SPEAKING and GRAMMAR FOCUS

SPEAKING 

1.        Expression of Introduction

We have two ways to introduce ourselves either formal or informal

Formal
The expressions : ·      I’d like to introduce myself. My name’s…. ·      Let me introduce myself. I’m…… ·      How do you do?	The responses : ·      Nice to meet you/see you. My name’s…./I’m…. ·      I’m…./my name’s…/(just name) ·      How do you do?
Informal
The expressions : ·      What’s your name? ·      I’m…. What’s your’s? ·      How are you? ·      Hi……	The responses : ·      My name’s…. ·      I’m…. ·      Fine, thanks/thank you ·      Hi

Note :

If you are introducing two people who have not met each other before, you can use :

Informal	Formal
·      This is Mr. Kevin ·      This is Laila, Laila Jones.	·        Let me introduce the new director, Mr. Jack ·        My I introduce my wife, mary? ·        I’d like to introduce my best friend, David.

To respon an introduction you can use :

Informal	Formal
·       Not bad ·       Just so so	·      How do you do? ·      Hi….I’m Sheila ·      Hello….I’m Akido ·      Pleased to meet you ·      Nice to meet you

GRAMMAR FOCUS

1.        PRESENT TENSES

a.         Simple Present Tenses

Patterns

Positive	Negative	Interrogative
S + V-1/V1+s/es	S + don’t/doesn’t + V-1	Do/does + S + V-1

Usage

1.         We use the simple present to talk about things in general. We are not thinking only about the present. We use it to say that something happens all the time or repeatedly, or that something is true in general. It is not important whether the action is happening at the time of speaking.

e.g :         

-        the earth goes round the sun

-        Doctor works in hospital

-        In Britain most shops close at 5.30 p.m.

2.         We use the simple present when we say how often we do the things. In this case, an adverb indicating frequency in often used

e.g. : I always take a bath in the morning

3.         We can use this tense to refer to a scheduled or fix future event

e.g. : our plane leaves at 10.35

b.   Present Continuous Tense

 Patterns

Positive	Negative	Interrogative
are S + am + V-ing Is	are not S + am not + V-ing Is not	are Am + S + V-ing Is

Usage

1.    We use the present continuous  to indicate that an action is in progress at this moment.

e.g. : Dad’s not here, he’s fishing

2.    We also use the present continuous to describe something happening about this time, but not necessarily at this moment

e.g. : My brother is working for him

we do not usually use the present continuous with verbs that don’t express action.

Now I know the answer. (correct)

Now I am knowing the answer (incorrect)

Common non-action verbs include :

a.         Verbs that refer to mental states : think, understand, know, believe, doubt, mean, remember

b.         Verbs that refer to the use of the senses : hear, see, feel, taste, smell

c.         Verbs that refer to emotional : love, hate, adore, like, dislike, prefer, want, have, possess, belong to, need.

Study this explanation and compare the examples!

Simple Present Tense	Present Continuous Tense
Talking about things in general or things which happen repeatedly. Water boils at 100 degree Celcius. Excuse me, do you speak English? Tom plays tennis every Saturday. Used for a permanent situation. My parents livein London. They have been there for 200 years. The machine doesn’t work . It hasn’t work for years.	Talking about something which is happening at or around the time of speaking. The kettle is boiling. Can you turn it off? Listen to those people. What language are they speaking? ‘Where is Tom?’ ‘He is playing tennis’ Used for a temporary situation. I’m living with some friends until I can find a flat. That machine isn’t working. I try to cool it down after using it for 4 hours.

c.    Present Perfect Tense

Patterns

Positive	Negative	Interrogative
S + has/have + V-3/been	S +  has/have + not V-3/been	Has/have + S + V-3/been

Tom is looking for his key. He can’t find it. He has lost his key. “He hs lost his key” means that he lost it a short time ago and still hasn’t got it.

Usage

1.    When we use present perfect, there is a connection with the present.

·      I’ve lost my key (= I haven’t got it now)

·      Jim has gone to Canada (= he is in Canada or in his way there now)

2.    To talk about past events that have a result in present

·      He has lost all his money, now he can’t but anything

3.    Use the present to say that you have never done something or that you haven’t done something during a period of time which continues up to the present

·      I have never smoked

Present perfect Tense is often used with the words :

1.        For refers to a period of time

eg. I haven’t smoked for three years

2.        Since refers to the time when the events started

eg. I have learned English since 10 years old

3.         Just means that something happens a short time ago

eg. He has just had his lunch

4.        Already means that something happens earlier than expected

eg. He has already handed in the assignment

5.        Yet means that up to the present time something has not happened (Use yet only in questions and negative sentences)

eg.    He it stopped raining yet?

     I haven’t told them about the accident yet.

6.        This morning/this evening/today/this week/this term means that when these periods, the activities are not finished at the time of speaking.

eg. I’ve smoked ten cigarettes today. (perhaps I’ll smoke more before today finishes)

d.   Present Perfect Continuous Tense

Patterns

Positive	Negative	Interrogative
S + have/has + been + V-ing	S + haven’t/hasn’t + been + V-ing	Have/has + S + been + V-ing

It is raining now. It began to rain two aurs ago and it is still raining. It has been raining for two haours. This is the present perfect continuous tense : I/we/you/they have (= I’ve etc) He/she/it         has  (he’s etc)

Usage

1.    We use the present perfect continuous tense when we talk about an action (quite a long action) which began in tha past ang has recently stopped.

eg. 

You’re out of breath. Have you been running?

That man over there is bright red. I think he has been sunbathing.

2.    We also use the presen perfect continuous to ask or say how long something has been happening. This time the action or situation began in the past and is till happening or has just stopped.

eg. 

They have been waiting here for over an hour

She has been watching TV since 2 o’clockHow long have you been learning English?

Present perfect tense is often used with the words :

a.         How long for actions repeated over a period of time

eg. How long has it been raining?

b.        We use since when we say the beginning of the period (eg. 8 o’clock)

eg. I’ve been waiting for you since 8 o’clock

c.         We use for when we say the period of time (eg. Two huors)

eg. I’ve been waiting for you for two hours

Present perfect continuous	Present perfect
Lia’s clothes are covered in paint. She has been peinting the ceiling Has been painting is the present perfect continuous tense We are interested in the action. It does not matter whether something has been finished or not. In example, the action has not been finished.	The ceiling was white. Now it is blue. She has painted the ceiling Has painted is the present perfect tense This time, the important thing is that something has been finished. We are interested in the result of the action, not in the action itself

Here are some pairs of examples :
Yusuf’s hands are very dirty. He has been repairing the car You have been smooking too much recently. You should smoke less	The car is going again now. Yusuf has repaired it Somebody has smoked all my cigarretes. The packet is empty
We use the present perfect continuous from to say how long something has been happening. Jenny has been writing letters all day. How long have you been reading that book? James has been playing tennis since 2 0’clock	We use the present perfect tense to say how much we have done, or how many times we have done something Jenny has written ten letters today. How many pages of thet book have you read? James has played tennis three times this week.