Grammar Spotlight
The English Grammar Profile (EGP) is a sister resource to the English Vocabulary Profile, and has been put together by Anne O'Keeffe (Limerick University) and Geraldine Mark, the co-authors, along with Ron Carter and Mike McCarthy, of English Grammar Today (Cambridge University Press). Mark and O'Keeffe investigated the extensive data in the Cambridge Learner Corpus to establish when learners begin to get to grips with different linguistic structures.
A series of insights from their research will be posted on this page, each one putting the spotlight on an interesting aspect of learner grammar development. Please note that all of the learner examples come from the Cambridge Learner Corpus, a 55-million word electronic collection of written learner data. The examination and the candidate’s first language are given in brackets after each learner example.
See the latest Grammar Spotlight entry below. Scroll right down to the bottom of this page to browse through previous entries.
At the B1 level learners show increased confidence in using the present perfect simple with an increased range of adverbs in the normal mid position. A particularly frequent adverb used by A2 learners is just, which is used as they refer to a finished event or state in the recent past that has a present relevance.
I’ve just received your mail. (Cambridge English: Preliminary; French)
She is from California, but she has just moved to Italy. (Cambridge English: Preliminary; Italian)
I have just booked a table. (Cambridge English: Business Preliminary; French)
B1 level learners use the present perfect simple with already to emphasise that something is done, often before the expected time.
I’ve already planned the party, bought his present, and most important of all, I’ve already told everyone. (Cambridge English: Preliminary; Spanish - Latin American)
I have already bought a new arm-chair, yellow and comfortable. (Cambridge English: Preliminary; Swedish)
She has already won three gold medals at international tournaments. (Cambridge English: Preliminary; Italian)
Since also appears in learner work to talk about duration.
I have been here since August 2006. (Skills for Life: Entry 3; French)
Many things have changed since your last visit. (Cambridge English: Preliminary; German)
Such a long time has passed since the last time we met. (Cambridge English: Preliminary; Spanish - Latin American)
B1 level learners can use the present perfect simple to refer to a state or period of time which is unlimited or indefinite.
In spite of bad weather forecasts on TV, it has been a sunny, warm weekend. (Cambridge English: Preliminary; Spanish - European)
I’ve had a really nice week. (Cambridge English: Preliminary for Schools; Vietnamese)
It is a great movie. It has won a lot of prizes so I think it will be good to see it at the cinema. (Cambridge English: Preliminary; Farsi)
They can use the present perfect simple with a superlative adjective to talk about a unique experience.
This restaurant has the most delicious shrimps I have ever tasted. (Cambridge English: Preliminary; Spanish - Latin American)
That is the best game I’ve ever played. (Cambridge English: Preliminary for Schools; Hungarian)
At the top of that, you will see the most amazing view you have ever seen. (Cambridge English: Preliminary; Japanese)
B1 level learners are also able to use the negative question form. This is, however, a low frequency item.
Haven’t you seen it yet? (Cambridge English: Preliminary; Spanish - Latin American)
Haven’t your parents given you their advice? (Cambridge English: Preliminary; Spanish - European)
Tag questions, on the other hand, are more frequent at the B1 level.
You’ve passed your guitar exams, haven’t you? (Cambridge English: Preliminary; Greek)
So, you’ve bought some black trousers, have you? (Cambridge English: Preliminary; Spanish-Latin America)
It has been a long time since I last saw you, hasn’t it? (Cambridge English: Preliminary; Portuguese- Brazil)
So, at the B1 level, learners are using superlative adjectives and a wider range of adverbs with the present perfect simple. They are also able to form negative questions and tag questions. It is the negative form that will continue to be a focus of learner improvement as they progress through the CEFR levels.
