Present Perfect

Present Perfect

The Present Perfect Tense

Look at these examples to see how the present perfect is used.

He's been to ten different countries.

I haven't seen her today.

My phone's run out of battery. Can I use yours?

Have you ever dyed your hair a different colour?

Can you notice the sentence structure?

Now...

Try this exercise to test your grammar

Multiple Choice

That's the worst film I ___ in my life!

• saw

• 've seen

Multiple Choice

She must be really tired. She ___ late every night this week.

• works

• 's worked

Multiple Choice

You've got a new car? How long ___ the old one?

• did you have

• have you had

Multiple Choice

Oh dear, it looks like Jan ___ the shopping yesterday. I'll go now.

• didn't done

• hasn't done

Multiple Choice

They ___ the documents I sent them! Now I have to send them all again.

• ´ve lost

• lose

Multiple Choice

She ___ to swim on holiday in 1995.

• learnt

• 's learned

Multiple Choice

I think you're my oldest friend! How long ___ each other?

• do we know

• have we known

Multiple Choice

I ___ a chance to call him back yet.

• haven´t

• haven't had

Grammar explanation

We use the present perfect simple (have or has + past participle) to talk about past actions or states which are still connected to the present.

We often use the present perfect to say what we've done in an unfinished time period, such as today, this week, this year, etc., and with expressions such as so far, until now, before, etc.

They've been on holiday twice this year.

We haven't had a lot of positive feedback so far.

I'm sure I've seen that film before.

We also use it to talk about life experiences, as our life is also an unfinished time period. We often use never in negative sentences and ever in questions.

I've worked for six different companies.

He's never won a gold medal.

Have you ever been to Australia?

Now...

Do this exercise to test your grammar again.

Multiple Choice

I ___ in this flat since I moved here.

• lived

• 've lived

• 's lived

Multiple Choice

___ anyone famous when you were in New York?

• Have you see

• Did you see

• Have you seen

Multiple Choice

It ___ on our holiday so far.

• hasn't rained

• haven't rained

• didn't rain

Multiple Choice

She loves animals, but she ___ a pet.

• 's never had

• 've never had

• 've never have

Fill in the Blanks

My laptop

(stop) working last week so I'm using the computers in the office until it's fixed.

Multiple Choice

We ___ a great new coffee shop near our flat.

• just discover

• 've just discovered

• just discovered

Fill in the Blanks

(they /turn) the heating off? It's really cold in here.

Fill in the Blanks

He

(not seem) very happy for a few days last week, but this week he seems OK.

Well done!!

Thanks!!