Business Grammar Builder For class and self study an,Business Paul Emmerson Grammar BuilderContents LIST OF GRAMMAR TERMS VERB TENSES 1 Present time 1: present simple, present continuous, time expressions 2 Present time 2: present simple or continuous?, present continuous or present perfect continuous?, other uses of present tenses, state verbs 3. Past time 1: past simple, past continuous, time expressions, past simple or continuous 4. Past time 2: past perfect, time expressions, past perfect continuous, used to/ would + infinitive 5 Past and present 1: present perfect, time expressions, been (ta) and gone (to) 6 Past and present 2: past simple or present perfect?, present simple or present perfect?, present perfect continuous, time expressions, present perfect or present perfect continuous? 7. Future 1: will, going to, present continuous, will or going t0?, going to or present ontinuous?, time expressions 8 Future 2: time expressions, present simple/continuous, future continuous, future perfect, was going to, other ways to talk about the future Passives 9 Passive 1: form, focus on important information, systems and processes, saying who does the action, transitive and intransitive verbs 10. Passive 2: linking to previous information, being formal/impersonal, passive + infinitive, verbs with two objects, have something done, to be born MODALS AND RELATED VERBS 11, Medals and related verbs 1: form, ability, wll and willingness 12. Modals and related verbs 2: necessity, no necessity, permission, prohibition, opinions and advice, past criticism, need 10 13 Modals and related verbs 3: probability, certainty and deduction, expectation, uncertainty, possibilty 14 Modals and related verbs 4: direct/indirect language, requests, permission, offers and invitations, suggestions Questions 15 Questions 1: yes/no questions and answers, question word questions, question phrases, ‘question words as the subject, negative questions ‘Sic nett emer relate TON A I a a 10 4 18 2 26 30 34 38 a2 50 54 58 e saeVERBS FOLLOWED BY -ING OR INFINITIVE 19. Verb +-ing or infinitive 1: verb + ~ing; verb + 10+ infinitive, verb + abject + t0 + infinitive, ‘make and fet, verb + that clause 20. Verb + -ing or infinitive 2: verb + ~ing or infinitive, verbs of perception, passive forms ing or infinitive REPORTED SPEECH 21 Reported speech 1: reported speech: tense changes, no tense change, people, places, times and things 22. Reported speech 2: say or tal, other reporting verbs, It + passive ofa reporting vert, Teporting questions, reporting commands and requests PHRASAL VERBS 23 Phrasal verbs 1: understanding phrasal verbs, separable phrasal verbs, inseparable phrasal verbs 24 Phrasal verbs 2: phrasal verbs + preposition, three-part phrasal verbs, partie meanings OTHER VERB CONSTRUCTIONS 25 Verbs and objects: transitive verbs, intransitive verbs, verb + two objects, verb + two objects using for 26 The -ing form: as a noun, as an adjective, after prepositions, used to begin a clause 27 make, do, get, have: uses of four common verbs RELATIVE CLAUSES 7 28 Relative clauses 1: relative clauses, relative pronouns, leaving out the relative pronoun in defining relative clause, non-defining relative clauses, relative pronouns and prepositions 29 Relative clauses 2: combining sentences, structure of combined sentences, use of what, use of where, when and why, relative clauses with a participle (ing /-ed) NOUNS, PRONOUNS AND ARTICLES 30 Countable and uncountable nouns: countable nouns, uncountable nouns, singular or plural?, a/anfa lot of, any/some, many/much, ew, litle, specific and general meanings 31. Pronouns: indefinite pronouns, someane/anyone, everyone/no ane, reflexive pronouns 32 Determiners: all/mast/many/some/a fev, all meaning ‘everything’ or ‘the only thing’, ‘no/nane, each every, both/either/neither 33 Possessives and compound nouns: possessive adjectives and pronouns, 's (apostrophe 8), of, compound nouns 34 Articles 1: basic uses of articles, a/an, a or an?, the, no article 35. Articles 2: place names and no article, place names and the, special uses of the, 2 90 98 102 106 110 4 ua 122 126 130 134 138 146ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS 36 Adjectives and adverbs: types, form of adverbs, aradable and non-gradable adjectives, order of adjectives, adjectives ending ~ing and -ed 37 Comparing 1: comparatives and superlatives, comparing equal things, comparing actions 38 Comparing 2: large and small differences, other structures with comparatives, phrases with supertetives, comparing adverbs, comparing nouns 39. Adverbs of degree: foo/enough/not enough, other stuctures with too and enough, so and such, quite, fail, pretty or rather? 40 Time adverbs: in/on/at, no preposition, an time or in time?, for/since/during/ago, daring ot while?, by of until, then afterwards/afterilater, calender references LINKING WORDS AND PHRASES 41. Linking words 1: adsition (and, both, t00, aso, ete), contrast (but, yet, although, though, leven though, whereas, despiten spite of), although or wherees? 42. Linking words 2: reason (because, as, since), result (50), purpose (to and for, so tha manner (as, a if and ice) 43. Developing an argument 1: words meaning and, but and 50, examples (for example, for instance, such 3), addttonal/tea information (infact, actual), sequence (frst ofa, 2s well as, this, final), generalising (in genera, on the whole), summarising (so, to sum up, in summary), ether or... , instead of, except for 44, Developing an argument 2: personal comment, other linking words and phrases, structures to focus on important information, at the end, in the end, at lat, if, unless, otherwise, ‘abbreviations in written English PREPOSITIONS: 45. Prepositions of place: ator in?, expressions with at, in and on, above/below, over/under, opposite, next to/beside, near/by 46. Verb + preposition: verb + preposition, verb + object + preposition, verb + different prepositions, uses of different prepositions 47 Adjective + preposition: adjective + preposition, feelings, other adjectives, adjective + choice of preposition 48. Noun + preposition: noun + preposition, rise, fall+ of in, connection, relationship + with /between, need, wish, request + for, prepesitional phrases TRENDS, GRAPHS AND FIGURES 49 ‘Trends, graphs and figures: graphs and figures, trends, verbs and objects, adverbs and adjectives, inking words and phrases PUNCTUATION 150 154 158 166 170 174 178 182 186 190 194, 198 202Test bank (for diagnosis or review) Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 4 Test 5 Test 6 Test 7 Test 8 Test 9 Test 10 Test 11 Test 12 Test 13 Test 14 Test 15 Test 16 Verb tenses: present (units 1-2) Verb tenses: past (units 3-4) Verb tenses: past and present (units 5-6) Vers tenses: future (units 7-8) Passives (units 9-10) Modals (units 1114) Questions (units 15-16) Conditionals (units 17-18) ‘Verbs + -ing or infinitive (units 19-20) Reported speech (units 21-22) Phrasal verbs (units 23-24) ‘make/do/get/have (unit 27) Relative clauses (units 28-29) ‘Nouns, pronouns and articles (units 30-35) Adjectives and adverbs (units 36-40) Prepositions (units 45-48) Appendices ‘Appendix 1 Regular verbs: all forms Appendix 2. regular verbs Appendix 3. Spelling Appendix 4 Diagram of the Enalish verb system Appendix 5. British and American English Answer key Index CONTENTS 7 210 212 a 216 218 220 222 224 226 2 28 230 231 232 236 238 240 242 244 286 209 263List of grammar terms Active form Adjective ‘Adverb Article Auxiliary verb Clause Conditional Continuous form Determiner Gerund Imperative Infinitive The -ing form Intransitive verb ‘The active form of a verb is when the person or thing doing the action is the subject of the verb: | wrote the report. Compare with ‘passive form’ on page 9. ‘An adjective hos to describe @ naun or pronoun: it's a small, modern storage device ‘An advert adds information about when, vere or how something happens ! of it yesterday. | aid it quickly. [Articles are the word the (= the definite article) or a/an = the indefinite artic). ‘An auxiliary verb (be, do and have) is used with other verbs to make tenses and passive forms: He is working in Milan. Where did you go? Two hundred people hhave been made redundant. ‘A dause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. It may be a sentence or only part of a sentence, ‘A conditional is a sentence that includes if, unless etc, and states something that must be true (the condition) before something else can be true or can happen (the result ‘The continuous isthe form of the verb that suggests that an action sin progres. ‘The continuous form ends in ing. {A determiner isa word like the, some and every Is used before a noun or adjective to show which thing you mean. [A gerund isan -ing form of a verb used like @ noun: Smoking is not allowed, My hobby is sailing. ‘An imperative is when we tell people what to do. We use the base form of the vert: Come here. Switch off the light ‘The infinitive is the base form of the verb (work, go, etc), Is used with or without to: | hope to see you next week, | must go now. “The -ing form is the form of the verb that ends in -ing. When it is used! as a verb or adjective it is sometimes called a ‘present participle’ | saw him leaving. A boring. ‘meeting, When it is used as a noun its sometimes called a ‘gerund’ (see above). [An intransitive verb isa verb that does not take an object: For example, the verb artve is intransitive: | arrived here last week. In tis sentence there is no object. ‘Compare with ‘transitive verb’ on page 9.Passive form Past participle Possessive: Phrasal verb Preposition Pronoun ‘Question tag Reflexive pronoun Relative cause The simple ‘The subject Tense ‘Transitive verb Verb LST OF GRAMMAR TERMS 9 “The passive form is used to show how the subject ofthe verb is affected by the action ofthe verb: The report was written by me. Compare with the active form on page 8. A past participle i the form used in the perfect tense or passive structures. You Can find it in the third column of tense tables. For example: worked is the past patticinle of work (this fa regular past participle), gone & the past participle of go (this san irregular past participe). A possessive isa form that shows who or what something belongs to: my/your (possessive adjectives), mine/yours (possessive pronouns), et. iis also used to show other types of relationships: my father: my hometown; my employer. ‘A phrasal verb is 8 verb with an adverb or preposition that hasacffferent meaning {rom the verb used alone: The plane took off ‘A preposition is a word like at; behind, in, through, fo, with used before a noun or pronoun to show place, time, direction, et. ‘A pronoun is a word lke it me, you, him, her, etc that takes the place of a noun: Have you been to Warsaw? It has changed a lot over the last few years. ‘A question tag isa short question lke n't? or don't you? that you add at the tend of a sentence to check information or ask if someone agrees with you: i's Not isn'tit? ‘A reflexive pronoun is mainly used to show that the person who does the action is ‘also the person affected by it: She introduced herself to me at the coffee break, {A relative clause is used to identify someone or something, or give more information about them. It begins with who, which, that, ete ‘The simple is the basic form of the verb / agree with you (oresent simple), He agreed with me (past simple) ‘The subject is the word that shows who is doing the action of the verb: Jean works here part-time. It usually comes before the verb. ‘A tense isthe form of the verb, It helps us to know the time at which an action of ‘event happened (past, present or future). Academics sometimes have a mare limited efintion of the word ‘tense’, and they make a distinction between ‘tense’ and ‘aspect’. work in the marketing area (present simple tense), worked in the ‘marketing area (past simple tense). ‘A transitive verb is a verb that has an object. The verb make is transitive, and in this sentence @ mistake isthe object: They've made a mistake. Compare with “intransitive verb’ on page 8. ‘A Verb expresses an action or state: He arrived at 10.30, He knows the market wellresent time 1 A Present simple: form © The present simple is formed withthe infinitive form of the verb, We add s for the third person singular he/she/it. youl werthey work here. He/she/it works here {© Negatives are formed with do/does not. In speech and informal writing we use contractions. iiyoutwelthey do not (don't) work here Heishe/it does not (doesn't) work here © Questions are formed with the awliry verb do/does and the infinite, Short answers 10 yes/no questions repeat the auxiliary. ’: De you work here? ‘A. Does she work here? 8B. Yes Ido,/No, dont 8: Yes she does. /No, she doesn't B Present simple: uses © We use the present simple for permanent facts This machine eus the meta In finance, ‘ple’ stands for ‘riceleernings rato’ © We use the present simple for actions and situations that are generally true We offer a full range of financial products Liz works in the Marketing department. © We use the present simple for actions which are repeated regularly over a long period of time, for example habits and routines, At Union Investment lng Fran nd manager abou half of the customers twest regular amount every month, (Wall Steet Journal Europe website) © Present simple: time expressions © We often use frequency adverbs with the present simple. Examples include: always, often, usualy, normaly, sometimes, occasional rare, not often, haraly ever, never Try Smith, the chief execuive of Collins Stewart, msually rises at 6 am. He takes the tain to Leyedon ard arives ahs ofe hy 8 am, Lunch is usually a sanduich with some Japanese stem leaf tea. (Sunday Times website) © ‘Note the position of frequency adverbs Before the main! verb: / often take (| don’t often take) the Eurostar to Brussels. ‘After the verb be: ‘I'm usually (i'm not usually) nervous before a presentation.(PRESENT TIME 1. 11 __D Present continuous: form ‘© The present continuous is formed with the auxilary verb be and the -ing form of the main verb. “Things are alo busy at Deutsche Post, wiich founded its ECommerce Service (ECS) Intemet division in mid-1999. ECS is setting up online stores, handling product delivery and even administering Internet customers’ clit cand numbers. (FT.com. website) Seesependin 3 In speech and informal wring we use conractons Negatves are formed with the vers pein es be+ not Lam (I'm) working here 1m not working here You are (you're) working here You're not/You aren't working here ‘She is (she's) working here She's not/She isn’t working here We are (we're) working here We're not/We aren't working here They are (they're) working here They're not/They aren't working here Notice that there are two alternatives for the negatives of youhe/she/itwe/they. (© Questions are formed by inverting the subject and the auxiliary be. Short answers to yes/no ‘questions repeat the auxiliary Ac Are you working here? A: Is he working here? B: Yes, Fam/No, Im net. B: Yes, he is/No, he isn’t, E Present continuous: uses (© We use the present continuous to talk about temporary actions and situations that are happening now. (© The action o situation may be in progress now, at the moment of speaking Sorry Mr Clark can't see you at the moment. He's talking to a customer. © The action or situation may be happening ‘around now’, even iit is not happening exactly at the moment of speaking Ameria’ powerful online merchants are moving eastward, co the new Net marker in Europe, ‘They've opening offices in London's Canary Whayf.. and buying bilboanis in Barcelona (BusinessWeek website) (© The action or situation may be a current trend: Computer games are getting better every year The application of physics ts making movement more realistic and atfial intelligence is causing players to become more emotionally wolved. ‘(Economist website) F Present continuous: time expressions © The present continuous is often used with these time expressions: now, at the moment. rowadays. curently these days, right nove a Nee eee ee pees eS A ae(121 PRESENT TIME 1 1 Practice Exercise 1 ADI Underline the correct words, 1 You often work/Do vow often wiork at the weekend? 2. I don't knaw/nat know why your invoice hasn't been paid. I'l try to find out. 3 Excuse me, does you know/de you know if this is the way to the IT seminar? 4: Sorry, that projector don't wark doesn’t work: Use this one instead. 5 A: Do you know our new sales rep Marta? B: Yes, (d0./Yes; ! know. 6 Ac Is that Linda Napier over there? B: Yes, she works/she do work here, 7 Luiting/'m varting the report at the moment. it should be ready tomorrow. 8 They nor replying/ They're not replying to my emails. il have to phone them. 9. Why is there such a long delay? What is happening? is hanpen? 10 You are enjoying/Are you enjoying this conference? 11 Can Karen call you back? She's speak/She's speaking on another lin. 12. A Is Sarah Kennedy expecting me? B: Yes, she's expecting. /Yes, she is. Exercise 2 BIE) Match sentences 1-5 with their uses ale) a) permanent facts habits and repeated actions © actions in progress at the moment of speaking 4) temporary actions happening ‘around now" ©) current trends and changing situations ‘These days we'te selling more and more of our products abroad. Look! They/re selling malt whisky at 20% discount in duty free! \We'te selling the new model, but we don't have any in stock right now, ‘We usually sll around 40% of our annual total at Christmas time. ‘We sella full range of consumer electronics, from TVs to cameras. OOOOr) Exercise 3 |G Decide which word orders the most usual, a) orb). Put tick (/) by the correct answer, 12) Levery day arrive at the office at about nine. oO ») Every day | arrive at the office at about nine.(PRESENTTIME 1 13 Exercise 4 A By Jane introduces Claude to Jodo in London. Complete the dialogue by puting each ofthe vets n brackets into the corect frm of the present simple. jase Chand, (1) yO. Know... (ou /know) Joi0? Joo (2). from Brazil but he worked with me in Pais last year. He 3) (know) a lot about your line of work. foe) cuauoe Really! Well 1 (4) cnn (be) very pleased to meet you, Jodo. yoko: Pleased to meet you too, Claude. easuoe So, what exactly (5) (you/doy? yi, 1) eisune: Oh, $0 you (7) . Joko, No, ®) (work) in the oil industry as a market analyst. (make) decisions about levels of production? (not make) any decisions really. My job 0) ne (awvolve) studying market ends and giving advice on levels of production. cuauoe: Sei hata lot of responsibility yoko: Well yes, bur Brazil (10)... sense (WO/be) a major producer like Saudi Arabia, What about you? ‘cuwoe I work for a French company that (11) (Gupply) specialised ww» (be) one of the biggest equipment to the oil industry. We (12) .. companies in our market. yoko, Oh really? And (13) soon (you / offen /eome) to London? usu: Yes, quite often. My company (14) nsmsnaan (have) an office here. It (15) vu (not/take) long to get here now, if you travel by Eurostar, Could 1 give you my card? Exercise 5 BEI ‘Complete this newspaper article about the Brazilian company Gerdau by using the words from the list below. Each set of words fills two spaces. iebecering/eompanies ' making/flexible is attracting/attention is approaching/market share is getting/right is aising/plants is beginning/expectations is modemising law a Brazilian success story Gerda, the Braslian steel make, | (2D) amram IMVESOS | (6) sm oF Cade, the (4a) 1, BECOMING... one'of Latin | want. firm that’s focused and ‘monopolies authority. ‘transparent witha simple share “These dope irs wach nasles 0resent time 2 A Present simple or continuous? © The present simple and present continuous are explained in unit 1. Compare: Present simple Present continuous permanent temporary habits and routines in progress now facts that are ahvays true events happening at the moment general situations a particular stuation I ive in Budapest: (all the time) I'm living in Budapest, (for a few months) This plane lands in Frankfurt. (routine) Look! We're landing. (in progress now) NTL dominates the UK cable-television morket (general sivaation). It is doing very well in the rest of Europe, to, with about 4mm austomers (at the moment). (International Herald Tribune website) Canada continues to be the most poplar country for fanchise expansion among US-based companies (general situation), but that is changing (tend in progress). (workdtadeonline magazine) B Present continuous or present perfect continuous? Seounit 6 @ The present continuous is used for a temporary action happening nov, Termepreen pele cones the present perfect continuous describes an action in progress from the past up to the present. Sue is working on the new design. (in progress now, and will continue) Sue has been working on the new desi. (in progress up to now, and may oF may not continue) C Other uses of present tenses PRESENT simpLe ‘Seeunit8 @ The present simple can be used to refer to timetables and schedules. When we speak about timetables we are often thinking about the future. British Ainvays fight BA729 leaves Geneva at 16.40 and arrives in London at 17.20. © The present simple can be used to make a story appear rmore immediate and interesting. This is ‘common in journalism, On a grey November day in New England the mood inside EMC's headquarters s suony and bright, Exectives ofthe date-stonage market leader see no limits to te world’s expanding appetite fr their storage machines. CEO Michael Ruetters calls EMC recession-proof (Business Week ivebsite)2PRESENTTIME2 15 D State verbs © Some verbs describe states, not actions. Nothing ‘happens’. Verbs lke this are not normally used in the continuous form of any tense. | notice that you've moved your desk. (NOT Hampatieng) Sorry, | don't understand, (NOT Hernetundessinaing) How much does it cost? (NOT Howessehaitesstnes} Ieweighs 4kg with the packaging. (NOT Heeweighing These examples are in the present simple even though we are talking about temporary situations, © State vers include: the senses: appear hear, look tke, notice, see, seem, smel, sound, taste (w have a flavout) fecings: dislike fear hate, lke, love, prefer want. wish thinking: agree, believe, doubs, expect (= believe) feel (= believe), forget, imagine, know, realise, recognise, suppose, suspect, think (= believe), understand possession: belong to, contain, have (= possess), include, own, possess being: be, consist of exist ‘other verbs: cost, depend on fit, involve, matter, measure (= have length), mean, nee, satis surprise, weigh Analysts expeet that shares in the demerged PEO Princess Cruises will trade initially at about -400p a share, which means that PEO is curently undervalued. However some analysts dink that the arival of new emise ships on the market will produe a fll in profits. (Telegraph website) © Some of the verbs inthe previous ist can have a stat’ meaning and an ‘action’ meaning, Examples include be, have, taste, think ‘Our suppliers are usually very helpful. (state) ‘Our supplies are being very helpful at the moment. (action) Ihave two sisters. (state) {Ym having problems with tis computer (action) ‘This soup tastes salty. (state) 1m tasting the soup to see iit needs more salt. (action) 1 think you'e ight. (tate) {fm thinking about changing my job. (action) © State verbs are not normally used in the imperative — ete16 2 PRESENT TIME 2 2 Practice Exercise 1 Underling the correct words. 1 A: What do you do/are you doing? : Im an executive secretary. 2 A: What do you do/are you doing? £: Im looking for the details on the computer ‘A: Where do you work/are you working? 8: Paris this month, then Bonn the nex. 4 A: Where do you work/are you working? B: At our bead office in Pars. ‘My name's Walter, and 1 come/'m coming from Frankfurt | come/itm coming to Frankfurt next Thursday —| can cal into your office | dea with deaing with Andrew clients wile he's on holiday | dea/ with/'m dealing with the paperwork and general administration, ‘A: Whe do you go/are you going tothe Trade Fair with? B: This year with Stefano. 10. A: Who do you go/are you going to the Trade Far with? 8B: Usually with Stefano. Exercise 2 A/D ‘Complete the sentences by putting the verbs in brackets into the present simple or present continuous. 1 1..dm..looking...6+... ook at) the details on the screen right now. 21 smn (100K at) the sales results in detail every month, ‘The production lin . swan (MOR, Work) at Weekends. The production line. -- (ot, work) at the moment. Yes, |agree.| cess think) it a good idea sun think) about it. 'l let you know tomorrow. (stay) at the Astoria while she's in Madtid this month. « (Stay) atthe Astoria when she's in Madr (take) a sample for testing once a day. (take) a big risk if we go ahead with the project: (be) usualy very flexible if we need to change the order. ssn (D8) flexible about giving us credit for a few more manths Exercise 3D Some of the following sentences are right and some are wrong. Put a tick (“) next to the right ones, and2PRESENTTIME2 17 Exercise 4 (AD [unitity oe Coes ale pute ee of et abhi dearer he ree Sip mia art (1) AAP. els. looking... (you /look) for someone? enwiren: Yes, 1/2) smuesene (teed) to speak to Kim Bryant but she isn't in her office. @ (you/know) where she is? sar Oh, 'm sorry, she isn here today. She (8) senencne (ork) a€ homie eying to finish an urgent report. I (5) ... (chink) she'll be back at her desk tomorrow: Peshaps I can help you? sensiren: Oh, thanks. 1 (6) (work) for Pritchard Evans. We 1) (organise) corporate hospitality ware Oh, yes sent: Well, Kim Bryant contacted us last week. Apparently you ®) (expect) a vist by a Korean trade delegation next month ware Yes chat’ right yossten: Kim asked me to call in and give hee some information on our service. Um, | (9) vein (have) alist of suggestions wih me. Ie (19) won (give) you information on where you could take your visitors and desis of extra services chat we can offer, like our pick-up service from che hotel in a chauffeur-driven limousine. sare Well hat sounds great. I'm sure Kim would be relly interested to se this. ensures How long (11) ¥ 2 (your vistors /stay)? mart: Ob, I'm sorry, I (12) .. (not/know) exactly. You really need to speak to Kim, she (13) (deal) with this conference. I'll tell her to give you 2 ring tomorrow. What’ the best time to call? yenoaren: T (14) .» (not/work) in the office in the mornings ... anytime after ‘0, Or she can call me on my mobile, on 0777. Exercise 5 AD @o compete this ere about the magazine Tme Out by using words fom the ist below. Decide whether 10 fe the vets into the present simple or present contucus ewe look for move investigate rely want provide try to Time Out: time to @xpand i ‘Out, the London entertainment management time. Eliott also has plans for space on the Internet site, Also, he thas plans for expansion. It the website, Timeoutcom, which Wa (7 mms sen QWINE cane the monthly launched in 1995 and (0) some the possibility of vm charging visitors o the site for access toast time 1 A Past simple: form © The past simple of regular verbs is formed by adding -ed to the infritve. Verbs ending in simply add -d. Common iregular verbs are Fisted on page 240, check-checked: checked the figures. like-liked: They liked his idea. Iregular: eat ate dink~drank go went etc. (© Negatives are formed with od not and the infnve. This is contracted to cfd’ in speech and informal writing, | didn’t tke his idea. 1 dient go to the meeting © Questions are formed with the auxiliary vetb die and the infinitive. Short answers to yes/no {questions repeat the auxiliary. A Did you check the figures? B: Yes, Idd. /No, | didn’t © The verb to be is regular and follows a diferent pattern. In negatives there is no did. In ‘questions there is no did and the subject and verb are inverted Mhelshelit was late helshetit wasn't late. Was i/he/shelit fate? You/we/they were late You/we/they weren't fate. Were you/we/they late? B Past simple: uses © We use the past simple to describe actions and states in a completed period of time. We know \when the action happened, and this may be mentioned or clear from the situation I checked the figures very careful last week Vm sorry | wasn't in the office yesterday. American ISP Juno designed an easy-to-use email service and user interface and then ontsourced everything else. I leased phone lines from a dozen companies and hired out customer service (BusinessWeek website) (© The past simple is algo used to describe habitual actions in the past. Every evening we went out and ate in a different restaurant. © Past simple: time expressions See unit 40 @ Time expressions used withthe past simple include oe at twelve o’clock/ the end of the year inthe momning/sune/ 1998/the sitesBPASTTIME1 19 D Past continuous: form see appendix3 © The past continuous s formed with the past of be and the -ing form of the main verb, ‘reeling Negatives are formed with the verb be + not: In speech and informal writing we use contractions lhetshelit was working yesterday. he/shetit wasn’t working yesterday You/welthey were working yesterday. You! we/they weren't working yesterday. (© Questions are formed by inverting the subject and the auniiary veto be. Short answers 10 ‘yestno questions repeat the auxiliary A: Was he working yesterday? B: Yes, he was./No, he wasn't. ‘A: Were they working yesterday? B: Yes, they were./NNo, they weren't. E Past continuous: uses (© The past continuous s used to describe a situation in progress inthe past | was waiting in the departure lounge for more than two hours. (© There can be several situations in progress, happening atthe same time: ‘The ely 1970s us atime when IBM was beginning to lse ts way and many sie peple were leaving to setup ter oun businesses, Computing was entering a new age, (The Times website) ‘© The pest continuous i used to give information about the background situation. The separate, completed actions that happen during or aftr ths period are inthe past simple “Teame in 10 Onele as te was recovering fom ihe reson ofthe early 1990s.The business unit T Joined had on ageing product line that was dectining by 30 per ens a yar in sales Within a year ‘we completely turmed tha unit sound.” (Burobsiness website) tf we do not mention the background situation then the separate actions are inthe past simple in the normal way When | arrived | registered at reception and went straight tothe conference hal F Past continuous: time expressions (© We can use when, while or as with the past continuous to mean ‘during the time that something was happening’ White Plarmer and Dicimar Hopp were developing the fist rel-time onder processing system at SA. Clas Wellenreuther was writing the financial sofware, (Eunobusiness website) But if we mean ‘atthe time that’ then we only use witen with the past simple: He wasn’t ven, happy when I told him the news. (NOT wileHole-hi J20. 3PASTTIME1 = Practice Exercise 1A Underline the correct words. 1 4 ‘A: Did you gat/act the email sent you yesterday? 8: Yes, thanks, | d/gor: How you feltidid you feel when they told/did tell you about moving offices? ‘A: Did you tel/told him about the change of plans? B: Yes, told. di | didnt see /d’t saw the reason forthe delay, so | got/ld get angry. Exercise 2A Complete the dialogue using the verbs from the list below in the past simple, There isa mibture of affirmative, negative and question forms. There is one negative question. ge take think sell ike have (x2) make (x2) be (xt) buy ate: Hill You (1). --t0 the Milan Fashion Show last week, dit you? @ 00d trip? juss Yes ie was great pas (3) any useful contac? jus Well, there (4) loads of people at the show and I (8) Alot of good contacts but we (6) nr nearly ab many onder as hist yeas. tbs: Ob, hy Was tha? (%) mmm MEY ans OME NEW syle5? sus No, m0, tht (8) -nor----en the problem. The shoes (9). really well but we (10) so succesful with some of our other products, lke handbags, for example, and thee (11) enensnsnnae mach more competition this year. bate. Who from? sui; Well, the Paul Smith stand was rally busy. ‘pa: Oh, but his clothes are expensive ... Um, (12) ~~ people atthe show cour prices were C00 high? sts Possibly. But We (13) cncmnnns mnnennnnnn He authority t0 lower them atthe time. bate: Ob, what a shame, So it was a waste ofa trp then? jue Well,not exactly 1 (14) so this grea pat of Prada shoes and this Gucci handbag Exercise 3 Bl) Undetine the best continuation of the conversations. 1 ‘A: What was she doing this morning? B: She interviewed! was interviewing candidates for the sales job.BPASTTIME1 27 Exercise 4 /Al (GBs cen are anece ens typed We ana te pe ea he a allie ope. Vivendi: 150 years of history vendi, the French utilities and ‘In the 19606 and 19705 the company He (3). (sell) $5 billion in communleations group, has a Tong (6)------un (begin) activitesin thearea 3836s and (19) nsnmnnn (eat) the history going back to 2853. tn that year the of evil construction and (1) workforceby 10%. All this (5). Government (1) .SCRA8GG... (create) (build) a Iarge tower block in the (mean) that an annual loss of $600 million Compagnie Generale des Faux. The La Defense business distlt of Pais, a8) (arn) into a profit of 820 founders (@) (have) two ‘During the 1980s Generale des Eaux million. In 1995 he (17) objectives: to irrigate the countryside for (8) wmnunane Gola) with the Havas (change) the name ofthe group to Vivendi farming and to supply wate Wo fownsand media group to create Canal Plus, a pay and soon after (18) women (anake) a ‘ities in France TV channel. They also ©) series of partnerships and acquisitions in In 1880 a treaty ©). ce (give) (ake) & controlling stake in the civil the telecommunications industry. Generale des Eaux the sight to supply engineering giant, SGE. In the 1990 they Operations in North America water to Venice, and then Constantinople (0) nsenenwn (Win) major contracts iM (19) nus (grow) very quickly after and Oporto. ne (come) soon the Asta Pacific region and in Latin this and in 2000 Vivendi (2) nen after, By the time of the centenary America (hay) Seagram 9 become a truly celebrations in 1958 Generale des Eaux Jean-Marie Messier (1). international media and communications o (Gupply) water to eight (become) CEO in 1996 and 12. million people in France. (an) the company along American Tines. ‘company Exercise 5 BIE) ‘Complete the sentences by putting the verbs in brackets into either the past simple or past continuous. Sometimes the same tense i used twice; sometimes efferent tenses are used. 1 What ..i6. yO. 26... (@2 When YOU ooo WEE nn (90) 10 Pris? 2 While! was. negotiating. (negotiate) the contract, my boss... PMANEAL..... (phone) me to say that he wanted completly cfferent conditions 3 The last ime something lke this press conference immediately 4 Anne. sn (@xpai) er proposal when PESO ono Goterupt her 5 Wenever got the chance to inteniew him. While we (vestigate) the incident, he (happen), she (ala eee©. time 2 A Past perfect: form See appendix2 @ The past perfect is forred with the auxllary had and the past participle. In speech and informal tees pices eegar ses tng had ig contracted 1,‘ ‘had (') already decided wat to do before he called me. © Negatives are formed with not and contractions are used (hadh’d. Questions are formed by inverting the subject and had. At that time I stil hadn't decidled what to do. Had you already decided what t0 do before he called you? B Past perfect: uses © The past perfect is used to show clearly that one past event happened before another past event. We use the past perfect forthe earlier event: On the New York Stock Exchange the Nasdag Index had opened higher, bu ell back to 1,578 ih rmoming trading. (Yahoo News Service website) ‘Compare these examples which describe exacty the same situation 1 Sue left at 2 pm. We arrived at her office at 2.30. (both vers in past simple) 2 When we arrived at Sue's office, she had left. _(ealer action in past perfect) In example 1 the two actions are separate in the rind of the speaker In example 2 there is @ stronger connection between the two actions and the past perfect emphasises which happened fist. © it may not be necessary to use the past perfect if we use before or after to make the time clear. ‘We can use the past simple for both actions. ‘Sue left/had left her offce before we arrived. (both forms possible) We arrived at Sue's office after she left/had left. (both forms possible) Many speakers sill prefer to use the past perfect in tis case, to show a strong connection between the two events (© The past perfect soften used with verbs of thinking lke know realise, remember be sure, think David knew he'd seen her somewhere before, but he couldh’t remember where When 1 got to the office I realised Id left all my papers behind Ellen was sure they hadn't received the invoice, but she checked one more time, | thought we'd already chosen the name forthe new product! € Past perfect: time expressionsGPASTTIME2 23 _D Past perfect continuous: form (© The past perfect continuous is formed with the allay phrase had been and the ng form of ‘the main verb. Contractions are used. 1rd been working on the project for two months before they decided to cancel it {© Negatives are formed with had not been and the -ing form of the main verb ‘Questions are formed by inverting the sublect and haa. Thadl’t been sleeping wel 50 vias quite ted. Had you been working for a jong time on the project before they cancelled it? E Past perfect continuous: uses (© The past perfect continuous is used to describe a situation that was in progress Up toa certain point in the past. t often emphasises the duration of time Before he left IBM Plater had been putting together a sftsre package forthe UK-based chemical company ICI. He had been working on this project during 1971 and 1972. (Eurobusiness website) @ The past perfect and the past perfect continuous both look back from a point in the past. The past perfect looks back at an earlier event. The past perfect continuous looks back ata situation in progress. The economic situation was quite healthy. The central bank had lowered interest rates because inflation had been falling steadily for several years. F Used tolwould + infinitive (© Used to describes a habit or state in the past. There is no present form (for present habits we use the present simple) ‘Price dictates what motorists put into ther petrol tanks: Lots of people who used to have their Aoubts about diesel from biolegica sources are now regular uses, says Dieter Enders, who owns an independent filling station in southern Germany. (Frankfarcer Rundschau. websive) Used to normally suggests that the action or situation is no longer true and so makes a contrast with the present: used to work in marketing, (© but now I work in another area) He used to be really enthusiastic about his fob. (= but now he isn't) (© Note that used to is used for habits and repeated actions, not single events, |Twent to the Milan Fashion Show for the fst time last month. (NOT busedie-go) © With negatives and questions used to becomes use to, Did you use to work in marketing? | didn’t use to work in marketing. © Would is used in the same way as used ro, butit only describes repeated actions in the past, not states,24 4 PAST TIME 2 4 Practice Exercise 1A B Fi (unit) “Undetine the correct words. This exercise includes examples ofthe past perfect, used fo, the past simple and past continuous. 11 While | Jooked/uasloakina for my keys, | suddenly remembered | eft/had aft them at home. 2 Inthose days the unions used to/had used to go on strike whenever there was/was being a problem 3 After they were buying/had bought the company, they started/were stating to make a at of people redundant 4 Jack used to have/was having @ Mac, but then he used to change/changed to a PC. 5 asked about my package in reception, but they sid/were saying that till hat avd wasn't artving. 6 | was sure that | used to ock/had locked the door to my office lastnight, but it was/had been open tis morning 7. Vm sue that the winters used fo be/had been colder when | was a child. | remember that we used to wakk/were walking to school in the snow every winter. 8 | had gone/went back to the restaurant to look for my umbrella, but found / was fining that someone took had taken it When George saiv/nas seeing Diane atthe seminar, he knew/was knowing that he met/had met her Somewhere before 10 While | had/was having breakfast | looked/was looking at the financial pages to see the share prices Exercise 2 (A Bi (uniti3!) ‘Complete the sentences with the best form of the verb in brackets. In each sentence one verb will be in the ‘past simple (unit 3) and the other in the past perfect. 1 After she. had made... (make) a few notes, she Started, (start) writing the introduction to the Annual Report 2 Gaty se (be sure) that he (set) the alarm before leaving the office ee (call) my wife on my mobile because the meeting ....» aon (stl not finish. 4 Oncet = smn (PAK) 10 Hi ne sos (falls) there had been @ ‘misunderstanding. 5 after Jill = (Give) her first presentation, she . feel) much less nervous. 6 Before Edite : . (become) Michael Edward's personal asistant she \abeedy ween) in thie cornparey toi tvo yunAPASTTIME2 25 Exercise 3 |B (aniES! Dor ces is aay xine wb tacts eter hfs sie or pat parc. In one case only the past perfect can be used, in five cases only the past simple can be used and in sx eases both are possible. THE DANES SAY ‘NO’ ‘On 28 September 2000 the people of | to keeping the value of the krone stable | the USA and Japan (8) wcwmnon (OS) ‘Denmark (1)... (vote) “No’ to | eganst the German mark, and this policy | forced to intervene inthe foreign exchange joining the single European curency, the |) coro, All the min ple! partes, the | maintning stability and prosperity. Then | But the No” campaign (9) mun sone (be) NOFY successful in | markets to buy euros. bres anion, the employers andthe | th ero wae Isnched in Janey 199. | (bes) on mata ett, nn ceic media (2). "Yes' vote before the referendum. So why | the euro zone (6) @. (the Danes/ejet) the euro? | relatively well in economic tems. How (campaign) for s | the period afer the le the counties i (perform) [Let's look first at the economic | ever, by the time of the referendum the | integration would eventually lead to political background. For many years the Danish | euro (7) Gall) sigoiticantly | integration. They (12) ces (AD) 10 etal bk (4) sessnrmne(D8) Committed | against the dolar, and the central banks of | keep their independence and freedom. os Exercise 4 (Al Bi [initi3y Alan i taking about his fst job. Complete what he says with the best form ofthe verb in brackets. Choose between the pes simple (unit 2), past continuous (unit 3) or past perfect. INTERVIEWER: So, Akin, why did you quit your las job? ALAN: Well, at the time T (1) ...WA2..WOMKGiNg... (work) as.a financial officer for an International ‘Accountancy firm in London. I 2) (be) in the same company for three years, INTERVIEWER: How (3) (you /get) the job? ALAN: Just after 1 (4) ; (Ginish) university 1 (6) .. (go) to a job fair 1 still (6) sue (decide) what I wanted to do and 1 was interested to see what kind of jobs there (1) wuss (be) at the fair. While I (8) vs (00K) a information on one of the stands fora large international accountancy firm, someone © i (ive) me an application form to fill in. I thought this might be a good career opportunity for me as I (10) (aleeady /eake) some accountancy exams for my degree. So I (11) (complete) the form and (12) . (end) it off They (13) mmnnrnnnnnnnnnns (interview) me the following week and 1 got job: Ac first, (14) (feel) satisfied with the job, but as time went by, things (13) cronnrssssemnnne (Change) and I began to hate working there. INTERVIEWER: So what (16) . vss (GO) HONG? ALAN: Well, the situation was this: 1(17) 0. (work) fora person who was very: difficult, er... very demanding ...never satisfied. What's mote, my job (18)26 last and present 1 A Present perfect: form append 2 © The present perfects formed with the present tense ofthe ally verb have andthe past partcipe In speech and informal writing we use contraction (ve and‘) IIyou/ wel they have ('ve) gone. He/shel't has (3) gone © Negatives ar formed with not. ‘youl wel they have not (haven't) gone ‘He/she/it has net (hasn't) gone. {© Questions are formed by inverting the subject and the auxiary verb have. short answers to ‘resin questions repeat the auxiliary. A Mave they gone? A Has he gone? B: Yes, they have/No, they haven't ‘8: Yes, he has/No, he hasn't. Present perfect: uses © In general, we use the present perfect to talk about a present situation which is connected to the past. (© There may be a present situation that started in the past. ‘ve lived here for about ten years. ‘ve known Mary since we worked together in Spain. © There may be a series of actions that happened in our lfe up to now. {ve often been to Singapore I've seen 2 lot of changes around here © There may be a result in the present of a past event. Sorry, | think I've lost the file, ‘My computer has crashed. In this case we are explaining the current importance of the past event. When it happened is ‘not important and is not mentioned. C Present perfect: time expressions (© We use ever and never to ask and talk about our general life experience Have you ever spoken in front ofa large auolence? (in all your life up to now) I’ve never worked abroad, but next year! might be based in Pars. Ifthe answer to the question is Yes then we continue to give more information about the ‘specific events by using verbs in the paét simple.PAST AND PRESENT 1 27 Yet is used in questions and negatives, and suggests that something has nat happened, although we expect it to happen. Have you finished the report yet? Sor; | haven't finished the report yet. I'l try to finish it this afternoon. ‘Shares in the tv big telecoms stocks Colt and Fnergis continue to fall, Neither has yet managed 10 convince investors that they can provide services atmatve enough to cam a decent return. (Guardian website) © Weuse just to descrite something that happened a shor time ago. I’ve just spoken to him on the phone and he says he'll be here at 9.30 tomorrow. ‘© The present perfect is often used with time expressions that refer to unfinished time. in other \words the time period includes the present. Common expressions are this morning, today, this ‘month, 50 fat, up to mow, recenth, during/in the past month, over the last few years, etc The Russian Contal Bank aninowmced on Thursday that ts gold and curency reserves have increased in the past week by $300 million. (Delovoj Pererburg website) In the area of economic development, the Asia Pacific egion has suceeded in achieving mpd growth which has exceeded 72% annually during the past few years. (Asia Pacific Economic Review website) © Some time expressions can be used with the present perfect or the past simple, depending an when you are speaking Have you spoken to Sue this morning? (tis now 11 am: the morning has not finished) Did you speak to Sue this morning? (tis now 3 pm: the morning has finished) (© We use for and since with the present perfect to refer to periods of time. A: How Jong has Tom worked fiere? 8: He's worked here for three months / B: He's worked here since the beginning of May. See ite uit 40 For descrbes the lenath ofthe time period, Since describes the point when the te period started. “We have been in business for 37 years, so the Inert ui jut another wy of lean odes? says Lands Ends’ international vie president Som Taylor (CNBC: Business website) UPS becime a worldwide Olympics sponsor in 1994, and since then it has handled the Atlanta games int 1996 and the 1998 Japan winter games. (worldtradeonline magazine) (© Frequency adverbs that are used with the present simple can also be used with the present Seeunit perfect They've often given us good advice “Hollinger has always been interested in buying newspapers and we tond to lok at mst that come con to the markes, (Sunday Times website) D Been (to) and gone (to) ro We dA ie mats A AT SE OP a tele te pace periere28 5 PAST AND PRESENT 1 5 Practice Exercise 1/A (Complete the sentences by putting the verbs in brackets into a form of the present perfect. Use contractions where possible. 1 Are you sure it isn't working?...Hlave._ you. ti 2s 3. Luckily our customers 4 We Sn il eae ante 7 Unemployment 8 I'msorry, she's not here. She 9 Their shares. 10 Exercise 2 |B) (yousty) it? (never/see) such 2 boring presentation. : snus (not/eamplain) about the price rise. (aleady/spend) quite a lat of money on this project. (they/eply) to your last email? sane (NOR/get) the figures to hand ~ can | cal you back later? += (Go/up) by 2% since January. (justleave). fal) by 15% since the merger. (jourever/take) the Eurostar to Brussels? Look at the paired sentences below. Match each one with stuation a) or b) 1 Inflation has fallen by 1%. 2_ Inflation fell by 1%. 3 I think I've lost the file. Sony, ost the file rs Has Jane called this morning? Did Jane call this morning? 2) Two years ago it was 4%. Last year it was 3%. 1b)_Last month it was 4%. This month itis 3% a) Ican't find the file. | wonder where | put it? 1b) The fle has gone and ll never find it a) Jane promised to call this morning, ts 11 am. )_Jane promised to call this morning, It’s 2 pm. Sales have improved @)_Last year sales were poor. Ths year they are better. 'b)_Sales were poor inital. year later they were better. 5 6 7. Sales improved. 8 9 How long have you worked here? a) In 1999. 10_When did you start working here? [| __b)_ Since 1999. Exercise 3 (© ‘Complete the sentences with a suitable time expression from the list below. seeody yet 1 The goods will be with you soon. They've . 2 Wve ever never just for since always Ineaely... left our warehouse. hhad a great idea! Why don't we launch a new range of colours?SPAST AND PRESENT 1 29 Exercise 4A BIG Qo reas titre shout he perfomance ofthe Ford car company. Cirle he txt wth the ves am the lst below, using the present perfect. make fall launch be have cut withdrew spend take perform Ford: the road to recovery “Although Ford (0) eB onus wnt ASE... operating the Scorpio, which was not selling well. But Ford ‘Profits of this year, (8) wmnmnnnnnenns mon ‘the story in Europe (2) sinnienane wtannsnstsoe ORY ‘higher end of the market. Over the last few years it different, Its market share (3) encom 8) vninononinnens nostsisininnon & Ot of money buying brands from 12% six years ago to only 9% now. The truth is that ‘such as Jaguar, Aston Martin and Land Rover, and these rivals like Volkswagen and Renault (4) . - models have much higher profit margins. It mii reyes es ee a doe finn Se rr reblenuatlogimnyciedic halt tolen ica “Tigard yma ew hp enc (rina Ford ms Exercise 5 GD Read this email from Steve, the Purchasing Manager of a UK importer, who is in Poland on a business trip, Complete the email by choosing the correct alternative from A, 8, C or D below. ce oR OE? & — ica vane Sent 18 Nay a Sorry | haven't contacted you (1) uF. ‘week, but I've been very Busy. 19 (2) jn 10 Katowice in the south~ ‘west of Poland (3) 1 few days, and I've (4) retumed to my hotel in Warsaw, from where fm sending this _ email | visited several firms when | was in Katowice and one af them looks quite promising, Ive (5) seen their factory, and I've gat some product samples to show you. Unfortunately | haven't met the guy in charge (8) a... . He wasn't there — he's (7) back next week, 0, the fp has been quite successful (8) a Mave you (8)... been to Central Europe? Evoryihing is changing wary fast—F've (10) un. 89en 8 much bulling work going on. Anyway, W/emall you again later in the ‘week to et you knew what's happening Ropards, Stove vont Gdansk and should befast and present 2 A Past simple or present perfect? © The past simple is used to describe actions in 2 completed time perio. ‘The present perfect is used when the time period includes the present. This can be a situation ‘hich started inthe past and continues tobe true inthe present, life experience unt now, oF the present result of a past action ‘ved in Milan many years ago. (competed: now I live in another place) I've lived in Milan since 1998, (a situation that started in the past and continues in the present: | stil lve tere) I've lived in both Milan and Rome. (life experiance: the time when | ved in these cities is not mentioned and is not important) ‘ve spoken to my boss, and he's agreed. (oresent result of past action) see unit @ Time phrases used with the past simple refer to a particular point in the past: yesterday. fast ‘month, afew years ago, in 2002. see unit Time phrases used with the present perfect link the past to the present: this month, ever, never already, just, recently since Look at this example: Lojas Americana, «chain of discount stoves in Brazil, has had dius since the mi Although the sions generate enormous tf, profitability has been hard to achieve besause of kw average puncase pric Jn 1998 it began a rtonalisation eft I reduced the numberof warehouses and sold 23 supemarket stores to Canefor (France). (ebusinesforurn website) © The time word for refers to a petiod of time. it can be used with either tense ‘lived in Milan for four years when Iwas at university. (now | don't live there) have lived in Milan for four years. (stl ive there) © The choice of tense often depends on the situation and where our attention is We've won the contract! (recent news: the event is present in my mind) We won the contract. (telling a story: the event feals distant in my mind) B Present simple or present perfect? (© The present simple i used in two main ways: facts, and habits or states inthe present. The present perfect makes a connection beeen past and present, About two milion people live in Mil. (a fact) ive io Mien, (2 permanent state! aways lve there) ‘have fived in Milan fortwo years. (rive there two years ago and sil ve there now) C Present perfect continuous: formSPAST AND PRESENT 2 37 _D Present perfect continuous: uses (© The present perfect continuous describes an action or situation in progress from the past up to the present. “Tiade beween Slovenia andthe Urine has Been increasing steadily since 1992, wher it oalled just US$9 million. (Slovenia Business Week website) (© The present perfect continuous often emphasises the length of time of the action J've been trying to contact her all day. (© The action may be finished or continuing, we only know by the situation: {ve been waiting for an hour! Why are you so late? (the waiting is finished) ‘ve been waiting for an hour and he hasn't arrived yet. (\ will continue waiting) (© The present perfect continuous can be used for repeated actions: ‘ve been phoning her all morning, but she's always in a meeting, E Present perfect continuous: time expressions © Typical time expressions that are used with the present perfect continuous include: al day for ‘months, for ages, ately, recently, over the last few years since, for Foreign life insurers have been expanding their business in Japan by about 15% annually over the ‘past four years. (BusinessWeek website) F Present perfect or present perfect continuous? © Often there is very litle difference in meaning between the present perfect and present perfect continuous. ‘ve worked/been working here for tree years. © The choice of tense often depends on where our attention is. We use the present perfect if our attention ison the present resuit, I've written the report. (the finished report isin my mind) We use the present perfect continuous if our attention is onthe action in progress. Ive been writing the report. (the act of writing isin my mind) Inthe global economic growth of recent years new companies have been created at an astonishing rate. Companies whic have been operating for many years withou franchising are now exploring the possibilities, (worlderadeonline website) © iF we Give details of how many or how much we do not use a continuous form. {I"ve written three reports this week {ve done a lot of research on this company ‘The rechnology-heavy Nosdag index has been fling for thee weeks, and is now 34% lower than its Marl peak. Shares of companies announcing poor results have fallen by a third ora lf afer “profit warnings, (Washingron Post website)52. 6 PAST AND PRESENT 2 6 Practice Exercise 1 (A “Underline the correct words ‘Yesterday phoned I've phoned the bank about my overdraft. | work here/ have worked here since the end of last year. Your taxi has just arived ust arived \We'te enjoying our tip. We have made/ made a lot of useful contacts I've seen! save Hugh Hopper a few days ago ~ he sends his regards. We went? have been to an interesting seminar lst week, ‘Today has been/ vas realy busy ~ and it’ ony lunchtime! Today has been/ was really busy. I's 7 pm —'m going home. © 'matraid Patrizia fet/ has lef the office an hour ago, 10 Im afraid Patrizia isn't here she lft/has lef the office. Exercise 2 A Bl ‘Complete the sentences by putting the verbs in brackets into either the present simple, past simple or present perfect 1 The company is doing very well. Last year sales went Ue... (go up) by 15%, and so far this year they ... KAYE. 4ane. {go up} another 12%. 2 We svsnmane (0PEFate) all Over Latin America. Recently We. Get up) branches in Peru and Ecuador 3 Thi sennere (Ot OOK) lke the right block. Are you sure we (come) to the right address? 4 (you/see) my laptop? tm sure sv lave) it hee eat. 51 sn (ust/met) Andrew trom Sales. Ayourkniow) him? 61 _ (never /speak) to him, but on -esnen ($a) to his assistant on the phone yesterday, « (Wwotk) for WorldCom now =. nus (yourknow) WorldCom? (work) for WorldCom since last year, BE NOW I ninemsn (yourhear) of any vacancies? - (be) there for more than (want) to Exercise 3 6 D Fi (@ 10 ot ch rn Sy pn VSR ARE rw coco, So a wilt berth pret reer dnd tisatacio te raat Tom echens Uaceanracions wher paste 1. A: What's the matter? You look wortied! he ee ane a re i helGPAST AND PRESENT 2 33 Exercise 4 (P11 Complete this dialogue by putting the verbs in brackets into the correct form of the past simple or present perfect Use contractions where passe wicrows: Hi, Sue. (1) .... haven't, £€@n.... (not/see) you for ages! sue HEN6,D'm sorry.) enn svustuas (¢/e) in touch with anyone recenty @) sncosnnnnnnsnannn (06) Pell busy. victors: Oh, what have you been up to then? sve Well, you know I (4) = (leave) my job in January so that 1 6 (can) go freelance as a graphic designer? ‘eros: Yes, remember, you (6) (alk) a loc abou that lst year: How’ it going? sum Wellit (7) (be) a really difficult year so fi. (8) (never/do) anything like cis before .. its much hander work than 1 (9) (imagine). (10) (you /ever/‘be) self-employed? vicronus No, never, although I (11) (often /think) about it So, why has it been s« difficult? sue Well, atthe beginning I (12) (Gave) ewo or three good clients ~ and, you know, people that I (13) (Know) for many years, like"Tom Piere. ‘And since then I (14) smn (have) alot of interest from different companies, ‘but none of them (15) cow (become) regular customers victoria What about advertising in the specialist magazines? sue (16) (already /do) that. (17) vw (put) an advert in Design Monthly a couple of months ago, but I (18) somos (NOt/ get) any replies. wicrORIA: Ob, dear, Well, (19) cemsenninennmenons (put) Up a website with examples of your work? sur Yes, 120) {just/finish) it Would you mind having a quick look at it and tell me what you think of it? Exercise 5 (Ai Look at the graph and read the passage about technology stocks. Complete the text by putting the verbs in brackets into the correct form of the past simple or present perfect European investors (1) have, watched __. watch) US stock markels js ; nervously aver the last few months. The problems with US technology and Peco tomcdiidd RTs er ee share price at companies lke Intl, Apple atl Dell 8) on (rash) Over the summer all these giants (8) san (announce) lower than expected profits, and investors fear that demand for PCs in the highly developed US market (5) 0-0 nene-n-—vnws (peak). Now it’s the tum of "European stocks. On Monday stocks in companies like Germany's SAP and Finland’s Nokia (6) se ap SAE eTture 1 A WH © Weccan use will + the infinitive (without to) to refer to the future. Willis usually shortened in speech and informal writing to I The negative of willis won't. © We use wil to tlk about future events that we see as facts: In June we will bring out two new models [Next year II be 45. ‘The government will soon impose an obligation on all electricity supply companies to buy a spetied percentage oftheir power fom: renewable sources. (Guardian website) (© We use wilt talk about future belies: Lynch believes that globalisation and consolidation in she technolgy sector will erate «greater demand for large and powerful bourses. ‘Stack markets will have to cover a ot more market capitalisation and smaller markets will have less of « role’ says Lynch, (Observer website) © We can add perhaps/maybe or probably to make the belief less certain Tie first wave of jb losses resulting fom the mergers in German banking will probably be in the Gity of London, (BusinessWeek website) Notice that probably comes after wal but before won't: Hell probably aaree with you He probably won't agree with you. © We can use wil with an introductory phrase to give other meanings. For example, a personal ‘opinion ( think) or a hope (/ hone | think we'll probably open 2 subsidiary in Russia next year ‘hope he'll agree with you. See unit 11 @ Wilf can be used for instant decisions and thoughts that come into our head at the moment of ‘ speaking 1M wait for you outside HM phone you tomorrow | think 1 stop non. B Going to © We use the verb be + going to + the infinitive to make connection between the present and the future © We use going tg for plans and intentions. These are things we have already decided to do. T believe that Greenspan is going to lower rates. There are some signs of liquidity problems i te PRELIM ES ese oh meen ae alles Sire‘Seo unis 1 and 2 foc xher ues of the present eons 7RUTURE1 35 = © Present continuous (© We-can use the present continuous tense to talk about things we have arranged to doin the future. There is nearly always a time expression. ‘Ann fs leaving tomorrow morning. HSBC are moving to new premises next year ‘The arrangements are often social arrangements or appointments What are you doing on Tuesday afternoon? 1'm seeing Jack at two, and after that "'m meeting my bank manager D Will or going to? © Willis used for instant decisions. Going to is used for plans and intentions Compare: OK, Fknow wat to do. Ml eal Jane. (an instant decision) Do you have the information for Jane? I'm going to call her this afternoon. an intention) {© Wiis used for general beliefs, opinions, hopes and things the speaker sees as facts 1'm sure they'l like the new design. Inthe future, more people will work from home. ‘© When willis used with a phrase lke ! think and/or words lke probably then the belief/opinion becomes less certain, like a prediction 1 think you'l lke this idea. The world will probably end in about five bilion years. But if there i strong evidence inthe present situation then going fois usually used for Predictions I think it's going to rain {can see black clouds) \Wie're going to make a loss on this project. (| have the figures infront of me) (© There are occasions when we can use either form: in my presentation 1 talk/t'm going to talk about three main areas. First Here the speaker could se it asa fat (ll or an intention (going to). © Willis more usual in writing, ‘and going to are more usual in speech. E Going to or present continuous? (© For future plans and arrangements there is often litle difference between going to and the present continuous. I'm going to giveit'm giving my presentation on Friday © Going to can suggest that the details of the arrangement have not been finalised. The present Continuous can suggest that the arrangement is more fixed, with a time and a place. {fm going to meet him next week. (usta plan ~ time and place are still unknown)36° 7 FUTURE ¥ Practice Exercise 1 BiG Match sentences 1-6 with ther uses a. 1 2 3 4 5 6 2) a future fact 4) a future plan or intention ') an opinion about the future _e) 2 prediction with evidence in the present situation © an instant decision 4) a future arrangement I'm going to ask my boss for a pay rise next week. 1'm sorry to hear that. I'l find out what the problem is right now. 1'm sorry, but | won't be here tomorrow. il be in Paris, 1'm meeting Angela for lunch. Do you want to join us? ‘Their share price will probably rise when the market recovers. |With so much competition its going to be difficult to increase sales. 1002 Ot Exercise 2 DEI P13 _Undortne the correct words in each mini-cialogue. ‘Are you free next Tuesday morning? Sorry, have/iim having a meeting with Sue. (Oh, right. Well, what about Thursday? What are your plans for next year? We'll open! We're going to open a new factory in Hungary. That sounds interesting, ‘What do you think about their new marketing campaign? | think ie probably succeed/it's prabably succeeding. Do you realy? : What about tomorrow at around five thirty? (OK, see you then./!'m seeing you then, A bye A; So as you can see, I'v been thinking about this problem quite alot 8: Yes, | see, So, what are you going to do?/what are you doing? A: Resign! A: It would be nice to see you next week. B: Yes, it would. Are you doing anything/ Will you do anything on Wednesday? A: No, I'm free Pee eereeEee Exercise 3 A BiG DE} Complete the sentences by puting the verbs in brackets into the most appropriate future form. ChooseFUTURE 1 37 Exercise 4 ABD (P14 Complete this ealogue by putting each of the verbs in brackets into the future. Choose between vil and {gong to. Sometimes either answer may be possible, but decide which form isthe most natural. Use contractions where possible. Please, come in, have a seat: Would you like a drink? Coffee? Mineral water? nec: Oh, T (1) have, (have) a coffee please. JOANNA Lucy’... could you make two coffees? (ighs) Well, thanks for coming this morning. [ we .- (tell) you why I asked you here. Um, as you know, there sane (be) some big changes in the company. In fact, we vvmnen (restructure) the whole department. cans: Yes, Eknow: When (8) ~~~ Gt/happen)? joanna. Everything (6) ‘ (be) finished by the summer. Um, the thing i, under the new structure your job (7) wn (probably disappear). arc Really? Is that certain? Joanna: Well, we (8)... (have) a meeting next week to finalise all the plans, and of course I (9) w= (let) you know what we decide. Anyway, you don't have to worry: GREG Oh? (coffee arrives) Joanna: Well, as I was saying, you don't have to worry. We (10) ... ~ (offer) you a new job:You (11) (have) more responsibilty, and the salary (12) sermsinnn (be) much better. cus That's wonderful, thank you very much, What exactly (13) oa (ihe new job/involve)? soawna Well, we (14) (expand) the whole customer services area, you accept the job, YOU (15) een coum (be) responsible for the new team. Um, I (16) enone ay Pere er ot ete ws you chink? nec: It sounds great, but 1 (17) essai (nced) a day or two to think about it. Joanna: Of course, no problem. Look, I (18) .... (not/be) in the office for the next few days —1 (19) nse (si) ou subsidiary in langary. Prshesss msnrnn (esa) an answer for me by next week? nec Yes, (21)... (give) you my decision on Monday. Exercise 5 (AIG Complete this email from a P& to her boss by puting te verbs in brackets into the future, Choose between val and the present continuous. Use contractions where posse (BRR ve vonnee Wl recat means uae. EIture 2 A Future: time expressions © We use the present simple or the present perfect (not will to refer to the future after these words: when, ater before, unless, in case, as soon as, until, by the time, the nent time: When I see her tel her you calle. Weill discuss it again after you get back. AAs soon as 've finished the report I emai to you You can wait here until she comes back Notice that a future form (wil, can) is used in the ather part of the sentence. 8 Present simple/continuous © We often use the present simple (or present continuous) when we talk about events in the {future based on a fixed timetable, programme or calendar: Jim's plane leaves (is leaving) at 12.15, Our boss retires (is retiring) next year € Future continuous (© The future continuous is formed with will+ be + the -ing form ofthe verb: (One thing that is clear is that more and larger Taiwanese companies will be investing in China and thatthe new goverment will allow them to, (Asiaweek website) (© The future continuous describes an activity in progress in the future ‘We often use it when we compare what we are doing now with what we will be doing in the future. There is nearly always 2 time expression ‘Next year I be working in our Sao Paulo office Where will you be working in six months time? © The future continuous is often used to say that something wil defintely happen: We'll be holding 3 meeting soon, so we can make a decision then. D Future perfect (© “The future perfect is formied with wil + have + past partie: By the time | retire, Il have been in banking for over thirty yeas. By the year 2020 the volume of goods produced by rational manufacturing workduide wil probably be at leas tice what iis today. But inthe US, the sare of manufacturing in GDR which is till amund 15% or so, will have shrunk 10 5%. (Industry Weck website) Ve ao ee cerns Sat rte din he ane is i ete eo eeSFUTURE2 39 _E Was going to © Was/were going to is not a future form. We use it to refer to something that we planned in the past but did not do: 1m sorry, | was going to phone you this morning, but (had to see one of our clients. = F Other ways to talk about the future © We often use modals and related verbs ike should, be likely to, could, may. might to refer to the future. See unit 13, © We use the verbs expect; hope, intend, would lke, plan, want followed by an infinitive (to do) tovrefer to the future: German automaker BMW is planning to build « production plant in Cental or Eastern Europe by the middle of 2001 ~ and the Czach Republic is hoping to get the comact. (praguepost website) "Notice the negative forms: Vexpect/hope | won't... We don’t intendplan want to. wouldn't like to © We can use the verb think followed by ‘it | think/don’t think I! change my Intemet Service Provider © We can use be due to for things that we expect to happen: Mr Witch, who hits GE mandatory retirement age of 65 next month, has built GE into America’s No.1 company in stok market valuation. Hl is due to mame the next chairman and chief executive of GE in the next few days. (Wall Street Journal Europe website) (© We can use be about to for things that wil (wll no) happen very soon: A look at the stock-market valuations of big software houses such as Cisco and One show that the pace of development in new technology is not about to slow, (Forbes.com website) Sve unit 14 @ In modes English Sha I/we ..? are used to make suggestions, not to refer to the future foemakiog 0g210°5.— Shall | qpen the window? ‘Shall we meet again next week? ‘Shall stil used for the future in formal situations, for example legal documents.40. 8 FUTURE2 8 Practice Exercise 1 Al Bi CD Ei) Undetine the corect words. ‘Tomorrow Fi interview be inteeviewing candidates all morning, ‘We will have moved/ wil be moving to our new premises in August We will have moved/wil be moving to our new premises by August \What time does your tran/wil your train leave? Don't forget to tur off the lights before you are leaving/you leave \We can't send the goods until we've reeived/we wil receive afr order. \We vill be repaying/ wil have repaid the bank loan by December. Unless they'e/they/l be more reasonable, we'll have to break off negotiations. 9. Iwas going to write/was writing to them, but | forgot. 10. hope will hope to be able to speak atthe press conference myself 11. Our visitors are due to arive/due ariving at 10.30. 12 hope 1 won't/! don’t hope Ibe late for the meeting, 13 | think | won't/l don‘ think be late for the meeting 14 When the contract is/wil be ready, I'l let you know. 15. Will wei shall we break for coffee now? 16 Soy, | can’t speak now, just have/'m just about to have a meeting. Exercise 2 Al 0) D) Complete each sentence 1-8, with an ending ah) Please take a seat until 2) you leave They won't accept our order unless 1) Dr ihalis ready to see you Helen wants to see you before ©) youll have let: ) we give a bank guarantee. ) have finished and we can tak. 4) ll ask her to phone you. 49) have just come back from Greece. fh) be ting on a beach in Greece, ‘You won't see Helen. By the time she arrives ‘As soon as Helen arrives | can't wait! This time next week I 7 have a suntan next time we meet! I 8 Sorry about this. In ¢ few moments I ODOOOOoHe] Exercise 3 A BIC) DI ‘Complete the sentences by puiting the verbs in brackets into the right tense. Choose between the present simple ( do, future continuous (il be dong) and future perfect (have done). 1. By the time all the papers are ready, the deadline ...¥ill, have...p#2@r.. (935s)SFUTURE2 41 Exercise 4A (CD ‘An economist has prepared a short report about his country next year. Read it; then choose the correct alternative from A, B, C or D below to complete the report 12 month economic forecast ame the Cena Bank (1) -S.. kexp interest ates low next yeat in onde to stimulate sconooic grove and 0 {We ) sn the economy to continue rowing at about 4%This means tha unemployment (3). most sectors ofthe economy next year Exchange rates are very ficult to predict, but the currency (8) wes remain sable, Some iaportnt event are (6) tke place inthe poical fed The president (6) .9eall elections ‘within the next twelve months and so bythe middle of next year the election amp (7) «The government (8)... om a platform of honesty nd competence, and it (9)... introduce reforms to the legal stern so tht judges can investigate the misuse of public funds more easly: When that (10) sn fmeenational ivestor confidence should increase rapidly. 1 Ais wanting to Bis liking to would tke to D due to 2 Apredict B expect C believe D hope 3 Awill be fallen B will been faling wil aling Dwil fll 4 Aprobably will B will probably probably is Dis probably 5 Aabout to B soon being D expecting 6 Adues to Bdue to Cis due to Dis duing to 7 Awillhave begun 8 willbe begun. Chas begun D will begin 8 Awill be fought B will be fighting will fighting will have fight, 9 A’splanning B planning to Cis planned to Dis planning to 10 Ahappening B will happen C happens D happen Exercise 5A DE ‘The Human Resources Manager ofa large company is explaining the appraisal system to a group of new employees. Complete his tlk by putting the verbs in brackets into the right tense. Choose between the present simple (do), future continuous ("be doing), future perfect ('! have done) and was gaing to. “Your appraisal interviews (1) (be) in March. Er, I'm sorry, they 2) ssn (oo) February bu we fd to postpone ter'Sony abut tat: Ui rng February your ne managers Chicora (collec all the information they need from you, and by the time you meet for the interview, they (4) (produce) a checklist of points for discussion, Right. Um, in the interview you (5) -= (discuss) your performance during the past year and ary issues relating to your future needs, e, such as training, By the end of the meeting | hope that you and your line managers (6) (agree) on your personal objectives for next year, both in terms of sales targets and professional development. is that clear? Yep, OK, good. Of course there isa assive 1 A Form @ To make the passive we use to be and a past participle: active Passive Intel produces millions of chips every year. \Milions of chips are produced every year ur Supplier is shipping the goods next week. The goods are being shipped next week. The government raised interest rates by 1%. Interest rates were raised ty 1%, He was asking me some difficult questions. I was being asked some dficult questions. They have chosen the nev design. The nevy design has been chosen. Rosa will give a press briefing tomorrow A press briefing will be given tomorrow We can arrange a loan within six days A loan can be arranged within si days. We may give you some new soles targets. You may be given some nev sales targets. © The object in the active sentence (millions of chigs/interest rates) moves to the front in the passive sentence and becomes the subject. © We form negatives and questions in the same way as in active sentences: The new design hasn't been chosen. Has the nev design been chosen? B Uses: focus on important information (© Inthe active sentences above the person or organisation who does the action Untel/The overnment/ Rosas important © In the passive sentences above the person or organisation who does the action is not mentioned. It might be: unimportant clear from the situation = unknown Instead, the important information is ether the actions ralsed/chosen) or the things affected by the action (Millions of chips/The goods/A press briefing) © study these examples: A very large proportion of world il production is generated in the Midile East. (Gulf Business Magazine website) Here the writer wants to emphasise the amount of oil Who did the action (generate is clear or not important ‘The North American Free Trade Area (NAFTA) was established it 1993 to link the United Stats, Canada and Mexico in a free trade agreement. (Latin Trade website) Here the writer wants to say when and why the action happened. Who did the actionPASSIVE <3 © Uses: systems and processes © We often use the passive to talk about systems, processes and procedures “The barley wed to male male whisky tas about seven months to grow in the fl Angst the barley ts harvested andthe lft wrest fora couple of months The wet step is ‘malting’ a ancient hemisy fil of tradition. I gives arch, warm flavour othe whisky and cuses the gran to produce stares, whi are converted 10 sigars at ¢ ltr sage ofthe process. The malted barley is nested for about thre weeks then gromnd nto flour and placed into Hnge vessels where its mixed with hot seater make 4 sor The wrt és cooled, shen ru into another vse. Flere, yeast is added, and the sta tured into spars, producing a clear liquid led ‘tne wash. 1 és dsitaion that tmns this wos ito whisky In distilling, the guid is heated uns the spt surns to wmpou, dhe condensed back into liquid, By low, Scotch whisky must be aged ioc baels for at least three years (Adapted fom Dewars Scotch Whisky website) See also unit 43. @ To show a sequence in a process we use words ike: Frsty/Fistof al, Then, The next step, Next, After that, Finally. First of all the finished products are checked for quality, them they are packed and sent out from our warehouse. After dispatch we alow customers to follow the progress of their order ‘on our Intranet, Finally, we geta digtal image ofthe signature of the person who receives the ‘goods, so that this can be checked later if necessary D Saying who does the action © In all the passive examples above the person or organisation that does the action is not mentioned, f we want to say who does the action then we use by ‘The goods are being shipped next week by our supplier in China. A press briefing willbe given tomorrow by our Information Officer, Rosa Mendoza. The factory is staffed by the local people who worked there before, but on a completely diferent Iasi, (Business News Americas website) E Transitive and intransitive verbs ‘see ako unit2s @ Verbs which usually take objects are called transitive verbs (eg: help) Verbs which do not usually ‘ake objects are called intransitive verbs (eg: look) A: Can |help you? 8B: No, m just looking. Dictionaries show this information with T orl. Some verbs can be both transitive and intansitive. Only transitive verbs can be made passive Raise (7) Interest cates were raised last month. possible Increase (71) Interest ates were increased last month. possible Go.up () Interest rates wasegone-up last month. rot possible9 Practice Exercise 1 Complete each sentence with @ passive verb, You may need 3 negative form. 1 Somebody damaged the goods in transit. The 90005 MB. Aged... tans 2 Thousands of people see this advert every day. This advert ~~~» by thousands of people every day. 3 They will not finish the project by the end of the month The project acd bby the end of the month, 4. They have closed fifty retal cutlets over the last year. Fifty retail outlets au Over the last year. 5 We are reviewing all of our IT systems. Allof our systems le {6 We cannot ship your order until we receive payment. Your order . «until we receive payment, Exercise 2 By Decide fit is necessary to say who does the action Its not necessary, cross it outfits necessary, put 8 tick (7). 1 don think your proposal willbe accepted by peopler The company was founded by the father of the present chairman. Al our machines are sence by highly trained technicians. This machine it working again! It was repated yesterday by a techician ‘The conference was opened by someone from the London Business School Ibe shown round the factory by someone, and then Ii meet the soles team, Exercise 3 BIBI El Revie these sentences using the passive if tis possible. You may need a negative form, If itis not possible {because the verb is intransitive) puta cross x. 1 Our R & D department have discovered a promising new drug. A..obensifing..new..drug has. been. discovered. by. our. Ra. denartment. 2 The inflation rate went down by 0.5% last month x 3. One of our best young designers created this line. 4. I'm sorry, we can't do thatPASSIVE 45 Exercise 4 BS ‘A marketing manager is writing @ training manual that explains how the company uses questionnaires to do ‘market research. Complete the text by putting the verbs from the list below into the present simple passive. design send back distribute offer put outsource analyse Fist, we carefully select a sample of people to ask. Then the questions (1) are. designed. by a small ‘team within the department. Next, the questions (2) .... into sequence and grouped ‘together by topic. After that, we print the questionnaire and it (3). to everyone in the sample. Of course, not all the forms (4)... a“ to us, but we try to collect as many as possible. Sometimes a small Gift (3) enn 10 eople who return te fers, a an incentive. Finaly we enter ll he results onto a spreadsheet, andthe information (6) by the marketing department. if we are wing a vr large sample the distribution and colton (7). .-t0.an external company. Exercise 5 lB Helen is starting her own business. Look atthe extract from her planning schedule, then complete her letter ‘to a business advice service. Choose either the present perfect passive (has/have been done), present continuous passive (is/are being done) or a modal passive form (eg: should be done), ‘Contact bank to arrange loan. “ Find office space. “ Equipment needed? Order if necessary. In progress Print business cards, stationery, et. In progress Decorate office, order furniture, etc Finish end of month Place advertisements in local press. ‘ Review staffing needs for Christmas period November Dear Siror Madam ‘Lam writing to arrange an interview with one of your business advisers to discuss my business start-up. TTve analysed the market very carefully and I believe that Ihave a good business plan I can give you a few details of my progress so far. ve had several meetings with my bank, and a loan (1) is. been. arranged (arrange) 've found some ‘office space in a good location, although some work 2). _(ill/ need) there before I ean move in. I've revieweel my equipment needs and in fact some specialised ites (3) (ore) at the moment. My business eards(4) (print) and will be ready in a week s0, This week I'm busy decorating the office, and I). (howld / nish) by the end of©. 2 __A Uses: linking to previous information © The choice of active or passive often depends on how we want to continue from the previous sentence: (asso Prattnefis one of Germany's best known businessmen |(H@)founded SA? in 1972 after ‘working for IBM. (active) (GABE 2 word leader in business software was founded by Hasso Patner in 1972 after he left IBM. (passive) B Uses: being formal/impersonal ‘© The passive is often used in business correspondence where the writer wants to be impersonal Compare: ‘acTve more personal We ordered twenty fiter units from you on the 16th March and the courier delivered them ‘yesterday. Unfortunately when we opened the package someone had damaged two of the Units: Our production department needs these items urgently passive more impersonal Twenty filter units were ordered from you on the 16th March and they were delivered yesterday. Unfortunately when the package was opened two of the units had been damaged. These items are needed urgently by our production department. © Passives are frequent in formal writing generally, eg: reports and legal documents. Other language in the text will also be formal Contact of Employment () Offer of employment. The offer may be expressed dirtly or it may be implied by conduc. It ‘must be communicated 19 the employee. The afer cam be withdrawn at any time befoe aceptanee. (Written Conditions. Afer the contract is made, every employee must be given a written statement of terms and conditions of employment. (Business Link website) See unit22 @ Passives are used in phrases with it to report what people said in a formal way: ft was stid/agreed that © Tryto find a balence between active and passive forms. Too many passive forms can make a letter or report dificult to understand, © Passive + infinitive © The verbs believe, expect, know, report, say think, suppose, understand are often used in the present simple passive followed by an infinitive (to do). This use is common in news recorte: