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26

Unit 26: It must be love
Present perfect and past simple

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Session 4

Have you ever fallen in love? In this session, Ben, Lara, Spike and Stephan talk about their experiences of love - good and bad. Then it's your turn to tell the world!

Sessions in this unit

12345

Session 4 score

0 / 8

  • 0 / 8
    Activity 1
  • 0 / 0
    Activity 2
  • 0 / 0
    Activity 3
  1. Activity 1
  2. Activity 2
  3. Activity 3

Activity 1

The first time

Have you ever fallen in love?

Here's a question: Have you ever fallen in love?

We recorded Ben*, Lara*, Spike* and Stephan* (not their real names) answering the question. While you listen, you'll hear them  use the present perfect tense to talk about life experiences: I have fallen in love so many times. And you'll hear them use the past simple tense to give details of where and when these expereinces happened: We actually met at school.

To do

Listen to Ben, Lara, Spike and Stephan and answer these questions:

  • Who has fallen in love many times?
  • Whose girlfriend had another boyfriend?
  • Who fell in love at school?
  • Who fell in love in another country?

Listen to the audio and complete the activity

Show transcript Hide transcript

Ben
Yeah I’ve fallen in love, once, at a place I used to work at. It was awful! I thought she really loved me – I didn’t know she was seeing someone else at the same time – a French guy! We were a great couple! I don’t know what happened. Anyway, I haven’t fallen in love again, and I hope I never do! It’s nothing but trouble!

Lara
I fell in love for the first time back in my country. I worked with him. We got on so well, we laughed and laughed. But then he got a job overseas. We lost contact, and I’ve always regretted that I didn’t tell him how I felt. When I came to this country I thought I might find him. That was fifteen years ago – I’m married now to someone else and have children, but I’ve never forgotten him.

Spike
Well yes, I have fallen in love. Just the once. We actually met at school. I really fancied her, and I asked her out. We had our first kiss at the sixth form prom. That was… 12 years ago now, and we’ve been happily married for six years.

Stephan
I’ve fallen in love so many times. The last time? She was a divorcee – brunette, very passionate. We had a great time for a few happy weeks. But then, what can I say? People are like seasons – they change. The fire died and we drifted apart. I haven’t seen her for six months. C’est la vie!

Did you hear the answers to the questions?

  • Who has fallen in love many times? Stephan
  • Whose girlfriend had another boyfriend? Ben
  • Who fell in love at school? Spike
  • Who fell in love in another country? Lara

To do

Let's look more closely at these love stories. Have a go at our True / False quiz.

Who's lucky in love?

8 Questions

How well did you understand the stories about falling in love? Do the quiz to find out! Decide if the sentences are true or false.

Congratulations you completed the Quiz
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:
x / y

Who's lucky in love?

8 Questions

How well did you understand the stories about falling in love? Do the quiz to find out! Decide if the sentences are true or false.

Congratulations you completed the Quiz
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:
x / y

Next

We've listened to four people talking about falling in love. In the next activity it's your turn! Are you lucky in love, or haven't you found the right person yet? Let us know.

Session Grammar

  • Present perfect and past simple
    We use the present perfect to talk about our experiences in the past. We don’t say when these happened because we are interested in the experience, not the time or date.

    I’ve seen all Tarantino’s films.

    If we say when an experience or event happened in the past, we use the past simple.

    I saw his new film last week.

     

View full grammar reference

Session Vocabulary

  • seeing
    (here) having a romantic relationship with

    regretted
    felt sorry about something you did (or didn't do)

    fancied
    (informal) was attracted to

    asked her out
    invited her to spend time with him as a way of starting a romantic relationship

    sixth form prom
    a school dance for 16-18-year-olds

    divorcee
    a woman who is not married anymore

    brunette
    a woman with dark brown hair

    passionate
    (here) with strong feelings of love

    drifted apart
    slowly became less close

    C’est la vie!
    (French) that’s life!

View full vocabulary reference

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