UNIT 5: B E F O R E Be careful! Sometimes before uses the perfect, and sometimes it uses the past: 1.

When before comes alone at the end of a sentence, it normally uses the perfect: Weve studied this before . Dont you remember? Weve never used the computer lab before . Above, before means at an indefinite, unspecific time. It doesn't say exactly when whe , but we understand since we began this class, or since we started studying English, or maybe in our whole lives. Contrast: We studied this two weeks ago. (a definite past time expression) 2. When you have before + subject + past tense verb, the rest of the sentence is usually in past tense.
Before

I started this job, I taught in Japan. or: I taught in Japan before I started this job. out the candles, he made a wish. or: He made a wish before he blew out the

Before he blew

candles. 3. Contrast: Ive visited New York before . (I dont say exactly when, but present perfect tells me at some indefinite time in my life.)
Before Exercise 1A.

I visited New York, I went to Washington, D.C. (at a definite time or moment)

1.

2.

3. 4. 5.

Fill in the blanks with the correct verb form. Read everything before you write your answers! a. Were going to Las Vegas this weekend. Would you like to come? b. Oh, how nice of you to offer! I (never be) ______________________ there before. a. So youll come? b. I would love to! Thank you! a. (you ever gamble*) ___________________________ before? * , jugar b. Oh, yes. There was an Indian reservation ( ) with casinos ( ) not too far from my hometown. But I dont know how much gambling Ill do this weekend. Im a bit short on money. Before I (move) ______________________ here, I lived in a town that was close to a reservation. I withdrew some money from the ATM before I (leave) ____________________ for Las Vegas. a. Excuse me, sir, could ould you show me how to do this? I (not ever use) the lever ___________________ a slot machine* before. * , mquina de ranura b. Sure. You just insert your money here. Then, pull down on this lever*, like this. *a kind of long,

thin handle,

a. Oh, O.K. Thanks. 6. Before she (pull down) ______________________ on the lever, she inserted a dollar. 7. a. This is going to be fun. I (never see) ______________________ a Las Vegas show. b. Me, neither. I cant wait to see the showgirls! But, you know, we have an hour before the show starts. How about if we get something to eat? a. That sounds like a good idea. a showgirl 8. a. I dont know what to order. What about you? b. I dont know. I (not ever eat) __________ ______________________ here before, either. Everything looks so good. Maybe we should ask the waiter what he recommends. a. That sounds like a good idea. 9. Before I (put) ______________________ my last dollar in, I made a wish, but it didnt come true. I didnt win anything!
Book4ClassSetAW07-2 Roland Trego revised 11/24/2013 4:51 PM

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