Present Perfect Simple FORM HAVE/ HAS + PAST PARTICIPLE (regular verbs: verb + –ed / irregular verbs: done, seen, driven, etc.) Positive: I/we/they/you have (= I’ve etc.) + lived, worked, done, been, arrived, made, etc. He/she/it has (= he’s etc.) Negative: I/we/they/you have not (haven’t) + lived, worked, done, been, arrived, made, etc. He/she/it has not (hasn’t) Questions: Have you/we/they worked...? Has he/she made…? USE We use the present perfect tense to talk about things where there is a connection between the past and present. · For actions/ states that began in the past, still continue and are likely to continue in future. These actions/ states have “permanent” character. We have worked for the company for 4 years. Have they worked for the company since 2006? · For recent actions and events which have present results (sth. that happened not long ago and is linked to present). England footballers have arrived back in Britain after their match in Italy. I’ve made a cake. Would you like some? He has broken his leg. Who has eaten my dinner? · For an experience that happened at some time of one’s life. (There is NO EXACT TIME REFERENCE.) Have you been to Norway? No, but I have been to Finland several times. I have never watched tennis on TV. I’ve just met Helen. She looked really smart! Have you seen Mr. Burns today yet? She has already seen Mr. Burns today. X She hasn’t seen Mr. Burns yet. Note: We use the present perfect with - JUST, ALREADY, YET, NEVER, EVER - I’ve just finished my homework. - SINCE, FOR - I have lived here since 1992. - TODAY, THIS MORNING, THIS EVENING etc. when these periods are not finished at the time of speaking - I’ve drunk four cups of coffee today. (maybe I’ll drink more before the day is finished) - ONCE, SEVERAL TIMES, RECENTLY, SO FAR etc. – I’ve been to Turkey only once. Present Perfect Continuous (Progressive) Positive I/we/they/you have (= I’ve etc.) been working/living He/she/it has (= he’s etc.) been doing Negative I/we/they/you have not (haven’t) been working He/she/it has not (hasn’t) been doing Questions Have I/we/they/you been living…? Has he/she/ been doing…? PRACTICE 1. You are writing a letter to a friend. In the letter you give news about yourself and other people. Use the words given to make sentences. Use the present perfect. Dear Chris, Lots of things have happened since I last wrote to you. 1 I/buy/a new car ………………………………………………………………………………………………….... 2 my father/start/ a new job ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 3 I/ give up/ smoking ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4 Charles and Sue/go/ to Brazil …………………………………………………………………………………... 5 Claire/have/ a baby ………………………………………………………………………………………………. 2. Complete the sentences with a suitable form of the words. Use present perfect simple. arrive break go up grow improve lose 1 Mike is looking for his key. He cannot find it. He ……………………………………………………………... 2 Margaret cannot walk and her leg is in plaster. She …………………………………………………………. 3 Maria’s English wasn’t very good. Now it is much better. Her English …………………………………..... 4 Tim didn’t have a beard last month. Now he has a beard. He ………………………………………………. 5 This morning I was expecting a letter. Now I have it. The letter …………………………………………….. 3. Complete B’s sentences. Use the verb in brackets + just/already/yet. 1 Would you like something to eat? No, thanks. I ___________________ lunch. (just/have) 2 Do you know where Julia is? Yes, I __________________________ her. (just/see) 3 What time is David leaving? He ____________________________. (already/leave) 4 What’s in the newspaper today? I don’t know. I ____________________. (not/read/yet) 5 Is Ann coming to the cinema with us? No, she _________________ the film. (already/see) 6 Are your friends here yet? Yes, they _________________________. (just/arrive) 7 What does Tim think about your plan? I _______________________________. (not/tell/yet) 4. Put the verbs in brackets in the correct form, present perfect or past simple. 1 Mary ___________ (go) to Spain for a while but she’s back again now. 2 Where’s Ken? – He ___________ (go) out. He’ll be back in about an hour. 3 I did German at school but I ___________ (forget) most of it. 4 Look! There’s an ambulance over there. There ___________ (be) an accident. 5 They are still building the new road. They ___________ (not/finish) it. 6 Where’s my bike? It ___________ (be) outside the house. It ___________ (disappear)! 7 What do you think of my English? Do you think I ___________ (improve)? 8 When I ___________ (get) home last night, I ___________ (be) very tired and ___________ (go) straight to bed. 9 Your car looks very clean. ___________ you ___________ (wash) it? 10 Paul ___________ (not/be) very well last week. 11 Mr Clark __________ (work) in a bank for 15 years. Then he gave it up. 12 Is your father at home? – No, I’m afraid he ___________ (go) out. When exactly ___________ he ___________ (go) out? – About ten minutes ago. 13 Where do you live? – In Boston. How long ___________ you ___________ (live) there? – Five years. Where ___________ you ___________ (live) before that? – In Chicago. And how long ___________ you ___________ (live) in Chicago? – Two years. 14 I don’t know Carol’s husband. I ___________ (never/meet/him). 15 How many plays ___________ Shakespeare ___________ (write)?