PRESENT PERFECT
The present perfect is formed from the present tense of the verb have and the past participle of
a verb:
SUBJECT + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE + COMPLEMENT
for something that started in the past and continues in the present:
They've been married for nearly fifty years. She has lived in Liverpool all her life.
when we are talking about our experience up to the present:
I've seen that film before.
I've played the guitar ever since I was a teenager.
He has written three books and he is working on another one.
We often use the adverb EVER to talk about experience up to the present:
My last birthday was the worst day I have ever had.
and we use NEVER for the negative form:
Have you ever met George?
Yes, but I've never met his wife.
REMEMBER that the adverbs 'ever' and 'never' go AFTER 'have/has' and BEFORE the
past participle.
for something that happened in the past but is important in the present:
I can't get in the house. I've lost my keys.
Teresa isn't at home. I think she has gone shopping.
HAVE BEEN AND HAVE GONE
We use have/has been when someone has gone to a place and returned:
A: Where have you been?
B: I've just been out to the supermarket.
A: Have you ever been to San Francisco?
B: No, but I've been to Los Angeles.
But when someone has not returned, we use have/has gone:
A: Where's Maria? I haven't seen her for weeks.
B: She's gone to Paris for a week. She'll be back tomorrow.
PRESENT PERFECT WITH TIME ADVERBS
Adverbials which refer to the recent past: RECENTLY, JUST
Scientists have recently discovered a new breed of monkey.
We have just got back from our holidays.
or adverbs which include the present:
so far until now up to now // ever (in questions) // yet (in questions and negatives)
Have you ever seen a ghost?
Where have you been up to now?
A: Have you finished your homework yet?
B: No, so far I've only done my history.
After a clause with the present perfect we often use a clause with since to show when
something started in the past:
I've worked here since I left school.
I've been watching that programme every week since it started.
Exercises.
1. Sophie and I (know) _____________________ each other since we were at school together.
2. I (play) _____________________ tennis since I was eight years old.
3. Alain (be) _____________________ in hospital three times this year.
4. I (want) _____________________ to be an actor for as long as I can remember.
5. My uncle (smoke) _____________________ 40 cigarettes a day for 40 years – and he's a
doctor!
6. You (have) _____________________ that suit for more than ten years! Isn't it time to get a
new one?
7. Since he finished university, my brother (work) _____________________ in five different
countries.
8. Zerrin (watch) _____________________ that TV programme every week since it started.
9. I (never like) _____________________ bananas. I think they're horrible!
10. What's the most interesting city you (ever visit) _____________________ ?
2. Complete with been or gone.
Your hair looks nice. Have you ___________ to the hairdresser's?
Keith has ___________ to the shop to get some bread. He'll be back in five minutes.
I've ___________ to the shop but there was no bread. Sorry!
Reginald has ___________ to Istanbul on business five or six times this year.
Ms Evans isn't in her office. She's probably ___________ home.
Where has my passport ___________? I can't find it anywhere.
3. Write these questions in present perfect.
1.-Who/buy the newspaper ?
___________________________________________________________________ ?
2.-he/meet your family yet ?
___________________________________________________________________ ?
3.-My parents/not eat dinner yet.
___________________________________________________________________.
4.-she/drink her glass of water ?
___________________________________________________________________ ?
5.-you/ever miss the bus ?
___________________________________________________________________ ?
6.-She/decide where to go on holidays.
___________________________________________________________________.
7.-Why he/not finish his homework.
___________________________________________________________________ ?
8.-Where/you park the car ?
___________________________________________________________________ ?
9.-The man/ shut the door.
___________________________________________________________________ .
10.-Why/ the police arrest that boy ?
___________________________________________________________________ ?
