Playing For Change is a movement created to inspire and connect the world through music. The idea for this project came from a common belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people.
Playing For Change was born in 2002 as a shared vision between co-founders, Mark Johnson and Whitney Kroenke, to hit the streets of America with a mobile recording studio and cameras in search of inspiration and the heartbeat of the people. This musical journey resulted in the award-winning documentary, “A Cinematic Discovery of Street Musicians.”
In 2005, Mark Johnson was walking in Santa Monica, California, when he heard the voice of Roger Ridley singing “Stand By Me.” Roger had so much soul and conviction in his voice, and Mark approached him about performing “Stand By Me” as a Song Around the World. Roger agreed, and when Mark returned with recording equipment and cameras he asked Roger, “With a voice like yours, why are you singing on the streets?” Roger replied, “Man I’m in the Joy business, I come out to be with the people.” Ever since that day the Playing For Change crew has traveled the world recording and filming musicians, creating Songs Around the World, and building a global family.
Creating Songs Around the World inspired us to unite many of the greatest musicians we met throughout our journey in the creation of the Playing For Change Band. These musicians come from many different countries and cultures, but through music they speak the same language. The PFC Band is now touring the world and spreading the message of love and hope to audiences everywhere.
The true measure of any movement is what it gives back to the people. We created the Playing For Change Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to building music and art schools for children around the world, and creating hope and inspiration for the future of our planet.
No matter who you are or where you come from, we are all united through music.
Join the Playing For Change Movement and together we will make the world a better place.
This dialogue focuses on asking questions about a business presentation with the present perfect and past simple tenses. Make sure you understand the the differences between these two tenses.
On a Business Trip - A Presentation
Betsy: Hi Brian, this is Betsy. How are you doing? Brian: I've just returned from the Head Office. The weather is great! Boston is a great city!
Betsy: Have you met Frank yet? Brian: No, I haven't seen him yet. We have a meeting at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning. We are going to meet then.
Betsy: Have you made your presentation yet? Brian: Yes, I made the presentation yesterday afternoon. I was very nervous, but everything went well.
Betsy: Has management given you any feedback yet? Brian: Yes, I've already met with the sales director. We met immediately after the meeting and he was impressed with our work.
Betsy: That's great Brian. Congratulations! Have you visited any museums yet? Brian: No, I'm afraid I haven't had any time yet. I hope to take a tour around town tomorrow.
Betsy: Well, I'm happy to hear that everything is going well. I'll talk to you soon. Brian: Thanks for calling Betsy. Bye.
We often use ever, never, just, already, and yet with the present perfect tense.
We use ever in interrogative sentences:
a. Have you ever been to the United States? b. Have you ever traveled by train? c. Have you ever failed a class?
We use never in affirmative sentences: but the meaning is negative.
a. I have never cheated in an exam. b. My son has never been to Moscow. c. My brother have never gone to London.
We use just to express a recently completed action.
a. The cat has just caught a bird. b. The guests have just arrived. c. I have just finished my homework.
We use already to express that something has happened sooner than expected.
a. Don't forget to bring your book! Oh, I have already brought it. b. The boys are going to pack, aren't they? No. They have already packed. c. Is Adam going to buy a new car? No, he isn't. He has already bought it.
We use yet in interrogative and negative sentences and it suggests a time later than expected.
a. Have you done your homework? No, I haven't done it yet b. Has your father seen your report? No, he hasn't seen it yet c. Have the visitors arrived? No, they haven't arrived yet.
- Actions that started in the past and continue in the present:
"I have worked as a teacher for ten years"
- Past actions that have a result in the present:
"She has lost her keys"
We use ALREADY to talk about an action that has been completed before we expected.
It is normally used inaffirmative sentences:
"We have already had lunch"
But it can also be used ininterrogative sentences such as:
"Has the class begun?"
Positionwithin the sentence:before the participle.
We use YETto talk about an action that hasn't been completed, but we expect it to happen. It is used in negative and interrogative sentences:
"Have they arrived yet?"
"She hasn't eaten anything .."
Positionwithin the sentence:at the end of the sentence.
We use JUSTto talk about actions that happenedRECENTLY.
"Dan and Kelly have had a baby girl" (it means the baby was born a few days ago)
Position: before the participle.
2. Change the following sentences into the negative. Pay attention to ALREADY and YET! Use the short forms of verbs (haven't/hasn't) and do not add a full stop at the end of the sentence.
a) My sister has already arrived home. .
b) Our neighbours have already cut the old tree. .
c) Alex has already finished his dinner. .
d) My parents have already decided to buy a new car. .
e) The teacher has already given the results of the last exam..
f) I have already bought all my Christmas presents. .
g) We have already washed the dishes. .
h) My cousin has already travelled to New York. .
i) Jane and Sara have already seen that film. .
j) She has already sent all the postcards..
3. Look at the pictures and complete:
a) The baker (already/bake) a lot of cakes, butter rolls and bread. In fact, he (just/make) a delicious apple pie.
b) My car broke down yesterday and I took it to the garage. I (just/be) there, but they (not/repair) it .
c) The taylor (not/finish) the suit .
d) The pirates (already/find) the treasure map, but they (not/find) the treasure .
4. Choose the correct option:
a) The children . They went with their teacher.
b) My mum . She was still preparing it five minutes ago.
c) I . He was quite nervous all the time.
d) Many people report UFO sightings, but I , so I think they don't exist.
Sometimes there are exceptions in spelling when adding -ed.
1) consonant after short,
stressed vowel at the end of the word
Double the consonant.
stop – stopped
swap - swapped
If the consonant is not stressed, we do not double it:
benefit - benefited (Here we stress the first 'e', not the 'i'.) In British
English we double one -l at the end of the word:
travel - travelled
2) one -e at the end of the
word add only d.
love – loved
save – saved
3) verbs ending in -y
verbs ending in 'y' preceded by a vowel (a, e, i, o, u): Add -ed.
Example:
I play - he played
verbs ending in 'y' preceded by a consonant: Change 'y' to 'i' Then add
-ed.
Example:
I hurry - he hurried
Pronunciation
of the ending -ed in the Simple Past
In the Simple Past we add
-ed to regular verbs. Be careful pronuncing the verbs: 1) verbs ending in -ed
preceded by a voiceless consonant [p, k, f, ʃ, ʧ, s, θ]
-> speak [t]. The -e is silent. Example:
I stop - I stopped [stɒpt]
2)
verbs ending in -ed preceded by a voiced consonant [b, g, v, ʒ, ʤ, z, ð, l, m, n] or
a vowel
-> speak [d].
The -e is silent. Example: I clean - I cleaned [kli:nd]
3) verbs ending in -ed
preceded by [t] or [d]
-> speak [ɪd].
The -e changes to [ɪ]. Example: I visit - I visited
[vɪzɪtɪd]
FORM OF THE SIMPLE PAST
Form the Simple Past:
- with regular verbs: infinitive + -ed - with irregular
verbs: use the 2nd column of the table of the
irregular verbs
Affirmative sentences:
Use the same form of the
verb every time regardless the subject.
regular verbs
irregular verbs
I played football.
I wentto the
supermarket.
Negative sentences:
Use the auxiliary did (Simple Past of do) every time regardless the
subject.
regular
verbs
irregular verbs
I did notplayfootball.
I did notgoto the supermarket.
NOTE: Short forms in negative sentences
in the Simple Past are used quite often.
regular verbs
irregular verbs
I didn't playfootball.
I didn't goto the supermarket.
Questions:
Use the auxiliary did (Simple Past of do) every time regardless the
subject.
regular verbs
irregular verbs
Didyou playfootball? DidI go to the supermarket?
SIMPLE PAST - USE
The Simple Past is used
to talk about actions or situations in the past. It is also called Past
Simple.
Have a look at the following examples:
1) action started and
finished in the past (single or repeated)
I visited
Berlin last week. Andrew watched TV yesterday.
2) series of completed
actions in the past
First I got up, then I had
breakfast.
SIMPLE PAST –
TIME EXPRESSIONS
These words tell you what
tense you have to use. For the Simple Past these are expressions of time in
the past.
yesterday
yesterday
morning/ afternoon/ evening/
last
Sunday /
last
week / weekend/ month/ year/
a month ago / a year ago / three months ago /
a) The children . They went with their teacher.
