The Present Perfect Case Of The Missing Necklace
The Case of the Missing Necklace: Part 1
Detective Clara Parker arrived at the mansion just as the rain began to pour. Mrs. Devereaux had called in a panic—her priceless diamond necklace was missing.
“Thank you for coming, Detective!” Mrs. Devereaux said. “My necklace is gone! I wore it to the charity ball last night, and I’m certain I checked the jewelry box this morning. It was still there then.”
Clara raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure? You’re positive you saw it this morning?”
“Yes,” Mrs. Devereaux insisted, but there was a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. “I think so… I remember looking.”
Clara nodded and took out her notebook. “Who’s been in the house today?”
“Only my assistant, Julia, and the gardener, Mr. Lyons,” she replied. “Julia has been with me for years, and Mr. Lyons comes every Tuesday. I can’t imagine either of them taking it.”
Clara decided to speak to both. She found Julia in the kitchen. “Julia, have you seen anything unusual today?”
Julia frowned. “No, Detective. I took some mail upstairs for Mrs. Devereaux this morning, but I didn’t go into her jewelry box. I’ve never touched her things.”
Clara continued, “And when was the last time you saw the necklace?”
Julia hesitated. “Well, I saw Mrs. Devereaux wearing it at the ball last night. But this morning, when I was in her room, the jewelry box was closed.”
Clara nodded and then found Mr. Lyons in the garden. “Mr. Lyons, were you inside the house today?”
“Yes, I came in to get some water and saw Mrs. Devereaux looking worried around noon. But I haven’t been beyond the kitchen,” he said.
Clara returned to Mrs. Devereaux. “You mentioned that you *checked* the jewelry box this morning. Do you actually remember *seeing* the necklace, or were you assuming it was there because it was supposed to be?”
Mrs. Devereaux looked down. “I suppose… now that you ask, I don’t actually remember seeing it. I assumed it was there because I put it back last night.”
Clara’s eyes narrowed. “So you haven’t actually seen it today. And Julia mentioned that the jewelry box was closed when she took the mail upstairs. That means you only thought it was there because you remember putting it back last night. There’s a chance it was already gone.”
Mrs. Devereaux gasped. “Do you think it was stolen at the ball?”
Clara nodded. “It’s quite possible. You haven’t actually checked today, so the necklace might never have come home with you. I suggest you start by asking the valet or anyone who helped you with your coat or jewelry last night. The necklace could have gone missing there.”
The Case of the Missing Necklace: Part 2
Detective Clara Parker left the mansion with a new lead: the necklace might have been stolen the night before, at the charity ball. She decided to pay a visit to the event coordinator, Ms. Fields, who had been responsible for the guest list and valet services.
At the event hall, Ms. Fields greeted her warmly. “Detective, I’ve been expecting you since I heard about the missing necklace. Mrs. Devereaux left the ball in quite a hurry last night.”
Clara raised an eyebrow. “Have you noticed anything unusual about her behavior recently?”
Ms. Fields nodded. “Yes, she seemed flustered last night. She told me she’d misplaced something—a bracelet, I think—and was searching for it. She hasn’t mentioned it today, but she was clearly very concerned about her jewelry.”
Clara noted this down. “And who was working with the guests?”
Ms. Fields replied, “One of our valet staff, Tim. He’s been with us for a year now and has handled many of these events.”
Clara tracked down Tim, who was cleaning up in the staff room. “Tim, I need to ask you a few questions. You’ve worked at these events often, haven’t you?”
Tim nodded, looking slightly nervous. “Yes, I’ve worked many events, Detective.”
“Did you help Mrs. Devereaux with her coat last night?”
“Yes, I did,” Tim replied. “She was one of the last guests to leave, and she’d been looking for a bracelet. But I noticed she was still wearing the necklace. I’ve seen her wearing it at other events, and it always catches attention.”
Clara’s eyes narrowed. “And did you see her taking it off at any point?”
Tim thought for a moment. “No, I didn’t see her taking it off. But I remember another guest, Ms. Harrington, speaking to her as she was about to leave. I believe they’ve had some history.”
Clara returned to Mrs. Devereaux. “Mrs. Devereaux, does Ms. Harrington have any connection to your necklace? Has she shown interest in it before?”
Mrs. Devereaux sighed. “Yes, she’s admired it for years. We’ve known each other for a long time, and she’s always wanted to own a piece like this. Last night, she asked to see it up close. I was rushing to leave, so I might have handed it to her briefly.”
Clara realized this might be the break in the case. She decided to speak with Ms. Harrington, whom she found at a local café. “Ms. Harrington, I’m investigating Mrs. Devereaux’s missing necklace. She told me that you were one of the last people to see it.”
Ms. Harrington smiled, looking unfazed. “Yes, I admired it last night. I’ve always thought it was a lovely piece.”
Clara pressed on. “And you took the necklace, didn’t you?”
Ms. Harrington’s face reddened. “I… I may have held onto it for a moment. She was in such a rush, and I didn’t think she’d notice. I thought I might keep it safe and return it later.”
Clara looked stern. “I’ll need to search your bag. We have reason to believe you took the necklace.”
Reluctantly, Ms. Harrington handed over her purse. Inside, Clara found a small velvet pouch containing Mrs. Devereaux’s diamond necklace.
Clara returned the necklace to Mrs. Devereaux, explaining how the truth had come to light. By carefully distinguishing between assumptions and facts, the case was solved, and Mrs. Devereaux had her prized possession back once again.
TED Talks For Better English
Indirect Questions
Have a look at this conversation.
Me: Excuse me. Could you tell me where the nearest station is?
Person in the street: Certainly. It's along that road on the right.
Me: Thank you. And do you know if there's a supermarket near here?
Person in the street: Yes, there's one next to the station.
Me: Thank you very much for your help.
I use indirect questions when I'm asking for help in the street, because they are very polite. Indirect questions start with a phrase like 'could you tell me...' or 'do you know...'. For example:
Direct question: Where is the bank?
Indirect question: Could you tell me where the bank is?
Notice that in the indirect question I put the verb ('is') after the subject ('the bank'), in the same way as I do with a normal positive sentence ('the bank is over there'), but in the direct question I put the verb 'is' before the subject 'the bank'. This is called inversion, and it is used to make direct questions in many verb tenses in English, but we don't use inversion in indirect questions. This is very similar to the grammar of reported questions. However, we use indirect questions in a different way from reported questions. Indirect questions are a way of being polite. They are very, very common in English, especially when you're talking to someone you don't know.
'Yes / No' Questions
To make an indirect 'yes / no' question, we use 'if' and the word order of a normal positive sentence. This is the same as for reported 'yes / no' questions. On the other hand, we don't usually need to 'backshift' (change the tense of the verb) as we do with reported questions.
Of course, most tenses make questions by using 'inversion' (changing the word order). To change from a direct 'yes / no' question with inversion to an indirect question, you add 'if' and change the word order back to a normal positive sentence. You don't need to use inversion.
'Yes / no' questions for tenses with inversion:
| Verb Tense | Direct Question | Indirect Question |
| Present simple with 'be' | Is he Spanish? | Can you tell me if he is Spanish? |
| Present continuous | Is the restaurant closing now? | Can you tell me if the restaurant is closing now? |
| Past simple with 'be' | Was he late for the meeting? | Can you tell me if he was late for the meeting? |
| Past continuous | Were you watching TV at 3pm? | Can you tell me if you were watching TV at 3pm? |
| Present perfect | Has Lucy been to Mexico? | Can you tell me if Lucy has been to Mexico? |
| Present perfect continuous | Has she been living here long? | Can you tell me if she has been living here long? |
| Past perfect | Had she found this job when she moved here? | Can you tell me if she had found this job when she moved here? |
| Past perfect continuous | Had she been living here long when she met you? | Can you tell me if she had been living here long when she met you? |
| Future simple with 'will' | Will she start her new job next week? | Can you tell me if she will start her new job next week? |
| Future simple with 'going to' | Is it going to rain later? | Can you tell me if it is going to rain later? |
| Future continuous | Will Lisa be meeting the boss later? | Can you tell me if Lisa will be meeting the boss later? |
| Future perfect | Will he have finished the report by tonight? | Can you tell me if he will have finished the report by tonight? |
| Future perfect continuous | Will he have been studying French for twenty years when he retires? | Can you tell me if he will have been studying French for twenty years when he retires? |
| Modal verbs | Should we start now? | Can you tell me if we should start now? |
'Yes / no' questions with tenses that use 'do / does / did':
Sometimes you want to make an indirect question using the present simple of any verb except 'be' or the past simple of any verb except 'be'. These tense make direct questions by using 'do / does / did'. When we want to make indirect 'yes / no' questions using these tenses, we need 'if' and we don't need 'do / does / did'.
| Verb Tense | Direct Question | Indirect Question |
| Present simple with any verb except 'be' | Does David live in London? | Can you tell me if David lives in London? |
| Past simple with any verb except 'be' | Did Amanda call John yesterday? | Can you tell me if Amanda called John yesterday? |
'Wh' Questions
In the same way as with reported 'wh' questions, we use the question word and the word order of a normal positive sentence to make indirect 'wh' questions. We don't need to use inversion. Again, we also don't usually need to 'backshift' (change the tense of the verb) as we do with reported questions.
To change a direct question to an indirect question for tenses that make questions using inversion, you just add 'if' and change the word order back to a normal positive sentence.
'Wh' questions for tenses with inversion:
| Verb Tense | Direct Question | Indirect Question |
| Present simple with 'be' | Why is he unhappy? | Can you tell me why he is unhappy? |
| Present continuous | When is the restaurant closing? | Can you tell me when the restaurant is closing? |
| Past simple with 'be' | Why was he late for the meeting? | Can you tell me why he was late for the meeting? |
| Past continuous | What were you doing at 3pm? | Can you tell me what you were doing at 3pm? |
| Present perfect | Where has Lucy been? | Can you tell me where Lucy has been? |
| Present perfect continuous | How long has she been living here? | Can you tell me how long she has been living here? |
| Past perfect | Why had she quit her job before she moved here? | Can you tell me why she had quit her job before she moved here? |
| Past perfect continuous | How long had she been living here when she met you? | Can you tell me how long she had been living here when she met you? |
| Future simple with 'will' | When will she start her new job? | Can you tell me when she will start her new job? |
| Future simple with 'going to' | When is it going to rain? | Can you tell me when it is going to rain? |
| Future continuous | What time will Lisa be meeting the boss? | Can you tell me what time Lisa will be meeting the boss? |
| Future perfect | When will he have finished the report? | Can you tell me when he will have finished the report? |
| Future perfect continuous | How long will he have been studying French when he retires? | Can you tell me how long he will have been studying French when he retires? |
| Modal verbs | What should we do now? | Can you tell me what we should do now? |
'Wh' questions for tenses with 'do / does / did':
Sometimes you want to make an indirect 'wh' question using the present simple of any verb except 'be' or the past simple of any verb except 'be'. Usually these tenses make questions by using 'do / does / did'. However, when we want to make indirect 'wh' questions using these tenses, we don't need 'do / does / did'. Instead, we use a question word and then normal positive sentence word order.
| Verb Tense | Direct Question | Indirect Question |
| Present simple with any verb except 'be' | Where does David live? | Can you tell me where David lives? |
| Past simple with any verb except 'be' | Why did Amanda call John yesterday? | Can you tell me why Amanda called John yesterday? |
Common Problems
It can be difficult to remember to put the verb after the subject, especially when the indirect question is in the present simple tense of 'be'. For example, we need to say:
Could you tell me where the station is?
NOT:
🇬🇧 Critical English Prepositions 🇧🇷
1. AT
🧠 Tip: Use for specific points in time or space.
✅ at 5pm
✅ at the door
✅ at night
✅ at school / at work
❌ in night → ✅ at night
2. IN
🧠 Tip: Use for inside something, or months/years/longer periods.
✅ in the room
✅ in July / in 1995
✅ in Brazil
❌ on Brazil → ✅ in Brazil
3. ON
🧠 Tip: Use for surfaces and specific days/dates.
✅ on the table
✅ on Monday / on July 4th
✅ on TV / on the phone
❌ in Monday → ✅ on Monday
4. TO
🧠 Tip: Use for direction and movement toward a target.
✅ go to work / to the bank
✅ give it to me
❌ arrived to the airport → ✅ arrived at the airport
5. FOR
🧠 Tip: Use for purpose, benefit, or duration.
✅ This gift is for you.
✅ I worked there for 3 years.
✅ It’s good for your health.
❌ good to your health → ✅ good for your health
6. BY
🧠 Tip: Use for who did something, how, or deadlines.
✅ a book by Paulo Coelho
✅ travel by car / by plane
✅ finish it by Friday
❌ finish until Friday → ✅ finish by Friday
7. ABOUT
🧠 Tip: Use to talk about subjects or topics.
✅ talk about the movie
✅ a book about history
❌ speak of politics → ✅ speak about politics
8. FROM
🧠 Tip: Use for origin, distance, or difference.
✅ I’m from Brazil.
✅ 2 km from here
✅ different from you
❌ different of you → ✅ different from you
9. OVER / ABOVE
🧠 Tip:
Use “over” for movement or covering.
Use “above” for position or level.
✅ The plane flew over the city.
✅ The shelf is above the bed.
✅ The blanket is over the bed.
❌ the shelf is over the bed → “above” is clearer
10. UNDER / BELOW
🧠 Tip:
Use “under” for direct physical position.
Use “below” more for measurement, rank, or abstract level.
✅ The pen is under the table.
✅ The temperature is below zero.
✅ He ranked below average.
🎯 Expanded: Bonus Confusing Pairs
| 🇵🇹 Common Mistake (Translation) | 🇬🇧 Correct Preposition | 💬 Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| depend of | depend on | Depender de = depend on |
| married with | married to | “Casado com” = married to |
| similar with | similar to | “Semelhante a” = similar to |
| listen music | listen to music | “Ouvir música” needs to in English |
| think in you | think about you | “Pensar em” = think about |
| arrive in the airport | arrive at the airport | Use at for points like airports, stations |
| good to your health | good for your health | “Bom para” = good for |
| explain me this | explain this to me | “Explicar algo para alguém” → explain something to someone |
| ask to someone | ask someone | No preposition needed: “ask her a question” |
| answer to the question | answer the question | No “to” needed with “answer” |
We Are All Hired to Do the Same Job
Yes, that's right. Doctors, engineers, managers, factory workers, even astronauts... We were all hired to do the same job: solve problems. Peel back the layers of your job description and you'll see that at the heart of it, we are all engaged in the same fundamental task: solving problems. This is not just a philosophical musing—it's a powerful mindset that can transform how you approach job interviews, making you more confident, assertive, and impactful.
The Consultant Mindset
Imagine walking into your next job interview not as a candidate tentatively hoping to be chosen but as a consultant ready to offer valuable solutions. This shift in viewpoint changes the dynamics of the interview entirely. You're no longer there to be judged; you're there to discuss how you can help the company overcome its challenges. It's a subtle but profound shift that can dramatically boost your confidence and change how potential employers perceive you.
Positioning Yourself as a Problem-Solver
Every company has its unique set of challenges, whether it's improving efficiency, enhancing product quality, or breaking into new markets. By positioning yourself as someone who understands these challenges and has the skills and experience to address them, you signal to potential employers that you're a valuable asset. It's about articulating your experiences and skills as a unique value proposition, emphasizing your ability to contribute solutions from day one.
Preparation Is Key
To effectively adopt this consultant mindset, preparation is crucial. It involves researching the company's industry, its position within that industry, recent developments, and any challenges it might be facing. This knowledge allows you to tailor your "consultation" to the company's needs, demonstrating your initiative and critical thinking skills.
Engaging in a Consultative Dialogue
An interview should be a two-way conversation, not a one-sided interrogation. Engage the interviewer in a discussion about the company's challenges and how you envision addressing these issues. This consultative dialogue not only showcases your problem-solving skills but also demonstrates your proactive approach to contributing value.
Asking Insightful Questions
A consultant doesn't just offer solutions; they also ask questions to better understand the client's needs. Similarly, prepare thoughtful questions that show your interest in the company's challenges and your eagerness to contribute to solutions. This approach helps you assess if the company's problems are ones you're excited about solving and demonstrates your strategic thinking to the interviewer.
Sharing Success Stories
Just as a consultant would share case studies of past successes, you should share specific examples of how you've solved similar problems in the past. Discuss the strategies you employed, the challenges you overcame, and the outcomes achieved. These success stories serve as tangible evidence of your ability to add value to the company.
Framing the Role as a Partnership
Instead of viewing the job as a mere list of duties, discuss how you see the role as a partnership aimed at achieving shared objectives. This perspective highlights your commitment to adding value and views the employment relationship as collaborative and mutually beneficial.
The Power of Perspective
Adopting the mindset that every job is fundamentally about solving problems not only boosts your confidence during interviews but also makes you a more memorable and impactful candidate. It transforms the interview from a high-stress test into a professional meeting where both parties are evaluating a potential partnership. This shift in perspective can be the key to unlocking not just any job, but the right job where you can truly make a difference.
Duolingo fluency practice
These are typical Duolingo exam questions. In this type of question, you talk for 30-90 seconds about the topic. It is excellent fluency practice for anyone.
1.Describe a performance you have watched. Please say
– Where was it?
– What kind of performance was it?
– What did you like the most about it?
– What was the challenge?
– When and where was the challenge?
– How did you overcome it?
– What made it unforgettable?
– When it was
– What happened
– Why it was special
– How you felt at the time.
– What the place was
– Why you went there
– With whom you went there
– And whether or not you enjoyed your visit.
– When you read it
– What in particular it was about
– What you learnt from it
– when it happened
– what happened to your phone
– how it made you feel
– When did this happen?
– Where were you?
– What kind of weather was?
– Explain why you had to change your plans
– What is it?
– When did you buy it?
– What does it do?
– Why was it difficult to use for the first time?
– What you borrowed
– When you borrowed it
– Why you borrowed it
– And when you returned it.
– What you were late for
– Why you were late
– What happened because you were late
– How you felt about it
– What made you happy
– Where you were
– Who was there with you
– And why you felt happy about this.
– What place this is
– Where it is located
– What people do there
– How you learned about this place.
– Who was it?
– When was it?
– What did the person say?
– Why was this incident memorable to you?
– What kind of home would it be?
– Why would you like to live in it?
– Who would you like to live with?
– What place this is
– Where it is located
– With whom you go there
– How often you visit this place.
– What was the movie?
– Why did you like it?
– Would you recommend it to a friend?
– What are they?
– Do you buy or make these kinds of food?
– Can you find these dishes in other countries?
– What was the goal?
– What did you do to achieve it?
– What was the hardest part for you?
– When and where was it?
– What kind of help did you offer?
– Who was the person you offered it to?
– Who was it?
– When was it?
– What did the person say?
– Why was this incident memorable to you?
– What was it?
– What did you do?
– How did you get there?
– Describe it.
– Where and when was it?
– How did you feel about wearing a uniform?
– What is it?
– When and why did you join it?
– Can you give a brief description of the team members?
– What was it?
– When and where would you like to do it?
– Why would you like to do it?
– Who is the celebrity?
– Where do you usually see him/her?
– What does he/she do?
– What kind of book it is
– Why you read this book
– When you read it
– Who is he/she?
– How did you meet him/her?
– Can you describe him/her?
– What and where is it?
– What can people do there?
– Why do you want to go there?
– What is it?
– What is it about?
– How often do you use it? Why?
– What and where is it?
– Why do you like to go there?
– Describe what it looks like.
– Where the street is
– When you visited it
– What you bought, and
– How you felt after that.
Please say
– Who was he/she?
– Why did you help him/her?
– How did you feel after that?
person. Please say
– What decision was it?
– When was it and who helped you?
– How did you feel after making the decision?
say
– Why you like it
– When you first watched it
– When you want to play it.
– What is it?
– Why do you want to replace it?
– What will you replace it with?
Please say
– Who is he/she?
– How and when did you both meet?
– Is he/she your best friend?
Please say
– What is it?
– Where and when did you buy it?
– How do you feel when you wear it?
– What was the complaint?
– What did you ask them to do about it?
– Why were you pleased with the result?
– Who is he/she?
– What do you like about him/her?
– Is he/she the same in real life?
– When did you receive it?
– What did you do with it?
– How did you feel about it?
– Who is the person?
– What do you like about him/her?
– What is the interesting thing about that person?
– What do you do?
– When and where do you do it?
– Why is it important for you to concentrate?
– What is it?
– Why do you want to learn it?
– What benefits will you have from learning it?
– What and where is this place?
– What can people do or see there?
– Why is it popular?
– Who is he/she?
– Why is he/she popular?
– How did you know about him/her?
– What was the event?
– Who was there with you?
– How did you feel about it later?
– What job is it?
– What skills do you need for this job?
– What makes it interesting?
– Who told you this story?
– What is the story about?
– Why do you still remember it?
– Who is that person?
– What is his/her relationship to you?
– What does he/she usually talk about?
– What is it?
– When and where did you see it for the first time?
– Why do you like it?
– How do you know about this company?
– How long do you know them?
– Why do you think they are successful?
– What was the goal?
– When did you set it?
– How was it achieved?
– How did you feel about it later

