Unit 5: Before

Unit 5:  Before

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: 

           We’ve studied this before.  Don’t you remember? 

           We’ve never used the computer lab before.

     Above, before means at an indefinite, unspecific time. It doesn't say exactly when, 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.

     Before he blew out the candles, he made a wish.

     or:  He made a wish before he blew out the candles.                                                               

3.   Contrast:             I’ve visited New York before. (I don’t say exactly when, but present perfect tells me at some indefinite time in my life.)

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

Exercise 1A.  Fill in the blanks with the correct verb form. Read everything before you write your answers!

1.   a.   We’re 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 you’ll come?

     b.  I would love to!  Thank you!

2.   a.   (you ever gamble*) ___________________________ before?   *赌博, jugar

     b.  Oh, yes. There was an Indian reservation (印第安保護區) with casinos (赌博娱乐场) not too far from my hometown. But I don’t know how much gambling I’ll do this weekend.  I’m a bit short on money.

3.   Before I (move) ______________________ here, I lived in a town that was close to a reservation.

4.   I withdrew some money from the ATM before I (leave) ____________________ for Las Vegas.

5.   a.   Excuse me, sir, could you show me how to do this? I (not ever use)                     

           ___________________ a slot machine* before. *老虎机, máquina de ranura

     b.  Sure.  You just insert your money here. Then, pull down on this lever*, like this. *a kind of long,

              thin handle, 杠杆, 把手, palanca

     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 can’t 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.                                                                                       

8.   a.   I don’t know what to order.  What about you?                                                

     b.  I don’t 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 didn’t come true. I didn’t win anything!

1. 've never been/haven't ever been

2. Have you ever gambled

3. moved

4. left

5. 've never used/haven't ever used

6. pulled down

7. 've never seen/haven't ever seen

8. 've never eaten/haven't ever eaten

9. put