Talking about your life: Past, Present, Future

Where were you born? Countryside/city?
Where did you go to school?
What did you study at university?
What was your first job?
How long have you been married?
When did you have children?
What is you job now?
Where do you live now?
How long have you been working in the job you have now?
What are your hobbies?
Have you ever travelled outside Europe?
What are your plans for the future?

Simple Past vs Present Perfect

Simple Past	Present Perfect Simple
irregular verbs: see 2nd column of irregular verbs Example: I spoke	irregular verbs: form of 'have' + 3rd column of irregular verbs Example: I / you / we / they have spoken he / she / it has spoken
regular verbs: infinitive + ed Example: I worked	regular verbs: form of 'have' + infinitive + ed Example: I / you / we / they have worked he / she / it has worked
Exceptions
Exceptions when adding 'ed': when the final letter is e, only add d Example: love - loved after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled Example: admit - admitted final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English) Example: travel - travelled after a consonant, final y becomes i (but: not after a vowel) Example: worry - worried but: play - played

Signal Words

Simple Past	Present Perfect
yesterday ... ago in 1990 the other day last ...	just already up to now until now / till now ever (not) yet so far lately / recently

Future plans

Present Simple

Going to + infinitive

Present Continuous

Will + infinitive

• Timetabled events, e.g. TV programme or train departure PS
• Personal arrangements PC
• Predictions (when you can see the evidence) GT
• Predictions (based on no evidence) W
• General future intentions (not arranged) GT
• Decisions made at the time of speaking W
• Promises W
• Decisions already made GT
• Offers, refusals W