{"title":"How Social Media Has Changed the Way We Shop","intro":"Explore how influencers, reviews and targeted ads have changed the way we shop, and practise Present Perfect vs Past Simple.","level":"B1","blocks":[{"id":"b0","type":"warm_up","content":"Which picture best describes your mood today and why?","order":0,"warm_up_mode":"meme_grid","meme_items":[{"state_label":"","image_url":"https://i.pinimg.com/736x/b6/7f/4d/b67f4d0af9e92853741691dd50dbb330.jpg"},{"state_label":"","image_url":"/memes/meme-025.png"},{"state_label":"","image_url":"https://i.pinimg.com/736x/eb/88/84/eb8884745460e33211e3891231380da1.jpg"},{"state_label":"","image_url":"/memes/meme-040.png"},{"state_label":"","image_url":"/memes/meme-030.png"},{"state_label":"","image_url":"https://i.pinimg.com/736x/5d/c5/d7/5dc5d7ed3cdf044e13e61c5823ef60f3.jpg"},{"state_label":"","image_url":"/memes/meme-001.png"},{"state_label":"","image_url":"/memes/meme-023.png"},{"state_label":"","image_url":"/memes/meme-032.png"}]},{"id":"b1","type":"open_question","content":"Answer the questions.\n\n- How often do you buy things online? What was the last item you bought?\n- Do you check reviews or watch influencers before buying something? Why or why not?\n- Have you ever bought something because you saw an ad on social media? What was it?\n\nUseful phrases:\n- *I usually check...*\n- *Last week I bought...*\n- *I have never purchased...*","order":1,"title":"Start the conversation","image_type":"visual_support","images":["https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT52Km6gH3DiC0-0Vn14H3axuYzattsKhUDRbd-uswL2zpRFTIErD_xAAk&s=10"],"image_source_urls":["https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/609ea62d0e6976688116c7cf/960x0.jpg"]},{"id":"b3","type":"theory","content":"**Meaning:**

We use Past Simple for completed actions at a specific finished time in the past.
We use Present Perfect for experiences, recent changes, unfinished time periods, and past actions with a result now.

\n\n**Past Simple:**

subject + verb+ed (regular) / V2 (irregular)

\n\n**Present Perfect:**

have/has + past participle (verb+ed (regular) / V3 (irregular))

\n\n**Examples:**

I bought a dress yesterday. (Past Simple — specific time)
I have bought several things online this year. (Present Perfect — this year is not finished)
She read a review last night. (Past Simple)
He has read hundreds of reviews online. (Present Perfect)

\n\n**Common mistake:** ~~I have bought it last week.~~ → **I bought it last week.** (Don't use Present Perfect with a finished time like last week / yesterday / in 2020.)","order":2,"title":"Present Perfect vs Past Simple","image_type":"grammar_explainer","images":[],"image_source_urls":["https://test-english.com/staging11/wp-content/uploads/Past-simple-vs-Present-perfect_Grammar-chart.webp"]},{"id":"b4","type":"vocabulary","content":"influencer — a person who promotes products on social media\ncustomer review — an opinion about a product written by a customer\ntargeted ad — an online ad shown to users based on their interests\nshopping habit — the way someone usually shops\ntry — to test or use something new\nrecommendation — a suggestion to buy or try something\nimpulse purchase — something bought suddenly without planning\npromote — to advertise or recommend a product\nbrand — a company that makes or sells products","order":3,"title":"Useful words"},{"id":"b5","type":"media","content":"

Choose one speaker. Did influencers affect this person’s shopping choices? Why or why not?
Which opinion did you relate to most? Why?
Has an influencer ever made you want to buy something?

","order":4,"title":"Watch the video and answer the questions","media_type":"video","search_queries":["present perfect vs past simple","present perfect vs past simple examples movies series clips","present perfect vs past simple real conversation examples native speakers"],"purpose":"usage_example","target_concept":"Present Perfect vs Past Simple","url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42ZG_ZyWB8E","media_purpose":"usage_example"},{"id":"b6","type":"multiple_choice","content":"Choose the correct option.","order":6,"title":"Quick check","questions":[{"content":"Mia ___ that white dress two years ago.","options":["buys","had bought","has bought","bought"],"correct_answer":3},{"content":"She ___ many items through influencer recommendations since then.","options":["has bought","bought","was buying","had bought"],"correct_answer":0},{"content":"Last month, she ___ a review for a new phone.","options":["reads","has read","was reading","read"],"correct_answer":3},{"content":"The ad ___ just after she searched for running shoes.","options":["appears","has appeared","had appeared","appeared"],"correct_answer":3},{"content":"Since she started following influencers, she ___ her shopping habits completely.","options":["had changed","has changed","changes","changed"],"correct_answer":1}]},{"id":"b2","type":"reading","content":"

Mia is a 24-year-old student who loves fashion. Two years ago, she followed a popular influencer named Sophie. Sophie posted a photo in a white dress from a small brand. Mia thought it was beautiful and bought the dress. That was her first impulse purchase after seeing an influencer post.

Since then, Mia has bought many more items through influencer recommendations. She has tried new skincare products and ordered books and kitchen gadgets that influencers recommended.. She also reads customer reviews before buying. Last month, she read a review for a new phone, and it convinced her to buy it.

Targeted ads have also affected her shopping. Last week, she saw an ad for running shoes on Instagram. The ad appeared shortly after she searched for running shoes online. She clicked on it and bought a pair within minutes.

Thanks to social media, Mia has changed her shopping habits completely. She rarely visits physical stores now — she shops from her phone while watching videos or scrolling through her feed.

\n\nQuestions on the text:\n1. What was the first item Mia bought because of an influencer?\n2. Why did Mia buy the running shoes last week?\n3. How is Mia’s shopping different now compared with two years ago?","order":5,"title":"How influencers changed shopping"},{"id":"b7","type":"fill_gap","content":"Social media ___ (change) the way Laura shops. A few years ago, she usually visited physical stores and rarely ordered anything online. Then, in 2023, she ___ (see) a skincare product in an influencer’s video and ___ (buy) it immediately. The product was disappointing, so Laura ___ (become) more careful.\n\nSince that experience, she ___ (start) reading customer reviews before every purchase. She ___ (not make) an impulse purchase for several months.","order":7,"title":"Complete the sentences","options":["has changed","saw","bought","became","has started","hasn’t made"],"correct_answer":"has changed ... saw ... bought ... became ... has started ... hasn’t made","gap_answers":[{"index":1,"answer":"has changed"},{"index":2,"answer":"saw"},{"index":3,"answer":"bought"},{"index":4,"answer":"became"},{"index":5,"answer":"has started"},{"index":6,"answer":"hasn’t made"}]},{"id":"b8","type":"open_question","content":"

Tell about your own shopping experiences. Use Past Simple for finished actions and Present Perfect for experiences with a connection to now.

Answer these questions:

What is one thing you bought or considered buying after seeing a review or influencer? What happened?
What products have you bought online this year?
Describe a time a targeted ad surprised you. Did you click on it?

Talk for 2-3 minutes. Use at least 3 Past Simple and 3 Present Perfect sentences.

Useful phrases:

I bought... last week / in 2023.
I have never...
I have already...

","order":8,"title":"Your shopping experiences","image_type":"visual_support","images":["https://n1s1.hsmedia.ru/b3/24/c6/b324c6dc80754f3855792cb1a3abe8c5/728x408_1_88dd35ee929ec72e97d8ea12201b2875@1456x816_0xTaSymOmA_4808959385029197102.jpg.webp"],"image_source_urls":["https://freerangestock.com/sample/114671/young-adult-woman-using-her-credit-card-to-shop-online.jpg"]},{"id":"b10","type":"multiple_choice","content":"Choose the correct option.","order":9,"title":"Harder grammar check","questions":[{"content":"Social media ___ the way people shop, but the biggest changes ___ over the last five years.","options":["changed / happened","has changed / have happened","has changed / happened","changed / have happened"],"correct_answer":1},{"content":"I ___ this brand several times, but I ___ anything from it during last year’s sale.","options":["have seen / didn’t buy","saw / haven’t bought","have seen / haven’t bought","saw / didn’t buy"],"correct_answer":0},{"content":"Mia ___ customer reviews since her last impulse purchase, but yesterday she ___ one product without checking them.","options":["read / has ordered","has read / has ordered","read / ordered","has read / ordered"],"correct_answer":3},{"content":"___ an influencer ever ___ you to buy something you later regretted?","options":["Did / persuade","Has / persuaded","Have / persuaded","Has / persuade"],"correct_answer":1},{"content":"The company ___ its first social media campaign in 2022, and since then it ___ much more popular with young customers.","options":["launched / became","has launched / has become","launched / has become","has launched / became"],"correct_answer":2}]},{"id":"b9","type":"open_question","content":"

Imagine you want to buy a new gadget.

Alex usually trusts influencers. Last year, he bought headphones after an influencer recommended them, but he has regretted the purchase since then.

Sam usually reads customer reviews. She has used them for years, and last month they helped her choose a reliable phone.

Discuss:

Whose approach seems more reliable? Why?
What are the risks of trusting influencers or customer reviews?
What would you do before buying the gadget?

Use examples from Alex and Sam’s experiences. Try to use both Past Simple and Present Perfect.

","order":10,"title":"Influencer or review?","image_type":"visual_support","images":["/media/d552596847fe46349d584dcf9da820b0.webp"],"image_source_urls":["https://live.staticflickr.com/7375/9128661882_10a55418e7_b.jpg"]},{"id":"b12","type":"homework","content":"

Write a short paragraph of 7–9 sentences about how social media has changed the way people shop.

Include:

at least 3 Present Perfect sentences about changes;
at least 2 Past Simple sentences with specific examples;
at least four words from the lesson: influencer, customer review, targeted ad, shopping habit, impulse purchase.

Example start:

Social media has changed the way people shop. In the past, customers usually visited physical stores, but today...

","order":11,"title":"Homework: How social media has changed shopping","image_type":"visual_support","images":["/media/ed04b1e9a497471bb5c40492f1fafed2.jpg"],"image_source_urls":["https://live.staticflickr.com/2416/1810473578_c9531aa951_b.jpg"]}]}