9C GRAMMAR present perfect or simple past?
(2)
a Complete the conversations with the present perfect or the
simple past form of the verbs in parentheses.
1 A How long have you played (play) the violin?
B Since I was (be) four. I (love) music all my life.
A Was it a difficult instrument to learn?
B It (be) very hard when I (start).
2 A your brother (finish) college?
B Yes, he (finish) three weeks ago.
A What’s he going to do now?
B He (not decide) yet.
3 A Where do your parents live?
B In Miami. They (live) there since last year. Before that they (live) in
Atlanta.
A Why they (leave) Atlanta?
B Because my dad (retire), and they (want) to live near the beach.
4 A I (see) Oliver yesterday. He (tell) me about your plans to move to
Australia.
B Yes, I’m very excited...and a little nervous too.
A you ever (live) abroad before?
B No, never. I (never be) very interested in traveling.
A How about your wife?
B Oh, Lily loves traveling! She (visit) lots of different countries.
5 A you (hear) about Andy and Francesca?
B No. What?
A They (separate).
B Really? That’s a pity. I (think) they were very happy together.
6 A Is your brother married?
B Yes, he (be) married for ages – about ten years. He (meet) his
wife Sarah when they were both in high school. They (get) married when they
(be) only 18.
b Practice the conversations with a partner.
ACTIVATION
Complete the sentences with information about real people (either people you know or famous people).
1 and were married for about years.
2 and have been married since .
3 lived in for about years.
4 have / has lived in for about years.
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198 American English File third edition Teacher’s Guide Level 2 Photocopiable © Oxford University Press 2021
