Get Your Tenses Straight

• Main Author: Curtin, John B (Author)
• Format: Book
• Language: English
• Published: London Macmillan 1984; ©1984
• Subjects: English language > Tenses
• Online Access: Click Here to View Status and Holdings.
• Physical Description: 82 pages illustrations 25 cm
• ISBN: 0333370120

The basic aim of this book is to deepen the student's understanding of the English tense-system. To do this, the author has compiled a series of examples of the tenses in use, many of them being extracts of authentic English (as opposed to "classroom" or artificial English) and a series of "slot-filling" exercises, mostly based on information-transfer. Because the English used is authentic or "simulated-authentic". the vocabulary is quite wide. However, most of the verbs used are high-frequency ones, and the author-through extensive classroom testing of the materials-is convinced that the occasional "new"substantive is no stumbling-block. Moreover, the authentic nature of the texts so greatly enhances the student's motivation that it is better not to simplify them Each unit is self-contained, although sometimes reference is made to subject-matter in a previous unit. There is some variation in the level of difficulty between units. However, it should be borne in mind that this is not a "coursebook", "teaching the tenses" for the first time. It is therefore presupposed that a student starting to use this book will already have "met" the tenses concerned, and be in possession of a practical, basic vocabulary. The author encourages the student to feel that this is not a series of "tests", but a sincere attempt to encourage and support them to give them greater confidence in their understanding of the English tense-system and their ability to manipulate it-both in the classroom and in the real world.