Present perfect simple; Present perfect simple or Past simple

Present perfect simple; Present perfect simple or Past simple

Affirmative

Negative

Interrogative

Short answers Regular verbs:

I have worked / You have lived / She has attended / They have played.

Irregular verbs:

I have been / You have spoken / He has written / We have run / They have had.

I / You / We / They haven’t lived He / She / It hasn’t done.

Have I / you / we / they studied…? Has he / she / it given …?

Yes, I / you / we / they have. Yes, he / she / it has. No, I / you / we / they haven’t. No, he / she / it hasn’t.

USAGE AND EXAMPLES

The Present perfect is used for actions or events happening from the past until now. In particular: • when focusing on the experience so far (time of the past action is unimportant or not mentioned):

I’ve done my homework, Mum! • when the past action has a result in the present situation:

Have you seen my glasses? (I’m looking for them now) • when we talk about a recent event or action:

The road is closed. There’s (=has) just been an accident. - Have you met him lately? • often with the adverbs: never, ever, already, yet:

Have you ever eaten frogs? (asking if that has or hasn’t happened)

The film’s already begun. - Has the train left yet? No, it hasn’t left yet. • when the time period isn’t over yet (this year / today / so far) and a number indicates progression:

I’ve read five books this year. (but I may read more books before the year ends)

How many novels has Stephen King written? (he is still working as a novelist) • with expressions like: It’s the first/second time...; with superlatives as in: it’s the best book …

This is the third time I’ve met her today. - It’s the worst film I’ve watched

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE or PAST SIMPLE

I’ve cut my finger. (when is irrelevant)

The train has just arrived. (very recently)

Spielberg has made a lot of films. (he’s alive)

Oh no, I’ve lost my passport. (I’m still loking for it)

(it’s 11 am) I’ve done three exercise this morning

Have you been to Brazil? (experience so far)

I cut my finger while cooking. (time expression)

The train arrived a few minutes ago. (time expression)

Shakespeare wrote a lot of plays. (he’s dead)

I lost my passport but I found it. (completed)

(it’s 3 pm) I did three exercises this morning.

When did you go to Brazil? (time expression)

Note!

When talking about a past experience the opening sentence is usually Present perfect simple. However, if you keep talking about it, you switch to Past simple. Study the example: A: Have you ever been to that restaurant? B: Yes, I have. (opening sentence = focus on experience) A: Did you like the food there? B: Yes, it was delicious. (focus on specific time) When using the Present perfect of go you use gone when someone is still where he/she went and been when the person is back. Compare the situations: Where’s Anna? She’s gone to the doctor’s. / Anna’s been to the doctor. He said she’s fine.

Underline the elements that suggest the use of Present perfect or Past simple in each sentence. 0 Tony has been to Japan twice this year. 1 I had a sandwich half an hour ago. 2 I still haven’t decided what to do. 3 Milly’s made 25 phone calls today. 4 My son broke his ankle while running. 5 Angela’s gone to the centre. She’ll be back soon. 6 Reagan made a few films before becoming the US President.

Underline the correct tense in each sentence. 1 Their train has left / left a few minutes ago. 2 When have you sold / did you sell your car? 3 We’ve spent / spent all the money. We’re broke. 4 What time has the film started / did the film start? 5 As a child I haven’t liked / didn’t like reading.

6

7

8

This month they’ve been / went to the cinema twice. How many times have you fed / did you feed the cat yesterday? I have seen / saw Jennifer at school. She looked happy.

Build the sentences with the correct tense using the expression in brackets. 0 Tom / meet your parents? (ever) Has Tom ever met your parents? 1 My mother / ski. (never) ______________________________________________________ 2 Jack / win the match. (last Sunday) ______________________________________________________ 3 Amanda and her parents /move here. (in 2005) ______________________________________________________ 4 When / you / buy the new scooter? ______________________________________________________ 5 Anybody / call / the police? (yet) ______________________________________________________ 6 I / do this exercise / twice. (already) ______________________________________________________ 7 Danny / leave the house. (a few hours ago) ______________________________________________________ 8 How many cars / you / have? (so far) ______________________________________________________

5 Listen to the recording and CIRCLE what George has bought. Then UNDERLINE what Tina has finished preparing.

shrimp mayonnaise eggs lasagna meatballs cheese white wine

First Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first using the word in brackets. You must use between 2 and 5 words. 1 I still have to finish my homework. (finished) I ____________________ yet. 2 It started raining a minute ago. (just) It ____________________ raining. 3 Do you still have to have breakfast? (yet) Have you ____________________? 4 We’ve never seen a real whale before. (first) This is the _______________ a whale. 5 His other books are all better than this. (written) This is the ______________________. 6 Lucy went to Bristol but she’s back now. (has) Lucy __________________ to Bristol.

For each sentence choose A, B or C. 1 ___ Bill anywhere? Roger’s looking for him. 2 Tracy ___ to the dentist. Can you call later? 3 How many jobs ___ so far? 4 I’ve ____ been to Canada twice this year. 5 Grandpa ___ here 25 years before retiring. 6 I ___ all my homework this afternoon.

A have you seen A went A have you got A never A has worked A have done

B did you see B has been B did you have B just B worked B did

C were you seeing C has gone C have you had C already C did work C made