When we think we have done something wrong we apologise by saying
sorry. I’m sorry that we
made so much noise last night.
We also use sorry to show sympathy. I
was sorry to hear that you lost your job.
ANNE He’s missing. One reason I came to
Australia is to find him.
SARAH I’m
so sorry. Have you had any luck?
To reply to someone who has said sorry, we say, Don’t
mention it, Not at all or That’s
alright. I’m sorry my son broke your window. That’s alright. I’m
sure it was an accident.
Sorry about the mess. Don’t mention it.
I’m sorry about the trouble. Not at all.
SARAH I’m sorry about my brother.
ANNE Not
at all. You have a lovely family.
2. SHOWING CONCERN
Here are some of the phrases we use when we want to find why someone
is upset. What’s the
matter?
What’s wrong?
What’s the problem?
SARAH Anne!
What’s the matter?
3. PRESENT PERFECT
We use the present perfect tense to describe an action started in the
past that is still true. She has
worked hard. (She has worked hard in the past and works
hard now) I have lost
my keys. (the keys were lost in the past and are still lost)
Present perfect is made from the verb have and
the past participle of another verb.
We use have with plural nouns and has
with singular nouns. The frogs have
started croaking.
The frog has started croaking.
This is how have is used with pronouns. I have
she has
he has
it has
we have
they have
you have
Usually we shorten them like this. I’ve
she’s
he’s
it’s
we’ve
they’ve
you’ve
ANNE I’ve
hired a private investigator.
We also use the negative have not or haven't
to talk about something not being done in the past and still not being
done. I have not met
him.
I haven't met him.
ANNE There’s
something I haven’t told you.
4. PAST PARTICIPLE
The past participle of a verb is the one
we use with have / has andis
/ are.
It is usually the same as the regular past tense ending with 'ed',
such as worked or started.
I have worked hard.
She has started work.
Sometimes irregular verbs have past participles that are different to
the past tense.
For example, the past tense of see is saw,
but the past participle is seen. I
see you. (present) I
saw you yesterday. (past) I’ve
seen you many times. (past participle making a
present perfect tense)
ANNE I
haven’t seen him in two years.
5. AGREEING & DISAGREEING
Here are some phrases we use when we agree or disagree with what someone
has said.
Agree
Strongly
Agree
Not
Sure
Disagree
Definitely
I
think so
maybe
definitely
not
I’m
sure
I
guess so
possibly
I
don’t think so
I
suppose so
perhaps
SARAH I’m sure he’s alright. If something
bad had happened, you would have heard.
ANNE I
guess so. I suppose you’re right.
SARAH Goodness! Do you think he’ll find
him?
ANNE Perhaps.
I don’t know.
6. FOR, SINCE, AGO
These words are all used to talk about time.
For is used for a period of time that something
goes on. I’ve been working for
hours.
I’ll do the job for a year.
I fed his dog for a week.
Since is a specific time in the past. I haven’t seen you since
Monday.
I’ve been working since 10 o’clock.
The pipe has been leaking since yesterday.
ANNE It’s
been a long time since David last called.
Ago refers to a length of time before the
present. I saw you a week ago.
That happened a year ago.
It’s 10 o’clock. You were supposed to be here an hour ago,
at 9 o’clock.
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