UNIT 1 LESSON C: Simple Past, Present Perfect &

Present Perfect Progressive

 PRE – READING
Look at the photo. What are the people doing? Have you ever participated in an adventure sport?
Read this personal website.

Hi, I’m Jason Barricelli. I’ve been building this site for a while, and I’m almost finished. I’ve written
this page to introduce myself.

I’ve always been work-hard, play-hard kind of guy. I grew up in Perth, Australia, and my family
did adventure sports like rock climbing. Lately, people have named these activities “extreme
sports,” but to me they’ve always seemed like normal fun.

I’ve been working on a master’s degree for a couple of years, but I still take time out to play.
Since I moved to Sidney, I’ve learned how to skydive. This month, I’ve already completed five
jumps.

Yes, I have a social life, too. In fact, last month I got engaged to a fantastic woman. Joy hasn’t
been skydiving that long, but she wanted to celebrate our engagement with a jump.

I have included pictures of this historic jump. Just click on the photos tab.

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 WHILE – READING

Answer the following questions.

1. What does Janson mean when he says he’s a “work-hard, play-hard kind of guy”? Tough person

2. What has he done in his life since he grew up in Perth? Done rock climbing, worked on a
master’s degree, learned how to sky dive, gotten engaged

 POST – READING

Answer the following questions.

1. Which three adjectives would you use to describe Janson’s personality? Why?

2. Of the two extreme sports mentioned in the text, which one would you rather not do?

3. Which extreme sports can be practiced in Chile?

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 GRAMMAR NOTES
Simple Past, Present Perfect and Present Perfect
Progressive
Present Perfect and Simple Past

Present Perfect Simple Past

1. The present perfect without time
expressions describes an action that
happened (or never happened) at some
indefinite time in the past.
It emphasizes the action and not when it
occurred.
1. The simple past describes actions that
happened and were completed in the past.
We usually use past time expressions to
indicate when the action occurred. If we
don’t, we assume that the listener knows
when we’re talking about.

Example:
I’ve read several articles about this trend. Example:
(We don’t know when she read the article, or the time is I lived in Thailand for twenty years. I moved
not important.) there in 1981.
(I no longer live in Thailand)
My son hasn’t said anything, so we don’t
know his feelings. Use ago to indicate when something
happened.

Example:
I moved from Thailand to Sweden a month
ago.

2. The present perfect with unfinished periods
of time such as: today, this week, this
month, this year, etc. describes actions
that might happen again in this period.
Example:
We‘ve been to Santiago twice this month.
(The month is not over and we might go again before it
is.)
2. The simple past with unfinished periods of
time describes actions that probably won’t
happen again in that period.
Example:
We went to Santiago twice this month.
(The month is not over but we probably won’t go again
before it is.)

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Be careful! Time expressions such as this morning, this afternoon, this evening, this week, this
month, etc. can be either finished or unfinished periods of time.
Use the simple past when the period is finished.

Example:
They’ve talked to the school principal three times this morning. (It’s still morning)

They talked to the school principal three times this morning. (It’s now afternoon)

Present Perfect and Present Perfect Progressive

Present Perfect
Present Perfect
Progressive
1. The present perfect and the present perfect progressive describe things that started in the past,
continue up to now and may continue in the future.

Example:
I’ve lived in Washington DC my whole life. or I’ve been living in Washington DC my whole life.
(I was born in Washington DC, and I’m still living there today)

2. We often use the present perfect and the present perfect progressive with for and since.

Use for + a length of time to indicate how long a present condition has been true.

Example:
She’s been performing with the Rockland Symphony Orchestra for eight years.

Use since + a point of time to show when a present situation started.

Example:
Her parents named her 21 years ago, and she’s been Donna So-and-so since then.

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Present Perfect
3. The present perfect without for or since
shows that an activity is finished. We usually
say how many or how many times with this
use of the present perfect.
Example:
I’ve read a book.
(I finished the book)
I’ve read three books about names.
(I finished all of them)
I’ve read that book three times.
(I finished reading it every single time)
The words ever, never, already, yet, still, just
and so far are frequently used with the present
perfect.
Remember! non-action verbs (stative) are not used in the progressive form.
Present Perfect
Progressive
3. The present perfect progressive shows that
an activity is unfinished. We often say how
long with the present perfect progressive.
Example:
She’s been reading a book. She’s been
reading the book for a week.
You can use the present perfect progressive
without a duration expression such as "for five
minutes", "for two weeks", and "since Tuesday".
Without expressing the durations this tense
gives a more general meaning of "lately". We
often use the words "lately" or "recently" in the
sentence to strengthen this meaning.
Be careful!
Remember that the present perfect progressive
has the meaning of "lately" or "recently."
If you use the present perfect progressive in a
question such as "Have you been feeling
alright?” it suggests that the person looks sick
or unhealthy. A question such as "Have you
been smoking?" suggests that you can smell
the smoke on the person.
Using this tense in a question suggests you
can see, smell, hear, or feel the results of
the action. It is possible to insult someone by
using this tense incorrectly.
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1. DISCOVER THE GRAMMAR
Complete the article about another hobby. Circle the correct verbs

Ty Warner has been making / made toys since 1986. In 1992,

He has gotten / got the idea to make stuffed animals that the children

could afford. The first nine Beanie Babies® have appeared / appeared

in stores just one year later. Patty the Platypus and her eight

companions have sold out / sold out immediately. Ever since then,

store owners have been having / had a hard time keeping Beanies on

the shelves. In the 1990s, the fad has become / became an international craze, and the Babies are still

popular around the world today. More than 2 billion fans have visited / have been visiting Ty’s website,

and not long ago, one toy collector has been paying / paid an amazing $24,000 for a Beanie. Which

reminds me – I’d like to discuss more trades. Have you found / Have you been finding Iggy the Iguana

yet?

2. OTHER PEOPLE, OTHER INTERESTS

Complete the paragraphs about other people’s interests. Use the correct form of the verbs in
parentheses: simple past, present perfect, or present perfect progressive.

A
May has been taking (take) photos ever since her parents bought (buy) her a camera when she was
(be) only 10. At first she only took (take) color snapshots of friends and family, but then she changed
(change) to black and white. Lately she has been shooting (shoot) a lot of nature photographs. This
year she has competed (compete) in three amateur photography contests. In fact, last month she won
(win) second prize for her nighttime photo of a lightning storm.

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B
Carlos began (begin) playing music when he got (get) an electric guitar for his twelfth birthday. He
hasn’t stopped (not stop) playing since then. In fact, the guitar has become (become) more than just a
way of some fun with friends. Last year he joined (join) a local band. Since then, they have been
performing (perform) all over town. So far, this year, they have given (give) six concerts, and they
have plans for many more.

3. EDITING
Read this e-mail message. There are eight mistakes in the use of the present perfect, present perfect
progressive, and the simple past. Find and correct them all.

Dear Erden,
‘ve been doing joined
I am doing adventure sports for about two years, and this year I’ve been joining a climbing club. All
have been following
the members followed your trip on the Around-n-Over website since last January, but I haven’t
climbed
been written to you before. I have a few questions. I know you have been climbing Mt. Erciyes in

Turkey many years ago.

have traveled
Will you climb it again on this project? Also, you have traveling to different continents. How have

you communicated with people? Did you study other languages before your trip? Last month, I
saw become
have seen an article about your project in Hooked on the Outdoors Magazine. You’ve became
started
famous! Have you received many e-mails since you start your project?

Thanks for answering my questions, and good luck!

Lise Bettmann

4. LISTENING
Jason and Joy have been planning their honeymoon trip. Look at their To Do list. Listen to their phone
conversation and check the things that they’ve already done.




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5. MEMORABILIA
Look at the memorabilia in this family album. Work with a partner and talk about the couple’s life. Use the
verbs in the box and your own ideas.

attend be become choose

go graduate live marry
read reject think move
drive meet expect use

6. ON THE INTERNET
Do a search on an adventure travel team. Choose one you know about or one of the ones below. Make
notes about what you learn. What is their current project What have they accomplished so far? What did
they do last year? What have they been doing lately?
Discuss your information with the class.

* Ergen Erduc and his Around-nOver team

* Ann Bancroft and liv Arneson

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