27 Dresses: Present Perfect

Romantic comedies are not my cup of tea, but they are wonderful sources of activities. 27 dresses is no exception. This scene is great for practicing the present perfect tense.

I. Talk to a partner:





1. Have you ever had insomnia? How often does it happen?





2. What do you do when you just can't sleep?





3. What makes you lose your sleep?





4. When you can't sleep, do you insist on trying to sleep or do you get up and do something else until you fall asleep?







II. Look at the activities below. Check the ones you usually do when you have a hard time to fall asleep.





1. ( ) read a magazine



2. ( ) read a book



3. ( ) use the computer



4. ( ) moisturize your hands with cream



5. ( ) work out



6. ( ) clean the stove



7. ( ) speak to yourself out loud



8. ( ) talk to your sister (or someone else)



9. ( ) dance



10. ( ) eat





III. Watch the movie segment and check what the main character has done during her insomnia.





IV. Now write sentence in the present perfect tense saying what she has (not) done during the whole night.





Ex:





1. She has read a magazine.



2. She hasn't read a book.





Answer key:



III. Don't check 2, 9, 10





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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - 27 DRESSES

Planet 51: Passive Voice with Present Perfect

This has been one of the animated movies that I have laughed most. Its humor is clever and extremely attractive to both adults and children. I strongly recommend it. I used this scene to practice the passive voice use with present perfect statements, because the astronaut day's hasn't ended yet, so we can contextualize the grammar point easily.













A. Watch the movie segment and check what has happened to the astronaut since he landed on Planet 51. Fill in the blanks with the present perfect tense of the given verbs. Decide if you will use affirmative or negative forms according to the segment.

1. The astronaut ______ (place) a flag on Planet 51.



2. A boy ______ (ask) him an autograph.



3. A strange pet _________ (attack) him.



4. The pet ______ (chase) him.



5. The astronaut ________ (scare) a boy and his mother at lunch time.



6. A boy on a bike _________ (run over) him.



7. He _________ (find) other humans.



8. He ________ (take off) his suit.





B. Now rewrite the sentences above using passive voice.



Ex: 1. A flag has been placed on Planet 51 (by the astronaut).





MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - PLANET 51



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Answer key:

A. 1. has placed / 2. has asked / 3. has attacked / 4. has chased / 5. has run over / 6. hasn't found / 7. hasn't taken off

B.

2. He has been asked for an autograph (by a boy).

3. He has been attacked by a strange pet.

4. He has been chased (by the pet).

5. He has been run over by a boy on a bike.

6. Other humans haven't been found.

7. His suit hasn't been taken off.

Burlesque: Simple Past x Present Perfect

I love Cher and this movie. Tho movie has great dancing and musicals. It is worth seeing, for sure. The opening scene is wonderful to contrast the use of the simple past and present perfect tenses.









I. Watch the movie segment and decide if the activities refer to to her past - finished actions - (PA) or if they are still in progress in her present days unfinished actions - (PR).






































1. ( ) Practice on the bar stage



2. ( ) Pack her bags



3. ( ) walk away from her hometown



4. ( ) buy a one-way ticket to Los Angeles



5. ( ) travel by bus to LA



6. ( ) look for auditions in LA



7. ( ) stay in a small hotel room



8. ( ) have a hard time with the auditions



9. ( ) be happier in LA than in her hometown





II. Rewrite the sentences below in either the simple past or present perfect tenses. Mind whether the actions are finished or unfinished to justify your choices.





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MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - BURLESQUE



Answer key: ITEMS 1 - 5 - PAST

                  ITEMS  6 - 9  - PRESENT





II.



When she lived in her hometown,





1. She practiced in a bar stage

2. She packed her bags

3. She walked away from her hometown

4. She bought a one-way ticket to LA

5. She traveled to LA by bus



 Now that she is in Los Angeles,





6. She has looked (has been looking) for auditions in LA

7. She has stayed in a small hotel in LA

8. She has had (has been having) a hard time with the auditions

9. She has been happier in LA than in her hometown