Week 1 · Start Smart (revision) and the Unit 1 opener: finish a dialog about a weekend, read a short factual text for the main idea (reference only), tenses and word choice, a short paragraph, the Unit 1 aims · 3 lessons
3
Revising tenses and words, then the Unit 1 aims
English Preparatory 3 Term 1, Start Smart and Unit 1 opener: pp. 11–13
GoalChoose the right word, complete verb forms and write a short paragraph with the tenses from Start Smart, then read the aims of Unit 1.
New words
career · the job you do for many yearsyet · until now (in negatives and questions)just · a very short time agoopposite · a word with the opposite meaningbetween · in the middle of two things or peopleaim · what you want to learn or do
Explanation
Many tests mix tenses and small words, so look for signals. The present simple goes with every day, usually, always: She walks to school every day. The past simple goes with finished times such as yesterday, last year, two days ago: We visited a farm last week. The present perfect (have or has + past participle) links the past with now: use just for a very short time ago (He has just left), yet in negatives and questions (I haven’t finished yet), since with a starting point (since Monday) and for with a length of time (for two years). For real possibilities use the first conditional: If + present simple, will + base verb: If it is hot, we will swim. Remember also: enjoy and be good at are followed by -ing (I enjoy drawing; she is good at swimming), and a gap that already contains have or has needs only the participle. Unit 1 is about personal identity. You will read for details, talk about what makes people different, learn the present perfect in active and passive, and write a paragraph about values.
Signal
Tense
Example
every day, usually
present simple
He walks to school.
yesterday, last year, ago
past simple
We visited a farm last year.
just, yet, since + point, for + length
present perfect
She has just left. I haven’t finished yet.
If + present
will + base verb
If I study, I will pass.
Worked examples
Choose the right word: Reem plays the violin very ___ . (good / well). The answer is well, because it describes the verb plays.
Complete with the correct form: They ___ (live) in Mansoura since last summer. The answer is have lived. Since + a starting point needs the present perfect.
A person or a thing? After wants to be a we need a person: Nada wants to be a doctor (not a career). A career is the work a person does for many years; a doctor, a nurse and a teacher are the people.
Now you. Say one sentence with since and one with for about yourself.
Class activity
Paragraph builder. On paper write a paragraph of 60 to 80 words about a place you like in your town or village. Use four parts: what the place is, what you usually do there, what you did there last week, and what you are going to do there soon. Underline each verb tense in a different colour.
Practice
1
Choose: I enjoy ___ stories to my little brother. (read / reading / to read)
reading. After enjoy we use -ing.
2
Complete with the correct form: If it ___ (be) hot tomorrow, we will swim.
is. First conditional: if + present simple.
3
Complete with since or for: My cousin has lived in Tanta ___ five years.
for. Five years is a length of time.
4
Complete with the correct form: She has ___ (finish) her homework, so she can play now.
finished. The gap already has has, so only the past participle is needed.
5
Writing: write four sentences about a place you like. Use one present simple, one past simple, one going to and one since sentence.
For example: My favourite place is the library. Yesterday I read a book there. Next week I am going to join the reading club. I have loved it since I was nine.
