In Trafalgar Square a big clock counting down to the Olympics in London has recently been unveiled. It should have been a great day, as it officially meant that the greatest sporting event in the World was only 500 days away, as well as people now being able to purchase tickets.
However, there have already been some problems.
What problems?
Firstly, the clock stopped only hours after it had started. There had been a spectacular launch, with fireworks and sporting celebrities, so this was especially embarrassing for Omega, the company sponsoring it. Thankfully, it has now been fixed but jokes have already been made about how this is a ‘sign of things to come’. In other words, we should expect more troubles with the organisation of this event, no matter how big the celebrations are.
Secondly, fans who wanted to buy tickets with Visa cards could not do so if their cards expired before August 2011. The application process would not continue. Visa is the worldwide sponsor of the games and it is the only way you can buy any of the 6.6million tickets on sale. Again, like with the clock, Visa has said that this problem has now been corrected.
Good or bad?
With these glitches, people could argue that London hosting the Olympics is a bad idea – and it has not even started yet. Initially, I would have agreed but in the 5 years since we have won the right to do so, I am now in favour of it.
The Olympics is every 4 years, so to see this in your hometown is a once in a lifetime experience. The government has also made better changes to London – such as transport and regenerating parts of London.
I walk past Trafalgar Square every morning to work so I have already seen the clock, reminding me of when this big event will happen. I am just glad that it has not broken down every day since it has been there!
Present perfect with just, yet and already
Have/has + just + past participle – for recent past actions: has just been unveiled
Have/has + already + past participle – to emphasise something’s been done, often with an impact on the present: I have already seen
Have/has + not/never + past participle + yet – to emphasise something hasn’t been done: it has not even started yet
Present perfect passive
Have/has + been + past participle – used to talk about an action but you are not so interested in saying who or what did the action.
If you want to mention who or what did the action, use by. However, in the majority of passive sentences, the agent is not mentioned: it has now been fixed, this problem has now been corrected
