IEC: Sept. 19/29. Unit 13

Grammar focus: Present Perfect (the use of since and for; ever, yet/already)
Vocabulary: Immigration

Tape script:

Unit 13. Green Card.
Conversation between an immigration officer and Mrs. Bolton.

Questions:

1. How long has she been in the US?

2. How long has she been in NY?

3. Since when has she known Ron?

4. When did they meet?

5. How long have they been married?

6. Where did she see him first?

7. What is her profession?

8. What does the neighbour say about the couple?

9. Why don’t they go out together?

10. What does the immigration officer want to use?

11. What’s Mrs. Bolton’s expression for ‘toilet’?

12. Does she know where the toilet is?

Dialog:

Immigration officer = I.
MB = Mrs. Bolton

I: So, how long have you been in the US Miss Bolton?

MB=:You mean Mrs. Bolton. Umm…. I’ve been in the US for eight months, but I’ve only been in New York for five months. I was in L.A. before that.

I: And how long have you known Mr. Bolton?

MB: Uhhh, I’ve known Rod since December, so…. December, January, February, March… Er, I’ve known him for four months. Yes, we met four months ago.

I: And, you’ve been married for three months?

MB: Yes, I saw him at a party, and it was love at first sight.

I: Mmm, I understand. And what do you do, Mrs. Bolton?

MB: I’m a dancer. I teach dance.

I: Your neighbor says she has never seen you with your husband.

MB: Ah, yes, I can explain that. Ummm, you see we like very different things. So we don’t’ go out together very often.

I: Ah, I see. OK. Mrs. Bolton. That’s all I need to know. Thank you. Could I use your bathroom before I go?

MB: Bathroom?

I: I think in England you say toilet?

MB: Ah, the loo. Of course.

I: And where is it?

MB: Ah, erm, erm, yes, where is it? Ermm…..

I: Never mind. I have a few more questions, Mrs. Bolton…
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Already vs. Yet

Already appears in positive statements, yet in negative and interrogative (questions) statements.

a) He has already left the office.
b) He hasn’t left the office yet?
c) Has he left the office yet?

However, it is ok to use already in questions where positive answer is expected:

*Has he already left the office?
*What! Have you run out of money already?

Yet position: Always at the end of the sentence:
*She hasn’t eaten her supper yet.

Already position:

a) Immediately after the auxiliary verb “have”
He has already left the office.

b) at the end of the sentence
He has left the office already.

In questions:

a) immediately following the subject:
Have they already left?

b) at the end?
Have they left already?

For more information and practice on Present Perfect Tense, click on:
http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentperfect.html


To learn more about the very troubling use of “ever, never, yet, still” click on:

http://www.edufind.com/english/grammar/Tenses5.cfm.

HOMEWORK:

1. Read activities 4 and 5.
2. Activity 6: Complete the information given by Ron
3. Activity 7: listen to track number 31 and fill out information given by Kate in activity 6.