Unit

7 Present perfect 1 (I have done)

A Study this example situation:

I’ve lost my key. Tom can’t find his key.

He’s lost his key. (= He has lost …)
he has lost his key =
he lost it and he doesn’t have it now
have lost / has lost is the present perfect simple:
finished
I/we/they/you have (= I’ve etc.)
lost
done
he/she/it has (= he’s etc.) been etc.

The present perfect simple is have/has + past participle. The past participle often ends in -ed
(finished/decided etc.), but many verbs are irregular (lost/done/written etc.).
For a list of irregular verbs, see Appendix 1.

B When we say ‘something has happened’, this is usually new information:

Ow! I’ve cut my finger.
The road is closed. There’s been an accident. (= There has been …)
Police have arrested two men in connection with the robbery.
When we use the present perfect, there is a connection with now. The action in the past has a result now:
Tom has lost his key. (= he doesn’t have it now)
He told me his name, but I’ve forgotten it. (= I can’t remember it now)
Sally is still here. She hasn’t gone out. (= she is here now)
I can’t find my bag. Have you seen it? (= do you know where it is now?)
Compare gone (to) and been (to):
James is on holiday. He has gone to Italy. (= he is there now or on his way there)
Amy is back home now. She has been to Italy. (= she has now come back)

C You can use the present perfect with just, already and yet.

Just = a short time ago:

‘Are you hungry?’ ‘No, I’ve just had lunch.’
Hello. Have you just arrived?
Already = sooner than expected:
‘Don’t forget to pay the bill.’ ‘I’ve already paid it.’
‘What time is Mark leaving?’ ‘He’s already left.’
Yet = until now. We use yet to show that we are expecting something to happen.
We use yet in questions and negative sentences:
Has it stopped raining yet?
I’ve written the email, but I haven’t sent it yet.

D You can also use the past simple (did, went, had etc.) in the examples on this page. So you can say:
Ben isn’t here. He’s gone out. or He went out.
‘Are you hungry?’ ‘No, I’ve just had lunch.’ or ‘No, I just had lunch.’

Present perfect ➜ Units 8, 11 been to ➜ Units 8A, 126A Present perfect continuous ➜ Units 9–10
14 Present perfect and past ➜ Units 12–14 yet and already ➜ Unit 111 American English ➜ Appendix 7
 Unit
Exercises 7
7.1 Read the situations and complete the sentences using the present perfect. Choose from these
verbs:
break disappear go up grow improve lose shrink stop

1 Tom is looking for his key. He can’t find it. Tom has lost his key.
2 Maria’s English wasn’t very good. Now it is better. Her English
3 My bag was here, but it isn’t here any more. My bag
4 Lisa can’t walk and her leg is in plaster. Lisa
5 Last week the bus fare was £1.80. Now it is £2. The bus fare
6 Dan didn’t have a beard before. Now he has a beard. Dan
7 It was raining ten minutes ago. It isn’t raining now. It
8 I washed my sweater, and now it’s too small for me. My sweater

7.2 Put in been or gone.

1 My parents are on holiday. They’ve gone to Italy.
2 Hello! I’ve just to the shops. I’ve bought lots of things.
3 Tom has just out. He’ll be back in about an hour.
4 Alice isn’t here at the moment. I don’t know where she’s .
5 You’re very late. Where have you ?

7.3 Complete the sentences using the present perfect.

1 Sally is still here. She hasn’t gone (she / not / go) out.
2 I can’t find my bag. (you / see / it) anywhere?
3 I can’t log on to the website. (I / forget) my password.
4 I sent Joe an email this morning, but (he / not / reply).
5 Is the meeting still going on, or (it / finish)?
6 (the weather / change). It’s colder now.
7 (you / not / sign) the form. Could you sign it now, please?
8 Are your friends still here, or (they / go) home?
9 Paul doesn’t know what he’s going to do.
(he / not / decide / yet).
10 ‘Do you know where Julia is?’ ‘Yes, (I / just / see / her).’
11 ‘When is David going away?’ ‘ (he / already / go).’
12 A: (your course / start / yet)?
B: Not yet. It starts next week.

7.4 Read the situations and write sentences with just, already or yet.
1 After lunch you go to see a friend at her house. She says, ‘Would you like something to eat?’
You say: No thank you. I’ve just had lunch . (have lunch)
2 Joe goes out. Five minutes later, the phone rings and the caller says, ‘Can I speak to Joe?’
You say: I’m afraid . (go out)
3 You are eating in a restaurant. The waiter thinks you have finished and starts to take your plate away.
You say: Wait a minute! . (not / finish)
4 You plan to eat at a restaurant tonight. You phone to reserve a table. Later your friend says,
‘Shall I phone to reserve a table?’ You say: No, . (do it)
5 You know that Lisa is looking for a place to live. Perhaps she has been successful.
You ask her: ? (find)
6 You are still thinking about where to go for your holiday. A friend asks, ‘Where are you going
for your holiday?’ You say: . (not / decide)
7 Laura went out, but a few minutes ago she returned. Somebody asks, ‘Is Laura still out?’
You say: No, . (come back)

15
Unit
8 Present perfect 2 (I have done)
A Study this example conversation:
DAVE: Have you travelled a lot, Jane?
JANE: Yes, I’ve been to lots of places. Jane’s life
DAVE: Really? Have you ever been to China? (a period until now)
JANE: Yes, I’ve been to China twice.
DAVE: What about India? past now
JANE: No, I haven’t been to India.
When we talk about a period of time that continues from the past until now, we use the present
perfect (have been / have travelled etc.). Here, Dave and Jane are talking about the places Jane
has visited in her life, which is a period that continues until now.

In the same way we say:

Have you ever eaten caviar?
We’ve never had a car.
I don’t know what the film is about. I haven’t seen it.
Susan really loves that book. She’s read it three times. (She’s = She has)
It’s a really boring movie. It’s the most boring movie I’ve ever seen.
been (to) = visited:
I’ve never been to Canada. Have you been there?

B In the following examples too, the speakers are talking about a period that continues until now
(recently, in the last few days, so far, since I arrived etc.):
Have you heard anything from Ben recently? recently
I’ve met a lot of people in the last few days.
Everything is going well. There haven’t been any in the last few days
problems so far. since I arrived
The weather is bad here. It’s (= It has) rained every past now
day since I arrived. (= from when I arrived until now)
It’s good to see you again. We haven’t seen each other for a long time.
In the same way we use the present perfect with today, this evening, this year etc. when these
periods are not finished at the time of speaking:
I’ve drunk four cups of coffee today. today
Have you had a holiday this year?
I haven’t seen Tom this morning. Have you? past now

C We say ‘It’s the (first) time something has happened’. For example:
Don is having a driving lesson. It’s his first lesson.
We can say: This is the first time
I’ve driven a car.
It’s the first time he has driven a car. (not drives)
or He hasn’t driven a car before.
or He has never driven a car before.
In the same way we say:
Sarah has lost her passport again. This is the second
time this has happened. (not happens)
Andy is phoning his girlfriend again. It’s the third
time he’s phoned her this evening.

16 Present perfect 1 ➜ Unit 7 Present perfect + for/since ➜ Units 11–12 Present perfect and past ➜ Units 12–14
 Unit
Exercises 8
8.1 You ask people about things they have done. Write questions with ever.
1 (ride / horse?) Have you ever ridden a horse?
2 (be / California?) Have
3 (run / marathon?)
4 (speak / famous person?)
5 (most beautiful place / visit?) What’s

8.2 Complete B’s answers. Some sentences are positive and some negative. Use these verbs:
be be eat happen have have meet play read see try

A B

1 What’s Mark’s sister like? I’ve never met her.

I’ve no idea.
2 Is everything going well? Yes, we haven’t had any problems so far.
3 Are you hungry? Yes. I much today.
4 Can you play chess? Yes, but for ages.
5 Are you enjoying your holiday? Yes, it’s the best holiday for a long time.
6 What’s that book about? I don’t know. it.
7 Is Brussels an interesting place? I’ve no idea. there.
8 I hear your car broke down again Yes, it’s the second time
yesterday. this month.
9 Do you like caviar? I don’t know. it.
10 Mike was late for work again today. Again? He late every day this week.
11 Who’s that woman by the door? I don’t know. her before.

8.3 Write four sentences about yourself. Use I haven’t and choose from the boxes.
used a computer travelled by bus eaten any fruit
been to the cinema read a book lost anything today
this week
1 I haven’t used a computer today. recently
2 for ages
3 since …
4 this year
5

8.4 Read the situations and complete the sentences.

1 Jack is driving a car for the first time. He’s very nervous and not sure what to do.
It’s the first time he’s driven a car.
2 Some children at the zoo are looking at a giraffe. They’ve never seen one before.
It’s the first time a giraffe.
3 Sue is riding a horse. She doesn’t look very confident or comfortable.
She before.
4 Joe and Lisa are on holiday in Japan. They’ve been to Japan once before.
This is the second time .
5 Emily is staying at the Prince Hotel. She stayed there a few years ago.
It’s not the first this hotel.
6 Ben is playing tennis for the first time. He’s a complete beginner.
before.

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Unit
9 Present perfect continuous (I have been doing)
A It’s been raining.
Study this example situation:

Is it raining?
No, but the ground is wet.
It’s been raining. (= It has been …)
have/has been + -ing is the present perfect continuous:

doing
I/we/they/you have (= I’ve etc.)
been working
he/she/it has (= he’s etc.)
learning etc.

We use the present perfect continuous for an activity that has recently stopped or just stopped:
Why are you out of breath? Have you been running?
Paul is very tired. He’s been working hard. have/has been + -ing
Why are you so tired? What have you been doing? present perfect continuous
I’ve been talking to Amanda and she agrees with me.
Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you. now

B It’s been raining for two hours.

Study this example situation:

It began raining two hours ago and it is still raining.

How long has it been raining?
It’s been raining for two hours. (= It has been …)
We use the present perfect continuous in this way, especially
with how long, for … and since … . The activity is still
happening (as in this example) or has just stopped.

How long have you been learning English? (= you’re still learning English)
Ben is watching TV. He’s been watching TV all day.
Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you for the last half hour.
Chris hasn’t been feeling well recently.
You can use the present perfect continuous for repeated actions:
Silvia is a very good tennis player. She’s been playing since she was eight.
Every morning they meet in the same cafe. They’ve been going there for years.

C Compare I am doing and I have been doing:

I am doing I have been doing

present continuous present perfect continuous

now now
Don’t disturb me now. I’m working. I’ve been working hard. Now I’m going
to have a break.
We need an umbrella. It’s raining. The ground is wet. It’s been raining.
Hurry up! We’re waiting. We’ve been waiting for an hour.

18 Present perfect continuous and simple ➜ Units 10–11 Present perfect + for/since ➜ Units 11–12
 Unit
Exercises 9
9.1 What have these people been doing or what has been happening?
1 earlier 2 earlier 3 earlier 4 earlier

now now now now

It’s been raining. She They He

9.2 Write a question for each situation.

1 You meet Kate as she is leaving the swimming pool. You say:
Hi, Kate. (you / swim?) Have you been swimming?
2 You have arrived a little late to meet Ben who is waiting for you. You say:
I’m sorry I’m late, Ben. (you / wait / long?)
3 Jane’s little boy comes into the house with a very dirty face and dirty hands. His mother says:
Why are you so dirty? (what / you / do?)
4 You are in a shop and see Anna. You didn’t know she worked there. You say:
Hi, Anna. (how long / you / work / here?)
5 A friend tells you about his job – he sells phones. You say:
You sell phones? (how long / you / do / that?)
9.3 Read the situations and complete the sentences.
1 It’s raining. The rain started two hours ago.
It ’s been raining for two hours.
2 We are waiting for the bus. We started waiting 20 minutes ago.
We for 20 minutes.
3 I’m learning Japanese. I started classes in December.
I since December.
4 Jessica is working in a hotel. She started working there on 18 January.
since 18 January.
5 Our friends always go to Italy for their holidays. The first time was years ago.
for years.
9.4 Put the verb into the present continuous (am/is/are + -ing) or present perfect continuous (have/has
been + -ing).
1 Maria has been learning (Maria / learn) English for two years.
2 Hi, Tom. (I / look) for you. I need to ask you something.
3 Why (you / look) at me like that? Stop it!
4 Rachel is a teacher. (she / teach) for ten years.
5 (I / think) about what you said and I’ve decided to take
your advice.
6 ‘Is Paul on holiday this week?’ ‘No, (he / work).’
7 Sarah is very tired. (she / work) very hard recently.
8 It’s dangerous to use your phone when (you / drive).
9 Laura (travel) in South America for the last three months.

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 Key to Exercises

5.2 UNIT 7 8.2

2 taught 3 haven’t eaten
7.1
3 sold 4 I haven’t played (it)
2 Her English has improved.
4 fell … hurt 5 I’ve had / I have had
3 My bag has disappeared.
5 threw … caught 6 I haven’t read
4 Lisa has broken her leg.
6 spent … bought … cost 7 I’ve never been / I haven’t been
5 The bus fare has gone up.
8 it’s happened / it has happened or
5.3 6 Dan has grown a beard.
that’s happened / that has happened
2 did you travel / did you go 7 It’s stopped raining. / It has stopped
9 I’ve never tried / I haven’t tried or
3 did it take (you) / was your trip / were raining.
I’ve never eaten / I haven’t eaten
you there 8 My sweater has shrunk. / My
10 ’s been / has been
4 did you stay sweater’s shrunk.
11 I’ve never seen / I haven’t seen
5 Was the weather
7.2
6 Did you go to / Did you see / 8.3
2 been 4 gone
Did you visit Example answers:
3 gone 5 been
2 I haven’t travelled by bus this week.
5.4
7.3 3 I haven’t been to the cinema
3 didn’t disturb
2 Have you seen it recently.
4 left
3 I’ve forgotten / I have forgotten 4 I haven’t read a book for ages.
5 were
4 he hasn’t replied 5 I haven’t lost anything today.
6 didn’t sleep
5 has it finished
7 didn’t cost 8.4
6 The weather has changed
8 flew 2 It’s the first time they’ve seen a
7 You haven’t signed
9 didn’t have giraffe. / … they have seen …
8 have they gone
10 wasn’t 3 She’s / She has never ridden a horse
9 He hasn’t decided yet
before.
10 I’ve just seen her / I have just seen her
UNIT 6 11 He’s already gone / He has
4 This is the second time they’ve been
6.1 to Japan. / … they have been to
already gone
2 wasn’t listening Japan.
12 Has your course started yet
3 were sitting 5 It’s not the first time she’s / she has /
You can also use the past simple (Did
4 was working Emily has stayed at this hotel.
you see, he didn’t reply etc.) in this
5 weren’t looking 6 He’s / He has / Ben has never played
exercise.
6 was snowing tennis before. or He/Ben hasn’t
7.4 played tennis before.
7 were you going
2 he’s just gone out / he has just
8 was looking
gone out or he just went out UNIT 9
6.2 3 I haven’t finished yet. or I didn’t
9.1
2 e 5 c finish yet.
2 ’s been watching TV / has been
3 a 6 d 4 I’ve already done it. / I have already
watching TV or … watching
4 g 7 b done it. or I already did it. / I did it
television
6.3 already.
3 ’ve been playing tennis / have
1 didn’t see … was looking 5 Have you found a place to live yet?
been playing tennis
2 was cycling … stepped … or Did you find a place …?
4 ’s been running / has been running
was going … managed … 6 I haven’t decided yet. or I didn’t
decide yet. 9.2
didn’t hit
7 she’s just come back / she has just 2 Have you been waiting long?
6.4 3 What have you been doing?
come back or she just came back
2 were you doing 4 How long have you been working
3 Did you go UNIT 8 here?
4 were you driving … happened 5 How long have you been doing that?
8.1
5 took … wasn’t looking
2 Have you ever been to California? 9.3
6 didn’t know … did
3 Have you ever run a marathon? 2 ’ve been waiting / have been waiting
7 saw … was trying
4 Have you ever spoken to a famous 3 ’ve been learning Japanese /
8 was walking … heard … was
person? have been learning Japanese
following … started
5 What’s the most beautiful place 4 She’s been working there /
9 wanted … changed
you’ve ever visited? / … you have She has been working there
10 dropped … was doing … didn’t break
ever visited? 5 They’ve been going there /
They have been going there or …
going to Italy

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 Key to Exercises

9.4 UNIT 11 12.3

2 I’ve been looking / I have been 3 He has been ill/unwell since Sunday.
11.1
looking 4 She got married a year ago.
2 have you lived
3 are you looking 5 I’ve had a headache since I woke up.
3 It’s raining
4 She’s been teaching / She has 6 The meeting started/began at
4 has been
been teaching 9 o’clock.
5 Have you been waiting
5 I’ve been thinking / I have 7 I’ve been working in a hotel for six
6 We’re living
been thinking months. / I’ve been working there …
7 I haven’t known
6 he’s working / he is working 8 Kate started learning Japanese a
8 She’s
7 She’s been working / She has long time ago.
9 have you had
been working
10 I’ve been feeling 12.4
8 you’re driving / you are driving
2 No, I haven’t seen Lisa/her
9 has been travelling 11.2
for about a month.
2 How long have you known
3 No, I haven’t been swimming for a
UNIT 10 Katherine?
long time.
3 How long has your sister
10.1 4 No, I haven’t ridden a bike for ages.
been in Australia?
2 She’s been travelling / She has been 6 No, it’s about a month since I (last)
4 How long have you been
travelling … saw Lisa/her. or
teaching English? / How long have
She’s visited / She has visited … No, it’s been about a month since …
you taught English?
3 He’s won / He has won … 7 No, it’s a long time since I
5 How long have you had that jacket?
He’s been playing tennis / He has (last) went swimming. or
6 How long has Joe been working
been playing … No, it’s been a long time since …
at the airport? / How long has Joe
4 They’ve been making / They 8 No, it’s ages since I (last) rode a bike.
worked at the airport?
have been making … or No, it’s been ages since …
7 Have you always lived in Chicago?
They’ve made / They have made …
10.2
11.3 UNIT 13
3 ’s been / has been
2 Have you been waiting long? 13.1
4 ’s / is
3 Have you caught any fish? 2 has gone 5 had
5 haven’t played
4 How many people have you invited? 3 forgot 6 has broken
6 ’ve been waiting / have been waiting
5 How long have you been teaching? 4 went
7 ’ve known / have known
6 How many books have you written?
8 hasn’t been 13.2
How long have you been writing
9 lives or ’s living / is living 3 did William Shakespeare write
books?
10 ’s lived / has lived or ’s been living 4 OK
7 How long have you been
/ has been living 5 Who invented
saving (money)?
11 ’s been watching / has been 6 OK
How much money have you saved?
watching 7 We washed
10.3 12 haven’t watched 8 Where were you born?
2 Somebody’s broken / 13 ’ve had / have had 9 OK
Somebody has broken 14 haven’t been 10 Albert Einstein was the scientist who
3 Have you been working 15 ’ve always wanted / have always developed
4 Have you ever worked wanted 13.3
5 has she gone
3 I’ve forgotten / I have forgotten
6 I’ve had / I have had UNIT 12 4 arrested
7 I’ve been watching / I have been
12.1 5 it’s improved / it has improved
watching
2 for (also correct without for) 6 Have you finished
8 He’s appeared / He has appeared
3 for (also correct without for) 7 I applied
9 I haven’t been waiting
4 since 8 It was
10 you’ve been crying / you have
5 for 9 There’s been / There has been
been crying
6 since 10 did you find … It was
11 it’s stopped / it has stopped
7 since 11 He’s / He has broken … or He
12 They’ve been playing / They
8 for broke … did that happen … He fell
have been playing
13 I’ve lost / I have lost … Have 12.2
2 How long have you had this car?
UNIT 14
you seen
14 I’ve been reading / I have been 3 How long have you been waiting? 14.1
reading … I haven’t finished 4 When did your course start? 3 OK
15 I’ve read / I have read 5 When did Anna arrive in London? 4 I bought
6 How long have you known each 5 Where were you
other? 6 Maria left school
7 OK
8 OK
9 OK
10 When was this bridge built?

338