1b.

Keep in touch
Second Lesson of Pre-intermediate English
Phrases related to communicaction Past Simple Used To
Jos Carlos Arellano Pardo

Reading: The Social Network Sites

Since their introduction, social network sites (SNSs) such as MySpace, Facebook, Cyworld, and Bebo have attracted millions of users, many of whom have integrated these sites into their daily practices. As of this writing, there are hundreds of SNSs, with various technological affordances, supporting a wide range of interests and practices. While their key technological features are fairly consistent, the cultures that emerge around SNSs are varied.

Reading: The Social Network Sites

Most sites support the maintenance of preexisting social networks, but others help strangers connect based on shared interests, political views, or activities. Some sites cater to diverse audiences, while others attract people based on common language or shared racial, sexual, religious, or nationality based identities. Sites also vary in the extent to which they incorporate new information and communication tools, such as mobile connectivity, blogging, and photo/video-sharing.

Reading: The Social Network Sites

In the past, people could play computer games with friends only when they were together. With SN sites, users can play online games with people that are next door or on the other side of the world. They can even play with virtual friends theyve never even met. And it seems it doesnt take time to make friends; it just takes a few clicks of the mouse. Its easy to keep in touch with friends online, and making virtual friends can be great fun. But when it comes to birthdays, real gifts are much better than virtual ones!

VOCABULARY: Phrases related to communication

1. I left university last year, but I try to keep in touch with people through e-mail.
Continue to communicate

5.

Im sorry I havent written to you I promise to drop you a line soon.

Send a short letter or note

2.

Give me a call when you get home, OK?

Phone someone

3.

I left a message for Dana, but she hasnt returned my call.

Phone someone because they phoned you

4.

Im not sure what my cousin is up to. Weve lost touch.

Stop communicating

Grammar

PAST SIMPLE

Grammar: Past Simple

FORM
[VERB+ed] or irregular verbs Examples: You called Debbie. Did you call Debbie? You did not call Debbie.

USE 1 Completed Action in the Past

Use the Simple Past to express the idea that an action started and finished at a specific time in the past. Sometimes, the speaker may not actually mention the specific time, but they do have one specific time in mind.

Grammar: Past Simple

Examples:

I saw a movie yesterday.

I didn't see a play yesterday. Last year, I traveled to Japan. Last year, I didn't travel to Korea. Did you have dinner last night? She washed her car. He didn't wash his car.

Afirmative sentence, Irregular verb

Negative sentence, present simple Afirmative sentence, verb + ed Negative sentence, present simple Question sentence, present simple Afirmative sentence, verb + ed Negative sentence, present simple

Grammar: Past Simple

USE 2 A Series of Completed Actions We use the Simple Past to list a series of completed actions in the past. These actions happen 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and so on. Examples: I finished work, walked to the beach, and found a nice place to swim. He arrived from the airport at 8:00, checked into the hotel at 9:00, and met the others at 10:00. Did you add flour, pour in the milk, and then add the eggs?

Grammar: Past Simple

USE 3 Duration in Past The Simple Past can be used with a duration which starts and stops in the past. A duration is a longer action often indicated by expressions such as: for two years, for five minutes, all day, all year, etc. Examples: I lived in Brazil for two years. Shauna studied Japanese for five years. They sat at the beach all day. They did not stay at the party the entire time. We talked on the phone for thirty minutes. A: How long did you wait for them? B: We waited for one hour.

Grammar: Past Simple

USE 4 Habits in the Past The Simple Past can also be used to describe a habit which stopped in the past. It can have the same meaning as "used to." To make it clear that we are talking about a habit, we often add expressions such as: always, often, usually, never, when I was a child, when I was younger, etc.

Examples: I studied French when I was a child. He played the violin. He didn't play the piano. Did you play a musical instrument when you were a kid? She worked at the movie theater after school. They never went to school, they always skipped class.

Grammar: Past Simple

USE 5 Past Generalizations Facts or Examples: She was shy as a child, but now she is very outgoing. He didn't like tomatoes before. Did you live in Texas when you were a kid? People paid much more to make cell phone calls in the past.

The Simple Past can also be used to describe past facts or generalizations which are no longer true. As in USE 4 above, this use of the Simple Past is quite similar to the expression "used to."

Grammar: Past Simple

ADVERB PLACEMENT The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc. Examples: You just called Debbie. Did you just call Debbie? ACTIVE / PASSIVE Examples: Tom repaired the car. ACTIVE The car was repaired by Tom. PASSIVE

Grammar: Past Simple

To Be
The verb "be" is also irregular in the Simple Past. Unlike other irregular verbs, there are two Simple Past forms: "was" and "were." It also has different question forms and negative forms. Always remember that you DO NOT use "did" with the verb "be" in the Simple Past.

Grammar

USED TO

Grammar: Used To
FORM
[used to + VERB] Example: I used to go to the beach every day. It is better not to use "used to" in questions or negative forms; however, this is sometimes done in informal spoken English. It is better to ask questions and create negative sentences using Simple Past. "Used to" expresses the idea that something was an old habit that stopped in the past. It indicates that something was often repeated in the past, but it is not usually done now.

USE 1 Habit in the Past

Affirmative Used to

Negative Didnt use to

Question Did use to?

Grammar: Used To
Examples: Jerry used to study English. Sam and Mary used to go to Mexico in the summer. I used to start work at 9 o'clock. Christine used to eat meat, but now she is a vegetarian. USE 2 Past Generalizations Facts and

"Used to" can also be used to talk about past facts or generalizations which are no longer true.

Grammar: Used To
Examples: I used to live in Paris. Sarah used to be fat, but now she is thin. George used to be the best student in class, but now Lena is the best. Oranges used to cost very little in Florida, but now they are quite expensive. "Used to" vs. Simple Past Both Simple Past and "Used to" can be used to describe past habits, past facts and past generalizations; however, "used to" is preferred when emphasizing these forms of past repetition in positive sentences. On the other hand, when asking questions or making negative sentences, Simple Past is preferred.

Grammar: Used To
Examples: You used to play the piano. Did you play the piano when you were young? You did not play the piano when you were young. ACTIVE / PASSIVE Examples: Jerry used to pay the bills. ACTIVE

The bills used to be paid by Jerry. PASSIVE