Spotlight 2023 No 10

10
ENGLISCH —
23
GRAMMATIK SPEZIAL
TALKING ABOUT TIME:
TENSES
IN ENGLISH!
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JETZT ZUM
VORTEILSPREIS
SICHERN!
FROM THE EDITOR
No need
to tense up!
H
ow did you feel when you picked up this tense up
magazine at the newsstand or pulled , sich verspannen, sich
it from your letterbox? Did you think: verkrampfen; Wortspiel

mit „tense“ (Zeitform)
“Wow, this is very exciting ― I’ve always
wanted to understand English tenses better.” newsstand
[(nju:zstÄnd]
Or maybe you said to yourself: “OK, I suppose it can’t , (Zeitungs-)Kiosk
hurt to brush up that aspect of my grammar.”
brush up (on) sth.
As a former teacher, I’m thinking that most of you , etw. auffrischen
belong in the second group. Well, this issue of Spot- proceed [prE(si:d]
light aims to be both useful and fun. Yes, there is a bit , vorgehen
of learning involved, which is why I’d like to suggest
you work your way through this issue slowly. Per-
haps, if I may make a second recommendation, you
could begin by reading the essays at the beginning
Titelillustrationen: Sylvia Wolf; Illustrationen: Sylvia Wolf; Foto: Gert Krautbauer
of each section. We have created these short texts

so that you can, if you wish, get an idea of what fol-
lows, without having to go straight to the dialogues,
exercises and language tips.However you decide to
proceed, we would, of course, be delighted to get your
feedback.
Finally, if you are wondering why this editorial is
so full of modal verbs (“can”, “could”, “would”, etc.),
I suggest you take a look at page 59.
INEZ SHARP, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
EDITORIAL SPOTLIGHT 2023 3

CONTENTS
English tenses
and why we
love them
In 2003, an American fast-food chain came up with the slo-
gan “I’m lovin’ it”. Language experts were disgusted. Since
when was it OK to use the stative verb “love” in the contin-
uous form? And yet... This is a simple but clever manipula-
tion of a tense. It expressed exactly the message the company
wanted to send to its customers: you don’t love a burger for a
lifetime, you love it – and want to order it – now.*
In English, the choice of tense (usually) follows certain
rules. The tense you use indicates when something happens,
but often stresses a particular aspect of the event described
(see above). We at Spotlight believe it is one of the beauties
of English – which is why our authors VANESSA CLARK
and LYNDA HÜBNER wrote this special issue for you. Join
us on a journey of discovery and understand English tenses
once and for all!
* The campaign was not a great success, but that’s another story.
6 The present simple 34 The past simple and the past continuous
E M A + E M A +
...and a busy day in the life of London’s Big ...and a quiz on American history
Ben
42 The past perfect
14 The present continuous E M A +
E M A + ...and Agatha Christie’s mysterious
...and why different cultures have different disappearance
concepts of time
50 The future tenses
22 The present perfect E M A +
E M A + ...and a look at the future of sustainable
...and Spotlight’s very own version of energy
Goldilocks
58 Last but not least
30 Tenses in the news E M A +
M Modal verbs, the passive and emphasis
Two exercises on how to use tenses
in real life 66
Illustrationen: Sylvia Wolf
The puzzle page E

Do our crossword and win a prize
32 Tricky tenses
M 67 Quiz cards
Take our quiz on typically German “tense Help solve the mystery of tenses!
mistakes”
4 SPOTLIGHT 2023 CONTENTS

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mediadaten
and the
future walked Better at English with Spotlight
Here are some tips on how to use this magazine effectively:
into a bar – • You’ll find recordings of texts on the Spotlight Audio CD/
download. Look for the word AUDIO or this symbol:
it was tense! • Support your learning by doing exercises in our Spotlight

plus booklet. All of the grammar from this special issue is
covered in plus. Look for the word PLUS or this symbol: +
tense
, angespannt;
auch: Zeitform
CONTENTS SPOTLIGHT 2023 5

THE MYSTERY OF TENSES
PRESENT
LANGUAGE SIMPLE
SECTION
The present simple

THE
Auf den nächsten acht Seiten beschäftigen wir uns

mit einer Zeitform, die unkompliziert und doch überraschend
vielfältig ist. VANESSA CLARK erklärt, bei welcher
Gelegenheit das present simple Verwendung findet.
6 SPOTLIGHT 2023 THE MYSTERY OF TENSES

THE PRESENT SIMPLE
Das present simple
ist identisch mit der
Grundform des Verbs:
„I work“ / „I do“ / „I carry“.
Nur in der 3. Person
Singular wird ein
„-s“, „-es“ oder „-ies“
angehängt:
„He works“ / „She does“ /
„It carries“.
Big Ben: always present
Das Londoner Wahrzeichen ist ständig beschäftigt – aber nimmt sich die Zeit,
für Spotlight aus seinem Leben zu berichten. Von LORRAINE MALLINDER
MEDIUM AUDIO
Hi, there. I’m Ben. Big Ben. I live in the But I love my new blue clock faces – so
Elizabeth Tower, right next to the Palace much more flattering than the previous
of Westminster in London. I think it must black. I also use a bit of electricity to light
be an important spot, as people take pho- up my faces at night. Occasionally, work-
tos of me every day. I know this because ers come to replace the bulbs, ensuring
I’m very tall and my four clock faces can that I look my best at all times. They climb
see for miles around, to Trafalgar Square 334 steps to pay me a visit. But then, as
and Buckingham Palace, Victoria Station, they say, I’m worth it.
the London Eye and St Thomas’s Hospi- Oh dear! It’s already evening. I must
tal. Actually, I don’t really have time for get back to work now. When members are
people-watching. I’m too busy telling the sitting in the Commons or the Lords after
time. dusk, I switch on the Ayrton Light, right at
Every second of every minute of every the top of the Elizabeth Tower. I used to
day, I move my big hand round the clock. do it as a favour for Queen Victoria, so that
Then, every quarter of an hour, I ring the she could see what was happening from
Westminster Chimes. Finally, every hour Buckingham Palace. These days, I do it for
on the hour, I strike the biggest bell in the everyone. Old habits die hard. Gosh! Is
belfry – the original Big Ben. Everyone that the time already? Must go now. Bong!
knows the sound, but I wonder if they’re
clock face maintain sth.
aware of the crack on its side, which gives
, Ziffernblatt , etw. erhalten
it that distinctive, slightly wonky quality.
big hand peak performance
The number of bongs corresponds to the
, Stundenzeiger , Höchst-, Glanzleistung
time. There’s no room for error. After more
Westminster Chimes wind sth. up [)waInd (Vp]
than 160 years in the job, I don’t want to , Westminsterschlag , etw. aufziehen
get the sack.
hour: on the ~ [(aUE] pendulum [(pendjUlEm]
To maintain peak performance, I re- , zu jeder vollen Stunde , Pendel
quire constant care and attention. Three
belfry [(belfri] sensitive to sth.
times a week, a mechanic winds me up , Glockenturm , empfindlich gegenüber
by hand. They also check the pendulum, etw.
crack
which is very sensitive to changes in the , Sprung, Riss makeover
weather. If it moves too fast, they stick a , hier: Renovierung
distinctive
penny or two on top to slow it down. If , charakteristisch flattering
it moves too slowly, they remove them. , schmeichelhaft
wonky [(wQNki] (UK ifml.)
Each penny changes my timekeeping by , schief, wackelig bulb
two-fifths of a second in a 24-hour period. , Glühbirne
bong
Believe it or not, I’m entirely mechanical. , Glockenschlag visit: pay sb. a ~
It’s part of my charm. , jmdn. besuchen
correspond to sth.
People often ask me how I manage to , etw. entsprechen dusk
look so good. I tell them that it takes con- sack: get the ~ (ifml.)
, Abenddämmerung
stant work. I’m still in recovery from my , gefeuert werden Gosh! (ifml.)
recent makeover, which took four years. , Du meine Güte!
THE MYSTERY OF TENSES SPOTLIGHT 2023 7

THE PRESENT SIMPLE
The present simple

Gewohnheiten, Fahrpläne, Vorlieben und Abneigungen: Hier finden Sie typische Beispiele,
Grammatiktipps und Regeln für die Verwendung des present simple auf Sprachniveau A2.
EASY PLUS
A PROBLEM
My son is 26 and lives at home with me. He works

as a DJ at night and at the weekends. He makes
good money, and he pays his half of the rent, but
our different working hours mean that we don’t
see each other very often. I talk to him, but he
doesn’t say much. When I cook for us both, he
takes his plate into his room. I understand that he
doesn’t want to spend all his time with his old dad,
and we live different lives, but how can I bring us a
little bit closer together? Any ideas?
WHAT’S YOUR ROUTINE? What do they share?

• I get up at seven o’clock. Tick the things that father and
• I have a shower before breakfast. son share or have in common.
• How do you get to work?
• She cycles to the office. ○ lifestyle
• We work from nine to five. ○ daily routine
○ home
LIFESTYLE ○ rent
• We both work full-time. ○ long conversations
• They take a lot of holidays. ○ meals
• He uses a wheelchair.
• I spend a lot of time at the gym.
• She wears a lot of black.
• He doesn’t drink.
EVERY DAY?
• She runs every morning except on Sundays.
• I do Zumba on Mondays and Wednesdays.
• He works from home three days a week.
• She practises the guitar for an hour a day.
• I take my tablets twice a day, every day.
wheelchair
home; rent , Rollstuhl
What do they share?
gym [dZIm]
, Fitness-Studio
Answers

THE PRESENT SIMPLE
ALWAYS, SOMETIMES, NEVER LOVE OR HATE?
• He always sings in the shower. • She likes her job but hates the long hours.
• I never take taxis. • We adore our grandchildren.
• They often invite me to dinner. • They don’t want to retire.
• I normally have lunch at my desk. • She prefers tea to coffee.
• She doesn’t usually eat breakfast.
• Sometimes, I want to give up work. WHAT DO YOU THINK?
• I see him very rarely. • I don’t understand the question.
• I know the answer.
OPENING HOURS • I don’t believe it.
AND TIMETABLES • Do you agree?
• The cafe opens at 8 a.m. • I think so.
• The bar doesn’t close until 4 a.m.
• The film starts at nine o’clock.
• The bus goes every hour.
• Our flight lands at 13.10.
Grammar tip: Word order
Adverbs of frequency go before the verb:
⋅ I never work hard.
If the verb has two parts, the adverb goes in
the middle:
⋅ I don’t always understand him.
“Sometimes” can go at the start, at the end
or in the middle of the sentence:
⋅⋅ Sometimes, I work late.
I leave early sometimes.
⋅ I sometimes enjoy my work.
Grammar check: Remember the rules!
When do we use the present simple?
Which one of these options is not correct? Cross it out.
We use the present simple to talk about...

A. ...routines.
B. ...lifestyle: how we live our lives.
C. ....plans for tomorrow or next weekend.
D. ...likes and dislikes.
E. ...shop opening hours.
F. ...bus, train and flight times.
adore sb. adverb of frequency C is not correct.

, jmdn. über alles lieben [(fri:kwEnsi]
Grammar check
Answer
, Häufigkeitsadverb

THE PRESENT SIMPLE
The present simple

Binsenweisheiten, Empfindungen und regelmäßige Vorkommnisse: Hier finden Sie typische Beispiele
und Regeln für die Verwendung des present simple auf Sprachniveau B1–B2.
MEDIUM PLUS
How does he feel?

How does Petar feel about his work?
IS IT A GOOD JOB? ○ A. He sounds generally positive.
○ B. He sounds generally negative.
Colin: How often do you work as a food
delivery guy?
Petar: I probably work two or three
nights a week. It depends. When
it’s dark and cold and wet, there’s
a lot of work because people
don’t want to go out – but who
wants to be on a delivery bike in
that weather? On a quiet night, I
have to wait a lot between jobs.
Colin: And they don’t pay you for wait-
ing?
Petar: What do you think?!
Colin: I guess not! Do you get tips?
Petar: Now and then – and I really ap-
preciate it – but some people
hardly say thank you. It’s just
a simple fact that people want
stuff and the delivery companies
want to make money. But some-
times, I wonder if it’s worth it.
food delivery guy (ifml.) appreciate sth.

, Essenslieferant [E(pri:SieIt]
B is correct. , etw. zu schätzen
How does he feel? tip wissen, sich über etw.
, hier: Trinkgeld
freuen
Answer

THE PRESENT SIMPLE
THAT’S LIFE!
• Self-employed people don’t get sick pay.
• Managers earn more than workers.
• The casino always wins.
• Smoking causes cancer.
UNDERSTANDING
• I see what you mean.
• I recognize that it’s difficult for you.
• I share your concerns. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
• I appreciate your help. • When we meet next week, …
• When you see him on Friday, …
THOUGHTS • Before I go, …
• I expect so. • If I have time tomorrow, …
• I guess not.
• It depends. SPOKEN INSTRUCTIONS
• I suppose it’s allowed. • First, you fry the onions.
• I wonder if it’s true. • You turn left at the corner.
• I remember. • You just click on “pay”.
• I don’t mind.
USE YOUR SENSES!

• That sounds interesting.
• The results look good.
• This vegan burger tastes surprisingly
meaty.
• It seems very strange. Grammar check: Remember the rules!
• I feel sick.
IT HAPPENS REGULARLY
• The Olympics take place every four years. Which one of these options is not correct? Cross it out.
• We see each other every other weekend.
• I work nights one week in four. We use the present simple to talk about...
• The book club reads one book a month. A. ...facts that are always true.
B. ...things that happen regularly.
NOT SO REGULARLY
• We go on holiday whenever we can. C. ...things that happen from time to time.
• I take a break from time to time. D. ...things that are happening now, at this moment.
• I go to the theatre now and then. E. ...how we think or feel.
• He hardly ever says thank you.
F. ...how things look, sound or taste.
• We almost never argue.
G. ...giving informal instructions: “You...”
self-employed every other

, selbstständig, , jede(s, r) zweite
freiberuflich
sick pay D is not correct.
, Krankengeld, Lohnfort- Grammar check
zahlung
Answer

THE PRESENT SIMPLE
The present simple

Fakten, Schlagzeilen und formeller Schriftverkehr: Hier finden Sie typische Beispiele,
Grammatiktipps und Regeln für die Verwendung des present simple auf Sprachniveau C1–C2.
ADVANCED AUDIO PLUS
A FOOD CHALLENGE
Helen: It says here that there’s a new

recommendation about how
much meat we should eat. They
advise no more than two burgers
a week.
Ian: Is that from a health point of Does or doesn’t?
view or for the environment? Choose the right verb.
Helen: The environment, because farms
Ian seems / doesn’t seem
take up so much land and cows
to take the issue seriously.
produce a lot of methane. They
claim that a reduction in meat
consumption would help to
slow down climate change.
Ian: I only eat burgers once in a blue
moon anyway. READING THE NEWS
Helen: They don’t mean literally two • It says here…
burgers. It says “the equivalent • The article claims…
of two burgers”. • This report states that…
Ian: I could do that, easy. • They advise…
Helen: OK, I challenge you. I bet you • The new guidelines recommend…
can’t stick to two portions of
meat a week for the whole WORDS AS ACTS
• I accept your offer.
month.
• I promise.
Ian: I accept your challenge. And as
• I bet you can’t do it.
my prize, you can take me out to
• I dare you!
a steakhouse. • No, I insist on paying!
• I admit I was wrong.
• I accept your decision.
• I apologize.
• I beg your pardon.

• I forgive you.
once in a blue moon guideline
, ganz selten, alle Jubel- , Richtlinie
jahre einmal
doesn’t seem dare: I ~ you!
Does or doesn’t?
literally , Na los, trau dich doch!
, wortwörtlich
Answer

THE PRESENT SIMPLE
IT’S A FACT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN…
• Water boils at 100 °C and freezes at zero. • I stand here before you…
• Animal farming contributes to climate • I invite you to join me in celebrating…
change. • I declare this event open.
• Power corrupts.
LIVE COMMENTARY
WHEN? • And Popp scores!
• As soon as we hear, … • Meyer crosses the line in silver medal position.
• As far as I know, … • The king and queen consort enter the abbey.
• Unless you say otherwise, …
• Until I hear back from you, … HEADLINES
• Once we have all the facts, … • “Dr Death dies in prison”
• “UK enters recession”
HOW OFTEN? • “Schools ban sticker albums”
• I learn five new words a day, religiously.
• My mum calls every Sunday morning at
11, as regular as clockwork.
• I hear from him once in a blue moon.
• I do it as often as not. Grammar tip:
Using the simple present
DEAR SIR OR MADAM... Anecdotes
• I enclose your documents.
You’ll hear people telling anecdotes, funny
• We require two forms of ID.
stories or jokes in the present tense, rather
• We request the pleasure of your company.
than the past, to make them sound more
• We look forward to meeting you.
immediate and engaging. Compare:
⋅ He hit me and I fell over.
So, he hits me and I fall over, bam!
⋅ A man went into a bar...
A man goes into a bar...
Works of art

⋅⋅ Van Gogh uses colour in unusual ways.
The painting shows a scene from classical
mythology.
Which one of these options is not correct? Cross it out. ⋅ The novel tells the story of a slave.
We use the present simple...

A. ...with verbs such as “accept”, “apologize” and “de-
clare”, where the words themselves are the deed.
B. ....to make an anecdote or story more immediate
and engaging.
C. ...in live TV or radio commentary, especially in the
context of sports events.
Den Dialog auf dieser
D. ...to make a speech or e-mail feel more relaxed. Doppelseite kostenlos anhören!
www.spotlight-online.de/
E. ...to make a speech or e-mail feel more formal. audio-gratis/10
power corrupts ID (identification)

, Macht macht korrupt , Ausweis
religiously (ifml.) score

D is not correct. , sehr gewissenhaft , hier: ein Tor schießen
Grammar check
enclose sth. queen consort
, hier: etw. anhängen , Königsgemahlin
Answer

CONTINUOUS
LANGUAGE SECTION
The present continuous

THE PRESENT
Auf den nächsten acht Seiten beschäftigen wir uns

mit einer Zeitform, die deutsche Muttersprachler
gerne überstrapazieren. VANESSA CLARK erklärt,
wann das present continuous korrekt gebraucht wird.

THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Das present continuous
wird mit einer Form von „be“
im present simple und
dem present participle
(der „-ing-Form“) gebildet:
Your time or my time?
„I’m singing“; „they’re
talking“.
Wo genau liegt die Vergangenheit? Warum wird Pünktlichkeit je nach Kultur
unterschiedlich verstanden? MARTHA PARIS wirft einen Blick auf Zeitkonzepte.
MEDIUM AUDIO
Past, present and future The vexing question about why this is so
Where would you point if someone asked has kept social scientists busy for decades.
you where the past is? What about the fu- One of the most prevalent theories was
ture? And where is the present? put forward in the 1950s by the American
In Europe and North America, we see anthropologist Edward T. Hall. He coined
time as being linear, the past beginning the terms “monochronic” and “poly-
behind us and passing through us and go- chronic” time to describe how different
ing forward into the future. The present is cultures see timekeeping differently.
where we are physically at this moment. According to Hall, in monochronic cul-
Perfectly logical, you may think, but tures – like those in the US, Germany and
there are cultures in which the concepts the UK – the effective use of time is highly
of time are understood differently. valued. Sticking to a schedule is all-impor-
Studies of the Amerindian Aymara tant and tasks are generally completed one
people, who live in the high valleys of the after the other.
Andes, show that, for them, the past lies In polychronic cultures – such as those
ahead and the future is behind them. For in many African, Arab and South Ameri-
the Aymara, this is logical: they know the can countries – interpersonal relations are
past and what happened then, so it’s in more important than keeping to a strict
front of them, where they can see it. But timetable, and fluid multitasking is an ac-
the future isn’t visible yet: they can’t see cepted way to work.
it, which is why it lies behind them. In Ghana (a polychronic culture), there
The Yupno people of Papua New Guin- is a humorous term that people use when
ea see the future as moving uphill and the scheduling meetings and appointments.
past as flowing downhill. Professor Rafael GMT might mean Greenwich Mean Time
Núñez from the University of California, in London, but in Accra, GMT is short for
who studied the Yupno, says this may be Ghana Maybe Time!
because early Yupno settlers arrived from
lowlands and travelled up into the moun-
tains, which they made their home. lowland coin sth.
, Tiefland, Ebene , etw. prägen
Days, hours and minutes sweep timekeeping

, Zeitlinie, -spanne , Zeitbegriff, Umgang
Time, though, is not just about the big mit Zeit
sweep of past, present and future. For vexing [(veksIN]
, schwierig, verzwickt interpersonal
most of us, it’s about weeks, days, hours , zwischenmenschlich
and minutes. Anyone who has worked prevalent
, vorherrschend fluid
in an international team will know that , fließend; hier: ohne
words such as “early”, “late” or “on time” anthropologist
festen Zeitplan
[)ÄnTrE(pQlEdZIst]
may be interpreted differently in Leipzig, , Anthropologe, humorous [(hju:mErEs]
Lusaka, Los Angeles or Lima, for example. Anthropologin , humorvoll, scherzhaft


Was passiert genau in diesem Moment? Hier finden Sie typische Beispiele und Regeln
für die Verwendung des present continuous auf Sprachniveau A2.
EASY PLUS
A VIDEO CALL
Eva: Hi, Raquel. Lovely to see you! What’s she doing?

How are you?
Match Raquel’s activities with the
Raquel: Good, thanks, but busy. I’m do-
correct time phrases.
ing a lot of overtime this month
because we need the money. A. She’s chatting to a friend...
We’re saving for a new kitchen. B. She’s working a lot of extra hours...
Eva: And who’s that little one behind C. She’s looking after her niece...
you? 1. ...this weekend.
Raquel: Oh, that’s my niece. She’s staying 2. ...right now.
with us this weekend. 3. ...this month.
Eva: What’s she doing? It looks ... sort A. B. C.
of violent?
Raquel: Well, she’s playing a game that
she calls “bad teddy” – I don’t
understand it!
ONE TENSE, TWO NAMES
This tense has two names: the “present
continuous” and the “present progres-
sive”. Don’t worry! It’s the same tense.
RIGHT NOW
• What are you doing right now?
• I’m reading Spotlight.
• I’m learning about the present continuous.
• I’m enjoying it.
• I’m wearing my reading glasses.
TODAY
• I’m wearing jeans and a red sweater.
• I’m not doing much today.
• The sun’s shining.
• The day’s going well.
A–2; B–3; C–1

overtime 1. What’s she doing?
, Überstunden
Answers

WHAT’S EVERYONE DOING?
• My wife’s having a shower at the moment.
• The kids are playing in their rooms.
• George is making lunch. Future plans
• My neighbour’s washing his car.
The present continuous can be
used to talk about future plans.
THIS WEEK, THIS MONTH, For more information about this,
THIS YEAR and other ways to talk about the
• I’m looking after my grandson this week.
future, see pages 50–57.
• She’s studying in London this term.
• They’re travelling around India at the
moment.
• I’m currently doing an internship.
• He’s working in New York for six months.
IT’S A BUSY TIME

• We’re renovating the bathroom.
• She’s preparing for her exams.
• They’re planning their wedding.
• He’s learning to play the trumpet.
• I’m looking for a new job.
• I’m reading a book about China.
HOW’S IT GOING?
• Are you enjoying your art course?
• Are you having a good holiday?
• How are you doing in your new job?
• How are you getting on with your new
in-laws?
MAKING PLANS
• We’re saving for a big holiday.
• She’s thinking of getting a dog. Grammar check: Remember the rules!
• They’re planning to move to Edinburgh.
• We’re organizing a trip to a music festival. When do we use the present continuous?
• They’re booking their next holiday.
• I’m looking forward to the weekend. Which one of these options is not correct? Cross it out.
TOMORROW We use the present continuous to talk about...

• I’m not in tomorrow. I’m taking the day off.
A. ...what we’re doing right now.
• They’re driving to Italy at the weekend.
• We’re taking the kids to the zoo on Sunday. B. ...what we need, want or understand.
• He’s not coming to the trade fair with us. C. ...a project we’re in the middle of.
D. ...what we’re doing today, this week, this month or
this year.
term in-laws [(In lO:z]

, Semester , Schwiegereltern
internship day off: take a ~

, Praktikum , einen Tag
freinehmen
trumpet B is not correct.
, Trompete trade fair Grammar check
, (Handels)Messe
Answer


Wie gehen die Dinge voran? Hier finden Sie typische Beispiele, Grammatiktipps und Regeln
für die Verwendung des present continuous auf Sprachniveau B1–B2.
MEDIUM AUDIO PLUS
Who is it?
Who’s taking an exam today?
Underline the correct names.
Mona, Franco, the woman
in the red jacket
AT AN EXAM CENTRE
Mona: Hi there! Come and sit with me

while we’re waiting. How are
you feeling?
Franco: A bit nervous. My hands are
shaking a little bit. Look! WHO’S WHERE?
• We’re in Spain, enjoying the sunshine.
Mona: Me, too. I can hear my tummy
• My husband’s out, getting a takeaway.
making strange noises! Oh, you
• The pubs are full of football fans, drink-
see the woman getting a drink
ing and singing.
from the machine?
• I’m at home, waiting for a delivery.
Franco: The one in the red jacket, hold-
ing a file?
THERE’S A…
Mona: Yes. She’s the examiner. • There’s a dog barking upstairs.
Franco: She looks nice. I guess she’s tak- • There are three people waiting at the
ing a break. bus stop.
Mona: Yes, they’re running a bit late, • There’s a taxi waiting outside.
but apparently I’m next, after • There are some idiots shouting in the
the break. Oh, they’re calling me. corridor.
Wish me luck!
Grammar tip: There’s a…

tummy (ifml.) Long version:
, Bauch
⋅ There’s a dog. It’s barking.
file
Short version:
, Aktenordner
late: run ~
, spät dran sein
⋅ There’s a dog barking.
Mona and Franco

Who is it?
apparently
, anscheinend
Answer

WHO’S THAT?
• Who’s that woman sitting in the corner?
• The man standing by the window is my
neighbour.
Grammar tip: “Look” and “feel”
• The people wearing red shirts are all
Liverpool fans. Like the other “sense” verbs (e.g. “it sounds” and “it
• The people standing in line over there tastes”), “it looks” and “it feels” are usually used in the
are queueing for tickets. present simple. However, you can also use the present
continuous, especially if you’re talking about a person’s
emotions or health:
Grammar tip: Who’s that?

⋅⋅ I feel quite nervous. / I’m feeling quite nervous.
You look very well! / You’re looking very well!
Long version:
⋅ The man who’s waiting in
reception is Mr Smith.
GETTING BETTER OR WORSE?
• How are you feeling today?
Short version:
⋅
• I’m feeling a lot better this morning.
The man waiting in reception is • I’m coughing less today.
Mr Smith. • He’s looking a bit better now.
• Things are slowly improving.
• I’m starting to feel a bit more positive.
KNOCK, KNOCK!
• Sorry, am I interrupting you? Den Dialog auf dieser
• I’m just saying hello. Doppelseite kostenlos anhören!
• I’m just taking orders for coffee. audio-gratis/10
• I’m leaving now, so I’m just saying
goodbye.
SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

• He’s playing outside – and we can see
him playing.
• She’s singing – and I can hear her singing.
When do we use the present continuous?
• It’s burning – can you smell it burning?
• You’re cooking – and I’m watching you
cooking.
WHILE We use the present continuous...

• Let’s play a game while we’re waiting. A. ...to say what we’re doing at this exact moment.
• I’ll bring you a coffee while you’re B. ...for activities that we’re doing today, this week or
working. this month.
• You can do some simple exercises while C. ...to say what’s always or usually so.
you’re sitting at your desk.
D. ...for things that we can see or hear happening at
the moment.
ARE YOU MAKING PROGRESS?
• How’s it going? E. ...to say how we’re feeling today (our emotions or
• We’re making good progress. our health).
• It’s going surprisingly well. F. ...to say how things are changing.
• They’re running late. G. ...in combination with “There is...”.
• We’re starting to see some results.
H. ...after “while” (in a present context).
• We’re having a few problems.
• Things are looking up.
C is not correct.
cough [kQf] Grammar check
husten
Answer
,


Die perfekte Zeitform für Nörgler: Hier finden Sie typische Beispiele, Grammatiktipps und Regeln
für die Verwendung des present continuous auf Sprachniveau C1–C2.
ADVANCED PLUS
A LETTER TO MUM AND DAD
I’m starting to feel a bit more at home. Where is she?

The only problem is the couple next door. Which country has
They’re always arguing, and then making Joni moved to?
up again, if you know what I mean.
I’m gradually getting used to the set-up
at work. Everyone speaks English, but
I’m slowly picking up a bit of Suomi
(that’s what the locals call their lan-
guage).
The days are starting to get shorter and
winter is fast approaching. I need to
“finnish” (ha ha!) the hat and scarf I’m
knitting.
HOW’S IT GOING?
• I’m settling in well.
• He’s gradually getting used to it.
• Are you finding your feet?
• Everything’s going swimmingly.
• I’m struggling a bit.
EVERYTHING’S CHANGING
make up
, sich versöhnen
• Prices are going up.
• The planet is warming.
scarf
, Schal
• The ice caps are melting.
• The days are getting shorter.
feet: find one’s ~
, sich eingewöhnen • Police officers are getting younger.
• The situation is becoming more urgent.
swimmingly: go ~ (ifml.)
, laufen wie geschmiert
Finland
Where is she?
Answer

WHAT’S ON THE HORIZON?
• We’re approaching a critical point.
• We’re reaching a key moment.
• We’re nearing our goal.
• We’re getting there slowly.
• The end is fast approaching. Grammar tip:
ALWAYS SUCH A NUISANCE! What are you saying?
• She’s always talking about her grand- “What are you saying?” is a chal-
children. lenge – a way of asking: “What ex-
• My parents are always complaining actly do you mean by that?” (Was
about the cost of living. genau willst du damit sagen?)
• He’s constantly checking his phone.
• We’re forever asking him not to park
in our space.
YOU’RE NOT USUALLY LIKE
ALWAYS SO KIND! THIS
• She’s always doing nice things for me. • You’re not being very helpful.
• You’re constantly doing thoughtful • She’s being quite stubborn about this.
things for others. • He’s being rather intolerant, I think.
• He’s always offering to do my shop- • He’s behaving oddly.
ping. • You’re overreacting.
• They’re always popping round to say
hello. GETTING SPECIFIC
• I’m thinking here particularly of…
• What are we talking about here
specifically?
• Are you referring to something in
particular?
Grammar check: Remember the rules! • What are you saying exactly?
• Are you thinking what I’m thinking?
When do we use the present continuous?
WONDERING
Which one of these options is not correct? Cross it out. • We’re wondering if we should
change our plans.
We use the present continuous... • I’m thinking of maybe taking next
Friday off work.
A. ...to talk about ongoing periods of adjustment.
• They’re considering closing several
B. ...to talk about ongoing processes of change. overseas branches.
C. ...with words such as “always” to exaggerate some-
one’s good or bad behaviour.
D. ...with words like “never” to exaggerate someone’s
good or bad behaviour.
E. ...to emphasize that someone’s behaviour is tem-
porary or unusual.
F. ...with verbs such as “thinking of” and “talking
about” to give specific examples.
key moment stubborn [(stVbEn]
, entscheidender , stur
Moment
oddly
nuisance [(nju:s&ns] , sonderbar
, Ärgernis
overseas branch D is not correct.
pop round (UK ifml.) Auslandsniederlassung
Grammar check
,
, vorbeischauen
Answer

THE PRESENT PERFECT
The present perfect

Das present perfect verbindet die Gegenwart
mit der Vergangenheit. Auf den nächsten acht Seiten
erklärt LYNDA HÜBNER, was genau es mit diesem
Konzept auf sich hat – und wann man das present perfect simple
oder das present perfect continuous verwendet.

THE PRESENT PERFECT
Das present perfect simple
wird mit „has“ oder „have“ und
dem past participle gebildet:
„She has walked“.
Das present perfect
continuous wird mit „has been“
Who’s been sitting in my chair?
oder „have been“ und dem
present participle gebildet: Das beschäftigt die drei Bären in Spotlights Märchenversion.
„I have been walking“.
Die spannendere Frage aber lautet: Mit welcher Zeitform wird
unser Goldlöckchen hier eigentlich konfrontiert?
MEDIUM AUDIO
Once upon a time, there were three brown The big bear looked at his chair and saw
bears who lived in a cottage in the woods. that it had been moved. “Who’s been sit-
One bear was large, one was medium- ting in my chair?” he boomed. The me-
sized and one was small. dium-sized bear looked at his chair and
On a cold and sunny day, when the river saw that the cushion had been squashed.
was running high and full, and the three “Who’s been sitting in my chair?” he
bears were out catching fish, a little girl shouted. And the small bear looked at his
with golden hair came along and knocked chair and was horrified to see Goldilocks
on the door. Her name was Goldilocks. in it, asleep. “Who’s been sitting in my
There was no answer, so she pushed open chair – and is still here?” he squeaked.
the door and went inside. Just then, Goldilocks woke up. “Who’s
been booming and shouting and squeak-
ing?” she asked. “And how long have you
been standing there looking at me? Don’t
make such a fuss.” The bears invited her
to have tea with them – and even gave her
Everything in the cottage was neat and some fish to take home.
clean. There was a wooden table with a
large pot of honey on it, and three wooden
chairs. One chair was large, one was medi-
um-sized and one was small. Goldilocks
INFO TO GO
was feeling a bit tired, so she decided to
This very old English folk
sit down to have a rest. “After all, I’ve been tale was first written down
walking around all day,” she said to herself. by Robert Southey in 1837. In
that version, The Story of the
The big chair was too big for her – she
Three Bears, Goldilocks is an
could hardly climb up on to it. The middle old woman who breaks into
chair wobbled when she sat down. But the the bears’ house.
small chair was perfect – just right. In fact,
it was so comfortable that Goldilocks fell
asleep, right there on the chair.
neat boom
, ordentlich , dröhnen
after all squash sth. [skwQS]

, immerhin , etw. zusammendrücken
wobble [(wQb&l] squeak [skwi:k]

A short while later, clonk–clonk–clonk, the , wackeln , piepsen, quietschen
three bears came home, carrying a big sack
clonk-clonk-clonk fuss
of fish. “I’ve been eating all day but I’m still , hier etwa: mit schweren , Getue, Theater
hungry!” said the small bear. Schritten

THE PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE
The present perfect simple

Gerade eben oder noch nie im Leben: Hier finden Sie typische Beispiele, Grammatiktipps und Regeln
für die Verwendung des present perfect simple auf Sprachniveau A2.
EASY PLUS
WELCOME HOME
True or false?
Ivor and Jenny have been on holiday in Tick the true sentence.
Greece. They’ve just returned home.
○ A. Ivor and Jenny arrived
Jenny: Oh, it’s good to be back, isn’t it? home a few minutes ago.
I’ve missed my own bed! ○ B. Someone has broken into
Ivor: I’ll take the suitcases upstairs their house.
while you put the kettle on for a
cup of tea.
Jenny: Ivor! Someone’s been in the
house. Look! The kitchen cup- LOOK!
boards are open and there are • Someone’s broken the window.
things all over the worktops. I • It’s stopped raining.
think there’s been a break-in! • The sun has come out.
Ivor: Well, the living room looks OK. • They’ve painted their front door.
I’ve never heard of a burglar • The dog’s eaten all his dinner.
stealing only cornflakes...
OH, NO!
(voice from upstairs):
• He’s forgotten his keys.
Hi, Mum! Hi, Dad! I’ve taken a • I’ve broken my fingernail.
few days off uni. I wanted to sur- • He’s burned the toast.
prise you both. • She’s spilled her coffee.
Jenny: Well, you’ve certainly done that, • I’ve lost my phone.
Mark!
IT’S JUST HAPPENED
• I’ve just had lunch – I can’t eat another thing.
• I’m afraid he’s just left, but he’ll be back later.
• The film has only just started, so you haven’t
missed much.
• I’ve just heard the news.
• Who has just arrived?
Grammar tip:
kettle: put the ~ on
What’s happened?
, das Wasser aufsetzen The present perfect
worktop has a connection to the
, Arbeitsfläche
present. The action is in
burglar [(b§:glE] the past, but the result
, Einbrecher(in) of that action can be

days off: take a few ~ seen now.
, sich ein paar Tage frei
nehmen A is true.
spill sth. True or false?
, etw. verschütten
Answer

TO-DO LIST
• She’s already done the ironing.
• Has she tidied the children’s room yet?
• He hasn’t emptied the dishwasher yet.
• She’s already cleaned the windows.
• He’s already prepared lunch.
• They still haven't finished. Grammar tip: Experiences
With a past time, we use the past
LIFE EXPERIENCES tense (not the present perfect):
•
•
She’s never been to the US.
Have you ever drunk English beer? ⋅ I won a handwriting
competition when I was eight.
• Haven’t we met before?
• He’s never won a competition in his life.
• I’ve worked in several countries.
HERE AND THERE

• You have a nice tan – have you been to
Greece again?
• You’re late – where have you been?
• Where has the cat gone? I can’t find her. Grammar check:
• It’s quiet at home because the kids have Remember the rules!
gone to summer camp.
• Grandma has gone to heaven. When do we use the present perfect simple?
Which one of these options is not correct?

Cross it out.
Grammar tip: We use the present perfect simple to talk

“Been” and “gone” about...
A. ...things that have only just happened.
“He’s been there” means that he has
now returned. “He’s gone there” B. ...the present result of a past action.
means that he is still away. “Been” C. ...experiences we have had at some time in
and “gone” can also be followed by our life.
“to”. D. ...an experience with a past time phrase,
e.g. “three years ago”, “last week”.
E. ...things we have never experienced in our
USEFUL PHRASES life.
• Have you made up your mind yet?
F. ...things we planned to do and have already
• I’m sure we’ve met before.
done.
• Where on earth have you been?
• I’ve looked everywhere but I can’t find it. G. ...things we haven’t done until now.
• I’ve never heard such nonsense in all
my life!
• Have you heard the news?
• Have you been busy lately?
dishwasher earth: Where on ~ ...?

, Geschirrspülmaschine , Wo um alles in der D is not correct.
Welt ...?
tan
Grammar check
Answer
, Sonnenbräune

The present perfect simple

Eine berüchtigte Stolperfalle für Nicht-Muttersprachler: for und since. Hier erfahren Sie den Unterschied und
finden weitere typische Anwendungsbeispiele für das present perfect simple auf Sprachniveau B1–B2.
MEDIUM PLUS
Who is it?
Write in the correct names.
A. _________________ has never eaten
THE TURKISH RESTAURANT Turkish food before.
B. _________________ has been to this
Matt: So, what do you think of this restaurant before.
place?
Jen: Well, I like the decor – it looks very
new.
Matt: Yes, it’s been open since the begin-
ning of the year.
Jen: Have you been here before?
Matt: No, I’ve been to other Turkish
places, but this is my first time
here. Sami recommended it to me.
He says we have to try it. It’s the
best Turkish food he’s ever eaten –
apart from his mother’s, of course!
Jen: I’m looking forward to it. It’s the
first time I’ve had a Turkish meal.
Matt: Hmm – the food may be good, but
the service isn’t brilliant. We’ve
been here for ten minutes already
and they haven’t even brought us
the menu yet! Illustrationen: Sylvia Wolf
B. Sami
A. Jen
Who is it?
Answers
decor [(deIkO:]
, Ausstattung

THE FIRST TIME
• I’ve never done this before.
• So, you’ve never been to this place?
• Have you ever eaten Japanese food?
• It’s the first time she’s ever been abroad.
• Have you met her before?
Grammar tip:
• I’ve never thought about it up to now.
“For” and “since”
THE BEST AND THE WORST We use “for” with a period of
• It’s the best meal I’ve ever eaten! time:
•
•
I’ve never been so insulted!
It’s the worst holiday we’ve ever had.
⋅ for six days
We use “since”’ with a specific
• He’s the most difficult person I’ve ever met!
point in time:
•
•
I’ve never stayed in such a disgusting hotel.
What’s the funniest film you’ve ever seen? ⋅ since Tuesday.
Say: “I have been here since then”,
FOR HOW LONG? not “I am here since then”.
• How long have you lived there for?
• I haven’t been a teacher for very long.
• I haven’t seen him for a long time.
• They’ve been on strike for at least a week.
• They’ve gone on holiday for a fortnight.
• We’ve known each other for more than 20 years.
• I haven’t had a good night’s sleep for ages. Grammar check:
SINCE WHEN? Remember the rules!
• They’ve been married since December.
When do we use the present perfect simple?
• They’ve been together since university.
• I haven’t seen you since the meeting in York.
• Has she phoned you since she got back?
Cross it out.
• He hasn’t spoken to her since they argued.
• I’ve known him ever since we were at school.
We use the present perfect simple to talk
about...
UP TO NOW
• How many books have you written up to now? A. ...an experience we’ve never had before.
• I’ve sent out 30 invitations so far. B. ...the length of time a present state has
• He hasn’t filled the dishwasher yet. existed. (for)
• There have been several price increases recently. C. ...the length of time between the start of an
• I’ve been really busy lately. activity and now. (since)
D. ...things that happened last week, two
THIS TIME
weeks ago, etc.
• I’ve already smoked three cigarettes this
morning. E. ...superlative experiences in your life.
• I haven’t done any housework this week. F. ...events that have happened during a
• Have you visited your mother this month? certain period of time.
• She’s been on holiday three times this year.
insulted: be ~
, beleidigt werden D is not correct.
disgusting Grammar check
, ekelhaft
Answer

THE PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE AND THE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
The present perfect simple and

the present perfect continuous
Present perfect simple oder present perfect continuous? Das ist oft nur eine Frage der Nuance.
Hier finden Sie typische Beispiele, Grammatiktipps und Regeln auf Sprachniveau C1–C2.
ADVANCED AUDIO PLUS
AN IMPATIENT PATIENT
A man has stepped outside the doctor’s

waiting room and is talking on his phone. What is correct?
“No, I’ve no idea when I’ll be home. I’ve A. He’s been waiting for more than /
been here since 9.15. My appointment under half an hour.
should have been at 9.45 and it’s already B. People have been complaining about /
ten o’clock. I really don’t know why they praising the NHS recently.
bother with an appointment system. The
old man sitting next to me says he’s been
waiting even longer than me. He’s been
going on and on about how conditions
have deteriorated in the health service
over the years. HAVE YOU HEARD?
“I think he’s right – things do seem to • I’ve just read they’ve found the missing girl.
have got worse and worse since Covid. • It’s been announced that there will be tax
It’s no wonder there’s been such an out- cuts.
• It’s become clear that some politicians have
cry about NHS waiting times recently.
been accepting illegal donations.
You’ve probably heard about that guy
• Evidently, there’s been another cover-up in
who had to wait five hours for an ambu-
the administration.
lance. Scandalous! • I see that activists have been demonstrating
“The government maintains they’ve in front of parliament.
been pouring money into the NHS and • You’ve heard that the terrorist has been
that it has improved its waiting times, released?
but there’s little evidence… Oh, hang on
– that man in front of me has just been HOW ANNOYING!
called in, so maybe it won’t be long now.” • He’s been going on about it all morning.
• The situation has become more and more
frustrating.
• They haven’t done a thing about it yet.
• They still haven’t found a proper solution.
go on about sth. maintain • They haven’t even begun to tackle the
, sich ständig über etw. aus- problem.
, behaupten
lassen
hang on (ifml.) • I’ve been telling him to do that for ages.
deteriorate , Moment mal
[di(tIEriEreIt]
, sich verschlechtern donation B. complaining about
, Spende
NHS (National Health Service) A. more than
(UK) tackle sth. What is correct?
, staatlicher Gesundheitsdienst , etw. angehen
Answers

THE PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE AND THE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
HOW LONG? HOW MANY?
• He’s been going out with her for ages. • I’ve been reading all morning. I’ve read 40 pages.
• We’ve been waiting two weeks for a reply. • You’ve been smoking all day. How many cigarettes
• I’ve been in the army for six years. have you smoked?
• They haven’t known each other for very long. • I’ve been baking for hours. I’ve made two birthday
• Since 2022, prices have been increasing rapidly. cakes.
• Since arriving in the UK, he’s been trying to • She’s been driving all night. She’s driven more
learn English. than 500 kilometres.
• I haven’t had a holiday since I don’t know when. • They’ve been working hard. They’ve written
dozens of reports.
Grammar tip: Grammar tip: Numbers

Ongoing activities We don’t use the present
perfect continuous when talking
We use the present perfect contin-
about a number of completed
uous to talk about activities that are
actions.
still going on or have just stopped:
⋅ I’ve been waiting for ten minutes.
Remember not to use a continuous
tense with verbs such as “be”, “like”,
“know”, etc.
1. When do we use 2. When do we use
“HAVE BEEN DOING” AND the present perfect the present perfect
“HAVE DONE” simple? continuous?
• His hands are oily because…
...he’s been fixing the car. Which one of these Which one of these
...he’s just made a salad. options is not correct? options is not correct?
• I’m soaking wet because… Cross it out. Cross it out.
...I’ve been walking in the rain.
...I’ve been out in the rain. We can use the present We can use the present
• We’re out of breath because… perfect simple to talk perfect continuous to
...we’ve been doing push-ups. about... talk about...
...we’ve just done 24 push-ups. A. ...a recent news event. A. ...a recent news event.
B. ...situations with B. ...situations with
verbs such as “know”, verbs such as “know”,
“love”, “hate”, etc. “love”, “hate”, etc.
Grammar tip: “Have been C. ...an action recently C. ...a long activity that
completed. has just stopped.
doing” and “have done”
D. ...a long activity that D. ...a long activity that
We use the present perfect con- is still going on. is still going on.
tinuous to talk about an ongoing E. ...a period of time E. ...a period of time
activity:
⋅
with “for” or “since”. with “for” or “since”.
He’s been cutting the meat for the
goulash.
We use the present perfect simple to
talk about an action / actions recent- soaking wet
ly completed: , klatschnass
⋅
2. B is not correct.
He’s cut his finger. push-up 1. D is not correct.
, Liegestütz
Answers

SECTION
IN THE NEWS
Tenses in the news

LANGUAGE
TENSES
MEDIUM
Im Schulbuch ist der Gebrauch der englischen Zeiten klar umrissen – im täglichen Sprachgebrauch
verschwimmen die Grenzen. VANESSA CLARK wirft einen Blick auf Theorie und Praxis.
u Why that tense?

Read this news story about a primary school in the UK Look at the verbs highlighted in the article and
and then do the grammar exercise on the right. answer the questions below.
Free school meals for Bradford primary A. The verb, donates, is in the present simple. Why?
after public (A) donates £50,000 1. This often happens – people regularly donate
money.
A primary school (B) is offering every pupil free lunches 2. It’s in a news headline.
for the rest of the school year, after it was flooded with
donations following a BBC News report. B. The verb, is offering, is in the present continuous.
Why?
Families at Dixons Marchbank Primary, in Bradford, 1. It’s happening today, this week, this month or
(C) told BBC News last month that they (D) were cutting this year.
back on children’s hot lunches because of rising bills. 2. It’s always true.
Since then, the school (E) has received almost £50,000 C. The verb, told, is in the past simple. Why?
in donations – which (F) will pay for lunches until the 1. It has only just happened.
summer. 2. It happened last month.
“The kindness of people has been unbelievable,” the D. The verb, were cutting back, is in the past contin-
head teacher, Helen Haunch, said. “It restores your faith uous. Why?
in humanity.” 1. The families were describing a scene – what
they could see or hear.
Among those who have given money are 2. The families were talking about a plan or a pro-
pensioners, some of them raised in poor cess that was underway.
families themselves, and one man who
(G) had just lost his job. E. The verb, has received, is in the present perfect
simple. Why?
1. It’s used after “since then”. It started in the past
and hasn’t finished yet.
2. It’s describing a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
F. The verb, will pay, is in the future simple. Why?

1. It’s a simple fact about what will happen in the
future.
2. It’s a spontaneous decision – such as: “I think I’ll
order another glass of wine.”
primary school (UK) head teacher (UK)
, Grundschule , Schulleiter(in) G. The verb, had lost, is in the past perfect simple.
free restore sth. Why?

, hier: kostenlos , etw. wiederherstellen 1. The man made the donation and then lost his
donate [dEU(neIt] spontaneous job.
, spenden [spQn(teIniEs] F–1; G–2
2. The man lost his job and then made the dona-
spontan
A–2; B–1; C–2; D–2; E–1;
,
bill 1. Why that tense? tion.
, Rechnung; hier: Kosten Answers

TENSES IN THE NEWS
Read this news story about female workers in South v What works?
Korea and do the grammar activity on the right. For each of the verbs highlighted in the report,
read the suggested verb forms below. For each
Women fight back as South Korea verb, only one option is not possible. Cross it out
abolishes its gender ministry and tick the correct options!
When Yuna turned up for her first day at work, as a clerk A. not expect
at a major bank, she (A) __________ (not expect) the 1. wasn’t expecting
tasks she (B) __________ (be assigned). The first was 2. didn’t expect
to make lunch for her team. Later, she was ordered to 3. wouldn’t expect
take home the hand towels from the men’s toilet and 4. hadn’t expected
wash them. These jobs fell to her, she was told, as the
newest female member of staff. B. be assigned
At first, she politely refused. “Can’t the men take their 1. will be assigned
own towels home to wash?” she asked her boss, but he 2. would be assigned
replied incredulously: “How (C) __________ (expect) 3. was assigned
men to wash towels?”
“He got angry, and I realized that if I (D) __________ C. expect
(continue) to fight this, the harassment (E) __________ 1. do you expect
(get) worse, so I started washing the towels,” Yuna says. 2. can you expect
But because she (F) __________ (complain), she was 3. must you expect
marked.
As she wanders through the dark alleys of her local D. continue
food market, dressed in a black baseball cap, oversize 1. will continue
jeans and a T-shirt, she tries to disguise herself as she 2. continued
talks about her experience. This is a small town, and
she has done something she (G) __________ (be fired) E. get
for. She filmed everything and reported the bank to the 1. got
government, so that it could be investigated. 2. would get
(H) __________ (tip her over the edge) not just the
abuse, which grew steadily worse, but the lack of sup- F. complain
port from her female colleagues – those in their 20s, 1. complained
like her. 2. would complain
“It’s like this everywhere. Don’t make a fuss,” they had 3. had complained
warned.
G. be fired
1. could be fired
2. was able to be fired
H. tip over the edge

1. It tipped her over the edge
abolish sth. [E(bQlIS] alley 2. What tipped her over the edge was
, etw. abschaffen , Gasse
gender ministry oversize

, Gleichstellungs- , übergroß
ministerium
disguise onself
clerk [klA:k] [dIs(gaIz]
, (Büro)Angestellte(r) sich verkleiden,
H. 2 (1 is incorrect.)
,
sich tarnen
G. 1 (2 is incorrect.)
assign [E(saIn] Different options F. 1, 3 (2 is incorrect.)
, zuweisen edge: tip sb. over the ~ E. 2 (1 is incorrect.)
(ifml.) As you can see on this page, the choice of D. 2 (1 is incorrect.)
incredulously , jmdm. den Rest geben tense is often flexible. Schoolbooks have to C. 1, 2 (3 is incorrect.)
[In(kredjUlEsli]
give clear exercises with only one possible
B. 2, 3 (1 is incorrect.)
, ungläubig abuse [E(bju:s] A. 1, 2, 4 (3 is incorrect.)
, Missbrauch answer, but in real life, there are often two, or
harassment
The correct options are:
[(hÄrEsmEnt] fuss even three, different possibilities. 2. What works?
Schikane , Wirbel, Getue
Answers
,

TRICKY TENSES
Tricky tenses
MEDIUM
Viel zu oft lässt man sich bei der Wahl der englischen Zeitform von der eigenen
Muttersprache beeinflussen. LYNDA HÜBNER hat für Sie ein Quiz mit typisch
deutschen Fehlern zusammengestellt.
There are some typical mistakes that people often make when translating
from German into English. Don’t get caught out! Choose the correct translation from
the two options given for each sentence below.
A. Oh nein! Es regnet schon wieder. D. Ist das schwer? Soll ich es für dich tragen?
1. Oh, no! It’s raining again. 1. Is that heavy? Will I carry it for you?
2. Oh, no! It rains again. 2. Is that heavy? Shall I carry it for you?
B. Er ist vor ein paar Tagen angekommen. E. Ich wohne hier, seit ich London verlassen habe.
1. He arrived a few days ago. 1. I am living here since I left London.
2. He has arrived a few days ago. 2. I’ve been living here since I left London.
C. Sie waren gerade beim Picknicken, als es zu regnen F. Hi, Jack. Wo bist du gewesen?
anfing. 1. Hi, Jack. Where have you been?
1. They had a picnic when it started to rain. 2. Hi, Jack. Where have you gone?
2. They were having a picnic when it started
to rain. G. Er ist schon 200 Kilometer gefahren.
1. He has already been driving 200 kilo-
metres.
2. He has already driven 200 kilometres.
H. Ich will nach Hause.

1. I want to go home.
2. I will go home.
I. Ich muss das nicht jetzt machen – ich kann es am

Wochenende tun.
1. I don’t have to do it now. I can do it at the
weekend.
2. I mustn’t do it now. I can do it at the week-
end.
J. Das mache ich morgen.

1. I do it tomorrow.
2. I’ll do it tomorrow.
get caught out

F–1; G–2; H–1; I–1; J–2 [kO:t] (ifml.)
erwischt werden;
A–1; B–1; C–2; D–2; E–2;
,
hier: hereinfallen
Answers

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THE PAST SIMPLE AND THE PAST CONTINUOUS
The past simple and

the past continuous
Wann verwendet man die einfache, wann die zusammengesetzte
Vergangenheitsform? Das zu entscheiden, ist für Nicht-Muttersprachler oft eine
Herausforderung. Auf den nächsten acht Seiten erklärt VANESSA CLARK,
wann das past simple und wann das past continuous zum Einsatz kommt.

Zur Bildung des past simple
eines regelmäßigen Verbs
wird an die Grundform die
Endung „-d“, „-ed“ oder „-ied“
angehängt: „I dived“ / „He
walked“ / „She tried“.
Das past continuous wird mit
„was“ oder „were“ und dem
Eight facts about U.S. history
present participle gebildet:
„She was singing“. Ergänzen Sie die Verben in Klammern im simple past –
und erweitern Sie ganz nebenbei Ihr amerikanisches Geschichtswissen.
MEDIUM US AUDIO
A. In an article in Nature magazine in 2021, F. Between 1870 and 1900, nearly 12

scientists published evidence showing million immigrants (ar-
that the Vikings (land) and rive) in the U.S., most of them from
(settle) in North America in Germany, Ireland, and England. They
the year 1021 – nearly 500 years before (see) America as a place
Columbus “ (sail) the ocean where they wouldn’t be persecuted for
blue” in 1492. their political or religious beliefs. At the
end of the 19th century and the begin-
B. In 1607, around 100 English men ning of the 20th century, two and a half
(found) the first colo- million Jewish immigrants from Cen-
ny in North America, which they tral Europe (make) their way
(call) Virginia (named after to America, as well as more than four
Queen Elizabeth I, the “Virgin Queen”), million Italians.
and the first permanent settlement,
Jamestown. Tobacco (be- G. Charles Lindbergh (achieve)
come) Virginia’s most profitable export. the first solo nonstop transatlantic
flight in his airplane, The Spirit of St.
C. The Irish-American architect James Louis, in May 1927. He (fly)
Hoban (design) and from Long Island to Paris, which
(supervise) the construc- (take) 33 hours and 30 min-
tion of the U.S. Capitol and the White utes.
House in the first decade of the 19th
century. President John Adams H. Neil Armstrong (be) the first
(be) the first president to man to walk on the moon, in July 1969.
live in the White House. As Armstrong (take) his first
steps, he (say) the following
D. The American Civil War words, which (make) histo-
(last) from 1861 to 1865. Three million ry: “That’s one small step for [a] man,
men (fight) in the war, and one giant leap for mankind.”
more than two percent of the popula-
tion (620,000) (die) in it.
virgin [(v§:dZEn] substitute [(sVbstItu:t]
E. Before English colonization, Native , Jungfrau, jungfräulich , hier: an die Stelle setzen
Americans (speak) hun- construction persecute [(p§:sIkju:t]
dreds of different languages. In 1868, , Bau verfolgen
was; took; said; made
H.
achieved; flew; tookG. ,
arrived; saw; made F. President Ulysses S. Grant Native American Jewish [(dZu:IS]
(write): “Their barbarous dialect should , Ureinwohner Amerikas jüdisch
spoke; wrote E.
lasted; fought; diedD. ,
was be blotted out and the English language blot sth. out leap
substituted.” , etw. auslöschen , Sprung; hier: Schritt
C. designed; supervised;
B. founded; called; became
A. landed; settled; sailed
Answers

The past simple and

the past continuous
Die Vergangenheitsform – aber welche? Hier finden Sie typische Beispiele, Grammatiktips und Regeln
für die Verwendung des past simple und des past continuous auf Sprachniveau A2.
EASY PLUS
A LAZY WEEKEND What did she do?

What did Nicki do in bed over the weekend?
Rena: How was your weekend? Underline the correct verbs.
Nicki: I spent the whole weekend in bed.
ate, did some shopping, did some exercises, listened
Rena: Oh, no! Were you ill?
to an audiobook, phoned some friends, read a book,
Nicki: No, just lazy. I looked out of the
relaxed, watched something, slept, worked
window on Saturday morning
and it was raining, so I thought,
“Why get up?” I had a lovely
weekend.
Rena: What did you do to amuse your-
self, if I may ask?
Nicki: I watched a lot of stuff; I called a
couple of old friends; I ordered a
few things online; I slept a lot.
Rena: Did you get up to cook or eat?
Nicki: Only to use the kettle and the
toaster. The rest I ordered in and
then took the boxes straight to
my bed.
Rena: Brilliant! Did you get up to use
the bathroom at least?
Nicki: Oh, yeah. I’m not that lazy!
WHAT DID YOU DO LAST

NIGHT?
• I walked the dog. – Did you walk far?
• We watched something on Netflix. –
What did you watch?
Grammar tip: Two sorts of verbs
• They saw some friends. – Who did
slept Regular verbs (e.g. “dance”, “watch”, “carry”) they see?
form the past simple with “-d”, “-ed” or “-ied”.
• We took a taxi home. – How much did

relaxed, watched something,
phoned some friends,
ate, did some shopping, Irregular verbs take a different form in the it cost?
What did she do?
Answers
past simple (e.g. “go – went”, “see – saw”). • I went to bed early. – Did you sleep
You can find a list of irregular verbs at well?
kettle www.spotlight-online.de/irregular
, Wasserkocher

A QUIET WEEKEND ALWAYS, SOMETIMES, NEVER
• I didn’t see anyone. • I hated every day of my last job.
• He didn’t go anywhere. • I always went to work with a heavy heart.
• We didn’t cook anything. • The boss often shouted at us.
• They didn’t do any housework. • Sometimes, I cried in the toilets.
• I never felt comfortable there.
A LIFE WELL LIVED
• I grew up in a village. WHEN THE TRAIN BROKE DOWN...
• He left school at 16. • We were travelling all the way to Edinburgh.
• I took singing lessons in my 20s. • The man next to me was eating a sandwich.
• I changed career in 2010. • The woman opposite was listening to music.
• They moved to the coast when they retired. • A baby was crying loudly.
• She died ten years ago.
WHERE WERE YOU AT 4 A.M.?
• At four o’clock this morning, I was lying in my
bed, wide awake.
Grammar tip: • I was worrying about our finances.
When did you do that? • My partner was sleeping like a baby.
These time phrases are useful WHEN WE MET...

with the past simple: • We met when we were both living in Lisbon.
⋅ “at the weekend”, “the day
before yesterday”, “last year”,
• I met him when I was working in London.
• She was living with her ex when we met and
“in 2000”, “two weeks ago”, “at fell in love.
five o’clock”, “at [the age of] 18”,
“in my 30s”

HOW LONG?
• I lived there for 30 years. 1. When do we use the past simple?
• He studied abroad for six months. Which one of these options is not correct? Cross it out.
• I spent about two years in Madrid.
We use the past simple...
A. ...to say what we did yesterday or last week.
B. ...to say what we always, often or sometimes did in the past.
C. ...with “for”, to say how long we lived or worked somewhere
Grammar tip: in the past.
“How long” + past D. ...to talk about activities that we started in the past and are
still doing now.
“I lived there for 12 years”
means that this person 2. When do we use the past continuous?
does not live there now. Which one of these options is not correct? Cross it out.
The verb “lived” (in the
past simple) shows that We use the past continuous...
the time period is fin-
A. ...to describe a scene; what was happening around us.
ished, in the past.
B. ...to say what we were doing at an exact moment in time.
C. ...with “for”, to say how long we lived or worked somewhere
in the past.
D. ...to explain where we were living or working when some-
2. C is not correct. thing happened.
1. D is not correct.
Grammar check
Answers

The past simple and

the past continuous
Einfache Form oder Verlaufsform? Hier finden Sie typische Beispiele, Grammatiktipps und Regeln
für die Verwendung des past simple und des past continuous auf Sprachniveau B1–B2.
MEDIUM AUDIO PLUS
Who is it?
Match the names to the sentences.
AN ACCIDENT
There is one name that you won’t need.
Anna: Are you OK? I’ve got three missed calls John – Anna – Chaz – a doctor
from you. My phone was on silent because A. He was running in the woods when he slipped and
I was driving. fell. __________
John: Sorry, yes, I didn’t mean to panic you. I’m B. She was walking her dog when she saw the
fine. You know my running mate, Chaz? injured runner. __________
He had an accident when we were out C. She missed three calls while she was driving.
running in the woods. __________
Anna: What happened?
John: Well, we were going quite slowly because
the ground was wet and slippery...
Anna: Oh, did he slip and fall?
John: Sort of. He caught his foot in a hole, like a
rabbit hole, and he fell flat on his face. FROM THE HISTORY BOOKS
Anna: Oh, no! Did he break anything? • Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon in 1969.
John: No, we don’t think so. I helped him to hop • Martin Luther started the Reformation.
back to the car and, luckily, there was a • The Hundred Years War lasted for 116 years.
woman there who was a doctor. She was • Did Napoleon really crown himself emperor?
walking her dog and, as soon as she saw • Charles III didn’t become king until he was 73.
us, she came over and checked Chaz’s foot.
She didn’t think it was broken. PAST LIVES, PAST LIFESTYLES
• My dad worked on the railways his whole life.
• As a boy, Charles Dickens worked in a factory.
• Everyone smoked in those days.
Grammar tip: When was that?

These time phrases are useful when talking
about the past:
⋅ “in the 1970s”, “in the old days”, “in those
mate (UK ifml.) sort of (ifml.)

, Freund, Kumpel , irgendwie days”, “during the war”, “in the 20th
century”, “in the communist era”, “in the
slippery hop
C. Anna
, rutschig , hüpfen Middle Ages”
B. a doctor
A. Chaz
slip emperor
, ausrutschen , Kaiser
Answers

IT OFTEN HAPPENED HOW DID THE ACCIDENT HAPPEN?
• We regularly drank in pubs when we were under 18. • Sorry! I wasn’t looking where I was going.
• My grandparents always went to the same place • She wasn’t paying attention to the traffic.
on holiday. • He was walking and reading at the same time –
• I spent every other weekend with my cousins. and walked into a lamp-post.
• He went to all the away matches last season. • She turned around because the kids were argu-
ing on the back seat of the car.
GOOD TIMING, BAD TIMING

Grammar tip: We don’t do that any more • While they were reading the timetable, the bus
left without them.
To talk about a past lifestyle or routine that’s now fin- • The train doors closed while I was running
ished, use the past simple or, alternatively, “used to”. along the platform.
⋅⋅ Did you use to have a cat? – Yes, I used to have a cat.
We used to eat out a lot more.
• The doorbell rang while she was washing her
hair.
⋅ We didn’t use to eat at home so often. • While we were unpacking the picnic, it started
to rain.
• The delivery arrived while she was chatting on
WHY DIDN’T YOU TAKE MY CALL? the doorstep.
• Sorry! I was driving. • I was watching the football on TV when I spot-
• My wife was feeding the baby. ted my uncle in the crowd.
• I was trying to finish some work.
• We were up in the attic, sorting some boxes.
IT WAS CHAOS! Grammar tip: “When” and “while”

• People were running everywhere, shouting.
You can use “when” with both tenses – the
• Some people were filming it on their phones.
past simple and the past continuous. However,
• There was an ambulance trying to get through
“while” is used only with the past continuous.
the crowd.
• He wasn’t breathing.
HOW DID THEY REACT?

• When the home team scored, the crowd went
Grammar check: Remember the rules! wild.
• When he pulled out a knife, I called the police
When do we use the past simple and past continuous? straight away.
Choose the correct tense. • When her son died, she started a charity in his
name.
We use the past... simple continuous • As soon as they saw the boy in the water, they
A. ...to say that something happened rushed to help.
in the past.
B. ...to give historical facts.
C. ...to describe a scene in the past.
D. ...to say what often or regularly
happened in the past.
E. ...to describe what we were doing
when an accident or other incident
happened.
F. ...to say how we reacted; every other lamp-post
what we did next. , jede(r,s) zweite , Straßenlaterne
G. ...to talk about a past lifestyle away match (UK) platform

, Auswärtsspiel , Bahnsteig
or routine. Past continuous: C, E
attic score Past simple: A, B, D, F, G
, Dachboden , Punkte machen,
Grammar check
ein Tor schießen
Answers

The past simple and

the past continuous
„Ich war gerade dabei... als...“: Hier finden Sie typische Beispiele, Grammatiktipps und Regeln
für die Verwendung des past simple und des past continuous auf Sprachniveau C1–C2.
ADVANCED PLUS
How’s she feeling now?

A MEATY PROBLEM
How’s Rhoda feeling by the end of the
Dan: Hi, Rhoda. I was just thinking about you. call? Choose the correct statement.
Rhoda: Were you? Did your thoughts include pigs’ ○ A. Dan’s ideas have inspired
trotters? her to get cooking.
Dan: I beg your pardon? ○ B. Dan’s advice has
Rhoda: Pigs’ trotters. I’ve just bought some and I was discouraged her.
hoping you might have some suggestions for
me, seeing as you’re a chef. I was thinking of
putting them in the slow cooker. Any advice?
Dan: OK, let’s rewind. How did you come to buy
pigs’ trotters? JUST AT THAT MOMENT
Rhoda: I was at a farmer’s market. I was looking for • Just as the detective was leaving, he turned
meat and I spotted this pack of trotters. They back and asked one final question.
reminded me of my grandmother. • Just when it was starting to look hopeless, our
Dan: Sorry? team scored another goal.
Rhoda: She was always boiling up bits of animals. • We took our seats just as the opening credits of
Dan: I see. OK, so – ideas. Well, you could slow the film were rolling.
cook them with soy sauce, ginger and onions. • Just when they were starting to feel hopeful,
You’ll have to boil them in water first, to get they got bad news.
rid of the smells and some of the grease. Oh,
and you have to cut off the little piggy hairs. WHAT A COINCIDENCE!
• Ah, here he is now! We were just talking about
Rhoda: Hairs? Smells? Grease? Are you trying to put
you, Tom.
me right off?
• Oh, hi, Sue! I was just writing you an email.
Dan: Sorry, I was only trying to help! • How strange! I was just thinking about you.
• Here’s the coffee trolley. I was just thinking it
was time for a break.
• That’s a great suggestion. Actually, I was just
pigs’ trotters ginger [(dZIndZE] thinking the exact same thing.
, Schweinefüße , Ingwer
chef grease PERHAPS

, Koch, Köchin , Fett • I was wondering if we could...
slow cooker put sb. off • I was thinking of offering to...

, Schongarer , jmdn. abschrecken • We were thinking of inviting...
rewind: let’s ~ opening credits • I was hoping to ask you...
, nochmal von vorn, bitte , Vorspann
B is correct.
How’s she feeling now? soy sauce [)sOI (sO:s] trolley (UK)
Sojasauce (Roll)Wagen
Answer
, ,
40 SPOTLIGHT 2023 LANGUAGE

WISHES THAT’S A SHAME!
• I wish I had a more interesting career. • I was counting on you!
• I wish we didn’t have to share a garden. • We were relying on him.
• If only we lived somewhere nicer. • I was really hoping it would all work out
• If only we had more time for each other. for you.
• They were really looking forward to
IT FELT LIKE IT WAS CONSTANT seeing us.
• My ex was constantly criticizing me.
• My mum was forever nagging me to tidy my A SCENE IN A BOOK
room. • As he walked through the empty
• My old boss was always putting his foot in it. streets, the rain beat down.
• I was forever having to apologize for my ex’s • The wind lashed the trees.
behaviour. • The storm clouds cast dark shadows on
• People were always warning me about the risks. the ground.
TRYING
• I’m sorry. I was only trying to help.
• I know he was only trying to do his best.
• This is exactly the problem I was trying to avoid. Grammar tip: Describing a scene
• I was trying to explain, but she wouldn’t listen.
To describe a scene, we usually use the past
continuous, especially in everyday speech:
⋅ It was raining really hard on my way home
last night. The rain was smacking me in
Grammar check: Remember the rules! the face and it was soaking my jacket right
through.
1. When do we use the past simple?
The past simple can also be used, especially
in a more literary style:
We use the past simple...

⋅ As Mary walked to her cottage, it rained
hard. The harsh raindrops mercilessly
A. ...as the main tense to talk about events in the past. assaulted her bonnet and cloak.
B. ...to talk about things we wish were different in our

lives now.
C. ...to describe a scene in everyday English.
D. ...to describe a scene in a literary style.
2. When do we use the past continuous?

We use the past continuous...

A. ...to talk about interrupted activities; what we were in
the middle of when something else happened. nag soak
, nörgeln, meckern , durchnässen
B. ...to say how an event lasted a long time, such as wars
or marriages. foot: put one’s ~ mercilessly
in it (UK) [(m§:sIlEsli]
C. ...with “always” or “constantly”, to exaggerate other , ins Fettnäpfchen , gnadenlos
people’s behaviour in past relationships. treten
assault sth. [E(sO:lt]
D. ...with the verbs “thinking” or “wondering”, to make lash , auf etw. ein-
, peitschen stürmen; hier: nieder-
suggestions. prasseln
cast
E. ...with “trying” in apologies, or when things go , werfen bonnet
wrong. , Haube, Mütze
2. B is not correct.
smack 1. C is not correct.
, klatschen cloak Grammar check
, Umhang, Mantel
Answers
LANGUAGE SPOTLIGHT 2023 41

THE PAST PERFECT
The past perfect

Wer das present perfect beherrscht, wird mit dem past perfect
wenig Probleme haben – aber natürlich gibt es auch hier
zwei Varianten, die es zu unterscheiden gilt. Auf den nächsten
acht Seiten erklärt VANESSA CLARK die korrekte Verwendung des
past perfect simple und des past perfect continuous.

THE PAST PERFECT
Das past perfect simple
wird mit „had“ und dem
past participle gebildet:
„She had walked“.
Das past perfect continuous
wird mit „had been“ und dem
present participle gebildet:
„I had been walking“. And then she disappeared
Am 3. Dezember 1926 verschwand Agatha Christie – und stellte die Polizei
vor ein Rätsel, das aus einem ihrer Romane stammen könnte. Detective Smith
rekonstruiert den Fall – natürlich im past perfect. Von VIVIENNE ARNOLD
MEDIUM AUDIO
Detective Smith read the notes in front of “Why did you leave?”
him. Agatha Christie, well-known author, “We’d had an argument. Agatha had tak-
had disappeared on 3 December 1926 en it badly.”
from her home in Sunningdale and driven Detective Smith glanced at his notes.
away in the night in her Morris Cowley “You’d been having an affair?”
car, which was later found abandoned. An Mr Christie coughed. “Yes.”
eyewitness, who saw her get out of the car, “Had you told your wife about this re-
said that she had seemed underdressed for lationship?”
such a cold morning and she had appeared Mr Christie wriggled in his chair. “Yes,
to be disoriented. Her unfaithful husband, I told her in August. I asked her for a di-
Archibald, had also left the family home vorce, but she refused.”
earlier that night, to stay with friends. There was a knock at the door and a
Agatha had left her sleeping seven-year- young police officer brought in a telegram
old daughter, Rosalind, behind. for Detective Smith. He looked hard at
She had not been seen for 11 days. Archibald.
It certainly was a very mysterious case, “Your wife has been found, Mr Christie.
not unlike something that Agatha Chris- She had gone to the Hydro Hotel in Harro-
tie had written herself. The newspapers, of gate.”
course, were full of stories about her disap- Mr Christie looked surprised. “Harro-
pearance: Had she drowned? Had she been gate?”
murdered? Had she frozen to death? “She had registered under the name of
Detective Smith had to discover the Miss Nancy Neele. Is that name familiar?”
facts, so he wanted to interview Archibald Mr Christie almost fell off his chair.
Christie, who was now sitting oppo- “Confound the woman! That’s the name
site him in the police station. He was an of my…”
imposing man and he had clearly been “Mistress, Mr Christie?”
good-looking in his youth. After some
preliminaries, the interview began. abandon sth./sb. glance
“Had your wife been her usual self in , etw./jmdn. verlassen , blicken
tie
the days before her disappearance?” drown cough [kQf]

a Chris
“She had been depressed, and had talked

stie
, ertrinken , husten
a Chri
about wanting time alone,” he said. imposing wriggle [(rIg&l]

Agath
“On the night in question, I understand , imposant , sich winden

Agath
you had already left home before she dis- preliminaries Confound the woman!
appeared. Is that correct?” [pri(lImIn&riz] , Zur Hölle mit dieser Frau!
“I left around 7 p.m. to spend the week- , vorbereitende Maß-
mistress
nahmen, hier: Vorgeplänkel

end with friends.” , Geliebte

THE PAST PERFECT SIMPLE
The past perfect simple

Ereignisse in der „Vor-Vergangenheit“: Hier finden Sie typische Beispiele, Grammatiktipps
und Regeln für die Verwendung des past perfect simple auf Sprachniveau A2.
EASY PLUS
A WEDDING
It was a beautiful wedding. Lisa and her

mum had prepared everything them-
selves, with the help of friends and fam-
ily. An aunt had baked the cake, a cousin
had organized the flowers and Lisa’s best
friend, a dressmaker, had made the dress.
Lisa’s sisters had created gift bags for
every table. Lisa’s partner (sorry, I should
say “husband” now!) is an IT technician,
What’s it about?
so when the newlyweds left in their car,
they found that his workmates had tied The email is mainly about...
old cables and computer mice and key- ○ A. ...the many preparations for the wedding.
boards on cans! ○ B. ...what happened on the day of the wedding.
EVERYTHING WAS READY

• They had planned everything.
• They’d ordered a lot of food.
• We had reserved our seats for the show.
• I’d put up lots of decorations.
• He had written his speech.
• She’d invited all her friends.
• I’d bought and wrapped a gift.
dressmaker Grammar tip: “I’d” ALREADY DONE
, Schneider(in)
The past perfect is always • I’d already booked my flight.
newlyweds
, Brautpaar formed with “had”. “Had” • We’d already seen the film.
is often shortened to • He’d already left the building.
workmate (UK ifml.)
, Arbeitskollege, apostrophe + d, for exam- • She had already checked in online.

-kollegin ple: “I’d”, “you’d”, “she’d”, • The bus had already left.
etc. • He’d already seen the answers to the
A is correct. quiz.
What’s it about?
Answer

WHY COULDN’T YOU DO IT?
• I couldn’t log in because I’d forgotten
my password.
• We couldn’t get into the concert
because we’d deleted our e-tickets.
Grammar tip: • She couldn’t pay because she’d left
“The past before the past” her bank card at home.
• He couldn’t use his phone because
The past perfect is often called
he’d dropped it in the bath.
“the past before the past” because
it tells us what had already hap-
FOR A LONG TIME BEFORE
pened before a time in the past.
• When I met him, I’d been single for a
long time.
• When they got married, they’d al-
ready been together for ten years.
BEFORE • When he got his new job, he’d been
• They’d met once before. out of work for a long time.
• We’d worked together before.
• We’d been to the same restaurant the
week before.
• She’d drunk a bit too much the night
before.
Grammar check:
NEVER BEFORE Remember the rules!
• She hadn’t worked for such a big
company before. When do we use the past perfect simple?
• He hadn’t made a speech in English
before. Which one of these options is not correct?
• They’d never been to Mexico before. Cross it out.
• I’d never seen anything like it before.
We use the past perfect simple to say...
BECAUSE A. ...what had happened before.
• He knew how the film would end B. ...what had already happened.
because he’d already read the book.
C. ...what hadn’t happened yet.
• I wasn’t hungry because I’d had a big
lunch. D. ...how we had prepared for an event.
• She had sore muscles because she’d E. ...what could never happen.
run ten miles the day before.
• I was late because I’d overslept.
WHEN WE ARRIVED, sore muscles [(mVs&lz]

WE FOUND… , Muskelkater
• The waiter had given our table to oversleep
someone else. , verschlafen
• Someone had kicked our door down. scratch
• We’d missed the last bus. , zerkratzen
• They’d cancelled our flight. delete sth.
• Someone had scratched my car. , etw. löschen
E is not correct.
Grammar check
Answer

The past perfect simple

Wie strukturiert man seine Gedanken und Geschichten mit Hilfe des past perfect simple?
Hier finden Sie Beispiele, Grammatiktipps und Regeln auf Sprachniveau B1–B2.
MEDIUM PLUS
GOOD NEIGHBOURS
I got to know my upstairs neighbour

yesterday. I’d taken in a parcel for her in Was she right?
the morning, so she came down to pick Choose the right word.
it up after work. I’d always thought she
was a bit unfriendly. We’d seen each oth- The speaker had had the wrong / correct
impression of her neighbour.
er in the hall a few times in the past, but
I’d never really spoken to her. Anyway,
when she came down to my place to col-
lect her parcel, she realized she’d locked
herself out of her own flat, so I invited
her in until her partner got home. She’s
actually very nice.
WE’D MET BEFORE

• I’d met him the summer before.
• They had met at the conference the year before.
• We’d emailed a few times but hadn’t actually
met in person before.
• I’d seen him at an earlier event.
• I’d noticed him earlier the same evening.
• We’d bumped into each other earlier that night.
A BIT EARLIER
• When I met her, she’d just retired.
• When we moved here, we’d just had our first
child.
• When we first met him, he’d just lost his wife.
WELL ORGANIZED
• He’d ordered a taxi for the next morning.
parcel • They’d booked a meal the following night.
, Päckchen
• We’d arranged to meet for lunch the following
hall day.
, Hausflur
• She’d got up early, ready for the big day ahead.

bump into each other
• I’d paid for it in advance.
, sich zufällig begegnen
wrong
Was she right?
Answer

MOMENTS OF REALIZATION STILL WAITING
• I realized I’d left my ticket at home. • She’d already paid for the meal but
• I found I’d left my keys in the door. hadn’t received her food.
• She worked out where she’d gone wrong. • They’d bought hundreds of lottery
• We realized we’d taken a wrong turn. tickets over the years but had never had
• The museum guard discovered that any luck.
someone had broken in. • They still hadn’t had a reply to their letter.
I KNEW SOMETHING WAS

WRONG BECAUSE…
• She hadn’t replied to any of my mes-
sages.
• He hadn’t called me for our usual Sun- Grammar check:
day chat. Remember the rules!
• She’d tried to call me several times dur-
ing the day, but I’d missed her calls. When do we use the past perfect simple?
• They had left the front door open.
HOW MANY TIMES BEFORE? Cross it out.
• She’d already emailed me several times
with the same question. We use the past perfect simple...
• He’d already been married twice before.
A. ...to say what had already happened earlier.
• We’d worked together on a number of
other projects. B. ...to talk about things that began in the past and are
still happening now.
WAS IT THE FIRST TIME? C. ...with phrases like “I realized...” or “He discovered...”,
• It was the first time she’d ever done to explain what had happened earlier.
such a thing. D. ...with “after” and “when”, to help to put the events in
• It was the first exam he’d ever taken. a story in the right order.
• It was the second time that week that E. ...to say how many times we’d done something
his car had broken down. before.
• It wasn’t the first time she’d lied to me.
AFTERWARDS
• After we’d seen the sights, we took the
metro back to the hotel.
• When we’d eaten enough, we put the
leftovers in the fridge.
• When I’d finally finished the house-
work, I sat down with a coffee.
leftovers
, (Essens)Reste
Grammar tip: “When”

“When” can be used with the past simple or
tie
the past perfect simple:

Chris
⋅
stie
When I saw my ex, I hid. (The past simple

a Chri
a
implies “as soon as”, “immediately”.)

Agath
⋅
Agath
When he’d gone, I came out of my hiding

place. (The past perfect simple implies
“after”, “afterwards”.)
B is not correct.
Grammar check
Answer

THE PAST PERFECT SIMPLE AND THE PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
The past perfect simple and

the past perfect continuous
Wie unterscheiden sich das past perfect simple und das past perfect continuous in ihrer Verwendung?
Hier finden Sie typische Beispiele, Grammatiktipps und Regeln auf Sprachniveau C1–C2.
ADVANCED AUDIO PLUS
A SCAM
Good timing?
Penny: My dad nearly got scammed the
other day. He’d received an alert, Why was the timing of the scam message
apparently from his bank, and its “unfortunately good”?
timing was unfortunately good. ○ A. Penny’s father had been trying to contact
Rav: How come? his bank.
Penny: He’d lost his bank card and had ○ B. Penny’s father and the scammer had
been trying to sort that out. already been talking for 20 minutes.
So, when he got their message
asking him to call the bank, he
assumed it was genuine and he
called the number.
Rav: Oh, no!
Penny: Yes! By the time I got there,
they’d already been talking for
at least 20 minutes. Dad was
about to transfer all his money
to a “safe account”.
Rav: Lucky you got there when you
did. That was good timing!
IN ADVANCE
• I’d sorted everything out beforehand.
• We’d solved the problem ahead of time.
• They’d done a secret deal ahead of the meeting.
scam sb. (ifml.) solid [(sQlId] • We found we’d been stitched up.
, jmd. betrügen , hier: voll, ganz
alert ignorance [(IgnO:rEns] PREVIOUSLY

, Warnung , Unkenntnis
• They’d previously denied it, but the facts were
sort sth. out fine sb. now clear.
, etw. in Ordnung , jmdn. mit einer Geld-
bringen strafe belegen • He’d made some stupid comments at the previ-
ous meeting.
stitch sb. up (UK ifml.) expenses: fiddle one’s ~
, jmdn. übers Ohr hauen (ifml.) • We’d rejected their previous offer.
, Abrechnungen frisieren • They’d given her a written warning two months
prior to [(praIE]
, vor strangely prior to the termination of her contract.
, seltsam, merkwürdig
termination A is correct.
, Kündigung cough [kQf] Good timing?
husten
Answer
,

THE PAST PERFECT SIMPLE AND THE PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS
BY THE TIME... I KNEW SOMETHING WAS WRONG
• By the time the police arrived, the man had BECAUSE…
already shot three people. • My partner had been behaving strangely.
• By the time we got to Lagos, we’d been driving • Grandma had been saying weird things all day.
for three days and nights. • I’d been coughing a lot.
• By the time he finally reached the summit, he’d • He’d been taking phone calls in the garden.
been climbing for 20 hours solid. • She had been coming home later and later.
THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME REGRETS

• I was nervous because I hadn’t been on a date • I wish I’d taken more risks in life.
for more than ten years. • I wish I hadn’t made that stupid comment.
• When Wales qualified for Qatar, they hadn’t • We wish we’d read the small print more carefully.
been to a World Cup for 64 years – not since
1958!
NOT UNTIL
• I couldn’t go to bed until I’d double-checked all Grammar check: Remember the rules!
the doors.
• He didn’t stop until he’d drunk the last drop in 1. When do we use the past perfect simple?
the house.
• We weren’t allowed to open our Christmas Which one of these options is not correct?
presents until we’d been to church. Cross it out.
AT THAT TIME We use the past perfect simple...

• In early 2020, most people hadn’t even heard of
A. ...to show the present result of a past action.
Covid.
• We hadn’t taken the weather warning seriously. B. ...to provide context or a flashback to an
• The government had ignored the terrorist threat. earlier event in a story.
• We’d been living in ignorance. C. ...to say how many times something had
already happened.
PROBLEMS D. ...with “not until”, to emphasize what hap-
• Her back was stiff because she’d been sitting at pened first.
her desk all day.
E. ...with “wish”, to talk about regrets.
• They’d been hoping for a baby girl, but they had
twin girls!
• She was fined because she’d been fiddling her 2. When do we use the past perfect
expenses. continuous?
• Had he really been waiting six weeks for a reply?
Cross it out.
We use the past perfect continuous...

Grammar tip: A. ...to show activities or repeated forms of
Past perfect and present perfect behaviour that had been happening be-
forehand.
You might find it helpful to look at the pag-
es about the past perfect simple and the past B. ...with “for” or “since”, to say how long
perfect continuous in combination with the something had been happening.
pages about the present perfect simple and C. ...to say how many times something had
the present perfect continuous. They are already happened.
partner tenses and work in the same way –
one in a past context and one in a present 2. C is not correct.
1. A is not correct.
context. Grammar check
Answers

THE FUTURE TENSES
The future tenses

Es gibt im Englischen ganz verschiedene Möglichkeiten, über die Zukunft zu sprechen.
Auf den folgenden Seiten erklärt LYNDA HÜBNER das future simple, das future continuous,
das future perfect, das going to-future, das future in the past und das present continuous.
Aber keine Sorge – die Verwendung dieser Zeitformen ist weniger kompliziert als ihre Namen.

THE FUTURE TENSES
Future simple:
“I will go”
Future continuous:
“I will be going”
Future perfect:
“I will have gone”
Going to-future:
“I am going to go”
A future of more sustainable energy
Future in the past:
“I was going to go” Wie gelingt der Umstieg von fossilen auf erneuerbare und nachhaltige
Energiequellen? MELITA CAMERON-WOOD wirft einen Blick in die Zukunft.
ADVANCED AUDIO
The “Fit for 55” package – the EU’s plan Public transport revolution
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a To reduce carbon emissions and increase
minimum of 55 per cent by 2030 in com- energy efficiency, many forms of public
parison with the levels in 1990 – is a legal transport will begin using renewably pro-
obligation under European Climate Law. duced electricity. By replacing diesel with
For this to happen, sustainable solutions hydrogen, for instance, trains will emit
need to be found – fast. Let’s take a look water vapour instead of fumes that pol-
at some trends that are likely to mark the lute the air.
future of sustainable energy.
Green energy storage
Wind-powered electrification More green energy is being produced, but
According to the International Energy determining how it’s going to be stored
Agency (IEA), wind will be the number- won’t be easy. Sourcing the rare earth
one source of energy in Europe by 2027. elements that are currently used in green
The EU Commission foresees wind energy batteries – such as lithium and co-
power meeting half of Europe’s demand balt – will be a challenge: the demand for
for electricity by 2050. As demand for these elements is likely to increase by as
renewable energy grows, we’ll see more much as 400 to 600 per cent over the com-
countries around the world constructing ing decades.
wind farms. While initial investment will A possible solution could be alter-
be necessary, experts from a study led by natives made with more readily avail-
Berkeley Lab predict that technological able materials that would allow mass-
and commercial advancement will de- production of green-energy batteries in
crease the cost of wind energy by 17 to 35 the future.
per cent by 2035 and by 37 to 49 per cent
by 2050. These cost reductions will be due
to larger, more efficient turbines and lower
operating costs.
sustainable carbon
Microgrids , nachhaltig , hier: CO2
We’re going to see more renewable- greenhouse gas hydrogen [(haIdrEdZEn]
energy microgrids in operation. These , Treibhausgas , Wasserstoff
small networks will use renewable energy, obligation emit sth.
batteries and generators to produce elec- , Verpflichtung , etw. ausstoßen, abgeben
tricity. Microgrids will be welcomed by renewable [ri(nju:Eb&l] fumes [fju:mz]
the 789 million people worldwide who , erneuerbar , Rauchgase
have no electricity. Whether they work microgrid rare earth elements
alongside national grid services or as in- , Mikronetz , seltene Erden
dependent sources of energy, microgrids grid services
will contribute to ending fuel poverty. , Stromversorgungsnetz

FUTURE TENSES
Future tenses
Spontane Entscheidung oder konkreter Plan für die Zukunft? Hier finden Sie typische Beispiele für die
Verwendung von future simple, going to-future und present continuous auf Sprachniveau A2.
EASY PLUS
First and last

Cross out the wrong phrase.
○ A. In the first call, Theo decides to have a
party / is talking about his party plans.
THEO’S PARTY ○ B. In the last call, Theo decides to have a
party / is talking about his party plans.
“No, Mum, I don’t have any plans for my
birthday yet, but maybe I should cele-
brate it this year. Yes, I think I’ll phone
around and invite a few people. Why
not?”
…
I HAVE AN IDEA!
“Hi, Jason. Theo here. I’ve decided to have
• I think I’ll start looking for a new job.
a party this year on my birthday. Are you • I don’t feel well. I don’t think I’ll go to work today.
free on the 19th? It’s not going to be a big • Wait a minute – I’ll help you.
party – I’m just going to invite our group • What will you have?
from college. Give me a ring when you • I’ll have an orange juice, please.
get this message. Bye.” • I won’t answer the phone!
…
“Hello, Amy, this is Theo. I’m having a

Grammar tip: Future simple
get-together of our college group on my
birthday – the 19th. Jason has said he’s “Will” / “won’t” are used when you decide to
coming and I’ve invited a few others do something at the time of speaking.
from our year. Drinks and snacks at my
place, from around eight o’clock…”
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS?
• How many people are you going to invite?
• I’m going to have an early night.
• She’s going to buy a new car.
• Are we going to watch TV tonight?
• We aren’t going to buy each other Christmas
presents.
• I’m not going to do any overtime this month.
early night: have an ~
, früh ins Bett gehen
B. is talking about his party plans
A. decides to have a party
First and last
overtime
, Überstunden
Answers

FUTURE TENSES
LOOK!
• Look at those clouds – it’s going to rain!
• They’re playing badly – they’re not going to win.
Grammar check:
• Oh, no – he’s going to crash! Remember the rules!
• I feel awful – I’m going to be sick.
• Grandma’s going to fall asleep in front of the When do we use these future tenses?
TV again.
• I’m never going to eat all that pudding! 1. We use “I’ll”, the future simple,...
2. We use the “going to”-future...
3. We use the present continuous for
the future...
Grammar tip: “Going to”-future
A. ...to talk about fixed arrangements, e.g.
We use “going to” to talk about plans appointments, flights and fixed travel plans.
or intentions. B. ...to talk about what we are planning to do,
We also use “going to” when we can foresee such as watch TV or go to bed early.
what is about to happen. C. ...when we spontaneously decide to do
something, for example with “I think…”.
ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE

• We’re flying to Budapest on Thursday. pudding (UK)
• She’s having lunch with Sarah tomorrow. , Dessert, Nachtisch
• Are they getting married this year? spontaneously
• I’m not giving a presentation at this meeting. [)spQn(teIniEsli]
• They’re playing in the finals next week. , spontan
• She’s having the operation on Monday.
WHEN ARE YOU GOING?

• He’s going to work a bit later tomorrow.
• We’re going to New York this summer.
• Are you going to the meeting next week?
• I’m not going by car!
• She isn’t going there on her own.
• I’m going to the matinee later on.
Grammar tip: Present continuous

We can use the present continuous to talk
about things we have arranged to do in the
future (but we could also use “going to”).
We often use “going to” with the verb “go”:
⋅ What time are you going to go to the
party?
1–C; 2–B; 3–A

Grammar check
Answers

THE FUTURE SIMPLE
The future simple

Versprechungen, Angebote, Vorhersagen – und natürlich Konditionalsätze. Hier finden Sie Beispiele,
Grammatiktipps und Regeln für die Verwendung des future simple auf Sprachniveau B1–B2.
MEDIUM AUDIO PLUS
Who is it?
IT’S IN THE STARS Write in the correct person’s name,
Jane or Tom.
Jane: Tom, you’re a Leo, aren’t you?
Tom: What? Oh, my star sign… yes. A. _____ doesn’t plan to buy a lottery
Jane: Shall I read it to you? ticket.
B. _____ spontaneously decides
Tom: Jane, you know I don’t believe in
to buy a lottery ticket.
that sort of thing.
Jane: But it’s a good one – listen: “If you
make a small investment this week,
you’ll profit by it.”
Tom: Oh, really?
Jane: Why don’t you buy a lottery ticket IF
this week? Maybe you’ll win. • If you don’t like it, I won’t buy it.
Tom: I won’t win the lottery because I’m • I won’t buy it if you don’t like it.
not going to buy a ticket! • As soon as he arrives, we’ll have dinner.
Jane: I’m going to buy one, but I won’t • I’ll give you his address if I can find it.
share the money with you if I win. • When her father dies, she’ll inherit the company.
• We’ll go jogging as soon as it stops raining.
Grammar tip:
“If”, “when” and “as soon as”
We don’t use “will” in the part
of the sentence containing “if”,
“when” or “as soon as”.
Leo[(li:EU]
, Löwe (Sternzeichen)
spontaneously
[)spQn(teIniEsli]
spontan
B. Jane
A. Tom ,
Who is it?
inherit sth.
, etw. erben
Answers

THE FUTURE SIMPLE
IT’S A FACT!
• The sun will rise at 6 a.m.and set at
7 p.m. tomorrow.
• The prime minister will meet with
OFFERS AND REQUESTS union leaders later today.
• Shall I help you with that? • Who will host the next World Cup?
• Shall we give you a lift home? • Vaccinations will be compulsory.
• I’ll babysit if you like. • Temperatures will reach 32 °C today.
• Won’t you have another sandwich? • As always, the election will take place
• Will you please turn that music down? on a Thursday.
• Will you close the window, please?
Grammar tip:
Grammar check:
Offers and requests
Remember the rules!
We use “shall” with “I” and “we” when we
make an offer. When do we use the future simple?
“Will you please…” can sound as if you’re an-
noyed; “Could you please…” is more neutral. Which one of these options is not correct?
Cross it out.
We use the future simple to...

MAYBE A. ...predict what will happen.
• I’ll probably stay there overnight.
B. ...make promises.
• She probably won’t recognize me.
• Maybe he’ll apply for the position. C. ...make offers.
• I hope he’ll be successful. D. ...talk about plans we’ve made.
• Perhaps they’ll get in touch with you. E. ...make requests.
• I’m sure it’ll be OK.
F. ...form sentences with “if” and “when”.
LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE G. ...say what will probably happen.
• I think inflation will rise next year. H. ...state future facts.
• I don’t think there’ll be an election this year.
• I expect he’ll run for president again.
• He’ll be re-elected, that’s for sure.
• I expect he’ll retire.
• I know you’ll like my brother.
I PROMISE!
• I promise I’ll be nice to her.
• I’ll babysit for you on Saturday.
• When will you pay me back? lift: give sb. a ~ Den Dialog auf dieser
• I won’t ever forget you. , jmdn. mitnehmen Doppelseite kostenlos anhören!
• I’ll phone you next week – I promise. union leader [(ju:niEn] audio-gratis/10
• He promises he’ll be there on time. , Gewerkschafts-
führer(in)
host sth.
, etw. veranstalten,
Gastgeberland sein
vaccination D is not correct.
[)vÄksI(neIS&n]
Grammar check
Impfung
Answer
,

MORE FUTURE TENSES
More future tenses

Zukunftsformen für Fortgeschrittene: Hier finden Sie typische Beispiele für die Verwendung von
future in the past, future continuous und future perfect auf Sprachniveau C1–C2.
ADVANCED PLUS
All about Ted

Which is not correct?
○ A. Ted will be 67 when he retires.
○ B. Ted will have been in the firm for
25 years when he retires.
TED’S RETIRING NEXT MONTH ○ C. Andrew will still be working in
the firm when Ted retires.
Ted: Yes – only 27 days to go! Will
you be coming to my leaving
party?
Andrew: I wouldn’t miss it for anything.
It’ll be good fun – a last get-
together for the whole de-
partment. You’ll miss us, you
I WAS PLANNING TO DO THAT, BUT…
know!
• I was going to buy a ticket – but they were too
Ted: Actually, for a while, I was expensive.
thinking of staying on till I • She was going to book a cruise until she real-
reached 67, but then my wife ized she got seasick.
persuaded me that 25 years in • We were going to get married, but then she
the same firm is enough for changed her mind.
anybody. • No, they weren’t going to invite Mark – they’d
Andrew: Twenty-five years! Goodness! never intended to.
I’ll have been here for ten years • He was going to run the marathon before he
next month and that some- injured his ankle.
times feels like a lifetime. • Were you going to blame your sister for this
Ted: Well, when I’m sitting in my mess?
garden with my gin and tonic,
I’ll be thinking of you all drink-
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO SAY?
• Sorry, what were you going to say?
ing bad coffee in the office…
• I was just going to say…
• I was going to tell you, but…
• Weren’t you going to have a word with her?
• He was going to remind you about that.
• I was going to mention that to her.
Goodness!
A is not correct. , Du meine Güte!
All about Ted
ankle
, Fußknöchel
Answer

MORE FUTURE TENSES
WHAT WILL THEY BE DOING THEN?
• At this time next week, they’ll be sunbathing on
the beach.
• He’ll be working all day on Saturday.
• Will you be watching the match on TV tonight?
• She won’t be jogging at ten tomorrow – she’ll still
be sleeping.
• We’ll be having coffee together later today.
• Ten minutes from now, I’ll be soaking in the bath.
Grammar tip: Future continuous USEFUL PHRASES

• Shall I give you a hand?
We can use the present continuous or the • I hope I’ll have finished by then.
future continuous to talk about future ar- • I won’t change my mind.
rangements: • You’ll be sorry!
⋅ He’s giving a presentation at tomorrow’s
conference.
•
•
I’ll be worrying about that all week.
What are you doing at the weekend?
⋅ He’ll be giving a presentation at tomorrow’s
conference.
•
•
I do hope you’ll be able to come.
Bye. I’ll be seeing you.
WILL YOU BE SEEING HER?

• The PM will be issuing a statement later in the day.
• Which footballers will be playing for the German
national team?
• Will you be attending the conference?
• I won’t be seeing my mother until Christmas.
When do we use these future tenses?
• Will they be flying business class?
• He won’t be looking at his emails during his
holiday. 1. We use the future in the past...
2. We use the future continuous...
BY THEN 3. We use the future perfect...
• We’ll all have retired by 2028.
• When will you have finished that project?
• The paint will have dried by this evening. A. ...to talk about an ongoing situation at a
• Hurry up or the film will have finished before we certain point in the future.
get there. B. ... to talk about something you considered
• I won’t have saved up enough money before my doing in the future, but decided not to do.
holiday. C. ... to talk about a situation that will have
• She’ll already have left by the time we get there. been completed by a time in the future.
Grammar tip: “Until” and “by”

Future continuous:
⋅ I’ll be working until (= up to) 6 p.m.
Future perfect:
soak
, einweichen; hier: sich
⋅ I’ll have finished by (= sometime before)

6 p.m.
aalen
PM (prime minister)
, Premierminister(in) 1–B; 2–A; 3–C
hand: give sb. a ~ Grammar check
, jmdm. helfen
Answers

LAST BUT NOT LEAST
Last but not least

Das war doch noch nicht alles? Natürlich nicht – auf den folgenden
Seiten beschäftigt sich VANESSA CLARK mit nützlichen Modalverben,
Passivsätzen in unterschiedlichen Zeitformen und den vielen
verschiedenen Möglichkeiten, Aussagen zu betonen.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST
Could you possibly...?
Chefredakteurin INEZ SHARP macht sich Gedanken über den inflationären
Gebrauch von Modalverben und ihre etwas obsessive britische Höflichkeit.
MEDIUM AUDIO
Would you...? Could you possibly...? Might The question is, of course: am I really be-
I ask you to...? Sigh. How many modal ing polite at all? Or is, in fact, the opposite
verbs can I possibly pack into an email true? Is my politeness simply a selfish way
asking for a single favour? of getting what I want and making others
I’ve lived in Germany for half of my feel bad if they say “No”? I have no scien-
adult life, and yet the idea of asking for help tific evidence to back this up but, think-
or assistance directly – that is to say, with- ing about it, I do have a high success rate
out using verbs such as “may”, “would” and with requests I send out. And honestly, the
“could” – is as alien to me as wearing a felt more modal verbs I throw at a problem,
hat decorated with a chamois beard. the more people seem to want to help.
It makes no difference whether the fa- In the end, though, it doesn’t actually
vour is big or small, or even no favour at all, matter. It would feel strange to give up the
just something that is owed to me or needs habit of a lifetime and start being direct –
to be done. As I tap away at my keyboard, and I’m not sure I could keep it up for long.
a little voice in my head is asking: Does A few months ago, someone pushed
that sound rude? Will the recipient of this ahead of me in a queue. For once, instead
email be angry or offended (maybe never of saying, “I’m terribly sorry, but could you
talk to me again) if I don’t preface my re- possibly step back?” I said quite loudly,
quest with “May I ask you...? – Oh, and I’ll “Stop pushing in!” After that, I had to go
try to squeeze in at least one “please” and home and lie down. Could I possibly do it
a “thank you” or “sorry”, depending on the again? I don’t think so.
context of the email.
My delightful Italian colleagues call me
sigh [saI] squeeze sth. in
diplomatic and kind – probably because I
, seufz , etw. hineinquetschen
usually speak in the same way that I write –
alien [(eIliEn] context
or is it perhaps actually fear that guides my
, fremd , Zusammenhang
inflated use of modal verbs in every type of
felt hat inflated
communication? , Filzhut; hier: Lodenhut , überhöht
I’m not sure where this time-consum-
chamois beard [ˈʃæmwɑː] time-consuming
ing and somewhat mad concern with of- , Gamsbart , zeitraubend
fending and my obsession with politeness
tap away obsession
comes from. In a culture so steeped in tra- , herumtippen , Zwang
dition – go back and watch the coronation
rude steeped: be ~ in sth.
ceremony of King Charles to remind your- , unhöflich , von etw. durchdrungen
self just how much we Brits love ritual and sein
recipient [ri(sIpiEnt]
etiquette – it should perhaps come as no , Empfänger(in) coronation ceremony
surprise that the attention paid to polite- , Krönungszeremonie
offended
ness and good manners is part of our DNA, , beleidigt, verletzt stamp sth. out
and that the idea that each of us should , etw. ausmerzen
preface sth. [(prefEs]
“know our place” has, sadly, not been com- , etw. einleiten selfish
pletely stamped out. , egoistisch

SPOTLIGHT 2023 59
MODAL VERBS
Modal verbs
„Sollte“, „könnte“, „würde“: Hier finden Sie typische Beispiele, Grammatiktipps und Regeln
für die Verwendung von englischen Modalverben auf Sprachniveau A2.
EASY AUDIO PLUS
Who’s going to do it?

Who’s going to organize the flowers
WHAT SHOULD WE DO? and card? Choose the right name(s).
○ Mick
Lina: Did you hear about poor Mick?
○ Lina
He’s in hospital. Heart attack. ○ Shireen
Shireen: Who’s Mick?
Lina: Our cleaner. The really nice guy.
You must know him!
Shireen: Oh, yes, of course! I couldn’t
remember for a moment.
Lina: I think we should do some-
thing, don’t you?
Shireen: Yes, but what should we do? WHAT TO DO?
Lina: We could send some flowers • We should do something.
and a card. • What should we do?
Shireen: That would be nice. I can order • We could send some flowers.
the flowers. Could you per- • That would be nice.
haps get a suitable card and ask • You don’t have to ask for money.
everyone to sign it? • You don’t need to pay.
Lina: Yes, I can do that at lunchtime. • Could you get a card?
Shireen: You don’t have to ask anyone • I can do that.
for money – we can do it all on
the company account. TIME TO GO!
• I need to go.
Lina: Great! Thanks. Anyway, I must
• I must go.
go. I have to finish that report.
• I can’t stay here all day.
I should be at my desk. • I shouldn’t be here.
• I should be at work.
Grammar tip:
They’re a bit different
The verbs “have to” and “need to” aren’t modal
verbs, but they are often learned together with

modal verbs. They follow the usual rules for the
heart attack present simple.
Lina and Shireen , Herzinfarkt
Who’s going to do it?
company account
, Firmenkonto
Answer

MODAL VERBS
ADVICE Grammar check:
• You should talk to your manager about it.
• You shouldn’t stay quiet about it. How to use modal verbs
• It might be easier to talk to a doctor.
• I wouldn’t do that if I were you. Translate the English verbs below
• You must look after yourself! with the correct German verbs from
• You mustn’t worry too much! the list.
MAYBE, MAYBE NOT darf nicht | kann | konnte | könnte | muss |

• It might be a good idea. muss nicht | musste | sollte | wäre |
• It might not help. würde
• I might be late for the meeting.
• I may not be able to come. A. I can: Ich ___________
• You may find it’s quite difficult. B. I could: Ich ___________,
Ich ___________ (two answers)
WHEN I WAS A KID C. I should: Ich ___________
• I could run really fast. D. I would: Ich ___________
• My parents couldn’t speak German.
E. I would be: Ich ___________
• We had to do chores at home.
• I didn’t have to work on the farm. F. I must, I have to: Ich ___________
G. I mustn’t: Ich ___________
PAST PROBLEMS H. I don’t have to: Ich ___________
• We couldn’t go on holiday last summer.
I. I had to: Ich ___________
• My dad was never able to return to his home.
• We needed to move house.
• We had to pay extra for a double room.
• Did you have to call an ambulance?
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

• Sorry, I can’t come on Saturday.
• I must remember to put the rubbish out tonight.
• I mustn’t forget her birthday next week!
• She might not want our help.
• You won’t be able to use euros in England.
Grammar tip:
How to form modal verbs
The modal verbs “can”, “could”, “should”,
“would”, “must”, “might” and “may” are the
same for all persons (“I can”, “He can”, “They
can”). In order to form a negative, add “not” I. musste
or “n’t” (“He can’t”). To form a question, H. muss nicht
change the word order (“Can he?”). G. darf nicht
chores [tSO:z]
F. muss
, (lästige) Hausarbeiten
E. wäre
D. würde
move house (UK) C. sollte
umziehen
B. konnte, könnte
, A. kann
rubbish (UK) Grammar check
Müll
Answers
,

THE PASSIVE
The passive
Im Passivsatz steht die Handlung – nicht die handelnde Person – im Fokus. Hier finden Sie,
auf Sprachniveau B1–B2, Beispiele für die Bildung des Passivs in vielen verschiedenen Zeitformen.
MEDIUM AUDIO PLUS
What kind of messages?

What kind of messages are sent to
this person’s phone every day?
○ A. fun facts
PHONE MESSAGES: ○ B. word puzzles
DID YOU KNOW?
• The cigarette lighter was invented be-

fore the match.
• More people are killed by cows than by
sharks.
• Tomato ketchup was originally sold as
a medicine.
• Only five per cent of the earth’s oceans
have been explored.
FACTS
Present simple
• Gas is imported into the UK from Norway.
• Chips are fried in hot oil.
• In China, red envelopes of money are given at New Year.
• The passive is used in facts like these!
WHAT’S GOING ON?

Present continuous
• Some new houses are being built in the village.
• Children are being used as drug runners.
lighter [(laItE]
• We’re being encouraged to save gas and electricity.
, Feuerzeug • The new scheme is being rolled out across the country.
match
, Streichholz ANNOUNCEMENTS
shark Present perfect simple
, Hai • A body has been discovered.
chips (UK) • Two people have been taken to hospital.

, Pommes frites • A man has been arrested.
drug runner • We have been made aware of a problem.
A is correct. , Drogenkurier • New guidelines have been issued.
What kind of messages?
guideline [(gaIdlaIn]
Richtlinie
Answer
,

THE PASSIVE
UNFORTUNATE INCIDENTS
Past simple
• My bike was stolen yesterday.
• Several passengers were injured in the crash. WHAT DO THEY SAY ABOUT HIM?
• Two soldiers were killed in the explosion. “Is said to be”
• The bomb was detonated remotely. • That actor is said to be very nice in real life.
• She is believed to be filming at a secret location.
WORKS OF ART • They’re thought to be staying in their private
Past simple villa.
• Titanic was directed by James Cameron.
• The Tin Drum was published in German in 1959. WHAT DO WE THINK HAPPENED?
• The album was recorded at Abbey Road Studios. “Is said to have been”
• The fire is believed to have been started delib-
erately.
• He is alleged to have posted racist comments.
• The biography is thought to have been written
without her permission.
Grammar tip: “By”

If you want to give the name of the author,
artist, film director, etc., use “by”:
⋅ The Tin Drum was written by Günter Grass.
Grammar check:
LIFE STORIES Remember the rules!
Past simple
How do we use the passive?
• I was born in 1980.
• He was brought up in a Christian family.
Write the correct form of “to be done” for
• She was adopted by a nice couple.
each tense or modal verb.
• We were sent to boarding school.
A. Present simple:
WHAT CAN BE DONE?
It is done.
Modal verbs
• This dish can be cooked in advance. B. Present perfect simple:
• Only a few of their possessions could be saved. It _________________________________.
• Luggage must not be left unattended.
C. Past simple:
It _________________________________.
IN THE FUTURE
“Will”, “going to” D. Present continuous:
• The work will be finished by the end of the year. It _________________________________.
• We’ll definitely be beaten by France.
E. “Will” future:
• She’s going to be crowned as prom queen on
It _________________________________.
Saturday.
F. “Must”:
It _________________________________.
remotely prom queen (N. Am.)

, aus der Ferne, per Fern- , Ballkönigin
steuerung
deliberately
direct sth. [daI&(rekt] , absichtlich
, bei etw. Regie führen
F. It must be done.
alleged: be ~ to have done sth. E. It will be done.
director [dəˈrektə] [E(ledZd]
D. It is being done.
, Regisseur(in) etw. angeblich getan haben
C. It was done.
, B. It has been done.
sollen
boarding school [sku:l] Grammar check
Internat
Answer
,

EMPHASIS
Emphasis
Wie verleihen Sie Ihren Worten wirklich Gewicht? Hier finden Sie, auf Sprachniveau C1–C2,
ganz unterschiedliche Möglichkeiten, englische Aussagen zu betonen.
ADVANCED AUDIO PLUS
What’s the tone?

INTRODUCING A SPEAKER
Which of these words reflect
the tone of this speech?
Seldom has it been my honour to intro-
duce such an illustrious speaker as Pro- formal, respectful, casual,
fessor John Danes. Little did I think, 40 reverential, cheeky
years ago, when I was introduced to his
work as a humble student of philosophy,
that one day, I would have the honour of
introducing him as our guest here today.
I DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT!
We are guaranteed a fascinating talk,
• Oh, I do love your little dog!
and I do hope you can all stay afterwards • We did enjoy your kind gift!
when the professor will be signing copies • It does seem a bit strange.
of his latest book. Ladies and gentlemen, • It did confuse me, I must say.
I give you Professor John Danes. • Do help yourself to cake!
• Do please give my love to your parents!
Grammar tip: Intonation

When speaking, put the stress on the
emphatic words “do” and “will”:
⋅⋅ I do love muffins!
He will keep using my teabags!
illustrious [I(lVstriEs] poke

, berühmt , stoßen
humble [(hVmb&l] grief

, bescheiden , Trauer
copy invert sth.

, hier: Exemplar , etw. umstellen
give: I ~ you... at fault: be ~

, hier ist ..., darf ich vor- , schuld sein

stellen ...
confirmation
casual [(kÄZuEl] , Bestätigung
, locker, zwanglos
formal, respectful, reverential bars: behind ~
What’s the tone?
cheeky (UK) , hinter Gittern
, frech, schnodderig
Answers

EMPHASIS
HE WILL KEEP DOING THAT! LITTLE
• He will keep trying to offload his work on to me! • Little did I know what was to happen next.
• He would keep poking the dog with a stick! Of • Little could this writer have imagined how his
course it bit him! theories would be interpreted a century later.
• If you will insist on hanging around with the
wrong crowd, what do you expect? SELDOM
• If you won’t help yourself, who do you expect • Seldom have I felt so alone.
will help you? • Rarely have we met someone of his calibre.
• Not often do we get the chance to celebrate
such a success.
ONLY WHEN, ONLY THEN

• Only when I saw the confirmation email did I
Grammar tip: Why “will”?
fully realize what I’d done.
This use of “will” doesn’t have a future • Only when her stalker was safely behind bars
meaning, but rather a sense of insistence. It could she live freely again.
implies that someone is continuing to do • Only then did he fully appreciate what he’d lost.
something even though it’s not helpful.
IT’S… THAT...
• It’s the children that I’m worried about.
• It’s the heat that stops me from moving to Spain.
NEVER • It was her originality that impressed the judges.
• Never have we seen such scenes as these.
• Never before has the country been so united in WHAT… IS…
grief. • What you need is a drink.
• Never would I have imagined this could hap- • What you don’t understand is the potential risk.
pen to me. • What really annoyed him was their attitude.
• Nowhere is this problem more acute than in
our inner cities.
Grammar tip: Inversion Grammar check:

Many of the structures on this page use
Remember the rules!
a technique called “inversion”. A strong
How do we add emphasis?
negative word (such as “never”) heads the
sentence and is followed by an inverted
verb. An inverted verb looks the same as
Cross it out.
a question, but it isn’t a question – it’s an
emphatic structure:
⋅⋅ Never had she been so embarrassed.

Nowhere is it clear.
We can add emphasis to a sentence by...
A. ...adding “do” in the present simple tense.
B. ...adding “did” in the past simple tense.
C. ...moving a strong negative expression
NO, NO, NO like “never”, “nowhere” or “at no time” to
• In no way can we be held responsible for this. the start of the sentence, and then invert-
• At no time did I say that. ing the verb.
• At no point was that suggested. D. ...starting the sentence with “It’s the...”
• Nowhere in the report does it say we are at fault.
E. ...starting the sentence with “What...”
F. ...putting the whole sentence into the
future tense with “will”.
F is not correct.
Grammar check
Answer

THE PUZZLE PAGE
CROSSWORD
SECTION
Crossword
LANGUAGE
Alle Begriffe, die Sie für unser Kreuzworträtsel brauchen,

finden Sie in diesem Heft – tragen Sie die Lösungswörter ohne
Apostrophe in das Wortgitter ein. Von LYNDA HÜBNER
EASY
ACROSS
2. No, she _____ have finished by then.
1. 3. I might be _____ to come.
2. 4. I’m _____ a party next Saturday.
6. What preparations had you _____ ?
2. 4. 5.
8. What _____ you do when she came?
3. 4. 11. She was _____ a computer game.
6. 7. 9. 12. ____ I help you with your homework?
15. He’s always _____ difficult questions!
6. 8. 10. 16. How many reports have you _____?
11. 17. His flat is empty – he’s _____ on holiday.
11. DOWN
12. 1. How long _____ you been here?
2. What _____ you doing when she came?
13. 14.
4. They’ve just _____ lunch.
15. 5. What are you _____ to do about it?
15. 6. You _____ know him!
7. _____ he have to work on Saturdays?
9. He was late – I’d been _____ for ages.
16. 17. 10. They’ve been _____ TV for hours!
11. He always _____ cricket on Saturdays.
13. Do you _____ the answer?
14. You _____ have to learn the song.
15. What colour _____ your new trousers?
Competition
Your chance to win! Solution to crossword 9/23:
heathland
Form a single word from the letters in the orange squares. S H
Send it on a postcard to: S L O P E P M I M E
C R G R I D D
Redaktion Spotlight
“Issue 10/23 Prize Puzzle” U G R R G
Kistlerhofstraße 172 L A E T E R R A C E
81379 München P N C L
T I R V E N U E
Or take part by visiting www.spotlight-online.de/crossword, where
you can also find the list of winners of our crossword competition O C H E F H X S
in issue 8/23. R A U T T
T D I E
Five winners will be chosen from the entries we receive by H A G G I S D I N E R
31 August 2023. Each winner will be sent a copy of True and
O L C
False Friends by courtesy of Hueber.
B A N Q U E T T E
66 SPOTLIGHT 2023 THE PUZZLE PAGE

QUIZ CARDS
Clue 1 Spotlight Clue 2 Spotlight
In the woman’s purse (Portemonnaie), I saw a hotel key

I found a cigarette butt (Zigarettenstummel) next to the
card with an “H” inside a circle. “I know where to find
body. “Aha!” I said. ...
her!” I said. ...
A. ...“Our killer smokes.”
A. ...“She stays at the Hilton.”
B. ...“Our killer is smoking.”
B. ...“She’s staying at the Hilton.”
“What did you do when you heard the gunshot?”

I followed the man through the crowded streets.
I asked. She replied, ...
He was quite slow because...
A. ...“I was watching television in bed.”
A. ...he was carrying a large, heavy bag.
B. ...“I jumped out of bed and looked out the
B. ...he carried a large, heavy bag.
window.”
I looked in the woman’s diary. “One question,”

I asked. ... I arrived at the woman’s house, but her car wasn’t
there. ...
A. ...“Why are you meeting a divorce lawyer next
Tuesday?” A. ...She was already leaving.
B. ...“Why will you meet a divorce lawyer next B. ...She had already left.
Tuesday?”
➞ Austrennung an der Perforierung; Illustrationen: Sylvia Wolf
After a minute, a man finally opened the door, The man moved his hand towards his pocket.
out of breath. I suspected that... I knew...
A. ...he had been hiding evidence (Beweismittel). A. ...he is going to pull out a weapon.
B. ...he was hiding evidence. B. ...he was going to pull out a weapon.
QUIZ CARDS
Answer 2 Spotlight Answer 1 Spotlight
B. ...“She’s staying at the Hilton.”

A. ...“Our killer smokes.”
It’s temporary – only tonight, this weekend or this
It’s a lifestyle or routine (see pages 8–9).
week (see pages 16–17).
The correct tense to use is the present simple.
The correct tense to use is the present continuous.
B. ...“I jumped out of bed and looked out the

A. ...he was carrying a large, heavy bag.
window.”
It’s describing a scene (see pages 38–39).
It’s how she reacted (see pages 38–39).
The correct tense to use is the past continuous.
The correct tense to use is the past simple.
A. ...“Why are you meeting a divorce lawyer next

B. She had already left.
Tuesday?”
Her departure had already happened earlier
It’s an appointment or fixed arrangement
(see pages 44–45).
(see pages 52–53).
The correct tense to use is the past perfect simple.
The correct tense to use is the present continuous.
A. ...he had been hiding evidence.

B. ...he was going to pull out a weapon.
The activity had already finished before the man
It’s a future action in a past context (see pages 56–57). opened the door (see pages 48–49).
The correct tense to use is the future in the past. The correct tense to use is the past perfect
continuous.
NEXT ISSUE
Die n
äc
Ausga hste
be vo
Spotl n
ight
ersch
eint a
01.09 m
Who owns
.2023
London? If any of us were asked the

question, “Who owns Lon-
don?” we’d probably assume
that much of the British
capital belongs to the Roy-
al family and the country’s
aristocracy. These days,
however, much of London’s
most desirable real estate is
owned by superrich, global
landlords from countries as
far-flung as China, Qatar, the
United Arab Emirates and
Saudi Arabia.
Many of these properties
are empty, bought by ty-
coons as safe investments
or for the purpose of money
laundering. Others, such as
those owned by sanctioned
Russian oligarchs, are locked
in a time bubble.
We travel around London,
looking at who owns what
and where, and offer you
some revealing insights into
a city that doesn’t have much
connection to the country it
serves as capital.
Time travel
The gleaming silver
Airstream travel trailer
first went on sale in
America in the 1930s.
Today, its design has
Foto: MarioGuti/iStock.com
gained iconic status,

and the vehicle has le-
gions of fans, including
actors Pamela Ander-
son and Tom Hanks.
Sprachtandem-Aktion!
Jemand spricht die Sprache, die Sie lernen. Jemand lernt die Sprache, die Sie sprechen.
Lernen Sie zusammen!
Was Sie erwartet:
• Wunschsprache angeben und Tandem-Sprachmatch ﬁnden
• Kostenlose Teilnahme und digitale Gratis-

ausgabe aus unserem ZEIT-SPRACHEN-Portfolio
für alle Teilnehmenden
• Erweitern Sie Ihr kulturelles Verständnis und gewinnen

Sie internationale Freundschaften
• Kommen Sie ins Gespräch – egal, wo Sie leben
JETZT
ANMELDEN!
Aktionsstart: 26.09.2023
In Kooperation mit:
Europäischer Tag der Sprachen
Anmeldung ab sofort unter:

zeit-sprachen.de/tandem

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10

TALKING ABOUT TIME:

it from your letterbox? Did you think: verkrampfen; Wortspiel

of each section. We have created these short texts

INEZ SHARP, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

EDITORIAL SPOTLIGHT 2023 3

The puzzle page E

4 SPOTLIGHT 2023 CONTENTS

the present https://unternehmen.zeit-sprachen.de/

it was tense! • Support your learning by doing exercises in our Spotlight

CONTENTS SPOTLIGHT 2023 5

The present simple

Auf den nächsten acht Seiten beschäftigen wir uns

6 SPOTLIGHT 2023 THE MYSTERY OF TENSES

THE MYSTERY OF TENSES SPOTLIGHT 2023 7

The present simple

My son is 26 and lives at home with me. He works

WHAT’S YOUR ROUTINE? What do they share?

8 SPOTLIGHT 2023 THE MYSTERY OF TENSES

Grammar check: Remember the rules!

When do we use the present simple?

Which one of these options is not correct? Cross it out.

We use the present simple to talk about...

adore sb. adverb of frequency C is not correct.

THE MYSTERY OF TENSES SPOTLIGHT 2023 9

The present simple

How does he feel?

food delivery guy (ifml.) appreciate sth.

10 SPOTLIGHT 2023 THE MYSTERY OF TENSES

USE YOUR SENSES!

self-employed every other

THE MYSTERY OF TENSES SPOTLIGHT 2023 11

The present simple

Helen: It says here that there’s a new

• I beg your pardon.

12 SPOTLIGHT 2023 THE MYSTERY OF TENSES

When do we use the present simple?

We use the present simple...

power corrupts ID (identification)

religiously (ifml.) score

THE MYSTERY OF TENSES SPOTLIGHT 2023 13

The present continuous

Auf den nächsten acht Seiten beschäftigen wir uns

14 SPOTLIGHT 2023 THE MYSTERY OF TENSES

Days, hours and minutes sweep timekeeping

Lusaka, Los Angeles or Lima, for example. Anthropologin , humorvoll, scherzhaft

THE MYSTERY OF TENSES SPOTLIGHT 2023 15

The present continuous

Eva: Hi, Raquel. Lovely to see you! What’s she doing?

A–2; B–3; C–1

16 SPOTLIGHT 2023 THE MYSTERY OF TENSES

IT’S A BUSY TIME

TOMORROW We use the present continuous to talk about...

term in-laws [(In lO:z]

internship day off: take a ~

THE MYSTERY OF TENSES SPOTLIGHT 2023 17

The present continuous

Mona: Hi there! Come and sit with me

Grammar tip: There’s a…

Mona and Franco

18 SPOTLIGHT 2023 THE MYSTERY OF TENSES

Grammar tip: Who’s that?

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS