The writer tells her friend Joan that she has broken up with her boyfriend Paul after a major argument. They had been sleeping in separate beds and arguing frequently for some time. During a tense moment watching TV together in silence, Paul abruptly asked her to make him a cup of coffee, but she exploded at him to make it himself. They had a big fight and she moved in with her mother, and has not seen Paul since. She has also started looking for a new place to live.

1. Dear Joan, It´s finally happened: Paul and I have broken up. You know how it was when I last saw you in June: we´d been arguing and sleeping in separate beds for quite a while. Well, last Tuesday we were sitting in the living room watching TV, neither of us were talking, when he suddenly told me to make him a cup of coffee! I exploded and told him to make it himself; he got really mad and then we had this awful fight. Well, I went home to mother. I haven´t seen him since that day and I´ve been looking for a new flat. I hope…

2. Dear Joan, It´s finally happened : Paul and I have broken up . You know how it was when I last saw you in June: we´d been arguing and sleeping in separate beds for quite a while. Well, last Tuesday we were sitting in the living room watching TV , neither of us were talking , when he suddenly told me to make him a cup of coffee! I exploded and told him to make it himself; he got really mad and then we had this awful fight. Well, I went home to mother. I haven´t seen him since that day and I´ve been looking for a new flat. I hope …

3. Dear Joan, It´s finally happened : Paul and I have broken up . You know how it was when I last saw you in June: we´d been arguing and sleeping in separate beds for quite a while. Well, last Tuesday we were sitting in the living room watching TV , neither of us were talking , when he suddenly told me to make him a cup of coffee! I exploded and told him to make it himself; he got really mad and then we had this awful fight. Well, I went home to mother. I haven´t seen him since that day and I´ve been looking for a new flat. I hope … Present Perfect Past Continuous - Past Perf. Cont. - Past Simple Present Simple - Pres. Pref. Cont.

4. Use of Verb Tenses: 2 3 4 1 last June went home NOW Background Scene / Setting Focus Consequence: relates Past and Present Past Perf. Cont (we had been arguing) Past Continuous (we were sitting) Past Simple & Present Simple (he told me to make him a cup of coffee) Pres. Perfect & Pres. Perf. Cont. (I haven´t seen him since / I´ve looking for…)

5. Dear John, I´m really confused! I asked Doreen to make me a simple Cappucino and she went crazy on me!! Things hadn´t been so good lately, but I think we could have made it work… She´s at her mother´s house now, but I guess she´ll call me any time soon so I´m just sitting comfortably at home. Want to come and see the match together on Sunday? Best, Paul.