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Grammar: perfect tenses I

49 I've never been to India.

I've never been to India. I've worked in a hotel.

Have you ever seen any Indian films? This is the first time we've come by train.

• We can use the present perfect to talk about experiences in our lives up to now:
I've never been to India. I've worked in a hotel.
• We often use never and ever when we talk about experiences in our lives. We use
never in statements and ever in questions:
I've never been to India. Have you ever seen any Indian films?
• We often use This is/It's the first time with the present perfect to talk about
something that is happening for the first time:
This is/It's the first time we've come by train .

.&. Note the difference between been (to) and gone (to):
He's been to India. (He went to India but he is back now.)
He's gone to India. (He is in India now.)

PRACTICE
49a Tim wants to get a part in a film. Look at the table and complete the sentences.
Use the present perfect.

had a part been on ridden driven played sung jazz

in a film TV a horse a car the piano songs
Rob X .I X .I X .I
Kay a .I .I X .I .I X
Tim X X .I X .I .I
's never had . 's been
o Rob .............................. a part m a film, but he ........... ...................
on TV.
1 Kaya .............................. the piano, but she .............................. jazz
songs.
2 Rob and Kaya .............................. a horse but they ........ .. .................. ..
a car.
3 I .............................. a horse and I .............................. the piano.
4 The film company wants an actor who can ride a horse, play the
piano and sing jazz songs. I've done all those things, but I
.............................. a part in a film. I don't think I'll get this part.

85 I ¥
fll•• Grammar: perfect tenses www.frenglish.ru

49b Write questions. Use the present perfect with ever.

o you I use I this machine? .!'!.l!.~~.Y.?.'!. .~.~~=- .~~~~.~~!~.1!!f!.~~!!!.~L ...... .
1 you I be I late for a meeting? .............................................................. ..
2 the director I speak I to you?

3 you I visit I this website?

4 Kim and Zoe I have I lunch with you?
5 you I be I to that cafe?
6 Tom I phone I you?

49C Circle the correct answer.

o Let's ask Sam about Hong Kong. He's~/gone there.
1 Jason isn't here. He's been I gone to the sports centre.
2 Is th is your medicine? Have you been /gone to the doctor today?
3 We've been /gone to the shop and we've got some juice. Do you want some?
4 They've been /gone to the cinema. Do you want to leave a message for them?
5 I've been /gone to that exhibition. It's really good.
6 Emma's not in the library. Has she been /gone home?
7 The boys have been I gone to the park. They'll be back at six.
8 Nikki's been /gone to Spain lots of times.

49d Complete the conversation. Use the present perfect of the verbs in brackets.
, d.
A: Can you read the map? This is the first time I (o) .......... ~~... !.~~!!!!......... (drive) in
London.
B: Yes, sure. Don't worry. Let's listen to a CD. Do you know this one by Jose
Gonzalez?
A: No. I (1) ................................. (never I hear) anything by him.
B: I think he's good. He's coming to the Latitude Festival next month.
(2) .......... ....................... (you I ever I be) to that?
A: No, I haven't. Is it good?
B: Paul thinks it's good. He (3) ................................. (be) to it. Oh! What was that?
What's happened?
A: Oh no! We've got a flat tyre! This is the first time this (4) ................................ .
(happen) to me! I don't know how to change it. My dad (s) ................................ .
(never I show) me how to do it.
B: Can he come and help us?
A: No, my parents aren't at home this weekend. They (6) .. .. ............................ .
(go) to Nottingham!

·-·86
time words: present perfect or simple past?

We don't normally use the present perfect with finished-time expressions.

We've found oil in the garden. BUT NOT We’ve found oil in the garden yesterday.
A plane has crashed at Heathrow Airport. BUT NOT A plane has crashed at 3.15 this afternoon.

Circle the words for a finished time.

a few days ago always this week last week never now
then today yesterday when in 1990

Correct ( / ) or not (X)?

► My father has changed his job. 8 Mary has written to me three weeks ago. ..
► Andy has gone to Scotland last week. . *. 9 Sorry - I've forgotten your name........
1 Look what Peter has given me yesterday! 10 I've forgotten Mike's birthday last Tuesday.
2 I've seen a great programme last night.... 11 Everybody has gone home at 10 o'clock. ...
3 I think everybody has arrived now....... 12 There's nobody here! What has happened?
4 When have you talked to Ann?...... 13 Sally has left school in 2006........
5 We've bought a new car in April........ 14 When have you arrived in London?......
6 I've met my wife when we were students. 15 I think Mary has missed the train........
7 Look what Peter has given m e!...... 16 What have you done then?......

We can use the present perfect to ask if things have happened up to now, or to say that they haven't
happened up to now. This often happens with words for an unfinished time (for example today, ever, never).
Has the boss phoned today? Have you ever broken your leg?
We haven't been to Scotland this year. Mary hasn't written to me this week.

Have you ever seen a ghost? I've never seen one.

PAST ?EVER EVER EVER •• NOW PAST NO W

^ Make present perfect sentences.

► Steven / pay / for his lessons ? . . f?r. J?!£
1 you / ever / write / a poem ? ................................................................
2 I /never /clim b /a mountain ...............................................................
3 Charles/speak/to you/today? .........................................................
4 C la ra /n o t/te ll/m e /h e r new address ...............................................
5 you/ever/lose/your memory? .........................................................
6 W e /n o t/p la y /fo o tb a ll/th is year ......................................................
7 Alex/never/write to me ....................................................................
8 you/see Henry/this week ? ...............................................................
9 my father/never/drive a car ..............................................................
10 the cat/have/anything to eat/today? ..............................................
11 you/finish/those letters ? ..................................................................
12 I / n o t/p a y /fo r the lessons/this month .............................................
13 Sally / have a baby ...............................................................................
14 Lucy/not phone/today .....................................................................
15 Corinne/come back/from India ? ......................................................
16 It / stop / raining ..................................................................................
17 the postman /com e/this morning ? ...................................................
18 W e/eat/everything in the house .......................................................

62 PERFECT TENSES
 We can use the present perfect to say how often things have happened up to now.
That's a wonderful film. I've seen it three times. Sally has only been to Ireland once.
We've often wanted to come and see you.

^ Make present perfect sentences.

► I / break / my arm / three times .........
1 Joe / change / his job / twice this year

2 how often / she/ask/you for money ?

3 I/o fte n /try /to stop smoking

4 Tom /phone /m e /six times this week

5 My father / meet / the Prime Minister / twice

6 The police / question / Annie / more than once

7 I/o n ly /p la y /ru g b y /o n c e in my life

8 My brother / often / help / me / in my work

9 Nobody/ ever/understand/ her

10 I / never/w ant/to go to the moon

Q Present perfect or simple past? Circle the correct answers.

1 Did you ever go / Have you ever been to Wales? 6 I haven't bought any clothes this year / last year.
2 I never read /have never read any of his books. 7 Julia stayed / has stayed with us last week.
3 Our team won / has won two matches this year. 8 I worked very hard today/yesterday.
4 Our team won / has won two matches last year. 9 I never saw/have never seen a ghost.
5 Shakespeare never went/has never been to Athens. 10 When did John phone. / has John phoned?

@ Write five things that you didn't do yesterday, and five things that you have never done.
1 I d id n 't....................................................................................................................................... yesterday.
2 ......................................................................................................................................................................................................
3 .....................................................................................................................................................................
4 .....................................................................................................................................................................
5 .....................................................................................................................................................................
6 I have never.................................................................................................................................................
7 .....................................................................................................................................................................
8 ......................................................................................................................................................................................................
9
10
-» For the present perfect with just, yet and already, see page 64.

In some answers, both contracted forms (for example I'm, don't) and full
PERFECT TENSES 63
forms (for example Iam, do not) are possible. Normally both are correct.
 Verbs that are often used with the
present perfect in speaking and writing
include agree, be, do, experience, find, go,
say, see, show, talk, and think.
Scientists have done experiments in space.
Researchers have found useful chemicals under the sea.
Research has shown there is water on Mars.
Have you thought about that?

< Grammar Application

Exercise 2.1 Statements
Complete the sentences about a biotech company, a company that develops medicines.
Use the present perfect form of the verbs in parentheses.

A number of drug companies hcive found (find)

(1)
medicines in the rain forest. In fact, over 120 medicines

(come) from rain forest plants. Some

(2)
companies _ (get) information about
(3)
these plants from the local people. In many cases, the people

(live) there for hundreds of years, and they

(4)
know all about the plants. However, they
(5)
(not receive) money or other benefits for their help. Some drug companies

(not think) about the rights of the local people who help them.
(6)
Also, some companies (not take) care of the local environment.
(7)
One drug company. Rain Forest Biotech, (take) steps to
(8)
improve things. Rain Forest Biotech (develop) a new way to
(9)
find drugs and respect the people and land at the same time. Rain Forest Biotech

also (set) up programs to help the local people they work with.
(10)

Exercise 2.2 Questions and Answers

A M ‘i Complete the interview with the president of Rain Forest Biotech. Use the present
perfect form of the verbs in parentheses. Then listen and check your answers.

Chtis Green My guest today is Dr. Marty Robles. Dr. Robles is the president of Rain

Forest Biotech. Rain Forest Biotech has made some exciting discoveries in

the rain forests of the Amazon. Dr. Robles, you have an exciting company, and

120 Unit 10 Present Perfect

 Present Perfect

you ve had (have) an exciting life, too, I think. Tell us a

fi)
little bit about your life. How many times
(2)
you (be) to the Amazon?
(2)
Dr. Robles I (make) 100 trips to the Amazon
(3)
region.

Chris Green Who (go) with you?

(4)
Dr. Robles My team.

Chris Green And who else you (work)

(5) (5)
with there?

Dr. Robles Well, I (meet) many traditional healers on my trips.

(6)
These people (teach) me how they use local plants to
(7)
cure diseases. I (learn) a great deal about their lives and
(8)
about their land, too.

Chris Green you (be) to Africa?

(9) (9)
Dr. Robles No, I (not be) to Africa, but my team
(10) (11)
(visited) New Guinea, and I (do) research in Australia.
(12)

B ® ' Tisten again. What else do you learn about Dr. Robles? Circle the correct words.
1. Dr. Robles has traveled to rain forests in Central America / Central Asia.
2. His team has discovered medicines for heart / brain disease.
3. He’s brought his children with him on some / all of his expeditions.

Exercise 2.3 More Questions

A Unscramble the words to make questions.
1. lived / have / How many / places / different / you / ?
How many different places have you lived?
2. Chicago / you / in / lived / Have / ?

3. Where / traveled / you / have / ?

4. Have / New York City / visited / you / ever / ?

Discoveries 121
 5. with / Who / you / traveled / have / ?

6. your family / you / helped / has / How /?

7. Has / advice / you / your family / life / given / about / ?

8. learned / have / this class / in / you / What / ?

B Pair Work Ask and answer the questions in A with a partner. Give true answers
about yourself Ask follow-up questions and add extra information.
A How many different places have you lived?
B Two.
A Where have you lived?
B Tve lived in El Salvador and the United States.
A Have you ever visited...?

Present Perfect or Simple Past?

V Grammar Presentation
The present perfect describes events that happened
at an indefinite time in the past and may still be
happening in the present. These events are still She has visited the rain forest many
important or still have an effect in the present. The times. She went there last year.
simple past is for finished events that happened at a
specific time in the past.
i <

3.1 Present Perfect or Simple Past?

a. Use the present perfect for things that She has been to Costa Rica.
happened at an indefinite time (or times) Scientists have discovered medicines in the
in the past. Amazon.

Use the simple past for things that She went to Costa Rica in 2010.
happened at a specific time (or times) Scientists discovered a new medicine in the
in the past. Amazon last year.

122 Unit 10 Present Perfect