2A

present perfect and past simple past simple (worked, stopped, went, had, etc.)

present perfect simple: have / has+ past participle (worked, seen, etc.) They go t niarried last year. ( 1' 43 l))
\Vhat t i rne did yo u \Vak e up this nlorning?
I past exp eriences ( 1 42 l)) I didn 't have ti1ne to do 1ny hon1e\vork.
I've b een ro London, bur I haven 't b een to O xford .
Have vo u ever los t vou r credit card:>
' J • Use the past si n1ple fo r fin ished past actions
Sally h as never m e t Bill's ex-,vife. (vvhen \Ve say, ask, or kno\v \Vhen they happened).
'
2 recent past actions
I've cut rn y finger! present perfect or past simple?
Ton late! O ur train h as just le ft '
3 \Vi th yet and already (for entphasis) I've b een to Mad rid nvice. 1 44 l))
I've already seen rhis fihu t\vice. Can't we ,.vatch another one? (= in rny li fe up to no,v)
My brother hasn 't found a ne\v job yet. He's stil l looking. I went there in 1998 and 2002.
H ave you finish e d your hon1e,vork yet? No, not yet. (=on t\vo specific occasions)
I've bough t a nev,; con1puter.
1 We use the present perfect for past experiences, \vhen vve don't say exactly (=I don't say exactly \Vhen, \vhere, etc.)
when they happened. I boug h t it last Saturday.(= I say \vhen)
• We often use ever and never 'vhen we ask or talk about past
experiences. They go before the 1nain verb. • Use the present perfect (NOT the past si n1ple)
2 We use the p resent perfect for recent past actions, often \Vithjust. to talk about past experiences and recent past
actions when we don't s pecify a time .
• just goes before the 1nain verb.
• Use the past sin1ple ( NOT the present perfect)
3 \Ve also use the present perfect 'A'ith yet and already.
to ask or talk about fin ished actions in the past,
• already is used in[Bseotences and goes before the n1ain verb. w h en the ti1ne is m entio11ed or understood.
• yet is used vvith G sentences and [11. It goes at the end of the phrase. We often use a past ri1ne expression, e.g. yesterday,
• For irregular past participles see I rregttlar verbs p.165. la.st ~veek, etc.

a Con1plete the n1ini dialogues ' vith b Right or \vrong? T ick ./ or cross X the
the present perfect forn1 of the verb sentences. Correct the \vrong sentences .
in brackets and an adverb fron1 the list. I've never been in debt . ./
You can use the adverbs n1ore than once.
Ho~' rnucb h as yo ur ne\v can1era cost ? X
already ever just never yet
f To~v niuch did your ne1v earn.era cost?
I D ean h as just inherited €5,000 fro n1 a
A \V hy arc you smiling? relative.
B l'vejustjound a € 50 no te ! (find)
2 Did your sister pay you back yet::>
1 A you a f1ight online? (book)
B Yes, o f cou rse. I've done it loads of t in1es. 3 \\Te booked our holiday online a month ago.
2 A \\! hen are you going to buy a n10torbike? 4 \\! hen have you bought th at leather jacket::>
B Soon . T n early € 1,000. (save)
S They've finished paying back the loan last
3 A you the electricity bill ? (pay)
n10nth.
B o, sorry. I forgot.
4 A your parents yo u money? (lend) 6 V./c haven't paid the gas bill ye r.
B Yes, but l paid it back as soon as I could. 7 Have vou ever \Vasted a lot of n1onev on
I ,

5 A H o\v does eBav \VOrk? I

so1neth in g?
B I don't knovv. l _______ _ _ _ _ _ it. (use)
8 I'rn sure I h aven't borrO\'led an'!
.· n1one'I,
6 A \X/hat a re you celebrating? fron1 yo u last >veek.
B \Ve _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ a prize in the lottery' (\vin)
9 I spent rny salary really quickly last n1onth.
7 A \\Thy h aven't yo u got any 111oney?
B l n1y salar y. I bought a nevv tablet 10 Have you seen the Batn1an filn1 on T \ !
last >veek. (spend) yesterday?
8 A Would you like a coffee::> --< p.16
B No, thanks.! _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ one. (have)
 GRAMMAR BANK
28
present perfect+ for I since, present perfect continuous 1 \Ve use the present perfecr conrinuous v•irhfor
and since \Vith actiOll verbs (e.g. /earn, \ VOl'k, 80,
pres ent perfect+ for I since etc.) to talk about actions vvhich star ted in the past
and are still true now.
They've known each other for ren years. ( 47 >))
• Don't use the present continuous vvithfor /
Jul ia has had that bag since she \Vas at un iversity. since, I OT fttrrnvorking-herefor-tt•vcryettrs.
A Ho\v long have you \Vorked here? 2 \Ve can also use the present perfect continuous for
B Since 1996. continuous or repeated actions •vhich have been
A Ho'v long has your brother had his n1otorbike? h appening very recently. The actions have usually
B For about a year. just finished.

I've (I have)
• We use the present perfect+ jar or since \Vith non-ac tion verbs (e.g. like, You've (You have)
been working here
have, kno1.v, etc.) to talk about son1ething \vhich started in the past and is He I She I It 's (He has)
for two years.
still true no\v. We've (We have)
They've (They have)
They've kno~vn each otherfor ten years. (=they niet ten years ago and they
still kno\v each other today)
I haven't (I have not)
• \Ve use How Lona ...?+ present perfec t to ask about an unfinished period You haven't
of tirne (fro1n the past until no,v). been working here
He I She I It hasn't
for t wo years.
• We use fo r +a period oftirne, e.g.jor t1.vo 1veeks, or since+ a point of time, We haven't
e.g. since 1990. They haven't
• Don't use the present si1nple \virhfor / since, NOT They know ea.cit other
Have you been working Yes, No,
fol" a long tinte. here for two years? I have. I haven't.

prese nt perfe ct co nti nuous: have I has been+ verb + -ing Has s he been working Yes, No,
here for two years? she has. she hasn't.
1 H ow long have yo u been learning English? 48 l))
ick has been workin g here since April. p work and live
They've been going out together for about th ree years. Work and live are oft en used in e ither present
2 Your eyes are red. Have you been crying? perfect simple or present perfect cont inuous
No, I've been cutting onions. with t he s ame meani ng.
I've lived here since 1980.
I've been living here since 1980.

a Correct the inistakes. b f\1ake sentences \:Vith the present perfect sin1ple or
Harry is une1nployed s.ince last year. present perfect continuous (and for/ since if n ecessar y) .
Use the present p erfect conti n u ous if possible.
Harry has been une1nplo)1ed since lastyea,..
1 \ Ve've had our ne\:v flat since six months. I / 'vork for a chariry / eigh r yea rs
2 H i Jackie ! l-lo\v are you? T don't see you fo r ages! I've been ivorkingfor a charity for eight )'ears.
3 Ho'v lo ng are you kno,ving yo ur husband ;> l \Ve/ kno\v each other/ \Ve \vere children
4 E1nily has been a volunteer for ten years ago. 2 the children / play con1puter ga111es / t \vo hours
5 Paul doesn't eat anyth ing since yes rerd ay because he's ill. 3 yo ur sister/ have th at hairstyle/ a long tin1e?
6 It hasn't rained si nce rv.10 1nontbs. 4 I/ love her / the first day \Ve 111et
7 Ho'v long has yo ur parents been 1narried? 5 111y internet connection / nor \York / yesterday
8 They're having their dog since they got n1arriecl. 6 hovv lon g/ you / \Vair;>
9 l haven't had any e1nails fron1 n1y brother for last 7 J / be a reache r / th ree years
Christn1as. 8 it / s no'v / five o'clock th is rnorning
10 My grandn1othcr lives in the san1e house all her life. 9 San1 / nor study enough / recently
10 you / live in London/ a long t in1e?

~ p.19