Grammar Point
Using the present perfect tense could be difficult at first, but it only needs getting used to. Once you are acquainted with it, you will ask how you have managed communicating in English without using this tense. It is used when talking about experience or about a past event that still has relevance to the present.
Consider the sentences below:
I have been to Argentina.
I have just had lunch. I don't feel hungry anymore.
The first sentence talks about one's experience of being in Argentina. It's not the past that she is interested in but focuses on the fact that she has been in the country some time before.
The second sentence talks about how she is not hungry anymore because she has already had lunch. The focus is on the fact that she is no longer hungry.
Note that the verb should follow the form, has/have + past participle.
Other examples:
I have done skydiving. (Experience)
I have seen the movie, "007".
She has left the office. (Focus is on the fact that she is no longer in the office).
Vocabulary/Helpful Expressions
Imperative- necessary; essential
Crucial- extremely important
e.g.
It is imperative that we get to the meeting place on time.
It is imperative that you are present in the teleconference.
Being able to make a decision by Monday is crucial.
What are the crucial parts of the presentation.
Practice
I have never given a presentation in front of more than 10 people. I feel that to do that successfully, it is imperative that I prepare days before. The visual aids will also be very crucial in the success of the presentation. I have just finished my power point file, so now, all I need to do is practice the delivery.
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Thursday, December 11, 2014
Friday, December 5, 2014
I Had Done It Before You Did (Past Perfect)
Grammar Point
Talking about the past is not usually as simple as describing one event. In some cases, you need to describe an event that had happened before another one took place. To be able to do that, you will need to use the past perfect tense effectively. This tense is for when talking about a past event before another past event happened.
Take the example: We had left the house when it rained. (two past events)
This means that first the event, "We had left the house", had taken place before another event, "it rained", happened.
Other examples:
I had prepared dinner when she invited me out. (First event: had prepared dinner)
They had finished the meeting when the fire alarm went off.
She had found another job before she tendered her resignation letter.
Vocabulary/Helpful Expressions
Get back to (somebody): used when you are not ready to give the information about something or when you are not ready to do something with somebody
Examples:
I will get back to you on your question.
She said she would get back to me on the matter.
My client will get back to me on our offer.
NEVER: Confuse this expression with "get back at". When used with the preposition "at", this means to take revenge.
Examples:
They will get back at us tomorrow after throwing them at lot of difficult questions during their presentation.
He will get back at me for not taking his side.
I never thing of getting back at anyone no matter what they have done to me.
Practice
I had already finished my presentation when he asked a question. As there was no longer any time left for a discussion, I told him that I would get back to him on that. I would put everything in an email. He still pushed for answers even after I had closed my computer. I think it was his way of getting back at me for not helping him with his project.
Want to learn more with a trainer? Schedule a FREE test lesson today!
To know about my travels, click here.
Talking about the past is not usually as simple as describing one event. In some cases, you need to describe an event that had happened before another one took place. To be able to do that, you will need to use the past perfect tense effectively. This tense is for when talking about a past event before another past event happened.
Take the example: We had left the house when it rained. (two past events)
This means that first the event, "We had left the house", had taken place before another event, "it rained", happened.
Other examples:
I had prepared dinner when she invited me out. (First event: had prepared dinner)
They had finished the meeting when the fire alarm went off.
She had found another job before she tendered her resignation letter.
Vocabulary/Helpful Expressions
Get back to (somebody): used when you are not ready to give the information about something or when you are not ready to do something with somebody
Examples:
I will get back to you on your question.
She said she would get back to me on the matter.
My client will get back to me on our offer.
NEVER: Confuse this expression with "get back at". When used with the preposition "at", this means to take revenge.
Examples:
They will get back at us tomorrow after throwing them at lot of difficult questions during their presentation.
He will get back at me for not taking his side.
I never thing of getting back at anyone no matter what they have done to me.
Practice
I had already finished my presentation when he asked a question. As there was no longer any time left for a discussion, I told him that I would get back to him on that. I would put everything in an email. He still pushed for answers even after I had closed my computer. I think it was his way of getting back at me for not helping him with his project.
Want to learn more with a trainer? Schedule a FREE test lesson today!
To know about my travels, click here.
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