Rosa Starts Again — Review of Verb Forms (A2)

A2 · VERB FORMS REVIEW

Rosa Starts Again

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(you'll add this)

“My first day is on Monday.”

Review · past, present & future verb forms

Reading

Speaking

STAGE 1 · WARM-UP

The time machine

The teacher calls a time — you call out one TRUE sentence about your life then!

“Yesterday at 8 p.m.!” → I was watching a film!

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“Every Monday!” → I start work at nine.

(add your own)

“Right now!” → I’m wearing my pajamas.

“Next weekend!” → I’m visiting my aunt.

Keep going: ten years ago… in your whole life… tomorrow… in 2060…

STAGE 2 · BEFORE YOU READ

Something new at 60

You are going to read about Rosa, who is 60 — and about to do something most people do at 20.

PREDICT

What do you think it is? Guess with a partner.

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(add your own)

Read and check.

STAGE 3 · READING

Read once — what is Rosa doing?

“My first day is on Monday”

Rosa Almeida is 60. She gets up at six every morning, she swims twice a week, and she makes the best orange cake in her street. But next Monday, Rosa is doing something completely new: she’s starting university.

Rosa left school at 16. “It was 1982. My father lost his job that year, so I started work in a shoe factory. I was planning to study later — but ‘later’ never came. I got married, raised three children, and worked in that factory for thirty-one years.”

The dream never died. Two years ago, Rosa’s granddaughter was doing her homework when she asked: “Grandma, why didn’t YOU go to university?” Rosa didn’t have a good answer. “That evening, I couldn’t sleep. The next morning, I called the university.”

Since then, Rosa has passed the entrance exam, has visited the campus three times, and has bought a very large backpack. On Monday, she’s taking the 7.40 bus to her first history lecture. Is she nervous? “Terribly! But in four years, I’m going to walk across that stage with my degree — and my whole family is going to be there.”

STAGE 4 · COMPREHENSION

Correct the mistakes

Each sentence has ONE factual mistake. Find it and correct it.

1 Rosa swims once a week.

2 She left school at 16 because she wanted to work.

3 She worked in the factory for thirteen years.

4 Her daughter’s question started everything.

5 She has visited the campus twice.

6 On Monday she’s driving to her first lecture.

7 In four years, she’s going to travel around the world.

STAGE 5 · TALK ABOUT IT

What do you think?

Discuss with a partner.

“Later never came.” Is there something you always plan to do “later”?

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Rosa will study with people 40 years younger. A problem, an advantage — or both?

STAGE 6 · GRAMMAR — THE BIG MATCH

Seven forms, one text

Find one example in the text of each form.

use

form

always / usually happens

present simple

in progress at a past moment

past continuous

finished past (we know when)

past simple

recent, connected to now

present perfect

a fixed future arrangement

present continuous (future)

a future plan / intention

be going to

a prediction / opinion

will

Then: why “she HAS PASSED the exam” but “she STARTED work in 1982”? Explain in one sentence.

STAGE 7 · THE RULES

Review table

form

example

use

present simple

She swims twice a week.

routines; general truths

present continuous

She’s starting on Monday.

now / around now; future arrangements

past simple

She left school in 1982.

finished past (often with a time)

past continuous

She was doing homework when…

in progress at a past moment

present perfect

She has passed the exam.

recent past, no time; experiences

be going to

She’s going to walk the stage.

plans; predictions with evidence

will / won’t

They’ll get used to me.

predictions; decisions, offers, promises

STAGE 7 · THE RULES

Three classic traps

1 I’ve seen him yesterday. → I saw him yesterday. (time given → past simple)

2 I see my friend tonight. → I’m seeing my friend tonight. (arrangement)

3 What did you doing? → What were you doing? (was/were + -ing)

STAGE 8 · PRACTICE

Find & correct the mistake

One sentence is correct!

1 Rosa is usually getting up at six o’clock.

2 She has left school in 1982.

3 While she worked in the factory, she dreamed about studying.

4 Her granddaughter has already borrowed the backpack twice.

5 Look at those clouds — it will rain in a minute!

6 What time does your bus leave on Monday? I’ll come with you!

7 I think Rosa won’t will stop after one degree.

STAGE 8 · PRACTICE

Put the verbs in the best form

Last year, my uncle Berto ______ (make) a big decision while he ______ (drive) home from work: after twenty years, he ______ (want) a new life. Since then, he ______ (sell) his car, and now he ______ (learn) to sail. He ______ (practise) in the harbour every Saturday. Next month, he ______ (sail) to Ibiza with two friends — they’ve already booked the boat. My aunt thinks they ______ (be) back after three days, seasick. “Nonsense,” says Berto. “It ______ (be) the adventure of my life. And next year… I ______ (buy) my own boat!”

STAGE 9 · SPEAKING

The life map

STEP 1 — draw a line: PAST — NOW — FUTURE. Add:

• two past events (with a year!) • one “photo” moment (where you were, what you were doing)

• two things you’ve done (no dates!) • one routine + one thing happening around now

• one fixed arrangement • one plan • one prediction

STEPS 2–3 — interview & present

What’s this star in 2019? … What were you doing? … Have you really done that?! When did it happen? … What are you doing next month? … Do you think it’ll be difficult?

Present your PARTNER’s life map to the class in under a minute — past, present and future. Listeners fix any wrong form.

TEACHER'S REFERENCE

Answer key

4 Correct the mistakes

1 twice a week 2 because her father lost his job 3 thirty-one years 4 her granddaughter’s question 5 three times 6 she’s taking the bus 7 she’s going to walk across the stage with her degree

6b The exam result matters now and no time is given (present perfect); “in 1982” is a finished time, so past simple.

8a Correct the mistake

1 Rosa usually gets up at six. 2 She left school in 1982. 3 While she was working in the factory… 4 correct 5 …it’s going to rain. 6 also correct 7 I don’t think Rosa will stop after one degree.

8b Best form

1 made 2 was driving 3 wanted 4 has sold 5 is learning 6 practises 7 is sailing / is going to sail 8 will be / are going to be 9 will be / is going to be 10 ’m going to buy