MMG Language Training / Projects

Reporting on Work Progress

Present Perfect

1. (S) has / have just + Verb3 + (O)

 This action happened recently (not so long ago):

 Vedsouvanh has just spoken to Kerry about the booster pump.

 Khamla and Khamsouk have just come out from the WTSF.
 Lily has just gone out to the Maintenance building.
 VDC have just completed the job. I’d appreciate it if you could sign off on
the job.

2. (S) has / have + verb3 + (O) already*

 When you use ‘already’ in a sentence, use the present perfect tense:

 The guys have inspected the work area already. Would you mind double-
checking that they put all the tools away? (Asking for help / action)
 I have spoken to VDC regarding the tools list already. Let me contact
them again. (Offer help)
 Paul Bottril and Kerry have had a meeting about the booster pump
already. Unfortunately we’re still waiting for parts. (Giving bad news)

3. (S) hasn’t / haven’t + verb3 + (O) yet*

 When an action is not completed, use ‘yet’ with the present perfect tense
(negative)

 APS haven’t sent through their quotation yet. I’ll contact them again.
(future promise to take action)
 Kerry hasn’t gone on break yet. He has just stepped out of the office for
a beer. (See number 1 above)
 Saorot and Loun haven’t been out to the WTSF yet. They’re inspecting a
job in the plant. (Present continuous – the action is happening now/at
the moment)
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Actions in Progress (not completed)

Present Perfect Continuous

This action started in the past, continued up to now, and will continue into
the future  the action is not complete:

1. (S) has been / have been + verb-ing + (O) since + (time / date)

 Our guys have been working on the pipe line since September.
 Phonepaseuth has been talking to VDC since this morning.
 Kerry and Khamsouk have been inspecting the area since 07:00.
 I’ve been working at Sepon since 2014.

2. (S) has been / have been + verb-ing + (O) for + (duration of time)

 Khamlah has been working at Sepon for 10 years.

 We’ve been working on that project for about 2 months.
 Kerry has been chatting to Paul for approximately 20 minutes.
 APS have been welding for about 2 hours.

OR
Present Continuous

1. (S) is / am / are (not) + verb-ing + (O) at the moment

o I’m running some safety tests in the lab at the moment.

o The Predictive Maintenance team is installing a new grease line on
PU014. (at the moment)
o We aren’t working at the WTSF now. We’re fixing a pump in the plant.
o Lamphan is inspecting a job at Pox 2.
o We’re trying to install the part, but there have been too many Red
Alerts since 06:00. (Present perfect with ‘since’)

Past Simple
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The action is complete, and we know the time in the past

1. (S) + verb2 + (O) + [time]

 Khamla inspected the work area this morning.

 Craig’s team did a thermo test on the motor on nightshift. The bearings
are cracked. (describing damage)
 Phonepaseuth found that the gearbox is leaking. (describing damage)
 Kerry reported the hazard and reported it into the system.

2. (S) was / were + V-ing when (s) + verb2 + (O)

 An action was in progress when something else interrupted – the first

action is always longer (was/were + verb-ing), and the action that interrupted
is a shorter action (verb2).

*Tip: Use this structure to start a safety share in pre-start meetings:

 Kerry was driving on the Haul Road when a cow crossed the road in front
of him. We had a BBQ that night.
 We were working on the pump when 2 of the bolts worked loose.

 Safety share:
 Saorot was walking past the Maintenance building when he saw a
contractor working at height without wearing a harness. Saorot stopped
the job immediately. They had a meeting with the area supervisor and
discussed the dangers of working at heights. Saorot reported this into
the system as well. What’s the key learning?