Exercise 1
Exercise 2
The last time was, let me see, it must have been back when I was at university.
In fact, It was my mums birthday a few years ago, when I was at university, yes.
I was really busy. I was studying all day and working till 11 at night as a waiter to cover my bills.
I had been so busy with my university studies and work that I had forgotten her birthday was coming up..
Fortunately, the day before her birthday, my younger brother called me to see how I was and he reminded me about her birthday, which was lucky…or I would have completely forgotten!
Anyway, I rushed out after his call and went straight to a little jewelry shop in town.
She really likes earrings and necklaces that contain precious stones such as amber and amethyst, so that’s why I chose to get her jewelry.
I was finding it hard to pick out a good pair of earrings so I asked the girl working there and she suggested a good set which I bought. They look like little silver trees with tiny stones set in them.
My mum loved them so it was a good choice of present and she didn’t find out that I almost forgot her birthday!
Exercise 3
| past simple | past continuous |
|---|---|
| subject + past tense verb | was or were + verb ing |
| present perfect | past perfect |
| has or have + past participle | had + past participle |
| 1. |
The is used to talk about past experiences. A definite time is not given. Example – I have waited for my best friend for more than an hour before. Form – have/has + past participle |
| 2. | The is used to give background information about what was happening at the time of the story. Example – I was waiting for him outside the library and the wind was blowing hard. He arrived late but he didn’t apologise. |
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Form – Notice that the past continuous is not used to give the important details or the action of the narrative. |
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| 3. | The is used to give the important detail or action of the narrative as it moves forward. Example – We were waiting for him outside the library and the wind was blowing hard. He arrived late but he didn’t apologise. |
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Form –
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| 4. | We use the to ‘flash back’ and give details that occurred (happened) before the time of the story. Example – He had lost his car keys and so he had taken the bus, which was much slower than taking his car. |
| Form – |
Exercise 4
Mention:
- Where you went on the journey.
- Why you went on the journey.
- Who you went with on the journey.
And mention why you enjoyed the journey.
| 1. | I love travelling and so I 1. (be) on numerous long journeys in my life but I want to tell you about the first long journey which I went on. After I finished university I 2. (look) for a job and I 3. (enjoy) the glorious summer weather. I was having trouble finding work but I 4. (want) to make the most of the summer so I 5. (decide) to take a trip. The problem was that I was almost broke – I 6. (spend) all my money at university! Luckily, however, I 7. (have) a tent and a small camping stove as well as a sleeping bag and two functioning legs! I 8. (book) a ticket back from northern Spain for 2 and a half months in the future. Then I 9. (walk) out of my house. I 10. (walk) all the way to Santiago in Northern Spain. People have done this hike for hundreds of years as it is an important Christian pilgrimage. For me it 11. (be) just a great way to spend the summer. I 12. (travel) on my own but I met loads of other people along the way. When you travel alone, you are more open to meeting new people and so I 13. (meet) lots of great people who I am still in contact with. By the time I 14. (reach) southern Spain, I 15. (hike)in a group with 3 others. Well, in the end we 16. (get) to Santiago and I 17. (go) to the church where you receive a certificate to say that you 18. (complete) the walk and I 19. the cathedral. It was the time of the city fiesta so there 20. (be) lots of live street performances 21. (happen). After a week there it was time to fly home. I didn’t stay at home for long though as I moved to France shortly after this trip. I fondly remember this as one of the best journeys I have ever been on and it cost me next to nothing. |
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booked a ticket back from northern Spain for 2 and a half months in the future. Then I walked out of my house. I walked all the way to Santiago in Northern Spain. People have done this hike for hundreds of years as it is an important Christian pilgrimage. For me it was just a great way to spend the summer. I traveled on my own but I met loads of other people along the way. When you travel alone, you are more open to meeting new people and so I met lots of great people who I am still in contact with. By the time I reached southern Spain, I was hiking in a group with 3 others.
Well, in the end we got to Santiago and I went to the church where you receive a certificate to say that you have completed the walk and I visited the cathedral. It was the time of the city fiesta so there were lots of live street performances happening. After a week there it was time to fly home. I didn’t stay at home for long though as I moved to France shortly after this trip. I fondly remember this as one of the best journeys I have ever been on and it cost me next to nothing.
- Notice how the majority of verbs in the story are in the past simple.
- Notice that the past perfect is used to describe something which happened before the time the story is about in 6.
- Notice how the past continuous is used to talk about long duration actions in the past. For example, in question 15.
- Notice that the present perfect is used in 18. refers to an important experience.
Exercise 5
| An adjective meaning many | |
| An adjective meaning great/amazing | |
| An adjective meaning you have no money | |
| An adjective meaning that something/things work | |
| A religious journey such as the Muslim Haj (noun) | |
| Music or drama which you can see in the city. | |
| An adverb/verb collocation that presents a positive memory | |
| A phrase that means ‘almost zero’ |
