PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

We use the present perfect simple to talk about actions or situations that started in the past
and continue now.

Subject + have Past participle (V3)

(+) I / You / We / They HAVE visited a lot of interesting places.

He / She / It HAS had some problems.

(-) I / You / We / They HAVEN’T visited any interesting places.

He / She / It HASN’T had any problems.

(?) HAVE I / You / We / They (ever) visited an interesting place?

HAS He / She / It (ever) had any problems?

Exercise 1: Write these verbs in sentences 1-8 using the present perfect.

drive go look watch eat learn talk be

1. They _______________ a lot with the new teacher.

2. _________ you ___________ at the holiday photographs?
3. ________ she ___________ a Porsche?
4. They _______________ Spanish food but not Japanese food.
5. ________ you _________ that new TV travel programme?
6. ________ they _________ about our new idea?
7. I _______________ very busy.
8. Michael _______________ to Bermuda. He doesn’t want to come back.
Exercise 2: Correct the verbs in sentences 1-6.

1. Sally has never drove a Lamborghini.

2. Have you ever see a dolphin?
3. Russell has went to the hospital. He’ll be back at 6.00.
4. We haven’t have dinner. Would you like to eat with us?
5. Have you ever growed flowers in your garden?
6. David Attenborough has maked a lot of TV programmes about the natural world.

Exercise 3: Choose the correct verb form.

1. I made / have made a cake for us yesterday morning.

2. Can we give these customers a table? They went / have been here many times before.
3. We ate / have eaten alligator meat on holiday in Florida last year.
4. She left / She’s left for work at 8.30.
5. I don’t think he was / he’s ever been to the opera.
6. My football team didn’t play / hasn’t played very well last Saturday.
7. You didn’t meet / haven’t met my sister. This is her first visit.
8. My parents have never been / never went abroad. They want to go to Australia this year.
Exercise 4: Complete these sentences.

1. Jane is in Ireland. She has been in Ireland since Monday.

2. I know Lisa. I have known her for a long time.
3. Sarah and Andy are married. They ______________married since 1999.
4. Brian is ill. He________________ill for the last few days.
5. We live in Scott Road. We______________there for a long time.
6. Catherine works in a bank. She______________in a bank for five years.
7. Alan has a headache. He ________________a headache since he got up this morning.
Exercise 5: Write since or for.
1. Jack has been in Russia ___________Monday.
2. Jane has been in Ireland ___________three days.
3. My aunt has lived in Australia __________15 years.
4. Jennifer is in her office. She has been there ___________7 o’clock.
5. India has been an independent country ___________1947.
6. The bus is late. We have been waiting _____________20 minutes.
7. Nobody lives in those houses. They have been empty__________many years.
8. Michael has been ill __________ a long time. He has been in hospital_________September.
Exercise 6: Complete the sentences. Use for or ago with the words in the brackets.

1. Clare arrived in Ireland three days ago (three days)

2. Clare has been in Ireland for three days (three days)
3. Lynn and Mark have been married ____________________________. (20 years)
4. Lynn and Mark got married _________________________________. (20 years)
5. Dan arrived ______________________________________________. (an hour)
6. I bought these shoes _______________________________________. (a few days)
7. Have you known Lisa ______________________________________? (a long time)

Exercise 7: Write sentences using for or since.

1. (Marry is in Belgium – she arrived there 3 days ago)

Marry has been in Belgium for three days.

2. (Jack is here – he arrived on Monday)

__________________________________________________________.

3. (I know Sue – I first met her in 2002)

__________________________________________________________.

4. (Claire and Mathew are married – they got married six months ago)

__________________________________________________________.
Exercise 8: Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence. Circle the correct answer.

1) When I _________ a kid my dad cooked wonderful curries. A) was B) have been

2) We have not met him __________. A) since Christmas B) before Christmas

3) The little boy has been ill ___________. A) since last month B) last month

4) The children took music lessons _________. A) since last year B) last year

5) She has been awake __________. A) since two in the morning B) at two in the morning

6) I have telephoned the man twice _______. A)yesterday evening B)since yesterday evening

7) She left her home _________. A) when she graduated from university

B) since she graduated from university

8) She became a director _________. A) when she was young B) since she was young

9) Tom has not studied very much __________. A) since last term B) last term

10) My elder sister has lived in the country________. A) since she got married

B) when she got married

Exercise 9. Put the verb in the present perfect or past.

1. A: Have you ever been (you/ ever/ be) to Florida?

B: Yes, we___________ (go) there on holiday two years ago.

A: _______________(you/ have) a good time?

B: Yes, it ____________(be) great.

2. A: Where’s Alan? _____________(you/see) him?

B: Yes, he ______________(go) out a few minutes ago.

A: And Rachel?
 B: I don’t know. I _____________ (not/ see) her.

3. Rose works in a factory. She ___________(work) there for ten months. Before that she
__________ (be) waitress in a restaurant. She ___________ (work) there between 2015
and 2017, but she_____________(not/ enjoy) it very much.
4. A: Do you know Martin’s sister?
B: I____________ (see) her a few times, but I ___________(never/ speak) to her.
_______________(you/ ever/ speak) to her?

A: Yes. I ______________ (meet) her at a party last week. She’s very nice.

ANSWER KEY

Exercise 1:

1. have learnt / learned

2. Have you looked
3. Has she driven
4. have eaten
5. Have you watched
6. Have they talked
7. I have been
8. has gone

Exercise 2:

1. drove – driven
2. see – seen
3. went – gone
4. have – had
5. growed – grown
6. maked – made
 Exercise 3:

1. made
2. have been
3. ate
4. left
5. he’s ever been
6. didn’t play
7. haven’t met
8. have never been

Exercise 4:

3. have been 4. has been 5. have lived 6. has worked 7. has had

Exercise 5:

1. since 2. for 3. for 4. since 5. since 6. for 7. for 8. for ...since

Exercise 6:

3. for 20 years 4. 20 years ago 5. an hour ago 6. a few days ago 7. for a long time

Exercise 7:

2. Jack has been here since Monday.

3. I’ve known Sue since 2002.

4. Claire and Matthew have been married for six months.

Exercise 8:
1) A) was 2) A) since Christmas 3) A) since last month 4) B) last year
5) A) since two in the morning 6) B) since yesterday evening

7) A) when she graduated from university 8) A) when she was young

9) A) since last term 10) A) since she got married

Exercise 9:

1. went / did you have / was

2. Have you seen / went / haven’t seen

3. has worked / was / worked / didn’t enjoy

4. have seen / have never spoken / have you ever spoken / met