LESSON 1A: VOCABULARY AND GRAMMAR - A job for life
📑 Article Contents
1 Match sentences 1–2 with rules a–c. One of the sentences matches two rules.
- 1 Jawad’s found a job!
- 2 He started work yesterday.
Rules:
a We use the Past Simple for past actions if we say when they happened. → Matches sentence: 2
b We use the Present Perfect for news and recent activities. → Matches sentence: 1
c We use the Present Perfect for past actions if we don’t say exactly when they happened. → Matches sentence: 1
2 Study the Grammar box and check your answers to Exercise 1.
3 Find these words in the conversations. Are they in affirmative, negative or interrogative sentences?
| Word | Sentence Type | Example (from context) |
|---|---|---|
| already | Affirmative | He has already learnt a lot. |
| ever | Interrogative | Have you ever had a part-time job? |
| just | Affirmative | Nader has just left the country. |
| never | Negative | I have never liked my flat. |
| yet | Negative / Interrogative | I haven't started looking yet. / Have you found a new flatmate yet? |
4 Study Watch Out! and complete the conversation with the correct Past Simple or Present Perfect forms of the verbs in brackets. Listen and check.
WATCH OUT!
We often use the Present Perfect to give general information and the Past Simple to give details:
I ’ve had several job interviews. In fact, I had an interview yesterday.
With time expressions which refer to a finished period (yesterday, last week, in March, a year ago, etc.) we use the Past Simple, not the Present Perfect: I had an interview yesterday. NOT I have had ...
Jawad: 1 Have you heard (you/hear) the news? Nader 2 has just left (just/leave) the country. He 3 flew (fly) to Japan last night.
Khalil: Why 4 did he go (he/go) to Japan? 5 Did he find (he/find) a job there?
Jawad: No, he hasn’t, but he’s looking. He 6 started (start) studying Japanese last month when he 7 lost (lose) his job. He 8 has already learnt (already/learn) a lot.
Khalil: 9 Have you found (you/find) a new flatmate yet?
Jawad: No, I haven’t. I 10 haven’t started looking yet. Why?
Khalil: Well, I 11 have never liked (never/like) my flat and your flat is great, so …
5 Complete the sentences using already, ever, just, never and yet. Then in pairs, answer questions 1–2 and say if sentences 3–6 are true for you.
- Have you ever had a part-time job? → (Student's personal answer)
- Have you done your Maths homework yet? → (Student's personal answer)
- I don’t know what to do when I leave school. I haven’t decided yet.
- I’ve already decided what I want to do when I leave school. I’m going to be a doctor.
- My mum has just started a new job. It was her first day yesterday.
- I’ve never been to Japan but I’d like to go one day.
6 SPEAKING In pairs, make sentences using the Present Perfect and never . Guess if your partner’s sentences are true or false.
Example Dialogue:
A: I’ve never been to Ireland.
B: True.
A: No, it’s false. I have been to Ireland. I went to Dublin last year.
📌 Grammar Notes & Tips
📘 Present Perfect vs. Past Simple
Present Perfect: Connects the past to the present. Use for: 1) Recent news ("Jawad's found a job!"), 2) Experiences without a specific time ("Have you ever...?"), 3) Unfinished periods ("I haven't decided yet"). Often used with already, just, yet, ever, never.
Past Simple: For completed actions in a finished time. Use with: yesterday, last night, in 2020, ago. Gives specific details ("He flew to Japan last night").
⬆️ Back to Exercise 1🗣️ Speaking Strategy (Exercise 6)
Using "I've never..." is a great way to start a conversation and find common experiences. When guessing, pay attention to your partner's interests or past stories. Remember to use the Past Simple ("I went...") to give the specific detail when you reveal the truth.
⬆️ Back to Exercise 6🔍 Key Words: Already, Just, Yet, Ever, Never
Already (✅affirmative): Before now / sooner than expected.
Just (✅affirmative): A very short time ago.
Yet (❌negative/❓question): Until now (expecting something to happen).
Ever (❓question): At any time in your life.
Never (❌negative): At no time in your life.
🔗 Reliable English Learning Resources
🌐 Grammar & Practice Websites:
Clear explanation, examples, and a quiz to test yourself.
Detailed guide with exercises on choosing the correct tense.
Authoritative reference on form and usage of tenses.
