1. Speculating.

Juan is late for a meeting. A colleague speculates about where he is.
Choose the best word to complete each sentence.

"Where's Juan?"

2. Speculating words.

Look at the different examples

He could be having a coffee. (could is a modal verb)
He's possibly having a coffee. (possibly is an adverb)
I imagine he's having a coffee. (imagine is a verb of cognition)

 

Drag the speculating words to the correct category.

3. Speculating.

Now put the words in the left column in the correct place in the sentence.

4. Speculating.

Rewrite the sentences using the word in brackets.

5. Making plans.

Listen to Maria talking to her husband, John, about her day.
Put the events in her diary into the correct order.

6. Making plans.

be + going to + infinitive

Today I'm going to visit two clients in Bristol.
Harold is going to give a presentation in the next meeting.

Use the phrases to complete Maria's plans for today.

7. Making plans.

Now complete these sentences about John's day, using the verbs in brackets.

8. Have you done that yet?

Maria's husband telephones Maria at lunchtime. Listen to the conversation. Are the sentences true or false?

Now listen again and read the transcript.

9. Finished actions with present results.

When John asks Maria if she has done the different things on her list, he uses the present perfect:

Have you spoken to Pietro and Gemma? (have  +  past participle)

We often use yet in questions and negative sentences in the present perfect:

I haven't sent the letter yet. (You know that I intend to.)
Has he read the email yet? (I know that he intends to.)

Now match these questions and answers.

10. Present perfect + yet.

Now, write sentences about Maria. For example:

speak to Gemma She hasn't spoken to Gemma yet.

11. I've just signed the contract.

We use just in the present perfect to emphasise that an action is very recent:

I've just signed the contract. (= a few minutes ago)

Choose the correct answer to the questions.

12. Speaking Tutorial 2.

Send your tutor an email suggesting a day and time for the speaking tutorial. Before you speak to your tutor, make notes on the points below. Your tutor will ask you about:

  • things you have just done at work
  • things you haven't done yet, but will do soon
  • your plans for this week
  • any meetings you have recently attended
  • the next meeting you will attend
  • any questions you have about the course.

Remember to use language you have studied in this section:

Speculating: could, might, probably, I think, ...
Making plans: going to
yet
just

Useful phrases for the speaking tutorial:
Hello, this is ....
Can I speak to ..., please?
Hello ..., this is .... I'm calling to do Speaking Tutorial 1 of the Meetings module.