9C GRAMMAR present perfect or past simple? (2)

a Complete the conversations with the present perfect or the past simple form of the verbs in brackets. 1 A How long have you played (play) the violin? B Since I was (be) four. I (love) music all my life. A Was it a difficult instrument to learn? B It (be) very hard when I (start). 2 A your brother (finish) university? B Yes, he (finish) three weeks ago. A What’s he going to do now? B He (not decide) yet. 3 A Where do your parents live? B In Brighton. They (live) there since last year. Before that they (live) in Birmingham. A Why they (leave) Birmingham? B Because my dad (retire), and they (want) to live near the sea. 4 A I (see) Oliver yesterday. He (tell) me about your plans to move to Australia. B Yes, I’m very excited...and a bit nervous too. A you ever (live) abroad before? B No, never. I (never be) very interested in travelling. A How about your wife? B Oh, Lily loves travelling! She (visit) lots of different countries. 5 A you (hear) about Andy and Francesca? B No. What? A They (separate). B Really? That’s a pity. I (think) they were very happy together. 6 A Is your brother married? B Yes, he (be) married for ages – about ten years. He (meet) his wife

b Practise the conversations with a partner. ACTIVATION

Complete the sentences with information about real people (either people you know or famous people). 1 and were married for about years. 2 and have been married since . 3 lived in for about years. 4 have / has lived in for about years.