Family News — Present Perfect (A2)

A2 · PRESENT PERFECT

Family News

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(you'll add this)

“This family is terrible at secrets.”

Present perfect · just, yet, already

Reading

Speaking

STAGE 1 · WARM-UP

Any news?

Good news travels fast! Ask two classmates:

“Any news?”

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(add your own)

Big or small — a new phone, a football result, a funny thing this morning.

Share the best piece of news with the class.

STAGE 2 · BEFORE YOU READ

A surprise party — tonight!

You are going to read a family group chat. It’s Saturday morning, and the family is planning a surprise party for Grandpa’s 80th birthday — tonight!

PREDICT

What jobs do people need to do before a surprise party? Think of three.

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Read the chat. Are your three jobs in the messages?

STAGE 3 · READING

Read once — find your three jobs

The Santos Family — Saturday, 9.02 a.m.

Mum: Party day! Grandpa still doesn’t know anything. How are the jobs going?

Carla: I’ve already made the cake! It’s in the fridge.

Tomás: I’ve bought the balloons and the banner. But I haven’t blown up the balloons yet — there are fifty!

Mum: Ask your sister. Rui — the music?

Rui: Done! I’ve just finished the playlist — three hours of Grandpa’s favourite songs.

Carla: Has anybody ordered the pizzas yet?

Mum: Not yet I’ll do it now. Tomás, have you spoken to the neighbours about the cars?

Tomás: Yes, I’ve already talked to Mr Silva. We can park at his house.

Mum: Big problem: Auntie Bea hasn’t arrived yet, and she has the present! Her train is late.

Rui: BREAKING NEWS: Grandpa has just called me. He wants to know why everybody is “acting strange”

Mum: WHAT DID YOU SAY?!

Rui: Relax! I’ve told him we’re all busy this weekend. He believed me… I think.

Carla: This family is terrible at secrets. See you at six. DON’T BE LATE.

STAGE 4 · COMPREHENSION

Done, or not done yet?

Mark each job: DONE if the family has already done it, or NOT YET.

party job

done / not yet

1 make the cake

2 blow up the balloons

3 finish the playlist

4 order the pizzas

5 talk to the neighbours

6 bring the present

Then: Why is Auntie Bea a “big problem”? Does Grandpa know about the party — how do you know?

STAGE 5 · TALK ABOUT IT

What do you think?

Discuss with a partner.

Do you like surprise parties — as a guest, and as the “surprise” person?

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Who in your family is terrible at keeping secrets?

STAGE 6 · GRAMMAR — NOTICE

Complete the chart

I / you / we / they

he / she / it

+

I’ve ________ the balloons.

Grandpa ________ just called me.

–

I ________ blown up the balloons yet.

Auntie Bea ________ arrived yet.

?

________ you spoken to the neighbours?

________ anybody ordered the pizzas yet?

STAGE 6 · GRAMMAR — THE RULE

just, yet or already?

Complete the rules with the correct word.

1 We use ______ in questions & negatives, at the END, to ask if something has happened or say it hasn’t.

2 We use ______ in positives, BEFORE the main verb, for something a very short time ago.

3 We use ______ in positives, BEFORE the main verb, for something earlier than expected.

STAGE 7 · THE RULES

Present perfect: have / has + past participle

I / you / we / they

he / she / it

+

I've finished.

She's finished.

–

They haven't finished.

He hasn't finished.

?

Have you finished?

Has he finished?

Yes, I have. / No, I haven't.

Yes, he has. / No, he hasn't.

Recent past connected to NOW: I've made the cake (= it’s ready now). Don’t say exactly when. Often for news. pp: make→made, buy→bought, speak→spoken.

STAGE 7 · THE RULES

just, yet, already

yet → questions & negatives, at the END

Has anybody ordered the pizzas yet? She hasn’t arrived yet.

just → positives, before the verb — a very short time ago

I’ve just finished the playlist.

already → positives, before the verb — earlier than expected

I’ve already made the cake.

STAGE 8 · PRACTICE

One hour before the party

Present perfect + just / yet / already. Example: Auntie Bea / arrive ( five minutes ago!) → Auntie Bea has just arrived.

1 Mum / order the pizzas (DONE — this afternoon)

4 the pizzas / arrive (NOT YET)

2 Tomás & Carla / blow up the balloons (NOT YET)

5 Grandpa / leave his house (DONE — right now!)

3 Rui / test the music (DONE — one minute ago!)

6 Carla / put the cake on the table (DONE — early today)

STAGE 8 · PRACTICE

Mini-dialogues

Complete with the present perfect. Use contractions.

1 A: ______ (do) you your homework yet?

B: Yes! I ______ (already / send) it.

2 A: Is Leo here?

B: No, he ______ (just / leave) . Two minutes ago!

3 A: ______ (your parents / see) your exam results yet?

B: Not yet…

4 A: Great news! My sister ______ (have) her baby!

B: Congratulations!

STAGE 9 · SPEAKING

Party headquarters

You and your partner are organizing the class party — it starts in two hours!

STEPS 1–2

STEP 3 — PHONE CALL

Together, write 8 jobs (food, music, decorations…). Then SECRETLY tick 4 jobs you have already done. Don’t show your partner!

A: Have you bought the drinks yet?

B: Yes, I’ve already bought them. / No, not yet — I’ll do it now!

STEP 4 — CHECK & REPORT

Look at your lists together. Is any job still not done? Is one job done twice?

Report: “We’re nearly ready, but nobody has ordered the food… and we’ve bought the balloons twice!”

TEACHER'S REFERENCE

Answer key

4 Done or not?

1 done 2 not yet 3 done 4 not yet 5 done 6 not yet

Questions: 1 She hasn’t arrived yet and she has the present. 2 No, but he suspects — he has just called Rui to ask why everybody is acting strange.

6a bought / has / haven’t / hasn’t / Have / Has

6b 1 yet 2 just 3 already

8a One hour before

1 Mum has already ordered the pizzas. 2 Tomás and Carla haven’t blown up the balloons yet. 3 Rui has just tested the music. 4 The pizzas haven’t arrived yet. 5 Grandpa has just left his house. 6 Carla has already put the cake on the table.

8b Mini-dialogues

1 Have you done / ’ve already sent 2 ’s just left 3 Have your parents seen 4 ’s had