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
