Welcome! We are glad to have you here.
In this lesson, you will explore and identify the use of the time prepositions for and since as well as the time adverbs already and yet to talk about the issue of Extreme Sports.
Extreme sports have changed the lives of some people around the world. This type of sports stimulates people's feelings when practising them. Some people are too scared of diving into a swimming pool or bungee jump, would you dare?
Observe the images below:
Reflection:
Think about all the EXTREME SPORTS you know.
How are they practised?
Do you need some special equipment to practice any of these sports?
Objective
By the end of this topic you will:
Use sentences in simple past and present perfect emphasising the use of the prepositions for and since, and the use of the time adverbs already and yet on the topic of “Extreme Sports”.
Hello!! Before we continue, look at the next webpage.
Hello, my name is Henry Donovan. I’m introducing myself in this section of my Travel Agency’s Website. To hear the information press the play button.
I’ve always been interested in sports, but lately, I’ve been more interested in “extreme sports”. I was born in Perth, Australia, and since I was a little boy, my parents decided to enrol me in soccer training. I was a good soccer player, but I told my parents I wanted to try other kinds of sports. So, I was in basketball for two years, and then I took swimming for a year. However, my mom was too scared to let us try water sports. By the time I was 17 I hadn’t even tried jet ski or sailing. One day we went to the Gold Coast for vacation, and there I took a surfing lesson. I’ve been in love with surfing since that day. I try to go to Rottnest Island during spring to practice.
Jcwinkler (2007) dsc_0021. [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, August 1 https://www.flickr.com/photos/51653562@N00/2113329900/sizes/l
While I was in high school I did a lot of rock climbing since my junior year. Then I went to The University of Queensland in Brisbane where I studied Business. In the city I saw a flyer of skydiving and I gave it a try. I spent all my free time during university combining surfing, climbing and skydiving. Since I started skydiving, I have met many tourists in Brisbane.
Dom (2004) Surf. [photo] Retrieved on 2017, August 1 https://www.flickr.com/photos/kremslot/2935225318/sizes/l
One day when I was ready to complete my 7th jump, I met Tamara, who hadn’t done any jump yet. I gave her some advice and helped her feel more relaxed. When we were already on the ground I asked her to go on a date and we have been together since then sharing the love for skydiving, too. This month, we’ve already completed five jumps. In fact, last month I got engaged to her.
Sherwood, M. (2008) Skydiving. [photo] Retrieved on 2017, August 1 https://www.flickr.com/photos/flawedartist/3634530256/sizes/l
My travel agency will be for those people who want to try extreme sports and enjoy beautiful landscapes at the same time. Australia offers both of these attractions and it has been ranked as one of the best destinations for a long time. To offer a better service, I had to visit many different destinations and try different extreme sports. I have already been water rafting, and paragliding. Also, I have shared some of these activities with Tamara. At the beginning of the year we were in Warrego for a week to try kite boogying and land sailing, There are other sports we practice together, but since we met, we have liked more the water sports such as surfing, wind surfing, kitesurfing or waterskiing, probably because it is in our Aussie blood.
After the wedding we will go to Mount Hotham for our honeymoon because neither Tamara nor I have tried snow sports yet. We will be there since August 1st, and we will stay for two full weeks. We’re already excited about all the new experiences that are yet to come.
Lemons, M. (2009) Rafting. [photo] Retrieved on 2017, August 1 https://www.flickr.com/photos/fritz_pj/3958179733/sizes/l
Valke, D. (2008) Paragliding. [photo] Retrieved on 2017, August 1 https://www.flickr.com/photos/dinesh_valke/2192176525/sizes/l
Could you identify some of the TIME ADVERBS and PREPOSITIONS?
What characteristics do you identify?
As you could see, there are different ways of using these adverbs and prepositions. We will explore adverbs first.
We use ALREADY and YET when actions are going to happen, or are expected to arrive, or were unexpected around the present time. Press the buttons to
When we talk about an action that happened sooner than we expected we use ALREADY. We use it in affirmative sentences in any present or past tense, never in future.
Jordan Romero had already climbed Mount Everest when he was 14.
Steve Fisher is a white water rafter who has already conquered Inga rapids in Congo, one of the fiercest rapids in the world.
When we want to express an action that hasn’t occurred but we expect to happen. We use it at the end in questions and negative sentences (in rare occasions in affirmatives) and it isn’t used in past tense.
Emily Batty has competed some times in the UCI Mountain Bike World Championship, but hasn’t won the first place yet.
Anna Gyarmati won the Junior World Snowboard Slopestyle Championship in 2011, but she hasn’t won any FIS World Cup yet.
Alobos Life (2010) Outdoors in the snow. [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, August 1 https://www.flickr.com/photos/armandolobos/4719655114/sizes/l
Let’s practice a little bit.
Now, let’s check on the prepositions For and Since.
We use the prepositions FOR and SINCE to express how long something has happened.
When we talk about a period, we use FOR
FOR + Period
I have practised sand boarding for three years.
My mom practices rock climbing three times a week for two hours.
Basically, FOR means “from the beginning to the end of the period”.
We use SINCE combined with a starting point in time that continues until now.
SINCE + Precise moment
We went surfing since 9 a.m.
My cousin has paraglide since he was 13.
In concrete, SINCE means “from a point in the past until now.
Now, you can organise these phrases.
Activity 1
When we read a text, it is essential to understand the details. You will read the blog of a guy who suffered a skydiving accident. Before you start, think about the reasons why some people like practising extreme sports and what the mixed feelings you might experience when exercising them.
As defined by the Collins English Dictionary, an extreme sport is a kind of competition that is physically hazardous. Of course, this is something that puts your life at risk. What extreme sport have you practised? Or which would you like to try?
Leonard’s website includes many of his experiences and advice for people who want to try skydiving. Unfortunately, not all stories have been perfect. Read the story about Leonard’s accident while skydiving.
You can find the article here.
Is this true?
After reading Leonard’s story answer TRUE and FALSE exercise. Decide if the following statements are True or False by choosing the best option. You can know your score at the end of the activity.
Now, reflect on these questions:
A. Have you tried skydiving?
If you have: when was the last time?
How long have you skydived?
B. Can you practice skydiving near your city or town?
C. What equipment do you need?
D. What do you think motivates people to skydive?
Activity 2
Some kids like spending time playing with friends, watching TV, or playing videogames. But what Brooke loves more is rock climbing. In the following video, you will see how Brooke has achieved in rock climbing so much in so little time. Have you tried rock climbing?
Watch the video following this link and then answer the questions.
If you find it is difficult to understand, you can repeat it as many times as necessary. You can also use the closed captions (subtitles) in the video. Then, complete the sentences that summarise the video.
Do you remember?
Answer the following True and False exercise to check your understanding. Decide if the following statements are True or False by choosing the best option. At the end of the activity, you can know your score.
Now, reflect on this
What do you think about rock climbing?
What would you feel if you were rock climbing at this moment?
Activity 3
Hello, this is Henry again… I was wondering if you could help me… Let me explain myself: As part of my agency’s website, I’m trying to include the biographical summaries of some of the most important people in extreme sports. So, I would like you to help me write one of the profiles.
Let me show you an example, it is from Bethany Hamilton, the famous surfer that lost her left arm after a shark attack. Read the information here.
Writing the Biographical Summary
Your assignment is about David Belle, the creator of Parkour.
Castillo, E. (2007) David Belle NewYorker. [photo]. Retrieved on 2017, August 7 from: https://mx.wikimedia.org/wiki/Archivo:David_Belle_NewYorker.jpg
You can see a list of the important events in his life here. You can research more events if you want.
Activity 4
What is the difference between regular and extreme sports? Do you practice any sport? What extreme sports do you know?
Talking about extreme sports.
Here are some questions about sports that you are going to answer in a collaborative forum.
• Do you enjoy doing sports? Which ones?
• What sport do you think is the most dangerous?
• What do you think about extreme sports? Why do you think people practice them?
• Have you ever tried any extreme sport? (give us details if you answer yes)
• If your answer were no: would you like to practice any extreme sport? Why or why not?
• Do you think extreme athletes are crazy or irresponsible?
• Have you heard of accidents of people doing extreme sports?
Write the ideas or the answers you have for these questions. When you finish, organise it by bullets because you are going to record your voice.
These sentences are about Robby Naish, an American windsurfer.