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Grammar Basics: Unit 21 – Present Perfect vs. Simple Past, Part III

Posted on 2012/02/28
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In some cases, it doesn’t matter if you use the Present Perfect or the Simple Past:

Examples:

John has gone home.
John went home.

However, if you include a finished time (yesterday, a week ago, last month, last year, etc.), then you must use the Simple Past:

Examples:

John went home last night. (not “John has gone home last night.”)
Where did you go yesterday? (not “Where have you gone yesterday?”)
Yesterday we ate breakfast at Tiffany’s. (not “Yesterday we have eaten breakfast at Tiffany’s.”)

Also recall from a few days ago: When you are talking about the past until now, then you must use the Present Perfect:

Have you ever eaten squid? (until now)
We’ve lived in Dallas for three years. (we still live there now)

Exercises: Use the words in parentheses to make the sentence either present perfect or simple past.

Example:

(you / ever / go) skiing? ==> Have you ever gone skiing?
(you / go) skiing last year? ==> Did you go skiing last year?

1. Tom (lose) his key. Can you help him find it?
2. I’ve been looking for you. Where (you / be)?
3. What (you / eat) for lunch yesterday?
4. Matt (take) piano lessons since he was eight years old.
5. Last week we (get) a lot of snow.
6. I (travel) around the world, but I (never / taste) anything as delicious as this barbecue.
7. This morning I (exercise) before I went to school.
8. Mother (make) a delicious dinner for tonight’s party.
9. (you / ever / have) Mr. Smith as a teacher?
10. Where (you / live) ten years ago?

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Writing Assignment: At the Hospital (Solution)

Posted on 2012/02/25
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at the hospital

 

1. What is the man in the picture doing?
He is visiting a baby, and he has his hand on the baby’s head.

2. What sort of covering is the man wearing?
He is wearing some scrubs.

3. Why is the man wearing scrubs?
The man is wearing scrubs because the baby has to be in a sterile environment, and be protected from germs.

4. Where is the baby?
The baby is lying on a small baby hospital bed.

5. Why doesn’t the man pick up the baby?
The baby is hooked up to a lot of tubes and various monitors.

6. Why aren’t there other visitors for the baby?
The number of visitors is limited, and only the baby’s parents or close relatives can visit.

7. Is this a regular hospital room?
No, this is a neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU).

8. Is the baby’s condition critical?
Yes, the baby is rather sick.

9. How many tubes are hooked up to the baby?
We see a couple of big tubes coming out near the baby’s head, and there are several other tubes on the baby’s body.

10. What sort of monitors is the baby hooked up to?
The baby is hooked up to a heart rate and blood pressure monitor, as well as monitor that checks the baby’s respiration.

11. How do the monitors help the nurses see how the baby is doing?
The monitors help the nurses by keeping track of the how the baby’s blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate (vital signs) are doing.

12. What would the monitors do if the baby’s blood pressure or heart rate goes too high or too low?
If the baby’s vital signs go too high or too low, the monitors will sound an alarm to alert the nurses that there is a problem, and the baby needs attention.

13. What kinds of information would the nurses write down in the patient’s chart?
In the baby’s chart the nurses would write down the heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, in addition to other information like what kind of medication the baby is being given, and when the last time was that the baby received some medication.

14. What sort of things would the nurses do to take care of the baby?
In addition to watching the baby’s monitors and recording the information, the nurses would give the baby medication, change the IV when necessary, change the baby’s bandages and cleanse the baby’s incisions, or change the baby’s catheter and empty the urine bag.

15. What does a nurse use a stethoscope for?
The nurse uses the stethoscope to listen to the baby’s heart, lungs, and intestines.

16. How does the nurse take the baby’s temperature?
The nurse uses a thermometer to take the baby’s temperature.

17. How would a sick baby like this be fed?
A sick baby like this would probably be fed intravenously, or possibly through a nose tube.

18. How would a sick baby like this be given medicine?
A sick baby like this would be given medicine intravenously.

19. What do the nurses or doctors do if the baby needs extra blood?
If the baby needs extra blood, the doctors or nurses would give the baby a blood transfusion.

20. How long do you think it will be before the baby can go home?
Since the baby is so sick, it will probably be a few weeks before the baby is well enough to go home.

Paragraph: At the Hospital

Write a brief paragraph about the time that you, or a friend or relative, were in the hospital. How was the stay in the hospital? Were the doctors and nurses friendly and helpful?

When our first baby was born, she was very sick because of a condition called meconium aspiration. This happens when the baby has a bowel movement inside the womb and then inhales the fecal matter. This can be a very serious condition, because the meconium coats the lungs and makes it difficult for the baby to get enough oxygen. Our baby needed to be transferred to another hospital where the doctors could operate on her to hook her up to an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) machine to give her lungs a chance to heal and recover. While she was on the ECMO machine, she was in NICU, so we had to wear scrubs to visit her. The visiting hours were limited, and only parents and grandparents could visit, just two at a time. After three or four days, she was able to come off the ECMO machine, but she still needed to be in NICU until her vital signs were healthy. About twelve days after she was born, she was able to come out of NICU and be transferred back to the local hospital, but she still was unable to come home. She had to gain weight and learn how to nurse or feed from a bottle. Eventually, she was healthy enough to be discharged from the hospital, and we took her home on Christmas Eve, over three weeks after she was born.

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Writing Assignment: At the Hospital

Posted on 2012/02/24
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at the hospital

 

Vocabulary

private hospital room
semi-private hospital room
operating room
recovery room
waiting room
emergency room
intensive care unit (ICU)
neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU)
nursing station
staff
nurse
doctor
shift change
intravenous (line) (IV)
IV tree
surgery
medicine
antibiotic
anesthesia
monitor
alarm
nose tube
oxygen tube
intubation
blood transfusion
catheter
stethoscope
thermometer
bedpan
blood pressure
heart rate
(body) temperature
pulse
sterile
bandage
gauze
needle
shot
patient chart
hospital bed
call button
hospital gown
hospital ID bracelet
scrubs
critical
scar
infection
visiting hours

1. What is the man in the picture doing?
2. What sort of covering is the man wearing?
3. Why is the man wearing scrubs?
4. Where is the baby?
5. Why doesn’t the man pick up the baby?
6. Why aren’t there other visitors for the baby?
7. Is this a regular hospital room?
8. Is the baby’s condition critical?
9. How many tubes are hooked up to the baby?
10. What sort of monitors is the baby hooked up to?
11. How do the monitors help the nurses see how the baby is doing?
12. What would the monitors do if the baby’s blood pressure or heart rate goes too high or too low?
13. What kinds of information would the nurses write down in the patient’s chart?
14. What sort of things would the nurses do to take care of the baby?
15. What does a nurse use a stethoscope for?
16. How does the nurse take the baby’s temperature?
17. How would a sick baby like this be fed?
18. How would a sick baby like this be given medicine?
19. What do the nurses or doctors do if the baby needs extra blood?
20. How long do you think it will be before the baby can go home?

Paragraph: At the Hospital

Write a brief paragraph about the time that you, or a friend or relative, were in the hospital. How was the stay in the hospital? Were the doctors and nurses friendly and helpful?

 

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Grammar Basics: Unit 20 – Present Perfect vs. Simple Past, Part II (Solutions)

Posted on 2012/02/24
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Exercise: Rewrite the sentences using the present perfect.

Example:

Did Kelly go on vacation yet? ==> Has Kelly gone on vacation yet?

1. I haven’t told my father yet that I lost my job.
2. Tim has already shoveled the snow from the sidewalk.
3. Sam’s just taken a shower.
4. Have you just gotten home from work?
5. Oh, I’ve already put away the groceries.
6. Have you changed the baby’s diaper yet?
7. We’ve just bought a new dishwasher.
8. Steve’s already graduated from college.
9. Dave hasn’t voted yet.
10. I’ve just turned on the radio.

Exercise: Rewrite the sentences using the simple past.

Example:

The guests have already come! ==> The guests already came!

1. Matt didn’t eat dinner yet.
2. The TV repairman just left.
3. Mr. Jones is not in. He already left for the day.
4. Do you want to talk to Bill? He didn’t go to bed yet.
5. Help! I was just robbed!
6. She already celebrated her birthday.
7. The baby didn’t get any teeth yet.
8. The baby just said “Dada” for the first time.
9. Did you talk to your cousin yet?
10. Mary already returned the books to the library.

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Grammar Basics: Unit 20 – Present Perfect vs. Simple Past, Part II

Posted on 2012/02/23
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There are three adverbs that are often used together with the Present Perfect and the Simple Past: just, already, and yet.

just = “a short time ago”

Examples:

Tom just came home from school.
Tom’s just come home from school.
Sally’s not here – she just left a few minutes ago.
Come in! I just finished cleaning the kitchen.
It’s weird that Mark called me – I was just thinking about him.

already = “before you/I expected”

Examples:

The children have already done their homework, and are now playing in the back yard.
I already baked a cake for tomorrow night’s party.
John’s in bed already. He got up at 5:30 this morning, so he was pretty tired.
Hello, Mr. Smith. I do believe we’ve already met.
Hurry up and get dressed! The guests have already come!

yet = “until now”

Examples:

Have you done your homework yet?
Did you do your homework yet?
I haven’t seen the new Indiana Jones movie yet.
Bob’s been at his job for five years, and hasn’t gotten a promotion yet.
Did Kelly go on vacation yet?

 

Exercise: Rewrite the sentences using the present perfect.

Example:

Did Kelly go on vacation yet? ==> Has Kelly gone on vacation yet?

1. I didn’t tell my father yet that I lost my job.
2. Tim already shoveled the snow from the sidewalk.
3. Sam just took a shower.
4. Did you just get home from work?
5. Oh, I already put away the groceries.
6. Did you change the baby’s diaper yet?
7. We just bought a new dishwasher.
8. Steve already graduated from college.
9. Dave didn’t vote yet.
10. I just turned on the radio.

Exercise: Rewrite the sentences using the simple past.

Example:

The guests have already come! ==> The guests already came!

1. Matt hasn’t eaten dinner yet.
2. The TV repairman’s just left.
3. Mr. Jones is not in. He’s already left for the day.
4. Do you want to talk to Bill? He hasn’t gone to bed yet.
5. Help! I’ve just been robbed!
6. She’s already celebrated her birthday.
7. The baby hasn’t gotten any teeth yet.
8. The baby’s just said “Dada” for the first time.
9. Have you talked to your cousin yet?
10. Mary’s already returned the books to the library.

 

There are three adverbs that are often used together with the Present Perfect and the Simple Past: just, already, and yet.

just = “a short time ago”

Examples:

Tom just came home from school.
Tom’s just come home from school.
Sally’s not here – she just left a few minutes ago.
Come in! I just finished cleaning the kitchen.
It’s weird that Mark called me – I was just thinking about him.


already = “before you/I expected”

Examples:

The children have already done their homework, and are now playing in the back yard.
I already baked a cake for tomorrow night’s party.
John’s in bed already. He got up at 5:30 this morning, so he was pretty tired.
Hello, Mr. Smith. I do believe we’ve already met.
Hurry up and get dressed! The guests have already come!

yet = “until now”

Examples:

Have you done your homework yet?
Did you do your homework yet?
I haven’t seen the new Indiana Jones movie yet.
Bob’s been at his job for five years, and hasn’t gotten a promotion yet.
Did Kelly go on vacation yet?

Exercise: Rewrite the sentences using the present perfect.

Example:
Did Kelly go on vacation yet? ==> Has Kelly gone on vacation yet?

1. I didn’t tell my father yet that I lost my job.

2. Tim already shoveled the snow from the sidewalk.

3. Sam just took a shower.

4. Did you just get home from work?

5. Oh, I already put away the groceries.

6. Did you change the baby’s diaper yet?

7. We just bought a new dishwasher.

8. Steve already graduated from college.

9. Dave didn’t vote yet.

10. I just turned on the radio.

Exercise: Rewrite the sentences using the simple past.

Example:
The guests have already come! ==> The guests already came!

1. Matt hasn’t eaten dinner yet.

2. The TV repairman’s just left.

3. Mr. Jones is not in. He’s already left for the day.

4. Do you want to talk to Bill? He hasn’t gone to bed yet.

5. Help! I’ve just been robbed!

6. She’s already celebrated her birthday.

7. The baby hasn’t gotten any teeth yet.

8. The baby’s just said “Dada” for the first time.

9. Have you talked to your cousin yet?

10. Mary’s already returned the books to the library.

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Grammar Basics: Unit 19 – Present Perfect vs. Simple Past, Part I (Solutions)

Posted on 2012/02/22
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Exercise: Rewrite the sentences, using the present perfect for the verbs in parentheses.

Example:

Tom is not at work. He (left) for the day. ==> Tom is not at work. He’s left for the day.

1. Jack has cut the grass.
2. She has baked a cake for tomorrow’s party.
3. We have exercised this morning.
4. Kelly has eaten supper with her friends.
5. Have you washed the clothes?
6. The light bulb has burned out.
7. Mary has been in an auto accident.
8. The dog has been fed.
9. Archeologists have dug up a dinosaur bone.
10. Customers have come to the store for a free book.

Exercise: Rewrite the sentences, using the simple past for the verbs in parentheses.

Example:

Tim (has gone) to bed. ==> Tim went to bed.

1. The plane came to a complete stop.
2. Sally finished reading War and Peace.
3. Everyone went home for the day.
4. The senator already gave his speech.
5. The clock stopped.
6. These books were checked out from the library.
7. The luggage was put on the train.
8. Matt got first place in several tennis tournaments.
9. The baby took his first steps.
10. My favorite TV program was canceled.

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Grammar Basics: Unit 19 – Present Perfect vs. Simple Past, Part I

Posted on 2012/02/21
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So far, we have looked at two ways to talk about past events: the Simple Past, and the Present Perfect. The question is: How can I tell when I need to use Simple Past, and when I need to use Present Perfect?

Present Perfect:
The Present Perfect is used for an action in the past that has a result that is still in effect now.

Examples:

The mechanic has fixed the car. (= The car is fixed now.)
The rain has melted away the snow. (= The snow is melted now.)
I have cleaned the basement. (= The basement is clean now.)
Jim was very sick last week, but he’s gotten better. (= His condition is better now.)

Simple Past:
The Simple Past is used when we are talking about an action in the past with a finished time – something whose results are not necessarily still in effect now.

Examples:

The mechanic fixed the car. (= The car was fixed yesterday, three days ago, last week, last month, etc.)
The rain melted away the snow. (= The snow melted yesterday, three days ago, last week, last month, etc.)
I cleaned the basement. (= I cleaned the basement yesterday, three days ago, last week, last month, etc.)

Note: The Simple Past can also be thought of as a narrative (“story-telling”) tense:

Once upon a time there was a little girl named Goldilocks. She was a naughty little girl who didn’t listen to her mother. One day, she went for a walk in the woods and came upon the house of the three bears….

Sometimes, however, the Simple Past could be used as well as the Present Perfect:

I’ve finished my homework. // I finished my homework.
I’ve lost my book. // I lost my book.
Sam’s bought new shoes. // Sam bought new shoes.

Exercise: Rewrite the sentences, using the present perfect for the verbs in parentheses.

Example:

Tom is not at work. He (left) for the day. ==> Tom is not at work. He’s left for the day.

1. Jack (cut) the grass.
2. She (baked) a cake for tomorrow’s party.
3. We (exercised) this morning.
4. Kelly (ate) supper with her friends.
5. (Did) you (wash) the clothes?
6. The light bulb (burned) out.
7. Mary (was) in an auto accident.
8. The dog (was) fed.
9. Archeologists (dug) up a dinosaur bone.
10. Customers (came) to the store for a free book.

Exercise: Rewrite the sentences, using the simple past for the verbs in parentheses.

Example:

Tim (has gone) to bed. ==> Tim went to bed.

1. The plane (has come) to a complete stop.
2. Sally (has finished) reading War and Peace.
3. Everyone (has gone) home for the day.
4. The senator (has) already (given) his speech.
5. The clock (has stopped).
6. These books (have been checked) out from the library.
7. The luggage (has been put) on the train.
8. Matt (has gotten) first place in several tennis tournaments.
9. The baby (has taken) his first steps.
10. My favorite TV program (has been canceled).

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Crossword – Basic Vocabulary 5 (solution)

Posted on 2012/02/20
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Crossword - Basic Vocabulary 5 (solution)

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Writing Assignment: The Department Store (Solutions)

Posted on 2012/02/18
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shopping mall

 

1. In this store what else can you buy besides purses?
In this store we can buy women’s apparel (clothes).

2. What is the woman on the left buying?
The woman on the left is buying some women’s clothes; a scarf, perhaps.

3. How many buttons are on the back side of the coat?
There are two buttons on the back side of the coat.

4. What is probably in the drawer behind the sales lady?
There are probably scarves, gloves, stockings, and similar things.

5. What is the sales lady wearing on her ears?
The sales lady is wearing earrings on her ears.

6. How many sales ladies are in the picture?
There is one sales lady in the picture.

7. Is the man in the background packing something in a box or paper bag?
The man in the background is packing something in a box.

8. What is the man in the black suit selling?
The man in the black suit is selling purses.

9. What is the blond lady holding in her right hand?
The blond lady is holding her purse in her right hand.

10. What is the man giving to the lady?
The man is giving a box to the lady.

11. What does the sales clerk write on the pad of paper that is on the counter?
The sales clerk writes a receipt with the pad of paper that is on the counter.

12. Is the purse more expensive or cheaper than a pair of stockings?
The purse is more expensive than a pair of stockings.

13. Do the people in this picture look unfriendly?
No, they look friendly.

14. What do the men wear around their necks?
The men wear neckties (ties) around their necks.

15. What do the lady customers wear on their heads?
The lady customers wear hats on their heads.

16. Is there someone standing in the door?
Yes, there is someone standing in the door, heading out of the store.

17. What do you see over the door?
Over the door we see a sign.

18. Which woman is wearing a vest?
The woman in the foreground is wearing a vest.

19. Could this picture be in a department store?
Yes, this picture could be in a department store.

20. Do you usually buy clothing in a clothing store or department store?
You can buy clothing in either a clothing store or a department store.

Paragraph: A Visit to the Store

Write a brief paragraph about the last time you went to a department store. What did you buy? Was the sales clerk helpful? Did you buy a gift for someone?

The last time I went to a department store, I wanted to buy a pair of pajamas for my father. It was his birthday, and I wanted to give him something that I knew he would appreciate. I went to the department store at the local shopping mall. It was on the weekend and the mall was crowded, so I had a hard time trying to find a place to park. Eventually, though, I found a spot, parked the car, and went inside the mall to the store.

When I got to the men’s department, I went to the pajama section. I thought that my father needed size large, so I looked for the row that had that size. Since it had been cold out lately, I decided to get him a pair of flannel pajamas. I figured that those would keep him warmer than a pair of summer pajamas would. I found a red pair and brought them to the counter. The clerk rang me up and asked me if I needed a gift receipt. I said yes, so if the pajamas were the wrong size, color, or style, my father would be able to exchange the pajamas for ones he preferred. The clerk also asked me if I wanted to have them gift wrapped. I knew that I could wrap them myself, so I just asked for a gift box instead. I was satisfied with my purchase, and I went home to wrap up the pajamas as a present for my dad.

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Writing Assignment: The Department Store

Posted on 2012/02/17
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at the department store

 

Vocabulary

suit
customer
stocking
to look, appear
store
purse, handbag
besides
counter
expensive
inexpensive, cheap
coat
more expensive than
cheaper
most of the time
sales lady
pad of paper
clothing store
paper bag
something
unfriendly
neck
ear
to sell
someone
pair, pair of
sales clerk
to buy
to pack
box
department store
back side
probably
button
drawer
vest

1. In this store what else can you by besides purses?
2. What is the woman on the left buying?
3. How many buttons are on the back side of the coat?
4. What is probably in the drawer behind the sales lady?
5. What is the sales lady wearing on her ears?
6. How many sales ladies are in the picture?
7. Is the man in the background packing something in a box or paper bag?
8. What is the man in the black suit selling?
9. What is the blond lady holding in her right hand?
10. What is the man giving to the lady?
11. What does the sales clerk write on the pad of paper that is on the counter?
12. Is the purse more expensive or cheaper than a pair of stockings?
13. Do the people in this picture look unfriendly?
14. What do the men wear around their necks?
15. What do the lady customers wear on their heads?
16. Is there someone standing in the door?
17. What do you see over the door?
18. Which woman is wearing a vest?
19. Could this picture be in a department store?
20. Do you usually buy clothing in a clothing store or department store?

Paragraph: A Visit to the Store

Write a brief paragraph about the last time you went to a department store. What did you buy? Was the sales clerk helpful? Did you buy a gift for someone?

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