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GRAMMAR Present Perfect (1)

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11 views4 pages

GRAMMAR Present Perfect (1)

Uploaded by

Lucy Quintero
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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GRAMMAR - THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

PRESENT PERFECT

FORM: [has/have + past participle]

Examples:

Positive Negative Question

I / you / we / they I have spoken. I have not spoken. Have I spoken?

he / she / it He has spoken. He has not spoken. Has he spoken?

The present perfect tense is used when there is a strong link between the past and the
present. It gives information about the present and the past. We use the Present Perfect to say
that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important.

You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with specific time expressions such as: yesterday, one
year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one
day, etc.

We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever, never, once, many
times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, lately, recently, up to now, etc.

In addition we use the present perfect with ‘for’ and ‘since’

I’ve lived in London for ten years (and still do) for + a period of time
I’ve lived in London since 1976 (and still do) since + starting point of time

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HOW DO WE USE THE PRESENT PERFECT? :

TOPIC 1 Experience

An action that has taken place once, never or several times before the moment of speaking

Examples:

• I have been to India. I have been to France three times. I have seen that movie twice.

TOPIC 2 Change Over Time

We often use the Present Perfect to talk about an action which began in the past and has
continued until now.

Examples:

• I have lived in Madrid for three years and I’m very happy here.
• He has worked as a dentist all his life.
• My English has really improved since I moved to Australia.

TOPIC 3 Finished action that has influence on the present

Example:

• I have lost my keys. (I don’t have them now)

TOPIC 4 With the particles just, yet and already

We often use the Present Perfect to say that an action which we expected has or has not
happened.

Examples:

• The 8 o’clock train has just left.


• James has not finished his homework yet.
• Jim has already graduated from university.

Yet is used in negative and interrogative sentences.

Already is used in affirmative sentences.

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EXERCISES

»Since« and »For«

- since - if the starting point is given (two o'clock, last Friday, 1998)
- for - if the period of time is given (twenty minutes, two days, one year, a long time)

Decide whether to use »since« or »for«.

I have been waiting __________4 o'clock.


Sue has only been waiting __________ 20 minutes.
Tim and Tina have studied English __________ six years.
Fred and Tina have had a dog __________ 1998.
Joe and Josephine have known each other__________ Valentine's Day.
I haven't been on holiday __________ last July.
Mary has saved money __________ many years.
I haven't eaten anything __________ breakfast.
You have been watching TV __________ hours.
We have lived here __________ 2 months.

Past Simple and Present perfect

Match the two parts of these sentences so that every sentence is grammatically correct and
makes sense

1. I’ve had a headache a. for several years.


2. The cost of this course increased by 10% b. yet.
3. The machine has broken down c. this morning?
4. Cars replaced horses d. last night.
5. I haven’t passed my driving test e. in the last few weeks.
6. I didn’t sleep very well f. at least an hour ago.
7. You’re too late. The film began g. nearly a hundred years ago.
8. He’s been a vegetarian h. last year.
9. Did you have breakfast i. since lunchtime.
10. He has become more sociable j. several times this month.

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Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses.

1. A: Did you like the movie "Star Wars?" B: I don't know. I ______________(see, never) that
movie.

2. Sam _______________(arrive) in San Diego a week ago.

3. My best friend and I _______________(know) each other for over fifteen years. We still get
together once a week.

4. Stinson is a fantastic writer. He ______________(write) ten very creative short stories in the last
year. One day, he'll be as famous as Hemingway.

5. I _____________(have, not) this much fun since I ______________(be) a kid.

6. Sam is from Colorado, which is hundreds of miles from the coast, so he_______________ (see,
never) the ocean. He should come with us to Miami.

7. Jonny, I can't believe how much you _______________ (change) since the last time I
_______________ (see) you. You _______________ (grow) at least a foot!

8. This mountain _______________ (be, never) climbed by anyone. Several mountaineers


_______________ (try) to reach the top, but nobody _______________ (succeed, ever) . The climb
is extremely difficult and many people_______________ (die) trying to reach the top.

Put the verbs into the correct tense (simple past or present perfect simple).

A: ________________ (you / taste / ever) sushi?


B: Yes, I ________________ (eat) sushi at least five times so far.
A: When ________________ (you / eat) sushi for the first time?
B: I ________________ (eat) sushi for the first time on my dad's 50th birthday.
He________________ (invite) the whole family to a Japanese restaurant.
A: ________________ (you / like) it?
B: Absolutely. In fact, it ________________ (be) so good that we ________________ (be) to
that restaurant three times yet. And on my mum's birthday, we ________________ (order)
some sushi and ________________ (have) it delivered at home.

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