Practice Makes Perfect™: English Conversation, Premium Third Edition

Retelling a conversation

Conversation A: In the present tense

MIKE: Hey dude, what’s up? I hear you have a new job. How’s it going?

ADAM: Pretty well, so far. I have a lot to learn, but the people are nice, and there’s not too much pressure.

MIKE: What do you do?

ADAM: Basically, I’m learning the ropes of management, studying the history of the company so I know how everything works.

MIKE: That’s great! I hope it all works out for you.

MIKE (retelling the conversation): I asked Adam what was up and told him that I heard he had a new job. I asked him how it was going. He told me that it was going pretty well, so far. He said that he had a lot to learn but that the people were nice and that there wasn’t too much pressure. Then I asked him what he did. He answered that basically he was learning the ropes of management and studying the history of the company so that he knew how everything worked. Then I told him that that was great and that I hoped it worked out for him.

Conversation B: In the present perfect tense

RENEE: Have you eaten yet?

EMILY: No, but I’ve already bought my lunch. Want to join me in the park?

RENEE: Thanks, but I’ve made a reservation for two at Kincaid’s Restaurant. Have you ever eaten there?

EMILY: Yes, I’ve been there several times. It’s great!

RENEE (retelling the conversation): I asked Emily if she had eaten yet, and she told me that she had already bought her lunch. She asked me if I wanted to join her in the park, but I told her that I had made a reservation for two at Kincaid’s Restaurant. Then I asked her if she had ever eaten there, and she told me yes, that she had been there several times. She said it was great.

Conversation C: In the past tense

JASON: Where were you last night? We missed you at the party.

GINA: Oh, I had to go to my sister’s house. They called her from the hospital at the last minute and asked her to work the night shift, so I went over to babysit for her kids. I ended up spending the night at her place.

JASON (retelling the conversation): I asked Gina where she had been the night before and told her that we had missed her at the party. She said that she had had to go to her sister’s house—that they had called her sister from the hospital at the last minute and had asked her to work the night shift, so she had gone over to babysit for her kids. She said she had ended up spending the night at her sister’s place.

Less formal:

JASON (retelling the conversation): I asked Gina where she was the night before and told her that we missed her at the party. She said that she had to go to her sister’s house—that they called her sister from the hospital at the last minute and asked her to work the night shift, so she went over to babysit for her kids. She said she ended up spending the night at her sister’s place.

Conversation D: In future tenses

BEN: Hi, Jeremy. What are you guys doing tonight? I’m kind of at a loose end since I broke up with Sydney.

JEREMY: Join us, then—we’re going to hang out downtown—probably go to several places. Are you up for that?

BEN: Definitely. Where should I meet you? Better still, can you give me a ride?

JEREMY: Glad to. I’ll pick you up at your place at 9:30. OK?

BEN: Perfect. I’ll look out for you.

BEN (retelling the conversation): I said hi to Jeremy and asked him what he and the other guys were doing that night. I told him that I had been kind of at a loose end ever since I broke up with Sydney. He told me to join them and said that they were going to hang out downtown—probably go to several places. He asked me if I was up for that. I said that I definitely was and asked him where I should meet them. Then I told him that it would be even better if he could give me a ride. He said he would be glad to and told me that he would pick me up at my place at 9:30. He asked me if that would be OK. I said that it would be perfect and that I would look out for him.

Improving your conversation

Using the present perfect tense

The present perfect tense is used to indicate experience that relates to the present time.

The present perfect tense is formed by a conjugation of the verb have followed by the past participle form of the main verb.

The past participle form of most verbs is the same form as the past tense form.

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However, many frequently used verbs have irregular past participle forms. Several examples follow. Check Appendix A for a complete list.

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Expressions often used with the present perfect tense include the following:

Already

Already means at some time in the past and can indicate that the action does not need to be repeated.

I’m not hungry. I’ve already eaten.

You don’t need to close the windows—we’ve already done it.

Already can be used in a question, indicating surprise that something has been done.

Have you finished high school already? (I can’t believe you are old enough!)

Yet

Yet can be used in a question to find out if something has been done.

Have you eaten yet?

Have you taken the test yet?

Not yet

Not yet is used to indicate that something has not been done—and that it should be done in the future.

We’re hungry. We haven’t eaten yet.

I’m not finished traveling. I haven’t been to Africa yet.

So far

So far means as of this date or time.

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Ever

Ever means at any time in the past or future. It is placed between the modal verb and the main verb.

Have you ever been in California?

I won’t ever do that again.

Ever can be used after never to emphasize its meaning.

He was never, ever, there.

Modal verbs

Modal verbs have past tense forms, as follows:

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Direct and indirect discourse

A retold conversation is also called indirect discourse. Verbs that indicate what someone communicates to another include say, tell, indicate, explain, shout, yell, complain, cry, whisper, promise, and others. There are certain patterns for indirect discourse.

Pattern 1: Present tense + any other tense

When the communicating verb is in the present tense, the second verb is in its normal tense. This indicates that the speaker continues to affirm belief in what follows.

Joe: I buy French bread and cheese every Sunday morning.

Joe says (that) he buys French bread and cheese every Sunday morning.

Joe: I have bought French bread every Sunday morning for five years.

Joe says (that) he has bought French bread every Sunday morning for five years.

Joe: I bought French bread last Sunday.

Joe says (that) he bought French bread last Sunday.

Joe: I will buy French bread next Sunday.

Joe says (that) he will buy French bread next Sunday.

Pattern 2: Past tense + a previous tense

When the communicating verb is in the past tense, the second verb is in a previous tense, as follows:

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present perfect → past perfect

Joe: I have bought French bread every Sunday morning for five years.

Joe said (that) he had bought French bread every Sunday morning for five years.

past → past perfect

Joe: I bought French bread last Sunday.

Joe said (that) he had bought French bread last Sunday.

future → conditional

Joe: I will buy French bread next Sunday.

Joe said (that) he would buy French bread next Sunday.

Indirect yes-or-no questions use pattern 2 plus the word if.

Maria: Are you going out?

Maria asked me if I was going out.

Ben: Have you bought the bread?

Ben asked if I had bought the bread.

Ben: Did you buy the wine?

Ben asked if I had bought the wine.

Ben: Will you bring the wine next Sunday?

Ben asked if I would bring the wine next Sunday.

Indirect information questions use pattern 2 plus the appropriate question word (who/when/where/why/what/how/etc.).

Alex: What time does the movie start?

Alex asked me what time the movie started.

Kevin: What have you done?

Kevin asked me what I had done.

Cathy: Where did they go?

Cathy asked her where they had gone.

Charles: How long will the surgery take?

Charles asked how long the surgery would take.

Dude

Dude is a very informal way to address a male friend.

Hey, dude—what’s up?

How’s it going?

How’s it going? is an informal greeting. It’s often answered with pretty well.

Hi, Ethan. How’s it going?

Pretty well, thanks. How are you?

At the last minute

At the last minute indicates that something happened immediately before it was too late.

The man picked up his tickets at the last minute—just before the show started.

Pressure

Pressure refers to the stress of responsibility people feel when too many things are expected of them at the same time.

It’s hard to ever relax. I have so much pressure at work—and with two small children, there’s pressure at home, too.

Learning the ropes

To be learning the ropes means to be getting acquainted with a new job or routine.

There’s a lot of pressure at first, but once you learn the ropes, you’ll be fine.

At a loose end

To be at a loose end means to temporarily not have anything to do or not know what to do.

Would you like me to paint your room? I’m at a bit of a loose end.

End up

To end up means to find one’s self doing something unplanned or in an unexpected situation.

I fell asleep on the train and ended up in New Jersey.

She worked here as a temporary secretary and ended up getting a full-time job with the company.

Babysit

To babysit means to take care of or look after someone else’s children.

She makes extra money babysitting on weekends.

Will you take care of the baby for a couple of hours?

I hope you can look after the kids while I go to the store.

Give someone a ride

To give someone a ride means to offer to take someone somewhere in your car or other vehicle.

I see you missed the bus. If you like, I’ll give you a ride home.

Pick up

To pick up means to go in a vehicle to where someone is waiting, for the purpose of giving him or her a ride.

I’ll be glad to give you a ride. I’ll pick you up in front of the school.

Circle the word or expression that best completes each of the following sentences.

1. You were here yesterday? Then you’ve seen the new office _________________!

a. already

b. yet

c. ever

d. so far

2. Have you _________________ eaten at M Zapp’s restaurant?

a. already

b. yet

c. ever

d. so far

3. No, I haven’t been there _________________.

a. already

b. yet

c. ever

d. so far

4. You have to take five tests? How many have you taken _________________?

a. already

b. yet

c. ever

d. so far

5. She has never, _________________, taken a bribe.

a. already

b. yet

c. ever

d. so far

6. My mom can’t wait to get here. She hasn’t seen the baby _________________.

a. already

b. yet

c. ever

d. so far

7. Don’t worry about the tickets. I’ve _________________ bought them.

a. already

b. yet

c. ever

d. so far

8. Tell me, have my packages arrived _________________?

a. already

b. yet

c. ever

d. so far

Fill in each blank with the present perfect form of the indicated verb and the adverb, if mentioned.

1. She _________________ (take) only half of her medicine.

2. I _________________ (read) that book twice.

3. You _________________ (finish, not) your dinner yet.

4. We _________________ (register, already) for the class.

5. So far, they _________________ (call) us four times.

6. He _________________ (be, never) in this house.

7. I _________________ (see, not) a good movie in a long time.

8. _________________ (you, do) your homework yet?

9. They _________________ (buy, already) a new car.

10. _________________ (she, go) to Florida yet?

Convert the following sentences from the present tense to the past tense, changing the wording where necessary for them to make sense.

1. Now he can run a mile in four minutes.

Last year ___________________________________________.

2. This year we can take an hour off for lunch.

Last year ___________________________________________.

3. It may rain this afternoon.

___________________________________________ last night, but I’m not sure.

4. He might have the flu.

___________________________________________ last week.

5. You should pay your bills on time.

___________________________________________ last month.

6. What should I say when I see him?

___________________________________________ yesterday?

7. We have to rearrange the furniture so the piano will fit.

___________________________________________

8. The children pick the wildflowers every spring.

___________________________________________

9. It must be nine o’clock now.

___________________________________________ then.

10. She’s leaving because she has to pick up her daughter.

Change the following direct quotes to indirect discourse.

1. Scott: I’m leaving for the beach tomorrow.

Scott said ___________________________________________.

2. Eric: The train always arrives on time.

Eric said ___________________________________________.

3. Adam: We have already eaten lunch.

Adam said ___________________________________________.

4. Jack: The plane took off at 9:15.

Jack said ___________________________________________.

5. Val: We’ll be there in about five minutes.

Val said ___________________________________________.

Change the following questions from direct discourse to indirect discourse.

1. My neighbor: Do you have a shovel I can borrow?

My neighbor asked me ___________________________________________.

2. Jan: Will you help me with these packages?

Jan asked the man ___________________________________________.

3. Laura: What movie are you going to see?

Laura asked us ___________________________________________.

4. Thomas: Why did you call?

Thomas asked him ___________________________________________.

5. Renee: Who are you talking to?

Renee asked her ___________________________________________.

6. Mike: How far is it?

Mike asked ___________________________________________.

7. Jason: Do you speak English?

Jason asked him ___________________________________________.

8. Sydney: When will you come back?

Sydney asked me ___________________________________________.

9. April: Where do you go to school?

April asked her ___________________________________________.

10. Holly: Do you want me to help you?

Holly asked him ___________________________________________.

Fill in each blank with an appropriate word or expression explained in this chapter.

1. We were going to leave without him, but he arrived _________________, thank goodness.

2. This is our receptionist’s first day on the job, so she’s just _________________.

3. Listen, _________________, my car broke down, so I don’t think I can _________________ home this afternoon.

4. I had to leave that company because I was under too much _________________.

5. I was _________________, so I decided to call up my old friend and invite him over.

6. Hey, dude, _________________?

7. The kids are sick, so we won’t need you to _________________ tonight.

8. Every time I take on a new project, I _________________ doing it full-time.

Make a list of ten things that you do every day. Then write a sentence that tells which of these things you have already done. After that, write a sentence that tells which of these things you haven’t done yet. Ask an English-speaking friend to check your sentences.

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Listen to a conversation of eight to ten lines between two people, and write down exactly what they say. Then change the direct quotes to indirect discourse. If live conversations are too fast for you to write down, try copying a conversation from a television program that you can replay as needed. Ask an English-speaking friend to check your work.

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