TGC IV SAM IV Name: __________________________
ENGLISH II Date: __________________________
PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
The present perfect tense has a number of uses.
1 We use it to talk about experience.
 I’ve worked in 6 different countries.
 Have you ever been to Australia?
 She’s won many awards for her books.
When these things happened is not important – the
focus is on the action/state, not when it happened.
If we say when we had the experience, we must use the
past simple.
 I’ve visited Russia several times.
 BUT I visited Russia for the first time in 1992.
We can never use the present perfect with a time in the
past.
 I have been to Spain in 2002.
2 We also use the present perfect to talk about things
that are unfinished – unfinished states and unfinished
time periods.
 I’ve known him since I was 11. (unfinished state)
I met him when I was 11. I still know him now. The
present perfect is acting as a bridge between the past
and the present.
 I’ve had this watch for almost thirty years.
 We’ve lived here since I was a boy.
 She’s been to the cinema three times this week.
(unfinished time period)
This week isn’t finished yet – she may go to the cinema
again.
 We’ve already had two holidays this year.
 I’ve eaten too much today.
3 A third use of the present perfect is to show the
present result of a past action
 I’ve lost my keys.
He lost his keys some time in the past but the result –
he can’t get into his house – is in the present.
 John’s broken his leg and he can’t go on holiday.
 A storm has blown down the telephone lines. We’re
stuck here!
PRACTICE
Complete the sentences using the appropriate words
into the gaps.
Have you sent has stolen have you lived
Have you ever seen have eaten
1. How many e-mails __________________________
today?
2. __________________________ a bear in real life?
3. Someone ______________________ my jacket! It
had my wallet in it.
4. How long ____________________________ in
Bratislava?
5. This is the first time I __________________________
Japanese food.
 TGC IV SAM IV Name: __________________________
ENGLISH II Date: __________________________

2. The patient took his medication … .

Fill in the spaces with the correct form of the verb in a. an hour ago b. just
simple present perfect tense.
3. Have you … broken your arm?
1) The McMillans (prepare) _______ _________ a lot of a. ever b. lately
food for the party. It looks delicious.
2) Tony’s flight from New Jersey (land) _______ 4. Peter and Jane were in an accident … .Luckily, they
________. We should see him any minute. weren’t injured badly.
3) Sparky (taste) _______ ________ his new dog food, a. six months b. last week
and he seems to like it.
4) The police (arrest) _______ ________ two men for 5. We have been sick … . It’s probably the flu.
the robbery. It is time to question them. a. yet b. since Sunday
5) The medicine (cure) _______ ________ William’s
illness. It seems miraculous 6. … did the doctor x-ray your arm?
6) Mark (eat) _______ ________ dinner already. He is a. When b. How
not hungry.
7) Beth (write) _______ ________ three letters today. Look at the pictures. What has happened? Choose from:
She misses her family. Go to bed clean his shoes stop raining
8) Yoko and Armand (take) _______ ________ the test. Close the door fall down have a bath
Now they can relax.
9) Marty and I (be) _______ ________ to Costa Rica
three times. We are familiar with the culture.
10) I (drink) _______ _______ six cups of water today.

Circle the correct answer to complete each

sentence.
1. … broken your leg?
a. How have you b. You have

2. … taken my temperature?
a. Why has she b. When did she

3. … have their injections?

a. When have they b. When did they

4. Ted hasn’t had the flu, … ?

a. has he b. hasn’t he

5. You have seen the doctor, … ?

a. didn’t you b. haven’t you

6. Jim and John haven’t had their flu shots

yet, … ?
a. have they b. have we

Circle the correct time expression to complete

each sentence.

1. Paula hasn’t been to see the doctor … .

She really needs a checkup.
a. yesterday b. yet