Experiences about what you have done.

GRAMMAR PRESENT PERFECT

1. We use the present perfect for an action or situation that happened at some unspecified
time in the past. The exact time is not important. The action or situation has importance in
the present. Ex: He has just missed the buss.
I have missed the bus, but I won’t be late.
I have washed the car.
He hasn’t done his homework. (Situation)

2. We use the present perfect to talk about actions that were repeated in the past. The exact
time is not stated or important.
Ex: We’ve taken two tests this month

I have been to New York three times.

3. We often use the present perfect with some time expressions as: for, since, just, already,
yet, ever, never, and how long.

Affirmative

Subject Have Past Complement Explanation

Participle
I have been In the U.S. for three years. To form the present perfect

You have had a lot of experience use:

We have written a book about medicine. I, you, we, they, plural
They have seen a beautiful bird. Noun + have + past participle.
My parents have visited many places in New York.

Negative
Subject Have Has Past Complement Explanation
Participle

HE has not found a job. Top form negative

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She has not given a test yet. Put not between the

auxiliary verb (has / have)

I have not worked lately.

and the past participle.

We, You have not done the lesson two yet.

They have not forgotten my birthday.

Subject Has Past Complement Explanation

Participle
My sister has been a doctor for two years. To form the present perfect,

She has had a lot of experience. use:

My father has visited me in Brazil. He, she, it, singular
He has bought a new car for his wife. Noun + has + past participle
It has rained a lot this month.
Yes / No Question (?)

Have / Has Subject Past Complement Explanation

Participle

Have we worked in a factory? Begins with the auxiliary

Have you wanted to learn English? (have / has) + subject + verb

past participle +
Have they found a job?

complement
Has he/she/It arrived in the U.S.?

With an adverb
Subject Have /Has Adverb Past Complement Explanation
Participle

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 We have never worked in a Factory. You can put and adverb

You have always wanted to learn English. between the auxiliary verb

(has / have) and the past

They have already found a job.

participle.
He, She, It has just arrived in the U.S.

The plane has probably arrived to Europe.

Practice

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses

1. Ronald Gonzalez __________________________________ (send) three résumés this week.

2. He ____________________________________ (have) several interviews.

3. Mr. Johnson _________________________ (get) a letter from Daniel.

4. There __________________________________ (be) many applicants for the job.

5. Tom’s parents _________________________ (always / be) in the hotel business.

6. Duncan _______________________________ (recently / graduate) from college)

7. I _____________________________ (read) Daniel’s résumé.

8. Gabriel Badilla ____________________________ (never / work) as a programmer)

9. He _____________________________ (send) his résumé to many companies.

10. The company ___________________________ (interview) 20 applicants so far.

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Practice

Complete the conversation with the present perfect of the verbs in parentheses.

Marco: What things __________ you _______________ (do) up to now?

Tina: Lots of things. I ___________________________ (wash) the dishes, and I
__________________________ (make) the bed.I _________________________ (go) to the store,
and I _____________________________ (buy) groceries. What have you done?
Marco: I ___________________________ (take) a shower, I ______________________ (do) my
homework, and I _______________________________ (clean) my room. And …oh, yes. I
______________________________ (have) lunch.

For and Since

1. We use for with the present perfect when we are talking about a period or length of time
that started in the past and continues to the present.
I’ve lived here for three years.
2. we use since with the present perfect when we are talking about a point of the time in the
past such as a date, a month, or a day.
I’ve worked here since August.
She’s been sick since Tuesday.

Practice
Some of these time expressions are used with for. Others are used with since. Put then in the
correct list.
2010 I was a child Monday

a long time last month my birthday

about a week two months six hours

New Year’s Eve last year ten minutes

eight o’clock 30 seconds three years

Friday evening many years yesterday

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I moved here May

Practice

Loch Ness is a lake between the Scottish towns

of Inverness and Fort Augustus. The word loch
is Scottish for lake. Loch Ness is about 37 km
long and extremely deep, the deepest part is
226 m.

Loch Ness is famous for its friendly monster,

Nessie. Most people think that this is only a
legend, but every year tourists from all over the
world come to Loch Ness and hope that they
will see the monster.

Write the verbs in present perfect.

1. Tourists from all over the world (be) ____________________________ to Loch Ness.
2. Most of them (see / not) ______________________________________ Nessie,
however.
3. Only very few people say that the Loch Ness Monster

(appear)__________________ in front of them.

4. Even scientists (come) _______________________ to Loch Ness to find the monster.

5. And the boss of the Guinness brewery (promise) __________________________to

pay 500,000 Pounds to the person who catches Nessie.

Practice
Complete the conversation with for and since.

1. Carlos Saucedo has had his car __________________ a year, but he wants to sell it.
2. He’s had problems with it __________________ the day he bought it.
3. The lights haven’t worked _________________ March.
4. It has made a gunny noise _________________ several weeks.
5. He has taken it to a mechanic every week ________________ a month.

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6. He has spent a lot of money on it every month ________________ June.
7. He has run an advertisement in the newspaper every day _____________ a week.
8. So far, he hasn’t had a response __________________ he ran the ad.

Already, Yet, Just, Ever and Never (They are often used in perfect times)
1. We use yet in negative sentences to say that something has not happened, but we think it
will. Yet comes at the end of the sentence.

Ex:The plane hasn’t arrived yet.

2. We also use yet in questions to ask if something we expect to happen, has happened.

Ex. Has the plane arrived yet?

3. We use “just” if the action is very recent.”Just” comes before the past
participle. Ex: I’ve just spoken to Tony.

They have just gotten married.

3. We use already to say something happened before now or before it was expected to
happen. Already comes before the past participle.

Ex: I’ve already told you to get there.

4. We use ever in questions to know if someone has been in any place

sometime. Ex: Have you ever gone white-water rafting?

5. We also use never in negative statements to indicate an absolute

negation. Ex: I have never eaten tiramisu dessert.

Practice 12
Fill in the blanks using ever, never, just, already, and yet.
1. Have you _________________been in America?
2. Do you hear the noise? The train has ______________________arrived.
3. No. Your cousin hasn't come to the party ____________________.
4. Can you open the door? Oh, it is ____________________ open.
5. Your daughter has _______________ returned home. You don't have to worry anymore.
6. Haven't you finished your food _________________? No, I am still eating mom.
7. I am a very lucky person. I have ______________________had nightmares.
8. Are you going to meet me at the shop? Yes, I am _____________________there.
9. I have __________________________realized how beautiful you are.
10. Would you like to have dinner with us? No thanks, I have ______________ had dinner.
11. Have you _________________________seen such a big ant?

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12. I've ________________ seen your teacher, and he's told me that you haven't

finished your assignments yet.

13. Have you _____________________ travelled to Australia?

14. No, I've ____________________ been there.
15. Have you called your father ______________? Yes, I've already told him that we

are leaving.

16. We've _________________ bought a new tent, so we can all sleep inside.
17. Have you finished eating that _____________________? No, not yet.
18. This book has ______________________arrived. It's what you wanted.

The Simple Past Tense or the Present Perfect Tense

1. We use the simple past tense when we are talking about the past. We use it for
actions that happened in the past. We can state the specific time of the action.

2. We use the present perfect for an action that happened in the past. The action
has importance in the present. The specific time is unimportant, and we cannot
state it. Ex: Amanda has been to Brazil.
John has worked very hard.

3. We use the simple past for an action that started and finished in the past.

Ex: George had a headache for two hours this morning. (He doesn’t have a headache now.)

4. We use the present perfect for an action that started in the past and still continuing in
the present.

Ex: George has had a headache for two hours. (He still has a headache.)
Practice
Complete the sentences with the simple past or the present perfect of the verbs in
parentheses.

1. A: I (see) _________________________ Karen yesterday.

B: Oh really? I (not /see) ________________________________ her for weeks.

2. A: What (do) ________________ you ___________________ last Saturday?

B: I (stay) ____________________________ at home.

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3. A: (write) ____________________ you ________________ your essay yet?

B: Yes, I (finish) ____________________________ it an hour ago.

4. A: (be) ___________________you___________________ to the United States?

B: Yes, I (go) _________________________ to Miami last summer.

5. A: I (know) ______________________________ Tony for three years.

B: Really? When (meet) _____________________ you _______________ him?

A: We (meet) _______________________________ in college.

6. A: (eat) _______________________ you _______________ at Mario’s restaurant?

B: Yes, I ___________________. I (e_______________________ there last Saturday.

7. A: (ever, play) ____________________ you __________ ______________ soccer?

B: Yes, I (play) ________________________________ when I was a teenager.

8: A: (ask) __________________ you _____________ the teacher about the essay yet?

B: Yes, I (talk) _____________________________ to her yesterday.

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