a period of time that continues until now (recently/in the
last few days/so far/ since breakfast)

 Have you heard from John recently?

 I’ve met a lot of people in these last few months.
 We haven’t had any problems so far.
 I haven’t eaten anything since breakfast. I’m famished.
 I haven’t seen him for a long time.

We use the present perfect with today/ this evening / this year etc. when these periods are
not finished at the time of speaking

 I’ve drunk four cups of coffee today.

 Have you had a holiday this year?
 I haven’t seen Tom this morning. Have you?
 Rob hasn’t studied very hard this term.

We also use it when we talk about an action that has happened for the first time.

 He’s never driven a car. It’s his first time.

 He has taken the vaccine. He hopes it will protect him.