Grammar : Present Perfect Simple – Time expression

Present Perfect
Affirmative Negative Interrogative The indicators

I I I  An action ( or the action’s effect)

You You You happened in the past and still
We We We + p.p+? continuing till now. ( very near the
They They They present action)
+have/has + Have / has +not Have/has  Used with : already, ever, just ,
+p.p +p.p He never , yet , so far , till , now , lately
He He She + p.p + ? , up to now , recently , for , since ,
She She It how long ,
It It

e.g . I have written a book yet. e.g. We haven’t won yet. e.g. Have you ever visited Paris ?

For & Since

For is used for a period of time. It show duration.

e.g. They have known each other for two months.
Since is used for a point of time. It means “from that point”.
e.g. They have known each other since 1980.

 Already

Already is used in questions and statements.

e.g. Have you already finished?
Yes, I have already finished.

 Yet Before the main verb

Yet is used in questions and negative sentences.

e.g. Have you finished yet?
No, I haven’t finished yet.
At the end of the sentence
 Ever / never

Ever is used in questions.

e.g. Have you ever visited Australia?
Never is used in affirmative sentences but has negative meaning.
e.g. I’ve never been to Australia.

 Just

Just is used in affirmative sentences to describe a very recent event.

e.g. Maria has just phoned from the airport
Simple Past VS Present Perfect Simple

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

Example I visited 56 countries. I have visited 56 countries.

This person visited 56 countries and so far the travelling is

This person visited 56 countries,
Meaning finished. However, his travelling may continue in the future
but his travelling is finished.
(or it may not continue).

This person may put a specific time

This person may NOT add a specific time.
in this sentence. It is optional.
Specific time?

I visited 56 countries last year. I have visited 56 countries last year.

 Practice
A. Match each sentence with an explanation.
1. Jim has just written a book. ………
2. Has Jim written a book yet? ………
3. Jim has already written a book. ………
4. Jim wrote a book a year ago. ………
5. Jim has never written a book. ………
6. Has Jim ever written a book? ………
7. Jim has written two books since 2006. ………

a. This is not his first book.

b. Does Jim write books?
c. He finished his book last year.
d. He finished a few days ago.
e. Jim started writing in 2006 and has written two books between then and now.
f. Jim doesn’t write books.
g. Has he finished a book?

B. Complete each sentence with a time word from the box.

already ever for just never since yet

1. Sue has …………… been on the beach an hour, but she hasn’t swum yet.
2. I don’t want to see this film. I’ve …………… seen it.
3. Have you …………… been to the Greek islands?
4. Can you please wait a moment? I haven’t finished …………… .
5. Ouch! An insect has …………… bitten me!
6. George has …………… eaten Chinese food, so this is the first time for him!
7. Rick has lived in Japan …………… 2008.
8. She has worked here …………… 3 years.
C. Complete each sentence with a time word from the box.

ever yet never since for just

1. Carlos has lived in the city centre …………… 1996.

2. Have you …………… drunk pineapple juice? It’s fantastic!
3. I’ve …………… heard some fantastic news! I’ve passed my exams!
4. Hurry up! Haven’t you finished ……………?
5. I’ve …………… been on a big ship before. It’s an interesting experience!
6. Nina has worked in this company …………… five years.

D. Complete the sentences with the past simple or present perfect simple form of the verb in
brackets.
1. Where ………………………… for holidays last year? (you/go)
2. I can’t play anymore. I ………………………… my foot. (just/hurt)
3. Jane is a famous writer and ………………………… over fifty books. (write)
4. Sorry, I ………………………… my letters yet. (not/finish)
5. “We had a great party last week.” “Who …………………………?” (you/invite)
6. Where ………………………… Sam? Was it at the sports centre? (you/meet)
7. Peter ………………………… basketball for a month. (not/play)
8. I ………………………… the twins in town last week. (see)
 9. ………………………… her brother? (you/ever/meet)
10. Where ………………………… last weekend? (you/be)
11. ………………………… Kathleen? (you/see)
12. We ………………………… on holiday last year. (not/go)
13. I love clothes. I ………………………… a lot this year. (buy)
14. What ………………………… last weekend? (you/do)
15. Dad ………………………… the car, you can use it now. (repair)
16. Agatha Christie ………………………… from 1890 to 1976. (live)
17. Granny still ………………………… her glasses. (not/find)
18. Where ………………………… your laptop? (you/buy)
19. Oh! You ………………………… the kitchen, I like the colour. (paint)
20. What time ………………………… home last night? (you/get)
21. Emma! Your letter ………………………… at last! (arrive)
22. The weather ………………………… good all week. (be)
23. I ………………………… work early yesterday. (finish)
24. Sue’s not here, she ………………………… out. (go)
25. The weather ………………………… very good last week. (not/be)
26. We ………………………… to the cinema twice this month. (be)
27. Brian ………………………… in England until the age of 14. (live)

Exercises :
A. Use the Present Perfect Simple form of the verbs in brackets.
1. – How long (you/have) ________________ this car?
- I (have) ________________ it since 1989.
2. – (you/see) ____________________ Ann? I want to talk to her.
- No, I (not/see) _________________ her for a month now.
3. - Would you like to go to the cinema with us?
- No, I (not/finish) ______________________ my homework yet.
4. - (you/ever/be) _______________________ to the USA?
- Yes, I (be) _________________ there three times so far.
5. Mary works in a hotel. She (work) ____________________ there for three years.
6. Bill (never/eat) _______________ Chinese food.
7. - Tim, are you still studying?
- No, I (just/finish) ___________________.
8. John is not at home. (he/go) _________________ to the supermarket?

B. Use the Present Perfect Simple or Past Simple.

1. – (you/go) ____________________ to the doctor yesterday?
- No, I (not/be) _________________ to the doctor for ages.
2. – How long (you/live) ________________ in this town?
- I (move) ________________ here five years ago.
3. – Are they still at the cinema?
- No, they (just/come) ______________________ home.
4. - When (be) _________________ your nameday?
- Three days ago. My friends (make) ________________ me a surprise party and they (give)
_________________ me lots of gifts.
5. I (see) _________________ that man before. He (talk) ______________ to me a few years ago and he
(ask) ____________________ me about my family.
6. I (always/want) _______________ to become a dancer.
7. They (not/buy) __________________ a house yet.

C. Use for or since.

1. I ‘ve been a teacher ______________ 1990
2. She waited ____________ a long time but nobody came.
3. Grandma has been very happy _____________ she moved in with us two months ago.
4. I have lived in this town ______________ three years.
5. Mary has known Paul ___________ they were in High School together.
D. Correct the mistakes.
1. She didn’t finish her homework yet.
________________________________________________________________
2. Sue has knew Tom for a long time.
________________________________________________________________
3. Where’s Bill? – He just left.
________________________________________________________________
4. Eva given me a present last week.
________________________________________________________________
5. The postman hasn’t given me the letter already.
________________________________________________________________
6. Lisa already ate dinner.
________________________________________________________________
E. Fill in the forms missing.
INFINITIVE SIMPLE PAST PAST PARTICIPLE
1. drank
2. swim
3. come
4. wrote
5. buy
6. driven
7. broke
8. go