B1 Lesson 15: Present Perfect & Past simple + Music 2

WARM UP

Think about music and the entertainment industry.

• Have you ever watched a famous music video many times?
• Do you know any talented musicians?
• What happens inside a music studio?
• Would you like to perform in front of a large audience?
• Do artists need to interact with fans online today? Why?

Answer in full sentences.

VOCABULARY – MUSIC INDUSTRY

• music video – videoclip musical
Example: I watched a new music video yesterday.

• musicians – músicos
Example: Many talented musicians performed at the festival.

• production – producción
Example: The film production took several months.

• sound technician – técnico de sonido
Example: The sound technician checked the microphones before the concert.

• studio – estudio
Example: The band recorded their album in a professional studio.

• perform – actuar
Example: The singer will perform live tonight.

• interact – interactuar
Example: Famous artists often interact with fans online.

• record company – compañía discográfica
Example: The band signed a contract with a large record company.

• sign up with – firmar con / unirse a
Example: The singer decided to sign up with an international label.

Say each word out loud.
Think about real artists and music companies.

GRAMMAR – PRESENT PERFECT vs PAST SIMPLE

We use the present perfect for:

• experiences
• actions connected to the present
• unfinished time periods

Structure:

• have / has + past participle

We use the past simple for:

• finished actions at a finished time in the past

Structure:

• past form of the verb

Present Perfect Examples

• I have watched that music video many times.
• They have worked in the same studio for years.
• Many musicians have performed there.
• She has signed up with a famous record company.

Past Simple Examples

• I watched the music video yesterday.
• The band performed in Madrid last year.
• The sound technician fixed the problem before the concert.
• They signed up with a small company in 2022.

Comparison

• I have seen that singer before.
(experience, no exact time)

• I saw that singer last summer.
(finished time)

• The band has recorded three albums.
(connection to the present)

• The band recorded their first album in London.
(finished action in the past)

More Examples

• Famous musicians have interacted with fans online for years.
• The singer performed live at the festival last weekend.
• The production team has improved the sound quality.
• The sound technician solved the problem during the concert.

DIALOGUE – TALKING ABOUT A BAND

Anna: Have you seen the band’s new music video?

Mark: Yes, I have watched it twice already.

Anna: Really? I watched it last night.

Mark: The production quality is incredible.

Anna: I agree. Have they signed up with a new record company?

Mark: Yes, they signed up with an international company last year.

Read again and practise.

SHORT ARTICLE

A new group of young musicians has become very popular recently. The band has released several successful songs online, and millions of people have watched their latest music video. They have recorded most of their songs in a modern studio with the help of an experienced sound technician. Last month, they performed live at a large music festival and interacted with thousands of fans after the show. A famous record company noticed their success and offered them a contract. The group officially signed up with the company two weeks ago, and now they are planning an international tour.

Read the article twice. Focus on the difference between the present perfect and the past simple.

LANGUAGE SUPPORT

Present perfect

• I have watched that music video before.
• They have worked in the studio for years.
• She has signed up with a famous record company.

Past simple

• We performed at the festival last year.
• The sound technician fixed the equipment yesterday.
• They recorded the song in London.

Full sentence model

• The band has become famous recently, but they performed in small clubs for years before that.

PERSONAL QUESTIONS

Answer in full sentences.

• Have you ever watched the same music video many times?
• What famous musicians have you listened to recently?
• Have you ever visited a recording studio?
• Would you like to perform on stage? Why or why not?
• Have artists changed the way they interact with fans? How?
• Have you ever seen live music production at a concert?
• What happened at the last concert you attended?
• Do you think every successful singer needs a record company today?
• Have any artists recently signed up with companies you know?
• What is the best live performance you have ever seen?

HOMEWORK (WRITE & RECORD)

Writing

Write 8 sentences:

• 4 sentences in the present perfect
• 4 sentences in the past simple

Use at least 8 vocabulary words from the lesson.

Recording

Read your sentences aloud clearly.
Focus on the pronunciation of past participles and past simple verbs.