Good afternoon, I have applied for the CELTA course at my local college in Ireland. I have an interview on Friday morning and I have to complete a pre-interview task and bring it with me.
I was wondering if someone could correct my answers and give me some feedback. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
1. Write a sentence giving an example of each of the following tenses.
a) Present Simple: I like sunny days.
b) Present Continuous: He’s learning Japanese.
c) Present Perfect Simple: I’ve been to Australia.
d) Present Perfect Continuous: He’s been waiting for over two hours.
e) Past Simple: He went to Paris last week.
f) Past Perfect Simple: I’d just finished work.
g) Past Perfect Continuous: He’d been waiting for over two hours when he finally arrived.
h) Future Simple: I’ll meet you at the train station tomorrow.
i) Future Continuous: I’ll be cooking dinner when you arrive.
j) Future Perfect Simple: I will have finished by 10pm.
k) Past Simple Passive: The window was broken.
L) Present Perfect Simple Passive: She has recently been given money.
2. What would you say to a student who asked you the difference in meaning between these pairs of sentences? Identify the verb form and explain the difference in meaning.
a) He’s always combing his hair (Present Continuous)
He always combs his hair. (Present Simple)
The Difference in meaning is that the first sentence implies that he’s currently combing his hair at that time and has not finished. The second sentence is a general statement based on past observations.
b) She speaks Spanish. (Present Simple)
She’s speaking Spanish (Present Continuous)
The difference in meaning is that the first sentence is a general statement providing information; the second sentence implies that the person is currently speaking Spanish at that time and has not finished.
c) I had breakfast this morning. (Past Perfect)
I’ve had breakfast this morning. (Present Perfect)
???
d) She stopped to listen to the music.
She stopped listening to the music.
???
3. Look at the following words and decide which syllable carries the main stress. Mark the words accordingly.
a) Photographer Photographer
b) Photographic Photographic
c) Politics Politics
d) Advertisement Advertisement
e) Objective Objective
f) Advise Advise
g) Practical Practical
h) Investment Investment
i) Intoxication Intoxication
4. The Following Modal verbs perform a specific language function (e.g. giving advice, making complaints, asking for permission etc.) state the use of the modal verbs underlined in the following sentences.
a) You must stay at home. Necessity
You must have left it at home. Advice
You really must come round for a drink sometime. Strong recommendation
b) I’ll (I will) help you with the washing up. Voluntary Action
I’ll (I will) see you tomorrow. Prediction
I won’t tell anyone. Promise
c) He should be on the train by now. Expectation
You should take an aspirin. Advice
1. Write a sentence giving an example of each of the following tenses.
All good.
2. What would you say to a student who asked you the difference in meaning between these pairs of sentences? Identify the verb form and explain the difference in meaning.
a) He’s always combing his hair (Present Continuous)
He always combs his hair. (Present Simple)
The Difference in meaning is that the first sentence implies that he’s currently combing his hair at that time and has not finished. The second sentence is a general statement based on past observations.
Not quite. Here’s another example of that first structure: “What an annoying woman – she’s always asking for money”. What’s the meaning/use here?
For the second one, it could be based on past observation, but could it also be just describing a habit and its frequency?
b) She speaks Spanish. (Present Simple)
She’s speaking Spanish (Present Continuous)
The difference in meaning is that the first sentence is a general statement providing information; the second sentence implies that the person is currently speaking Spanish at that time and has not finished.
Okay, although I’d be careful about describing the first one as a “general statement” – it’s a bit vague for me. Something like “permanent situation” or, in some cases, “fact”, would probably be better.
c) I had breakfast this morning. (Past Perfect)
I’ve had breakfast this morning. (Present Perfect)
???
One of these has a connection to the present, one is a statement about a finished action, with no connection to the present. Ask yourself: which one could we imagine the speaker going on to say “…and so I’m not hungry now” (consequence in the present).
d) She stopped to listen to the music.
She stopped listening to the music.
???
Think about a situation in which you would say each of these sentences. (In one of them, she was doing something else first, and then she listened to the music. In the other, she was listening to the music and then she stopped.)
3. Look at the following words and decide which syllable carries the main stress. Mark the words accordingly.
Think about “advertisement”.
4. The Following Modal verbs perform a specific language function (e.g. giving advice, making complaints, asking for permission etc.) state the use of the modal verbs underlined in the following sentences.
a) You must stay at home. Necessity
Yes, but “obligation” is more commonly used.
You must have left it at home. Advice
Not quite. Think about a possible scenario:
– “Where’s my wallet, I can’t find it anywhere”.
– “You must have left it at home”.
What function does this perform?
You really must come round for a drink sometime. Strong recommendation
Okay, although I’d probably say strong suggestion.
b) I’ll (I will) help you with the washing up. Voluntary Action
I’ll (I will) see you tomorrow. Prediction
I won’t tell anyone. Promise
Okay. The first one you might describe as an offer as well. The second could also be a promise, depending on the context.
c) He should be on the train by now. Expectation
You should take an aspirin. Advice
Expectation is okay, although I’d say deduction I think.
Good luck!
Dan