UNIT 9B
2. GRAMMAR
Uses of the Past Perfect
- past perfect in narratives
We use the past perfect when we are talking about the past and we want to talk about an earlier past action.
Examples:
Some students got to school late. When they arrived, the exam had already started.
He ran to the departure gate but the flight had already closed.
Typical mistakes:
· don't use the present perfect nor past simple in narratives to talk about an earlier time:
Wrong use of the present perfect:
When we finally got to the theatre, the play has already begun. (WRONG)
When we finally got to the theatre, the play had already begun. (RIGHT)
Wrong use of the past simple:
When we finally got to the theatre, the play already begun. (WRONG)
Halfway through the film, I realized I saw it before. (WRONG)
When we finally got to the theatre, the play had already begun. (RIGHT)
Halfway through the film, I realized I had seen it before. (RIGHT)
- past perfect in reported speech
Present perfect:
"I have taken English lessons before."
She said (that) she had taken English lessons before.
Past simple:
"My boyfriend proposed me last week."
She said (that) her boyfriend had proposed her the previous week.
- past perfect in third conditionals
To talk about how things could have been different in the past (i.e. for hypothetical / imaginary situations and their consequences.
If +Past Perfect +would + have + past participle
- If she had looked at both sides of the road before crossing, she wouldn’t have died.
Remember: in 3rd conditionals you can contract had and would by usind 'd.
· wrong use of the third conditional:
by using would have instead of the past perfect in the if-clause:
If I would have known the band had cancelled, I wouldn't have gone to the concert. (WRONG)
If I had known the band had cancelled, I wouldn't have gone to the concert. (RIGHT)
by using the past perfect instead of would have in the main clause:
If I had seen your text message, I had answered it immediately. (WRONG)
If I had seen your text message, I would have answered it immediately. (RIGHT)
- past perfect in narratives
We use the past perfect when we are talking about the past and we want to talk about an earlier past action.
Examples:
Some students got to school late. When they arrived, the exam had already started.
He ran to the departure gate but the flight had already closed.
Typical mistakes:
· don't use the present perfect nor past simple in narratives to talk about an earlier time:
Wrong use of the present perfect:
When we finally got to the theatre, the play has already begun. (WRONG)
When we finally got to the theatre, the play had already begun. (RIGHT)
Wrong use of the past simple:
When we finally got to the theatre, the play already begun. (WRONG)
Halfway through the film, I realized I saw it before. (WRONG)
When we finally got to the theatre, the play had already begun. (RIGHT)
Halfway through the film, I realized I had seen it before. (RIGHT)
- past perfect in reported speech
Present perfect:
"I have taken English lessons before."
She said (that) she had taken English lessons before.
Past simple:
"My boyfriend proposed me last week."
She said (that) her boyfriend had proposed her the previous week.
- past perfect in third conditionals
To talk about how things could have been different in the past (i.e. for hypothetical / imaginary situations and their consequences.
If +Past Perfect +would + have + past participle
- If she had looked at both sides of the road before crossing, she wouldn’t have died.
Remember: in 3rd conditionals you can contract had and would by usind 'd.
· wrong use of the third conditional:
by using would have instead of the past perfect in the if-clause:
If I would have known the band had cancelled, I wouldn't have gone to the concert. (WRONG)
If I had known the band had cancelled, I wouldn't have gone to the concert. (RIGHT)
by using the past perfect instead of would have in the main clause:
If I had seen your text message, I had answered it immediately. (WRONG)
If I had seen your text message, I would have answered it immediately. (RIGHT)
4. VOCABULARY
Weddings
Weddings
- (make) a toast for the just married / the newlyweds
- best man- the (male) attendant of the bridegroom at a wedding
- bride- a woman who has just been or is about to be married
- ceremony /ˈserɪmənɪ/
- engagement- a pledge of marriage
- feast
- flower girl- the girl who carries the flowers in a wedding
- gigolo /ˈʒɪgələʊ/
- guest(s)
- groom (= bridegroom) a man who has just been or is about to be married
- hen party- the bride and her female friends having a party
- honeymoon- a holiday taken by a newly married couple
- just married / newlywed(s)
- newlywed(s) / just married- a recently married person
- pageboy- the boy who carries the rings
- priest
- (to) propose (marriage)
- reception- the act of receiving or state of being received
- register/ˌredʒɪsˈtrɑːr/
- ring bearer- the person who carries the rings in a wedding
- (make a) speech / (make) speeches
- stag party- the groom and his male friends having a party
- striper / dancer
- wedding- the act of marrying or the celebration of a marriage
- wedding cake
- wedding dress
- wedding invitation(s)
- wedding planner
- wedding ring(s)