D State verbs
Present time 2
A Present simple or continuous?
The present simp;e and present continuous are explained in unit 1. Compare:
Present continuous
Present simple
permanent nabits and routines facts that are always true general situations / live m Budapest ia'\ the time)
temporary in progress now
events happening at the moment a oarticular situation
I'm living in Budapest, (for a few months) This plane lands In Frankfurt, (routine)    Look! We're landing, (in progress now)
N'H. dominates rhe UK cable-television market (general situation). It is doing wry well in the vest ofEurope, too, with about 4ra ■laiomm (at the moment!. (International Herald Tribune websice)
Canada continues to he tlic most popular country for franchise expansion among US-t^ased companies (general situation), but thai is changing (trend in progress), (worldtrarieonline magazine)
B Present continuous or present perfect continuous?
The present continuous is used (or a temporary action happening now.
The present perfect continuous describes an action in progress from the past jp to the present
Sue is working on the new design. (in progress now, a no wi II continue)
Stj'e has been working on the new design (in progress up to now, and nay or may not continue)
C Other uses of present tenses
PRESENT SIMPLE
The present simple can be used to refer to timetables and schedules. When we speak about timetables we are often thinking about the future.
flrii/sn Airways flight BA723 leaves Geneva at 16.40 and arrives in London at 17.20.
s Tbe present simple can be used to make a story appear mare immediate and Interesting. This is common in journalism.
On a grey Not/ember day in New England the mood inside EMC's headquarters is sunny and bright. Executives of the datastorage tnaiicel leader see no limits to the world's expanding appetite for their storage machines. CEO Michael Ruettgers caih EMC recession-proof. (Business Week website)
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
The present continuous can be used to describe a fixed future arrangement. There is usually a future time expression.
HSBC are moving to new premises next year.
We can use always with the present continuous. This is often used for exaggerating or ccmplairiing. We emphasise ahvays in speech ifi this case. This photocopier is always breaking down!
Some verbs describe states, not actions. Nothing 'happens'. Verbs like this are not normally
used in the continuous form of any tense.
/ notice that you've moved your desk. (NOT I'm noticing)
Sorry / don't understand, (NOT I'm not understanding)
How much does it cost? (NOT How much is it costings
It weighs 4kg with the packaging. (NOT It is weighing)
These examples are in the present simple even though we are talking about temporary situations.
State verbs include:
the senses:   appear, hear, look like, notice, see, seem, smell, sound, taste (= have a flavour) feelings:     dislike, fear, hate, like, love, prefer, want, wish
thinking:     agree, believe, doubt, expect (= believe) feel (= believe), forget, imagine, know,
realise, recognise, suppose, suspect, think 1= believe), understand possession:  belong to, contain, have (= possess), include, own, possess being:        be, consist of, exist
other verbs: cost, depend on, fit, involve, matter, measure (= have length), mean, need, satisfy, surprise, weigh
Analysts expect that shares in the demerged P&O Princess Cruises will trade initially at about 400p a share, which means that P&O is currently undervalued. However some analysts think that the arrival of new cruise ships on the market will produce a fall in profits. (Telegraph website)
Some of the verbs in the previous list can have a 'state' meaning and an 'action' meaning.
Examples include be, have, taste, think.
Our suppliers are usually very helpful, (state)
Our suppliers are being very hefpful at the moment, (action)
/ have two sisters, (state)
I'm having problems with this computer, (action)
This soup tastes salty, (state)
I'm tasting the soup to see if it needs more salt, (action)
I think you're right, (state)
I'm thinking about changing my job. (action)
State verbs are not normally used in the imperative.
2 Practice
Exercise 1 A
Underline the correct words.
1 A: What do you do!are you doing? B: I'm an executive secretary.
2 A: What do you do/are you doing?
B: I'm looking for the details on the computer.
3 A: Where do you work Ism you working'' B: Paris this month, then Bonn the next.
4 A: Where do you work/are you working! B: At our head office in Paris.
5 My name's Walter, and I come/I'm coming from Frankfurt.
6 / come [I'm coming to Frankfurt next Thursday   I can call in to your office.
7 ; deal withll'm dealing with Andrew's clients while he's on holiday,
8 / deal withll'm dealing with the paperwork and general administration
9 A: Who do you golareyou going to the Trade Fair with? 9: This year with Stefano
10 A: Who do you go/are you going to the Trade Fair with? B: Usually with Stefano.
Exercise 2 A D
Complete the sentences by putting the verbs in brackets into the present simple or present continuous.
1 I ...AM...!fif?kj.is^...*.t... (look at) the details on the screen right now.
2 I................................(look at) the sales results in detail every month.
3 The production line................................ (not, work) at weekends.
4 The production line................................(not, work) at the moment.
5 Yes, I agree. I................................(think) it's a good idea,
6 I................................(think) about it, I'll let you know tomorrow.
7 Helen ...............................- (stay) at the Asloria while she's in Madrid this month.
8 Helen................................(stay) at the Astoria when she's in Madrid.
9 We................................(take) a sample for testing once a day
10 We................................(take) a big risk if we go ahead with the project.
11 They................................(be) usually very flexible if we need to change the order.
12 They................................(be) flexible about giving us credit for a few more months.
Exercise 3 D
Some of the following sentences are right and some are wrong. Put a tick (v") next to the right ones, and correct the wrong ones.
1 Which wine are you going to have? ..................../,....................
Which wine arc you preferring? .....Aff,..i0*..,t>tMsC......
Exercise 4 A D unit 1
Complete this dialogue by putting each of the verbs in brackets into the correct form of the present simple or present continuous.
matt- (you/look) for someone?
jennifrr.:  Yes, J (2) ..................=.......................... (need) to speak to Kim Bryant but she isn't in her office.
(3) ............................................ (you/know) where she is?
matt:       Oh, I'm sorry, she isn't here today. She (4) ............................................ (work) at home trying
to finish an urgent report. I (5)............................................ (think) she'll be back at her desk
tomorrow. Perhaps I can help you? Jennifer:  Oh, thanks. 1 (6) ............................................ (work) for Pritchard Evans.We
(7)............................................. (organise) corporate hospitality ...
matt:      Oh,, yes.
jennifer: Well, Kim Bryant contacted ns last week. Apparently you
(8) ............................................ (expect) a visit by a Korean trade delegation next month.
matt:       Yes, that's right.
Jennifer: Kim asked me to call in and give her some information on our service. Urn, 1
(9)............................................ (have) a list at suggestions vvitb me, ft
(10) ............................................ (give) you in formation on where yon could take your visitors,
and details of extra services that we can offer,, like our pick-up service from the hotel in a chauffeur-driven limousine.
matt:      Well, that sounds great. I'm sure Kim would be really interested to see this. jf.nnir-11:  How long (11) ............................................? (your visitors /-stay)?
matt:      Oh, I'm sorry, I (12) ............................................(not/know) exactly. You really need to speak
to Kim. she (13)............................................ (deal) with this conference. I'll toll her Co give you
a ring tomorrow. What's the best time to call?
jennii:ck: I (14) ............................................ (not/work) in the office in the mornings ... anytime after
two. Or she can call uie on my mobile, on 0777...
£&erase SAD
Complete this article about the magazine Time Out by using words from the list below. Decide whether to put the verbs into the present simple or present continuous.
look for    move    investigate    rely    want    provide     try to
Time Out: time to
That's ridiculous - I'm not believing it! Thai's ridiculous - I'm not doing business with them again! I'm sorry, I'm not fallowing what you're saying. I'm sorry, I'm not understanding what you're saying. This building is containing all the printing machines. 8 This building is getting very old - soon we'll have to move.
Time Out, the London entertainment magazine, has plans for expansion. It
already (1)................„.„ the monthly
magazine   Paris   Passion,   and   now it
(2)....................;................ beyond France to
other markets such as Argentina and Japan. Tony Elliott/ Time Out's founder, says he
(3)..................................... local people to
initiate and run the magazines, as Time Out's London office doesn't have the cash or
management time. Elliott also has plans for the  website, Timeout.com, which was
launched in 1995 and (4).............,.......................
information about more than 30 cities. It
(5) ..................................... on advertising
revenue and a small amount of money from ticket sales to survive. But as Time Out changes   and   expands,   Tony Elliott
(6).....................................persuade advertisers
in  the  printed version  to  take more
space  on  the  Internet  site.  Also, he
(7) ,...................„„......,„ the possibility of
charging visitors to the site far access to some information. Despite these expansion plans, Elliot says that a flotation on the stock market   is   out   of   the   question. He
(8)..................................... to keep control of
the business he has built up.
Past simple: form
The past simple of regular verbs is formed by adding -ed to the infinitive. Verbs ending in -e
simply add -d Common irregular verbs are listed on page 240.
check-checked: I checked the figures.
Itke-hked: They liked his idea.
Irregular: ear - ate   drink - drank   go - went etc
Negatives are formed with did not and the infinitive. This is contracted to didn't in speech and
informal writing.
/ didn't like his idea.
I didn't go to the meeting.
Questions are formed with the auxiliary verb did and the infinitive. Short answers to yes/no questions repeat the auxiliary. A: Did you check the figures? B: Yes, I did./No, I didn't
The verb to be is irregular and follows a different pattern. In negatives there is no did. In questions there is no did and the subject and verb are inverted:
l/he/she/it was late. I/he I she/it wasn't Me. Was I/he/she/it late?
You/we/they were late. You/we/they weren't late. Were you/we/they late?
Past simple: uses
We use the past simple to describe actions and states in a completed period of time We know when the action happened, and this may be mentioned or clear from the situation. / checked the figures very carefully last week I'm sorry, I wasn't in the office yesterday.
American ISP Juno designed an easy-ro-use email service ami user intcijacc and llien outsourced everything else. It leased phone lines Irom a dozen companies and hired out customer service. (BusinessWeek website)
The past simple is also used to describe habitual actions in the past. Every evening we went out and ate in a different restaurant.
Past simple: time expressions
Time expressions used with the past simple include:
at twelve o'clock/the end of the year
in the morning I June119981 the sixties
on Friday/the second of April
no preposition last week/yesterday/ago
D Past continuous: form
The past continuous is formed with the past of be and the -ing form of the main verb. Negatives are formed with the verb be + not. In speech and informal writing we use contractions.
I/he/she/it was working yesterday. I/he/she/it wasn't working yesterday.
You/we/they were working yesterday.       You/we/they weren't working yesterday.
Questions are formed by inverting the subject and the auxiliary verb be. Short answers to
yes/no questions repeat the auxiliary.
A: Was he working yesterday?
B: Yes, he was./No, he wasn't
A: Were they working yesterday?
B: Yes, they were./No, they weren't.
E Past continuous: uses
The past continuous is used to describe a situation in progress in the past. I was waiting in the departure founge for more than two hours.
There can be several situations in progress, happening at the same time:
The early 1970s was a rime when IBM was beginning to lose its way and many skilled people
were leaving to set up their own husmess.es. Computing was entering a neiv age. (The Time^
website)
■'•   The past continuous is used to give information about the background situation. The separate, completed actions that happen during or after this period are in the past simple: 'J came in to Oracle as it was recovering from the recession of the early 1990s. The business unit I joined had an ageing product line that was declining by 30 per cent a year in sales. Within a year we completely turned that unit around.' (Eurobusiness website)
If we do not mention the background situation then the separate actions are in the past simple in the normal way:
When I arrived I registered at reception and went straight to the conference hall.
F Past continuous: time expressions
We can use when, while or as with the past continuous to mean "during the time that something was happening':
While Planner and Dietmar Hopp were developing the first real-time order processing system at SAP, Claus Wellemeuther was writing the financial software.  (Eurobusmess website)
But if we mean 'at the time that' then we only use when with the past simple: He wasn't very happy when I told him the news. (NOT white-l tolehhim ...)
G Past simple or continuous?
Sometimes the past simple or past continuous can be used. The past simple suggests a separate, complete action or event. The past continuous emphasises the duration of the action, l/l/e discussed the report and agreed that Peter should prepare some detailed figures before the next meeting.
We were discussing the report for over an hour. Eventually we agreed that Peter should prepare some detailed figures before the next meeting.
3 Practice
Exercise 1 A
Underline the correct word/s-
1 A: Did you get/got the email I sent you yesterday? B: Yes, thanks, I did/got
2 How you felt/did you feel when they told/did tsll you about moving offices?
3 A: Did you tell/laid him about the change of plans? B: Yes, / told II did.
4 I didn't see I didn't saw the reason for the delay, so I got/did get angry
Exercise 2 A
Complete the dialogue using the verbs from the list below in the past simple. There is a mixture of affirmative, negative and question forms. There is one negative question.
take    think    sell    like    have (x7.)    make (x2)    be (x4) buy
dale: Hi, )ill.You (1) .......V^fS.lr........to the Milan Fashion Show last week, didn't you?
(2).........................you...................— a good trip?
jill;   Yes, it was great.
dale: (3) .........-.......-......- you --------.................any useful contacts?
jii.l   Well, there (4) .........................loads of people at the show, and I (5) .........................a lot of good
contacts but we (6)................................................nearly as many orders as last year.
dale: Oh, why was that? (7) -.......-................they .........................our new styles?
jill:   No, no, that (8) ......................... the problem.The shoes (9) .........................really well, but we
(10).........................so successful with some of our other products, like handbags, for example, and
there (11)...........much more competition this year.
dale: Who from?
jill:   Well, the Paul Smith stand was really busy.
dale: Oh, but his clothes are expensive ... Um, (12) .........................people at the show
'................................ our prices were too high?
jill:   Possibly. But we (13) ..................................................the authority to lower them at the time.
dale: Oh, what a shame. So it was a waste of a trip then?
jill:   Well, not exactly ■ ■ ■ 1 (14) .........................this great pair of Prada shoes and this Gucci handbag ...
Exercise 3 B E
Underline the best continuation of the conversations. 1 A: What was she doing this morning?
B: She interviewed/was interviewing candidates for the sales job. '?  A: flow did Rreiula spend her holiday?
B: Most days she went/was going to the beach.
3 A: What happened after you launched the product?
B; While we promoted/were promoting it. our main competitor dropped/was dropping their prices.
4 A: I didn't see you in the office last week.
B: No, I worked/was working at home for a few days.
5 A: What did Pat do when she saw the artwork?
B: She called/was calling the designers and said/Was saying it wasn't suitable.
6 A: Why did Renata take so long to get here?
B: She said they mended/were mending the road and su the Lraffk moved/was moving very slowly
Exercise 4 A
Complete this article about Vivendi by putting each of the verbs in brackets into the past simple. Most of the verbs are irregular (see Appendix 2).
Vivendi: 150 years of history
"ST Tivendi, the French utilities and W communications group, has a long history going back to 1853. In that year the Government (1) ..5.C5&te*L (create) Compagnie   Generale   des   Eaux. The
founders   (2}...................... (have) two
objectives: to irrigate the countryside for farming and to supply water to towns and cities in France.
In 18S0 a treaty (3)...................... (give)
Generale des Eaux the tight to supply water to Venice, and then Constantinople
and Oporto (4).................____ (come) soon
after. By the time of the centenary celebrations in 1953 Generale des Eaux
(5) ..........,.....(supply) water to eight
million people in France.
In the 1960s and 1970s the company
(6);.....................(begin) activities in the area
of civil construction and (7)..............,.......
(build) 3 large tower block in the La Defense business district of Paris.
During the 1980s Generale des Eaux
(B)...............—      (join) with the Havas
media group to create Canal Plus, a pay
TV channel. They also (9) »..........;..........
(take) a controlling stake in the civil engineering giant, SGE, In the 1990s they
(10)...................... (win) major contracts in
the Asia Pacific region and in Latin America.
Jean-Marie Messier (11)......................
(become) CEO in 1996 and (12)......................
(run) the company along American lines,
He (13)...................... (sell) $5 billion in
assets  and  (14)...................... (cut) the
workforce by 10%. Ail this (15)......................
(mean) that an annual loss of $600 million
(16)......................(turn) into a profit of $320
million.   In   1998   he   (17) .„............,......
(change) the name of the group to Vivendi
and soon after (18)...................... (make) a
series of partnerships and acquisitions in the telecommunications industry.
Operations     in     North America
(19)...................... (grow) very qttickly after
this and in 2000 Vivendi (20)......................
(buy) Seagram to become a truly international media and communications company. ■
Esterase 5 -B 'E I
Complete the sentences by putting the verbs in brackets into either the past simple or past continuous. Sometimes the same tense is used twice; sometimes different tenses are used.
1 What.....did ..ypw..G,<vt... (eat) when you.............WJ^si............(go) to Paris?
2 While I yji^..A^ptiA.ti^. (negotiate) the contract, my boss...........^.p^Gd...,......(phone) me to
say that he wanted completely different conditions.
3 The last time something like this..................................(happen), she..................-.:...............(call) a
press conference immediately.
4 Anne..................................{explain) her proposal when Pedro..................................(interrupt) her.
5 We never got the chance to interview him. While we..................................(investigate) the incident, he
..................................(resign).
6 When he..................................(finish) reading the article, he..............................(give) it to- me,
7 Everyone..................................(wait) for the meeting to begin when he..................................(call) to
say that he was stuck in a traffic jam.
8 When I..................................(clean) the piece I..................................(drop) it by mistake.
9 I..................................(find) the missing file while I..................................(look) for some other
documents.
10 When Tim..................................(arrive), we..................................(tell) him what had happened.
Past time 2
A Past perfect: form
The past perfect is formed with the auxiliary had and the past participle. In speech and informs writing had is contracted to'd.
/ had (I'd) already decided what to do before he called me.
:   Negatives are formed with not and contractions are used (hadn't). Questions are formed by nverting the subject and had. At that time I still hadn't decided what to do. Had you already decided what to do before he called you?
8 Past perfect: uses
The past perfect is used to show clearly that one past event happened before another past event. We use the past perfect for the earlier event:
On the NewYork Slock Exchange the Nasdaq Index had opened higher, but fell back to 1,578 in morning trading. (Yahoo News Service website)
Compare these examples which describe exactly the same situation:
1 Sue left at 2 pm. We arrived at her office at 2.30. (both verbs in past simple)
2 When we arrived at Sue's office, she had left.     (earlier action in past perfect)
In example 1 the two actions are separate in the mind of the speaker, in example 2 there is a stronger connection between the two actions and the past perfect emphasises which happened first.
It may not be necessary to use the past perfect if we use before or after to make the time clear. We can use the past simple for both actions.
Sue left/had left her office before we arrived. (both forms possible) We arrived at Sue's office after she left/had left.    (both forms possible)
Many speakers stiff prefer to use the past perfect in this case, to show a strong connection between the two events.
The past perfect is often used with verbs of thinking like know, realise, remember, be sure, think.
David knew he'd seen her somewhere before, but he couldn't remember where. When I got to the office I realised I'd left all my papers behind. Ellen was sure they hadn't received the invoice, but she checked one mote time. I thought we'd already chosen the name for the new product!
G Past perfect: time expressions
,; The time expressions after; once, fay, already, just, never, meanwhile are often used with the past perfect. The word still is often used with negative forms.
Around 1993 Korean corporations started turning to Park to acquire companies in the US or Europe. By this time, he had built tip sufficient contacts to help them. (Asia fnc website)
D Past perfect continuous: form
' • The past perfect continuous is formed with the auxiliary phrase had been and the -ing form of the main verb. Contractions are used.
I'd been working on the project for two months before they decided to cancel it.
J  Negatives are formed with had not been and the -ing form of the main verb. Questions are formed by inverting the subject and had. I hadn't been sleeping well, so I was quite tired.
Had you been working for a long time on the project before they cancelled it?
E Past perfect continuous: uses
O The past perfect continuous is used to describe a situation that was in progress up to a certain point in the past. It often emphasises the duration of time.
Before he left IBM Planner hud been putting together a software package for the UK-based chemical company ICI. He had been working on this project during 1911 ami 1912. (Eurobusiness website)
h The past perfect and the past perfect continuous both look back from a point in the past. The past perfect looks back at an earlier event. The past perfect continuous looks back at a situation in progress.
The economic situation was quite healthy. The central bank had lowered interest rates because Inflation had been falling steadily for several years.
F Used totwould + infinitive
C Used to describes a habit or state in the past. There is no present form (for present habits we use the present simple).
'Price dictates what motorists put into their petrol tanks. Lots of people who used to have their doubts about diesel from biological sources are now regular users', says Dieter Enders, who owns an independent filling station in southern Germany. (Frankfurter Rundschau website)
Used to normally suggests that the action or situation is no longer true and so makes a contrast with the present:
/ used to work in marketing. (- but now I work in another area)
He used to be really enthusiastic about his job. (= but now he isn't)
■S Mote that used to is used for habits and repeated actions, not single events.
/ went to the Milan Fashion Show for the first time last month. (NOT   used to go)
t  With negatives and questions used to becomes use to.
Did you use to work in marketing? I didn't use to work in marketing.
Si Would is used in the same way as used to, but it only describes repeated actions in the past, not states.
In the old days we used to/would make three copies of all documents for the files. Our company used to belong to an American multinational. (NOT would belong)
Would is more common in descriptive writing than in speech.
4 Practice
Exercise 1 A B F   unit 3
Underline the correct words. This exercise includes examples of the past perfect, used to, the past simple and past continuous.
1 While I looked/was looking for my keys, I suddenly remembered I left I had left thern at home.
2 In those days the unions used to/had used to go on strike whenever there was/was being a problem.
3 After they were buying/had bought the company, they started/were starting to make a lot of people redundant.
4 Jack used to have/was having a Mac, but then he used to change/changed to a PC.
5 I asked about my package in reception, but they said/were saying that it still hadn't arrived/wasn't arriving.
6 I was sure that I used to lock/had locked the door to my office last night, but it was/had been open this morning.
7 I'm sure that the winters used to be/had been colder when I was a child. I remember that we used to walk/were walking to school in the snow every winter.
S I had gone/went back to the restaurant to look for my umbrella, but found/was finding that someone took/had taken it,
9 When George saw/was seeing Diane at the seminar, he knew/was knowing that he met/had met her somewhere before.
10 While I had/was having breakfast I looked/was looking at the financial pages to see the share prices. I saw/was seeing that my original investment grew/had grown by over 40%.
Exercise 2 A B  unit 3
Complete the sentences with the best form of the verb in brackets. In each sentence one verb will be in the past simple (unit 3) and the other in the past perfect.
1 After she............^d..MAda..........(make) a few notes, she............fi&rtjfid............(start) writing
the introduction to the Annual Report.
2 Gary........................................{be sure) that he........................................(set) the alarm before
leaving the office.
3 I ........................................(call) my wife on my mobile because the meeting........................................
(still not finish).
4 Once I........................................(speak) to him, I........................................(realise) there had been a
misunderstanding.
5 After Jill........................................(give) her first presentation, she........................................(feel)
much less nervous.
6 Before Edite........................................(become) Michael Edward's personal assistant she
.....................«,....................(already work) in the company for two years.
7 I........................................(not see) the figures before the meeting, so it........................................
(put) me at a disadvantage during the discussion.
8 Sorry it took so long, I............,..............,..............(have to) go down to the store room because we
........................................(run out of) paper for the photocopier.
9 The rain........................................(stop) by the time I........................................(get out of) the taxi.
10 I........................................(be) surprised to find that she........................................(already leave).
Exercise 3 B   unit 3
Complete this magazine article by putting the verb in brackets into either the past simple or past perfect. In one case only the past perfect can be used, in five cases only the past simple can be used and in six cases both are possible.
On 28 September 2000 the people of Denmark (1) ...MjrtSfL. (vote) 'No' la joining the single European currency, the euro. All the main political parties, the trades unions, the employers and the
media (2).............. (campaign) for a
'Yes' vote before the referendum. So why
(3).................... (the Danes/rejeci) the euro?
Let's look first at the economic background. For many yeava the Danish central bank (4)_______„............(be) committed
THE DANES SAY 'NO'
ta keeping the value of the krone stable against the German mark, and this policy
(5)..................... (be) very .successful in
maintaining stability and prosperity. Then the euro was launched in January 1999. In the period after the launch the countries in
the euro zone (6)................... (perforin)
relatively well in economic terms. How ever, by the time of the referendum the
euto (7)................... (fall) significantly
against the dollar, and the central banks of
the USA and Japan (fi)................... (be)
forced to intervene in the foreign exchange-market*; TO buy euros.
But the 'No' campaign (9)...................
(focus) on national identity, not economic
issues. In the end the Danes (10)..................
(make)   their  decision  because they
(11).................. (fear)   (hut economic
integration would eventually fead to political
integration. They (12)..................(want) to
keep their independence and freedom.
Exercise 4 A B   unit 3
Alan is talking about his first job. Complete what he Says with the best form of the verb in brackets. Choose between the past simple (unit 3), past continuous (unit 3) or past perfect. interviewer:   So, Alan, why did you quit your last job?
alan:   Well, at the time f (1) ......^?....V^?.C^.'.fS^..., (work) as a financial officer for an International
Accountancy firm in London. I (2) ........................................ (be) in the Same company for three years.
interviewer:   How (3) ........................................ (you /get) the job?
M,am:   Just after I (4) ........................................ (finish) university I (5) ........................................ (go) to a job
fair. 1 still (6)................................_.......      (decide) what I wanted to do and I was interested to see what
kind of jobs there (7) ........................................ (be) fit the fair, While I (8)........................................ (look) at
information on one of the stands for ä large international accountancy Firm, someone
(9) ........................................ (give) me an application form to fill in. [ thought this might be a good
career opportunity for me as I (10) ........................................(already/take) some accountancy exams
for illy degree. So I (11) ........................................ (complete) the form and (12)........................................
(send) it off'.They (13) ........................................(interview) me the foliowing week and I got job.
At first, 1 (14) ........................................ (feel) satisfied with the job, but as time went by, things
(15)........................................(change) and I began to hate working there.
interviewer;   So what (16)........................................(go) wrong?
alan:    Well, the situation was this: I (17) .....*..............................(work) for a person who was very
difficult, er ... very demanding ... never satisfied.What's more, my job (18) .._.................................
(become) too repetitive and 1 really wanted to do something more creative. So, that's why 1
resigned ... I (19)........................................ (not have) another job to go to, but I knew I
(20) .............................._.......,. (have) to make a change.
Exereise 5 F
Complete the sentences with used to or used to/would.
1 With my old boss we ..lA^d ...tp./.WP^IcL have meetings several times a week.
2 I.......................__.............own a BMW, but now I have an MG.
3 Before they built the new motorway it......................................take me an hour to get to work.
4 I......................................think I wanted to work for a large organisation. Now I want to be self-employed.
PsM mud p\r<3S<snt 1
Present perfect: form
' The present perfect, is formed with the present tense of the auxiliary verb have and the past
oarticiple. In speech and informal writing we use contractions ('ve and 'si
1/you/we/they have ('ve) gone. He/she/it has ('s) gone
Negatives are formed with not.
I/you/ we/they have not (haven't) gone.
He/she/it has not (hasn't) gone
Questions are formed by inverting the subject and the auxiliary verb have. Short answers to yes/no questions repeat the auxiliary.
A: Have they gone? A: Has he gone?
B". Yes, they have/No, they haven't. B: Yes, he has/No, he hasn't.
Present perfect: uses
■ In general, we use the present perfect to talk about a present situation which is connected to the past,
There may be a present situation that started in the past,
I've lived here for about ten years.
I've known Mary since we worked together in Spain.
■ There may be a series of actions that happened in our life up to now. I've often heen to Singapore.
I've seen a lot of changes around here.
There may be a result in the present of a past event. Sorry / think I've lost the file. My computer has crashed
IP this case we are explaining the current importance of the past event. When it happened is not important and is not mentioned.
Present perfect: time expressions
We use ever and never to ask and talk about our general life experience. Have you ever spoken in front of a large audience? (in all your life up to now) I've never worked abroad, but next year I might be based in Paris.
If the answer to the question is Yes then we continue to give more information about the
specific events by using verbs in the past simple.
A: Have you ever spoken in front of a large audience?
E: Yes, I have Last year I went to a sales conference in Berne and I gave a presentation.
".  The present perfect is often used with already and yet. Already is normally used in affirmative sentences:
Knapp, CEO of US ruble company NTL, insists that NTL has already made 75% of its planned investment to deliver broadband for mobile phone users. (Telegraph website)
Yet is used in questions and negatives, and suggests that something has not happened, although we expect it to happen. Have you finished the report yet?
Sorry, I haven't finished the report yet. I'll try to finish it this afternoon.
Shares in the two big (decerns stocks Colt and Lnergis continue to fall. Neither litis yet managed to
convince investors that they can provide sendees attractive enough to cam a decent return. (Guardian
website)
We use just to describe something that happened a short time ago.
I've just spoken to him on the phone and he says he'll be here at 9,30 tomorrow.
The present perfect is often used with time expressions that refer to unfinished time. In other words the time period includes the present. Common expressions are: this morning, today, this month, so far, up to now, recently, during/in the past month, over the last few years, etc
Tlw Russian Central Bank announced on Thursday that its gold and currency reserves have increased in the past week by $300 million. (Delovoj Peterburg website)
In the area of economic development, the Asia Pacific region has succeeded in achieving rapid growth, which has exceeded 7% annually during the past few years. {Asia Pacific Economic Review website)
Some time expressions can be used with the present perfect or the past simple, depending on when you are speaking:
Have you spoken to Sue this morning?  (it is now 11 am: the morning has not finished) Did you speak to Sue this morning?      (it is now 3 pm: the morning has finished)
t  We use for and since with the present perfect to refer to periods of time.
A: How long has Tom worked here?   B: He's worked here for three months I
B: He's worked here since the beginning of May
For describes the length of the time period. Since describes the point when the time period started.
'We have been in business for 37 years, so the Internet to us is just another may of collecting orders' says Lands Ends' international vice president Sam Taylor. (CNBC Business website) UPS became a worldwide Olympics sponsor in 1994, and since then it has handled the Atlanta games in 1996 and the 1998 Japan winter games, (worldtradeonliiie magazine)
*■ Frequency adverbs that are used with the present simple can also be used with the present perfect.
They've often given us good advice.
Hollinger has always been interested in buying newspapers, and we tend to look at most that come on to the market. (Sunday Times website)
D Been (to) and gone (to)
O If we have been to a place, we went there and have now returned. If we have gone to a place we went there but have not yet returned.
She's been to visit our suppliers. Everything seems to be OK.    (she has come back) She's gone to visit our suppliers. I hope everything will be OK.   (she is still there)
5 Practice
Exercise 1 A
Complete the sentences by putting the. verbs in brackets into a form of the present perfect. Use contractions where possible.
1 Are you sure it isn't working?. ./.HAye.ypiA. tried.....(you/try) it?
2 I............................................(never/see) such a boring presentation.
3 Luckily, our customers............................................(not/complain) about the price rise,
4 We............................................(already/spend) quite a lot of money on this project.
5 ............................................(they/reply) to your last email?
6 I............................................(not/get) the figures to hand - can I call you back later?
1 Unemployment............................................(go/up) by 2% since January.
8 I'm sorry, she's not here. She............................................(just/leave).
9 Their shares............................................(fall) by 15% since the merger.
10 ............................................(you/ever/take) the Eurostar to Brussels?
Exercise 2 B
Look at the paired sentences below. Match each one with situation a) or b).
Exercise 4 A B C
Read th's text about the performance of the Ford car company. Complete the text with the verbs from the ist below, using the present perfect.
moke   fall   launch   be   have   cut   withdraw   spend    take perform
1	Inflation has fallen by 1%.	lb]	a)	Two years ago it was 4%. Last year it was 3%.
2	Inflation fell by 1 %.		i	Last month it was 4%. This month it is 3%.
3	I think I've lost the file.	□	a)	i can't find the file, i wonder where 1 put it?
4	Sorry, I lost the file.		b)	The file has gone and I'll never find it.
S	Has Jane called this morning?	□	a)	Jane promised to call this morning. It's 11 am.
6	Did Jane call this morning?	n	b)	Jane promised to call this morning. It's 2 pm.
7	Sales improved.	□	a)	Last year sales were poor. This year they are better.
S	Sales have improved.	□	b)	Sales were poor initially. A year later they were better.
9	How long have you worked here?	LI	a)	In 1999,
10	When did you start working here?	□	b)	Since 1999.
Exercise 3 C
Complete the sentences with a suitable time expression from the list below. already    yet    ever    never    just    for    since always
1 The goods will be with you soon. They've........fclCfiftSty........left our warehouse,
2 I've................................had a great idea! Why don't we launch a new range of colours?
3 We've known each other................................more than twenty years.
4 I've................................used my credit card on the Internet. I don't think it's safe.
5 I haven't had a chance to speak to Magda................................, but I'm sure she'll agree
6 I've................................worked in insurance, ever since leaving university.
7 I'm sorry he hasn't called you back. He's been in a meeting ................................lunchtime.
8 Have you ................................been to Sao Paulo? It's completely different from Rio.
Ford: the road to recovery
Although Ford (1)........MS.............SSSgfe.....operating
profits of over $7 billion in its American market this year;
the story Lrt Europe {2).......„..............„».»..„„.......... very
different. Its market share (3)..............................................
from 12% six years ago to only; 9% now. The truth is that
rivals like Volkswagen and Renault (4).......................
.......................much better over recent years. They
(5).........................»»................costs and (6)......................-
.......................exciting and highly successful new models. In
contrast, Ford (7)..............................................its large saloon.
the Scorpio, which was not selling well But Ford
(8)..............................................a Jot more success at the
higher end of the market. Over the last few years it
(9)..............................................a lot of money buying brands
such as Jaguar, Aston Martin and Land Rover, and these models have much higher profit margins. It
(10)..............................................some time to sort out the
problems at Jaguar Ln particular, but it's now a successful part of the business.
Exercise 5 C D
Read this email from Steve, the Purchasing Manager of a UK importer, who is in Poiand on a business trip. Complete the email by choosing the correct alternative from A, 0, C or D betow.
Q 0 > Ů
Mike
Sorry I haven't contacted you (1) .....fe-... last week, but I've been very busy, I've (2)............to Katowice in the southwest Of Poland {3)............a few days., and I've (4) ............           returned to my hotel In Warsaw, from where fm sending this
email. | visited several firms when I was in Katowice and one of them looks quite promising. I've (5)............seen their
factory, and I'va got some product samples to show you.
Unfortunately i haven't met the guy in charge (6)............, He wasn't there - he's (7}............to Gdansk and should be
back next week.
So, the trip has been quite successful (S).........._. . Have you (9}............ been to Central Europe? Everything is
changing very fast — I've (10)............seen so much building work going on. Anyway, I'll email you again later in the
week to lei you know what's happening. Regards, Steve
1	A for	B since	CjUST	D so far
2	A going	B gone	C being	D bee,"
3	A for	B since	C already	D so far
4	A now	S been	C just	D so far
5	Ayet	B already	C been	D gone
6	A just	B already	C now	Dyet
7	A going	B gone	C being	D been
S	A so far	B yet	C just	D now
9	Ayet	B since	C ever	I) r\ever
m	A yet	B since	C ever	D never
Past and present 2 A Past simple or present perfect?
The past simple is used to describe actions in a completed time period. The present perfect is used when the time period includes the present. This can be a situation which started in the past and continues to be true in the present, life experience until now, or the present result of a past action.
I lived in Milan many years ago. (completed: now I live in another place)
I've lived in Milan since 1998. (a situation that started in the past and continues in
the present: I still live there) I've lived in both Milan and Rome. (life experience: the time when I lived in these cities
is not mentioned and is not important) I've spoken to my boss, and he's agreed (present result of past action)
■  Tffie phrases used with the past simple refer to a particular point in the past: yesterday, last month, a few years ago, in 2002.
Time phrases used with the present perfect link the past to the present: this month, ever, never, already, just, recently, since. Look at this example:
LiytisAmericanas, a chain of discount stores in Brazil, has had difficulties since the mid-i99t)s. Although the slates generate enormous traffic, profitability has been hard to achieve because of a low average purchase price. In 1998 it began a rationalisation effort, it reduced the number of waiehouscs and sold 23 supermarket stores to Carrefour (France), {ebusinessforum website)
The time word for refers to a period of time. It can be used with either tense: / lived in Milan for four years when I was at university,   (now 1 don't live there) / have lived in Milan for four years. (I still live there)
The choice of tense often depends on the situation and where our attention is: We've won the contract! (recent news: the event is present in my mind) We won the contract.      (telling a story: the event feels distant in my mind!
I Present simple or present perfect?
The present simple is used in two main ways: facts, and habits or states in the present. The present perfect makes a connection between past and present. About two million people live in Milan,  (a fact)
/ live in Milan. (a permanent state - I always live there)
/ have lived in Milan for two years.      (I arrived there two years ago and still live there now)
£ Present perfect continuous: form
The present perfect continuous is formed with the present perfect of be, and the -ing form of
the verb Negatives are formed with not.
I've been (haven't been) waiting here for more than an hour.
She's been (hasn't been) waiting here all morning.
: Questions are formed by inverting the subject and have. I'm sorry I'm late. Have you been waiting long?
D Present perfect continuous: uses
■' The present perfect continuous describes an action or situation in progress from the past up to the present.
Trade between Slovenia and the Ukraine has been increasing steadily since 1992, when it totalled just US$9 million. (Slovenia Business Week website)
t The present perfect continuous often emphasises the length of time of the action: I've been trying to contact her all day
'5 The action may be finished or continuing, we only know by the situation:
I've been waiting for an hour! Why are you so late? (the waiting is finished) I've been waiting for an hour and he hasn't arrived yet. (I will continue waiting)
H The present perfect continuous can be used for repeated actions: I've been phoning her all morning, but she's always in a meeting.
E Present perfect continuous: time expressions
r.   Typical time expressions that are used with the present perfect continuous include: all day, for months, forages, lately, recently, over the last few years, since, for.
Foreign life insurers have been expanding their business in Japan by about 15% annually over the past four years. (BusinessWeek website)
F Present perfect or present perfect continuous?
*  Often there is very little difference in meaning between the present perfect and present perfect continuous.
I've worked/been working here for three years.
::.  The choice of tense often depends on where our attention is. We use the present perfect if our attention is on the present result.
I've written the report. (the finished report is in my mind)
We use the present perfect continuous if our attention is on the action in progress. I've been writing the report, (the act of writing is in my mind)
In the global economic growth of recent years new companies have been created at an astonishing rate. Companies which have been operating for many years without franchising are now exploring the possibilities. (worldtradeonUne website)
«t, If we give details of how many or how much we do not use a continuous form. I've written three reports this week. I've done a lot of research on this company.
The technology-heavy Nasdaq index has been falling for three weeks, and is now 34% lower than its March peak. Shares of companies announcing poor results have fallen by a third or a half after profit warnings. (Washington Post website)
6 Practice
Exorcise 1 A
Underline the correct words.
1 Yesterday I.phoned/I've phoned the bank about my overdraft.
2 I work here/have worked here since tho end of last year.
3 Your taxi has just arrived/ just arrived.
4 We're enjoying our trip. We have made/made a lot of useful contacts.
5 I've seen/1 saw Hugh Hopper a few days ago - he sends, his regards.
6 We went/have been to an interesting seminar last week.
7 Today has been/was really busy - and it's only lunchtime!
8 Today has been/was really busy, it's l pm ■ I'm going home.
9 I'm afraid Patricia left!has left, the office an hour ago.
10 I'm afraid Patrizia isn't here - she left/has left the office.
Esses-dse 2 A; B
Complete the sentences by putting the verbs in brackets into either the present simple, past simple or present perfect.
1 The company is doing very well. Last year sales............V^^Tri...^.........(go up) by 15%, and so far this
year they.....Uye. *pivc ^   (go Up) another 12%.
2 We......................................(operate) all over Latin America. Recently we......................................(set up)
branches in Peru and Ecuador.
3 This......................................(not look) like the right block. Are you sure we......................................
(come) to the right address?
4 ......................................(you/see) my laptop? I'm sure I......................................(leave) it here earlier.
5 I ......................................(just/met) Andrew from Sales.......................................(you/know) him?
6 I......................................(never/speak) to him, but I......................................(speak) to his assistant on the
phone yesterday.
7 I......................................(work) for WorldCom now - I......................................(be) there for more than
five years.......................................(you/know) WorldCom?
8 I......................................(work) for WorldCom since last year, but now I......................................(want) to
change jobs.......................................(you/hear) of any vacancies?
EneircES© 3 C D F
Complete each mini-dialogue by putting the verbs in brackets into the correct form. One verb will be in the present perfect and the other in the present perfect continuous. Use contractions where possible.
1 A: What's the matter? You look worried!
B: Yes, I am. I ..^...l?.^..!^.!.^-.^- (look at) the contract in detail, and I.............
(notice) a lot of potential problems. A: oh, such as?
2 A: I......................................(phone) Carol all day, but there's no reply,
B: I expect she......................................(go) to Head Office.
A: Oh, yes, I forgot.
3 A: JTosca' is corning to the Opera Houie.......................................(you see) it?
B: No, not yet. Shall we go? I......................................(look forward) to it for ages.
A: 5o have I, What about next week?
4 A: How long......................................(you produce) cars at this site?
B: About four years. We......................................(invest) twenty million dollars in plant and machinery.
A: Oh, and how long will it take to recoup your investment, do you think?
Ereercilse 4 A
complete this dialogue by putting the verbs in- brackets into the correct form of the past simple or present perfect Use contractions where posssble.
victohja- Hi, Sue. I (1) ......:Íí„.?í**______(not/see) you for ages!
sue:        Hi. No, I'm íorry. I (2)......................................(not/be) in touch with anyone recently ... I
(3).......................................(be) really busy.
victoria: Oh, what have yon been up to then7
sue: Well, you know I (4).......................................      (leave) my job in January so that 1
(5) .......................................(can) go freelance as a graphic designer?
victoria: Yes, T remember, you (6).........................___________(taJk) a lot about that List year. How's it going?
SUE:        Well, it (7) ....................................... (be) a really difficult year so far. 1 (8) .......................................
(never/do) anything like this before ... it's much harder work than I (9) .........................
(imagine}. (10) _______...........______................ {yon/ever/be) self-employed?
vi(:Tf,miA! No, never, although 1 (11)..................................... (often /think) about it. .So, why lias it been
so difficult?
Well, at the beginning I (12).......................................(have) two or three good clients - and,
yon know, people that 1 (13)..................................... (know) for many years, like Tom Pierce.
And since then I (14).......................................(haw) a lot of interest front different companies,
but none of them (15).....................-.................      (become) regular customers.
What about advertising in the specialist magazines'
I (1 6) ....................................... (already/do) that. I (17) ....................................... (put) an advert in
Design Monthly a couple of months ago, but 1 (IS).................................... (not/gpt) ;tny replies.
yiirPQRii; Oh, dear, well, (19)......................................, (put) up a website with examples oi your work?
surt        Yes, I (20)...................................... (just/finish) it. Would you mind bavins; a quick louk at it
and tell me what you think of it?
Etacraise S A
Look at the graph and read the passage about technology stocks. Complete the text by putting the verbs in brackets into the correct form of the past simple or present perfecf
SUEi
VICTORIA SUfc
Market report: a rocky road for tech" stocks			
			
			
		■*t: jVHS^Ja ivl-" -yt  „.•• '"V -> 'K1-	
			^JJ.*J-----r-.-i
m			
			
			
European, investors (1).........h^el ...watched...........(watch) US stock markets
nervously over the last few months. The problems with US technology and
teletomms stocks (2) .........................................................(begin) last March, and since tlien
share prices at companies like Intel, Apple and Dell (3)..........................................._............
(crash). Over the summer all these giants (4)..................................._.....................(announce)
lower than expected profits, and investors fear that demand for PCs in the highlv
developed US market (5)..........................................................(peak). Now it's the turn of
European stocks. On Monday stocks in companies like Germany's SAP and Finland's Nokia (6)..........................................................(fall) sharply. SAP    ' /
(7)..........................................................(be) down 3% in Frankfurt, and Nokia .
(8)............-............................................(drop) 7% m Helsinki.
But there was sflhie good n«ws for investors yesterday. Yahoo!
(9).............._____,________......................... (release) figures which showed that in the last quarter revenues (10).........................™.............................(rise) to
$295 million, up from $115 million a year earlier. Yahoo! relies on online advertising for most of its income, and this year it
(11).......................................„„.......(gain) significant market share in Europe and (12)..........„........................................... (manage) to achieve the
position of top Web-navigation company.
Analysts believe that the market (13)_________„.................................^.u...... (not/hit) the bottom yet. Earlier this year investors
(14) ......_......._.,.„_.....__________......(huy) any Internet stocks that were available, creating a stock market bubble. Now it's just the
opposite, investors {15)..............................................._.......(become) so nervous that they are selling everything, even if the company is sound
and the stock Jooks cheap.