The Friendship Drought
Grammar: Present Perfect
A Level 3 English lesson exploring society.
What's in this lesson
A Level 3 (intermediate) ESL lesson on society, practising present perfect. The worksheet has a reading, target vocabulary, a grammar reference with practice and discussion questions.
From the reading: The Friendship Drought
In 2021, a survey by the Survey Center on American Life found that 15% of American men had no close friends at all — up from just 3% in 1990. Women showed a similar trend. These numbers surprised researchers, but they did not surprise most adults. Many people quietly feel the same thing: their social circle has been getting smaller for years.
Vocabulary
- close friends
- drift apart
- make new
- social circle
Grammar: Present Perfect
- Present perfect
- Her social circle has been getting smaller for years. — action that started in the past and is still happening
- Have / has been + -ing
- They have been trying to make new friends since last year. — use have with I/you/we/they, has with he/she/it
Discussion questions
- Tell me about a friendship you have kept for a long time — how did it start?
- When did you last make a completely new friend as an adult?
- Have you ever lost touch with someone important to you — what happened?
The Friendship Drought
Grammar: Present Perfect
What's in this lesson:
Full lesson plan with reading, grammar, vocabulary, and discussion.
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