Celta Pre Interview Task

Question

Good afternoon, I have applied for the CELTA course at my local college in Ireland. I have an interview on Friday morning and I have to complete a pre-interview task and bring it with me.

I was wondering if someone could correct my answers and give me some feedback. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

1. Write a sentence giving an example of each of the following tenses.

a) Present Simple: [color=#FF0000]I like sunny days.[/color]
b) Present Continuous: [color=#FF0000]He's learning Japanese.[/color]
c) Present Perfect Simple: [color=#FF0000]I've been to Australia.[/color]
d) Present Perfect Continuous: [color=#FF0000]He's been waiting for over two hours.[/color]
e) Past Simple: [color=#FF0000]He went to Paris last week.[/color]
f) Past Perfect Simple: [color=#FF0000]I'd just finished work.[/color]
g) Past Perfect Continuous: [color=#FF0000]He'd been waiting for over two hours when he finally arrived.[/color]
h) Future Simple: [color=#FF0000]I'll meet you at the train station tomorrow.[/color]
i) Future Continuous: [color=#FF0000]I'll be cooking dinner when you arrive.[/color]
j) Future Perfect Simple:[color=#FF0000] I will have finished by 10pm.[/color]
k) Past Simple Passive: [color=#FF0000]The window was broken.[/color]
L) Present Perfect Simple Passive: [color=#FF0000]She has recently been given money.[/color]

2. What would you say to a student who asked you the difference in meaning between these pairs of sentences? Identify the [color=#FF0000]verb form[/color] and explain the [color=#FF0000]difference in meaning.
[/color]
a) He's always combing his hair [color=#FF0000](Present Continuous)[/color]
He always combs his hair. [color=#FF0000](Present Simple)[/color]

The Difference in meaning is that the first sentence implies that he's currently combing his hair at that time and has not finished. The second sentence is a general statement based on past observations.

b) She speaks Spanish. [color=#FF0000](Present Simple)[/color]
She's speaking Spanish [color=#FF0000] (Present Continuous)[/color]

The difference in meaning is that the first sentence is a general statement providing information; the second sentence implies that the person is currently speaking Spanish at that time and has not finished.

c) I had breakfast this morning. [color=#FF0000](Past Perfect)[/color]
I've had breakfast this morning. [color=#FF0000](Present Perfect)[/color]
[color=#FF0000]???[/color]

d) She stopped to listen to the music.
She stopped listening to the music.
[color=#FF0000]???[/color]

3. Look at the following words and decide which syllable carries the main stress. Mark the words accordingly.

a) Photographer [color=#FF0000]Photographer[/color]
b) Photographic [color=#FF0000]Photographic[/color]
c) Politics [color=#FF0000]Politics[/color]
d) Advertisement [color=#FF0000]Advertisement[/color]
e) Objective [color=#FF0000]Objective[/color]
f) Advise [color=#FF0000]Advise[/color]
g) Practical [color=#FF0000]Practical[/color]
h) Investment [color=#FF0000]Investment[/color]
i) Intoxication [color=#FF0000]Intoxication[/color]

4. The Following Modal verbs perform a specific language function (e.g. giving advice, making complaints, asking for permission etc.) state the use of the modal verbs underlined in the following sentences.

a) You must stay at home. [color=#FF0000]Necessity[/color]
You must have left it at home. [color=#FF0000]Advice[/color]
You really must come round for a drink sometime. [color=#FF0000]Strong recommendation[/color]

b) I'll (I will) help you with the washing up. [color=#FF0000]Voluntary Action[/color]
I'll (I will) see you tomorrow. [color=#FF0000]Prediction[/color]
I won't tell anyone. [color=#FF0000]Promise[/color]

c) He should be on the train by now. [color=#FF0000]Expectation[/color]
You should take an aspirin. [color=#FF0000]Advice[/color]

Yankee · Accepted Answer

Welcome to EnglishForward, Peroxwhygen.

I've added some comments (in blue).

1. Write a sentence giving an example of each of the following tenses.

a) Present Simple: I like sunny days.
b) Present Continuous: He's learning Japanese.
c) Present Perfect Simple: I've been to Australia.
d) Present Perfect Continuous: He's been waiting for over two hours.
e) Past Simple: He went to Paris last week.
f) Past Perfect Simple: I'd just finished work. I would add more to this sentence since the past perfect is generally used to establish the chronological order of two past events.
g) Past Perfect Continuous: He'd been waiting for over two hours when he finally arrived.
h) Future Simple: I'll meet you at the train station tomorrow.
i) Future Continuous: I'll be cooking dinner when you arrive.
j) Future Perfect Simple: I will have finished by 10pm.
k) Past Simple Passive: The window was broken. It can easily be argued that 'broken' is simply an adjective in this sentence.
L) Present Perfect Simple Passive: She has recently been given money.

2. What would you say to a student who asked you the difference in meaning between these pairs of sentences? Identify the verb form and explain the difference in meaning.

a) He's always combing his hair (Present Continuous)
He always combs his hair. (Present Simple)

The Difference in meaning is that ~~the first sentence implies that he's currently combing his hair at that time and has not finished~~. The second sentence is a general statement based on past observations.
The first one suggests that the speaker thinks 'he' combs his hair excessively often. 'He' may or may not be engaged in hair-combing at the moment. Using the present continuous with 'always' often indicates irritation.

The second one is a neutral, general statement of fact about something he does as a rule. Without additional context, it is not possible to say precisely what 'always' means, however. Perhaps he combs his hair but never brushes it, for example.

b) She speaks Spanish. (Present Simple)
She's speaking Spanish (Present Continuous)

The difference in meaning is that the first sentence is a general statement providing information; the second sentence implies that the person is currently speaking Spanish at that time and has not finished.
The first sentence also means that she has the ability to speak Spanish.

c) I had breakfast this morning. (Past Perfect)
I've had breakfast this morning. (Present Perfect)
???
The first is a simple statement about a past fact. It may or may not still be morning.
In the second sentence, it is probably still morning and the fact that breakfast has already been eaten has some sort of very direct relevance to or impact on the present. (Perhaps someone has just offered to buy you breakfast, for example.)

d) She stopped to listen to the music.
She stopped listening to the music.
???

In the first sentence, she stopped doing some other activity in order to listen to the music.
In the second sentence, she listened to the music for a while and then stopped.

3. Look at the following words and decide which syllable carries the main stress. Mark the words accordingly.

a) Photographer Photographer
b) Photographic Photographic
c) Politics Politics
d) Advertisement Advertisement
e) Objective Objective
f) Advise Advise
g) Practical Practical
h) Investment Investment
i) Intoxication Intoxication

4. The Following Modal verbs perform a specific language function (e.g. giving advice, making complaints, asking for permission etc.) state the use of the modal verbs underlined in the following sentences.

a) You must stay at home. Necessity
You must have left it at home. Advice states a logical conclusion (probability)
You really must come round for a drink sometime. Strong recommendation adds emphasis to the invitation

b) I'll (I will) help you with the washing up. Voluntary Action
I'll (I will) see you tomorrow. Prediction
I won't tell anyone. Promise

c) He should be on the train by now. Expectation
You should take an aspirin. Advice

Clive · Answer

Hi,
Welcome to the Forum.

d) Advertisement Advertisement

______________________

I lived in Ireland and England, many years ago, and now I live in Canada.

I've always said Advertisement, and the verb form as advertise.

Best wishes, Clive

Yankee · Answer

CliveI've always said Advertisement, and the verb form as advertise.

That's interesting, Clive. I was aware of the Advertisement pronunciation in the UK, but I wasn't aware of the advertise pronunciation. For the verb, I say advertise.
And I guess it should also be mentioned that in some parts of the US people say Advertisement rather than Advertisement.
Oh my goodness! What confusion!

Peroxwhygen · Answer

Thank you for the warm welcome to the forum, your comments are greatly appreciated. I like to hear other peoples thoughts on my work as it usually gives me alot to think about

Thanks again.

Anonymous · Answer

Each of the sentences contains a mistake. In each case:
a) underline the mistake
b) write the correct version
c) write in simple terms how you would make the correction clear
1. Have you been to Scotland?
a. Yes, I’ve been there last year.
2. How long are you living in Holland?
a. Since 1994.
3. If I will get the job, I will be able to buy a new house.
a. If I will get the job, I will be able to buy a new house.
4. How often are you wearing those shoes?
a. Oh, about twice a month.
5. Can you come tonight?
a. Sorry, I’ll go to have dinner with my mother.
6. I’m as happy as must be at the moment.

7. He was drinking coffee and left the cafe to catch his bus.
8. I am looking forward to see you next week.
9. Sorry I’m late I must post some letters.
10. By the end of this month, I will work for this firm for a year.

Clive · Answer

First, please try to post your answers, and we will check them for you.

Please say 'please' next time you ask people to help you.
Clive

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