~11

Present Perfect and Si m le Past

LONG-DISTANCE RELATIONSHIPS

• • • Befo re Yo u Read
Loo k at the picture and read the tit/e of the article. Discuss the questions.
l. What do you think a "long-distance marriage" is?
2. Where are the two people living?
3. What are sorne reasons married people might live apart?

•••Read
i) Read the excerpt from an artic/e in Modern Day magazine.

He lives in South Korea. She lives in

Pacific Ocean
Canada. But Lee Shinjeng and Par k Sunmi
have been married for four years. So why are
they living apart? The couple has a "long-
distance marriage." And they are not alone.
The marriage, however, remains strong. How
Many couples around the world have found
do they stay emotionally close when they are
this arrangement to be a temporary solution in
geographically so far away? Sunmi says,
difficult economicl times.
"Thanks to email, instant messages, text
When they got married, both Shinjeng and
messages, and cell phones, we've managed to
Sunmi had very good jobs. Then, two weeks
be in touch several times a day-not easy with
after the wedding, Sunmi, a professional
the 17-hour time difference! At 6:00A.M. I've
violinist, lost hers. After looking for a job for
just prepared breakfast and am getting ready
almost a year, she got an offer in Vancouver,
to start my day, but for Shinjeng it's 11:00 P.M.
Canada. Sunmi didn't want to leave Seoul
but she felt she couldn't turn it down. So ~he
and he's already had dinner and is getting
ready for bed." Has all this trouble been worth
moved, and her husband, an engineer at a
it? "Yes!" says the couple in unison2. "We both
large company in Seoul, didn't. How has this
have jobs that we really like," says Shinjeng.
worked out? It hasn't been easy. With airfares
"Besides, we really need the money."
being so high, the couple has not been able to
"But," adds Sunmi, "we're really looking
afford many trips to see each other. Last year
forward to the da y we can be together again."
they saw each other just three times (twice
when Sunmi was performing abroad), and so 1 ~con~mic: about business and money
' far this year, they've only se en each other once. 2m umson: at the same time

146 UNIT11
 A 1Vocabulary: Circle the letter of the word or phr_ase closest in meaning to the word in blue.

1. How do they like the new arrangement?

a. choice
b. way of doing something
c. art show

2. Sometimes they think their problem has no solution.

a. answer
b. reason
c. cause

3. They don't like living apart.

a. in different places
b. together
c. in an apartment

4. She managed to get a new job.

a. tried
b. wanted
c. was a ble

5. She couldn't tum down the offer.

a. say noto
b. say yes to
c. think about

6. It's a temporary job.

a. well-paying

b. short-time
c . long-distance

B 1Comp~ehension: Check(./) True or False. Correct the fa/se statements.

True False
1. Shinjeng and Sunmi plan to get married.
o o
2. They are now living together in South Korea.
o o
3. Their jobs are very important to them.
o o
4. They take a lot of trips together.
o o
5. The couple has a close relationship.
o o

Present Perfect and Simple Past 147

11
STEP 2

1; PRESENT PERFECT ANO SIMPLE PAST

1¡ Present Perfect Simple Past

She has been here since 2008. She was in South Korea in 2007.
They've lived here for 20 years. They lived there for 1Oyears.
We've spoken once today. We spoke twice yesterday.
He hasn't flown this month. She didn't fly last month.
Has she called him today? Did she call him yesterday?

GRAMMAR NOTES

Use the present perfect total k about things that • They have lived apart for the pastthree
started in the past, continue up to the present, (They started living apart three years ago
and may continue into the future. sti/1 living apart.)
Now

Past - -+._-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_--tt----.._--_,,.,.,.. Future

have lived
Use the simple past total k about things that They lived together for one year.
happened in the past and have no connection to (They lived together until2008. They no longer
the present. live together.)

Now
2007 2008
Past - --+1- - - ---11----ll--!)1.,.. Future
lived

Use the present perfect total k about things that They have decided to live apart.
happened atan indefinite time in the past. (We don't know exactly when the decision
was made, or the time of the decision is not
Now
? important.)

Past -~--X----+---____,,.,.,.. Future

have decided
Use the simple past total k about things that • They got married in 2007.
happened ata specific time in the past. The exact
time is known and sometimes stated.

Now
2007
Past - - - - X - - - - t - - - - - l •.... Future
got married
8 E (ARE FU L! Do NOT use the present perfect • llived in Seoul in 2007.
with a specific point in time.The only exception is Nor : l've lived in Seoul in 2007.
with since. l've lived in Seoul since 2007.

148 UNIT 11
 Use the present perfect total k about things He's called three times today.
that have happened in a time period that is not (Today isn't finished, and it's possib/e that
finished. such as today, this morning, this month, he'// cal/ again.)
this year.

Use the simple past total k about things that • He called three times yesterday.
happened in a time period that is finished, such as (Yesterday is finished.)
yesterday, /ast month, /ast year.

BE CA RE FU L! So me time expressions su eh as lt's 10:00A.M. She's had three cups of coffee

this morning, this month, or this year can refer this morning.
toan unfinished or finished time period. Use the (The morning isn't finished.)
present perfect if the time period is unfinished.
Use the simple past if the time period is finished. • lt's 1:00 P.M. She had three cups of coffee
this morning.
(The morning is finished.)

REFERENCE NOTES
For the simple past, see Unit 2.
For the present perfect with since and for, see Unit 8.
For the present perfect for indefinite past, see Unit 1O.
For a list of irregular verbs, see Appendix 1 on page A-1 .

-.¡ ,.._, " ..~ " ••_.._ ~ ~,.. - ·1

STEP 3 -FOCUSEo:·PRAC'tiCE ,
"\~w • , ' ~---..- ,<>( ";;~) -'.i'• w ~

EXERCISE 1: Discover the Grammar

Read the information about Sunmi and Shinjeng. Then eire/e the letter ofthe sentence
(a or b) that best describes the situation.

l. It's 2011. Sunmi moved to Vancouver in 2008 . She stilllives there.

a. She lived in Vancouver for three years.
@ She's lived in Vancouver for three years.
2. Last year Sunmi and Shinjeng enjoyed their vacation in Paris.
a. They had a good time.
h. They've had a good time.

3. Sunmi is telling her friend about her present job. Her friend asks,
a. "How long were you there?"
h. "How long have you been there?"

4. Shinjeng is telling Sunmi that the weather in Seoul has been too hot for the past five days.
a. The weather is uncomfortable now.
h. The weather is comfortable now.
(continued on next page)

Present Perfect and Simple Past 149

 - ----

¡_¡ 1 S. Sunmi studied the piano for 10 years, but she doesn't play anymore.
a. She has played the piano for 1O years.
b. She played the piano for 1O years.
1 1 1 ;

6. Shinjeng is an engineer. He is interviewing for an engineering job in Vancouver. He says,

11 1 1 a. "1 was an engineer for five years."

b. 'Tve been an engineer for five years."

7. This year the couple has met once in Los Angeles. They'll meet in Paris.
a. They've seen each other only once this year.
b. They saw each other only once this year.

8. Sunmi's mother visited her once in Vancouver. When she got home, she wrote,
a. "It was a great visit."
b. "lt has been a great visit."

9. Shinjeng and Sunmi haven't emailed each other this week.

a. Shinjeng's computer was broken.
b. Shinjeng's computer has been broken.

EXERCISE 2: Present Perfect or Simple Past (Grammar

Complete the postings to an online board for people in long-distance relationships. Circle
the correct verb forms.

posted by faraway

Help! This long-distance relationship stuff is getting me down. My husband and IQÍave b~ were

apart now for just two months, but l'm already finding it very hard. What solutions have yo u found?

posted by lonely1

Have you tried 1 Oid yo u try writing a journal? 1've begun 1began one last week and find it very helpful
2. 3.
1 11 to express my feelings. Yesterday 1've written 1wrote justa page, and today (a really difficult day)
4.
1've written 1wrote three pages so far, and it's only 3:00P.M.!
5.
posted by gamer

My husband and 1play online games together! Last week 1've lost 1lost all of them, but we both
6.
ha ve had 1hada lot of fun. 1don't fe el so far apart. Don't worry, faraway-this is only temporary! You'll
7.
be together again.

posted by ruthere

Last week 1've bought 1 bought a computer with a webcam. Now 1can SEE my wife when we video chat!
8.

150 UNIT 11
 Bridging the Distance

posted by greenbay

My wife and 1ha ve be en 1were married for 1Oyears, but last year 1've had to 1had to relocate
~ 1~
beca use of my job. My wife couldn't come, so we have a phone date every night. lt's true: Absence

makes the heart grow fonder.

posted by singleman

Forget about it! 1've learned /learned from experience. This long-distance stuff is for the birds!
11.
1've tried 1tried ita few years ago, and it 's be en 1was awful. lt's true what they say: Out of sight,
12. 13.
out of mind.

post ed by li!.v.J!ª-!1
Last night 1've called 1 called my husband while 1was having dinner. Luckily, we're in the same time
14.
zone, so he was having dinner too. We 've stayed 1stayed on the phone, and it 's felt 1felt like we were
15. 16.
eating together! But, to be honest, we 've be en 1were apart for too long, and 1'11 be happy when we
17.
can REALLY be together again.

EXERCISE 3: Present Perfect or Simple Past Statements (Grammar Notes 7-3)

Complete the entry in Sunmi's journal. Use the present perfect or simple post form of the
verbs in parentheses.

Thursday, September 28

This is my first journal entry. Yesterday, I ____f,'-'o':':u"-'n~d _ _ _ _ a website for couples

1. (find)
living apart. A few hours ago, someone - - - - , - - - - - - - a suggestion. They said that
2. (post)
keeping a journal can really help. So, here goes!

Its 8:00P.M. It ----,..,.--,------a hard day, and its no+ over yet. I still have to
3.(be)
practice that new violin concerto. I - - ----:-:-------:---:-- - - working on it a few days ago, but
4. (begin)
I ----::-:-:,------,----- only about half of it so far. And we begin rehearsing tomorrow. Work
5. (learn)
----....,.,........,.....---- difficult lately. I -----::-:-:--:-:-----'ate every night this week.
6. (be) 7. (work)
I feel exhausted, and I -----=--:---:----::---- much sleep las+ night. And of course, I miss
8. (notget)
Shinjeng. Even though I ---::--:-----,,------- him las+ month, it seems like a long time ago.
9.(see)
This long-distance relationship is beginning to get me down. We -------..,.----- apart
10. (live)
for too long. Oh, theres the phone. I hope its him!

Present Perfect and Simple Past 151

.1 u1 EXERCISE 4: Present Perfect or Simple Past Contrast
Shinjeng and Sunmi met in 2005. Since then, Shinjeng has changed. Write sentences
describing how he has changed. Use the-words in the lists.
i; 1 ;

1 11 1 1

11

In 2005 Sincethen
l. have /long hair wear 1 his hair very short
2. wear 1 a beard and moustache be 1 clean shaven
3. be 1 thin gain 1 weight
4. wear 1 blue glasses have 1 contact lenses
·~
5. be 1 a student become 1 an engineer
6. live 1 with his parents buy 1 an apartment
7. be 1 single get 1 married

1. In 2005 he had hair.

Since then, he has worn his hair ver short.

2. ----------------------------------------------------------------~

3. -------------------------------------------------------------------

4. -------------------------------------------------------------------
1 11

5. ----------------------------------------------------------------

6. ----------------------------------------------------------------

7. ----------------------------------------------------------------~

152 UNIT 11
EXERCISE 5: Wh- Questions (Grammar Notes 1-3) 1

Read the magazine article on page 146 again. Imagine that you wrote the article. You asked
Shinjeng questions to get your information. What were they? Write questions ..Use the words
in parentheses. Choose between the present perfect and simple past. 1 ',

l. (how long 1 be married)

You: How lonq hove you been married?

SmNJENG: Four years. i

2. (when 1 get married)
1
You: -----------------------------------------------------------------
SHINJENG: In 2007.

3. (when 1 your wife 1 lose her job)

~
You: -----------------------------------------------------------------
1
SHINJENG: Two weeks after our wedding. ~'1:
4. (when 1 she 1 get a new job offer)

You: -----------------------------------------------------------------
SmNJENG: About a year later. 1

5. (how long 1 you 1 live apart)

You: -----------------------------------------------------------------
SHINJENG: For three years.

6. (how often 1 see each other last year)

You: -----------------------------------------------------------------
SHINJENG: Just three times.

7. (how often 1 see each other this year)

You: -----------------------------------------------------------------
SHINJENG: Only once so far.

8. (how 1 you 1 manage to stay close)

¡
1

You: -----------------------------------------------------------------
SHINJENG: Through email, instant messages, text messages, and the cell phone.

Present Perfect and Simple Past 153

\

....J.
u_l EXERCISE 6: Editing
Read Sunmi's blog post. There are twe/ve mistakes in the use of the present perfect and the
simple past. The first mistake is a/ready corrected. Find and correct eleven more.
; 1 ;

istance Relationsh·

111
l'm Not Alone! Wednesday, September 7.20.11

/'ve read
l've just finished reading an interesting article about Felicia Mabuza-Suttle. Actually, keatf. several

articles about her this year. She's a well-known international businesswoman, and up until 2004 she has

been a talk-show host in South Africa. Guess what! We have something in common! Although they now

live together, she and her husband have hada "long-distance marriage" for more than 15 years! She lived

in Johannesburg, South Africa; he lived in Atlanta, Georgia. Just like me and my husband, that's a whole

ocean apart! They have met in the 1970s. In the first 1Oyears of their marriage,

they ha ve lived in more than 1Ocities. Then, in the early 1990s, she has returned to

South Africa to help her country. In 2003, she has gone back to the States, and she

and her husband lived there together since then. So, it looks like things have

worked out for them! That's encouraging! She still makes several trips back to

South Africa every year-this year she was there twice so far. Here's a photo of her:

1 love Vancouver and my job, but 1 really miss my husband. We didn't manage to see each other that

much since 1 left Seoul. 1 have been much happier when we have lived together. 1 know the situation is

temporary, but 1 hope, like Mabuza-Suttle and her husband, we can find a way to be together again soon.
Posted by Park Sunmi at 10:54 PM OComments

11

EXERCISE 7: Listening
<!) A A student working for the school newspaper is interviewing two col/ege professors.
1

Read the list. Then listen to the interview. Listen again and check(../) the items that are
now true.
The professors _ _ _ _ _ _ __

~ l. are married O 4. live in Boston

O 2. live in different cities O 5. are in Madison
O 3. are at the same university O 6. have a house

154 UNIT 11
(!) B 1Read the statements. Listen again to the interview and eire/e the correct information.

l. The couple has been married for two l@ years.

2. For a long time, they couldn't find a job 1 an apartment in the same city.

3. Now they work at the same company 1 university.

4. They have lived 1 lived in Boston for six years.

5. They have lived 1 lived in Madison for almost a year.

6. They have finally been able to buy a car 1 house.

7. They no longer need to drive 1 fly to see each other on weekends.

EXERCISE 8: Pronunciation
(!) A 1Read and listen to the Pronunciation Note.

Pronunciation Note

The simple past form and the past participle of regular verbs are the same.
They both end in -ed.
EXAMPLE: visit visited have visited

The -ed ending has three different pronunciations:

EXAMPLE: /t/ Id! !Id! (this ending adds a syllable to the word: visit-ed)
hoped lived visited

(!) B 1Listen to the short conversations. Notice the pronunciation ofthe simple past forms and
past participles. Check(./) the correct pronunciation ofthe ending.
/ti Id! /Id/
l. A: Have you visited Dino this month? D D D
B: Yes, I visited him last weekend. D D D
2. A: Have you tried out your webcam? D D D
B: Yes, we tried it out last night. D D D
3. A: Have you ever lived abroad? D D D
B: I lived in Turkey for two years. D D D
4. A: Have you ever wanted to move? D D D
B: I wanted to move to Mexico right after college. D D D
5. A: Have you finished your homework? D D D
B: I finished hours ago. D D D
6. A: Has Sunmi practiced the violin today? D D D
B: She practiced for two hours this morning. D D D

(!) C 1Listen again. Practice the conversations with a partner.

Present Perfect and Simple Past 155

 ¡_¡ 1 EXERCISE 9: Compare and Contrast
Work in pairs. Look at Sunmi's records from last year and this year. lt's now the end of
August. Compare what she did last yearwith what she's done this year; You can use the
; ; 1 ;
verbs from the box.

1 11 1 1 attend give go have perfonn practice se e study

LAST YEAR
February March April M ay

• GDrueri; Út N.y. • L .A. -IIÍD/in. • c.brti..Ui Út • a.i-t.en.á • 1o 11a.c.a.iiD n.

• L .A.-viD/in. wDrJ<.shop tJ .Y. 1el:-h.tre dOJfS
WDrJ<.Shop • 1 s~in.a.r

)uly August September October November

11 1 • Sue's • ~u.su.
• MD~ 's II~Úi • c.brti..Ui in. • Modern. 'Dg}j.
c.bn.fere.ru..e - 1Dron.iD
1 weddin.~ • a.i-t.en.á in.ierview
11 SeouJ
• shtruen.~
Ied:u.re

THIS YEAR
)anuary February March April M ay

• c.brti..Ui in. • GDrueri; Út N.y. • tJa.n.'s • c.brti..Ui in. • c.brti..Ui Út

Sa.n. • a.i-t.en.á weddirt~ 1oron.iD Pa.r~s

fra.n..uSc.b /eL:wre • Shif\jert~

)uly August September October November

·~u.su.
• Ba.rry's c.b rtfere.ru..e
weddirt~ • a.i-t.en.á
Ju-ture
1 11
EXAMPLE: A: Last year she performed in New York twice.
B: So far this year she's only performed there once.

156 UNIT 11

--- ~· - - -
EXERCISE 10: lnterview

A 1Many people hove long-distance relationships with a friend or {ami/y member. Work with
a partner. lnterview ea eh other about a long-di-stance relationship that your partner is in.
Use the words to ask questions. Remember to use the present perfect and the simple post.

• Who 1 have 1 this relationship with? • How often 1 be in contact 1 this year?
• How long 1 know 1 this person? • How often 1 be in contact 1 last year?
• Who 1 move away? • How 1 manage 1 to stay close?
• Why 1 move away? • be 1 difficult?
• When 1 last see each other? • miss each other?
EXAMPLE: A: Who have you had a long distance-relationship with?
B: I've been in a long-distance relationship with my best friend for five years.
She lives in Mexico.

B 1 Continue the interview with questions of your own.

EXERCISE 11: Writing

A 1Write two paragraphs about a long-distance relationship that you hove or someone you
know has. Use the present perfect and simple post.
EXAMPLE: My classmate's family lives more than halfway around the world from him,"but he
has managed to stay in close contact with them. Last month, he flew home to see
them. They had a great time, and .. .

B 1 Check your work. Use the Editing Checklist.

Editing Checklist

Did you use the ... ?

D present perfect for things that started in the past and continue up
to the present
D simple past for things that happened in the past and have no connection
to the present
D present perfect for things that happened at an indefinite time in the past
D simple past for things that happened at a specific time in the past
D present perfect for things that have happened in a time period that is not
finished
D simple past for things that happened in a time period that is finished

Present Perfect and Simple Past 157

-
~11 Review Check your answers on page UR-3.
Do you need to review anything?

•••• A 1 Imagine yo u are interviewing Ken. Write questions with the words in parentheses. Use
the present perfect or the simple post.
Ken g ets sta rts fi rst moves to Tina
moves to engineering professional marries loses Singapore joins him
Vancouver degree job Tina job to work in Sin

l.
(when 1move to Vancouver)
2.
(how long 1 be an engineer)
3.
(work 1 in Vancouver for a long time)
4.
(when 1get married) ...
5.
(how many years 1live in Singapore)
6.
(your wife 1 live in Singapore long)

• • • • B 1 Complete the paragraph with the present perfect or the simple post form ofthe verbs in
parentheses.

1 _________ in Singapore for a month, and it still feels special to see Ken every
1. (be)
day. There's so much to do! We five apartments last week, and so far this
2. (see)
evening we three places off our list. Maybe we'll actually decide on one
3. (cross)
before we fall asleep! 1 still very much of the city, but this morning we
4. (not see)
_________ a boat tour. It _________ great! Ken _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
S. (take) 6. (be) 7. (learn)
Chinese already, so he _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ lunch for us. 1 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ much Chinese ·
8. (order) 9. (not learn)
Vancouver, but I'lllearn fast .

•••• e 1 Find and correct five mistakes.

Tina and Ken lived apart for a while, but then Tina found a job in Singapore. She has moved

there last month. Here are sorne of their thoughts:

KEN: I'm so glad Tina is finally here. Last year has been the hardest time of my life.

TINA: Before 1 got here, 1 didn't understood Ken's experiences. But 1 was in culture shock since

1 arrive, and I'm learning a new job too! Now 1 know what a rough time Ken had at first.

158 Unit 11 Review: Present Perfect and Simple Past