Uns Class – B1

Unit 7
Table of contents

1 2 3
The PRESENT Present Present
PERFECT Perfect or Perfect Simple
Past Simple passive

4 5
Present Present
Perfect Perfect Simple
Continuous or Continuous
 The Present Perfect

1 The Present Perfect links past and present.

PAST PRESENT PERFECT PRESENT

It expresses the effect of the past on the present.

2 The Present Perfect does not express when an action happened. If

we say the exact time we use the Past Simple.

I’ve visited some amazing places in my life. (I don’t say when)

I visited Nepal in 2004. (I say the exact date)
 Present Perfect

1 We form the Present Perfect using have/has + past participle.

I’ve run the London Marathon twice.

He hasn’t known Paul for very long.
How long have you lived here?
Have you ever seen a ghost? Yes, I have./No, I haven’t.

2 Make the sentences.

1 I/not/read Harry Potter.

2 You/ever/eat sushi?
3 She/broke her leg.
4 They/not/have lunch.

There are three main uses of the Present Perfect.

Unfinished past Experience Present result
 Present Perfect

Unfinished past
1 The Present Perfect expresses an action that began in the past and
still continues.
I’ve been a teacher for 5 years. NOT I am a teacher for 5 years.
How long have you known Raoul?
(in English we don’t express this idea with a present tense)
2 Notice the time expressions that are common with this use.

a week 2001
three days Sunday
for since
an hour 9pm
years I arrived

a period of time a point in time

 Present Perfect

Experience
1 The Present Perfect expresses an experience that happened at
some time in one’s life.

I’ve met two US Presidents. (in my life)

She’s been to Japan. (she still remembers)

The action is finished. The effects of the action are still remembered.

Exactly when the action happened is not important.

Have you ever been to Australia?

BUT
When did you go to Egypt?

Questions and answers about definite times are expressed in the

Past Simple.
 Present Perfect

2 The adverbs ever, never, and before are common with this use.

I’ve never been to Beijing.

He hasn’t eaten Mexican food before.
Have they ever had an argument?

3 Make the sentences.

1 When/they/visit Seoul?
2 You/ever/try skydiving?
3 He/never/go camping.
4 I/not/drink/beer before.
 Present Perfect

Present result
1 The Present Perfect also expresses a past action that has a present
result. The action is usually in the recent past.

I’ve just cut my finger. (and it hurts now)

He’s lost his car keys. (and he’s still looking for them)

Past action. Present result.

We often announce news in the Present Perfect.

Manchester City has won the FA Cup.

However, details will be in the Past Simple.

The score was 1 -0.

 Present Perfect

2 The adverbs yet, already, and just are common with this use.

We haven’t heard any news yet. (negative)

Has he arrived yet? (question)
She’s already sent me an email.
I’ve just finished my book.

Be careful with been and gone.

I’ve been to Vietnam. (experience – I’m not there now)
She’s gone to Scotland. (present result – she’s there now)
3 Make the sentences
1 I/just/get a promotion.
2 Darla/phone/yet?
3 May’s not here. She/go/work.
 Present Perfect or Past Simple?

1 The Present Perfect can express unfinished actions. The Past Simple
expresses completed actions.

Present Perfect Past Simple

We’ve been in Milan for a week. We were in Milan for four days.
(we are still here) (now we are somewhere else)
He’s won two gold medals. Mark Spitz won nine gold medals.
(he can still win more) (he can’t win any more - he’s retired)

unfinished completed

I __ (finished) two paintings. Da Vinci __ (finish) about 30 paintings.

(but I might do more) (he can’t do any more)

I’ve finished two paintings. Da Vinci finished about 30 paintings.

 Present Perfect or Past Simple?

2 The Present Perfect refers to indefinite time. The Past Simple refers
to definite time. Notice the time expressions used with the two
tenses.

Present Perfect – indefinite Present Simple – definite

for a long time. yesterday.

since May. at 9pm.
I’ve been here before. I was there in 2002.
recently. when I was 20.
for a while
I’ve already been there.
a month ago.
I haven’t been there yet.

Have you been out this morning? Did you go out this morning?
(it’s still morning) (it’s now the afternoon or evening)
 Present Perfect or Past Simple?

3 Make the sentences.

1 She/not/phone/yet

2 They/leave/a week ago

3 I/know/Maria/since 1990

4 We/live here/for three years

5 You/go to Brunei last month?

 Present Perfect Simple passive

1 We form the Present Perfect Simple passive using has/have been +

past participle.
It has been
damaged.
They have been

2 The uses are the same in the passive as in the active.

The lift’s been broken for a month. (unfinished past)

Has he ever been arrested? (past experience)
All flights have been cancelled. (present importance)

3 Make the sentences in the passive.

1 Five people ___ (arrest) since June.

2 The winners ___ just (announce).

 Present Perfect Continuous

1 We form the Present Perfect Continuous using has/have been + ing.

It’s been raining.

They haven’t been studying.
How long have you been living in London?

2 The Present Perfect Continuous expresses an activity that began in

the past and is continuing now.

I’ve been looking for a job for two months. (I’m still looking now)

Sometimes there is no difference between the simple and the

continuous.
I’ve studied English for years.
I’ve been studying English for years.
 Present Perfect Continuous

The continuous can express a temporary activity, while the simple

expresses a permanent state.

I’ve been working in Lima for six months. (temporary)

I’ve worked for Daewoo since I left university. (permanent)

Remember: State verbs are rarely used in the continuous.

I’ve always disliked coffee. (dislike=state verb)

Make the sentences.

1 How long/you/learn/French?
2 He/always/love/swimming
3 I/watch TV all evening
 Present Perfect Continuous

3 The Present Perfect Continuous can express a past activity that has
caused a present result.

It’s been raining. (The ground is wet.) (finished)

Have you been running? (You look out of breath.) (finished)
I’ve been studying all day. (I feel tired.) (We don’t know)

Past activity Present result

This past activity might be finished or it might not.

Write the past activity that caused the present result.

1 The ground is white. (snow)

2 I’m crying. (chop onions)
 Present Perfect Simple or Continuous?

1 The simple expresses a completed action.

I’ve written my English essay.

BUT
I’ve been writing my English essay and I still need some help.
The continuous expresses an activity over a period of time.

We use the simple if the sentence has a number or quantity.

I’ve written five emails.
We’ve been watching DVDs for hours. We’ve watched three films.

Write the sentences.

1 He/eat/two whole pizzas.
2 I’m tired. I/work all day.
 Present Perfect Simple or Continuous?

2 Some verbs have the idea of a long time. These verbs are often
found in the continuous.
wait work play try learn rain

I’ve been trying to learn German. (over a long time)

I’ve tried beetroot. It’s horrible! (one time only)

Some verbs don’t have the idea of a long time. These verbs are
more usually found in the simple.
find start buy die lose break stop
He’s started a new job in Lagos. (one short action)

Write the sentences.

1 I/lost my passport.
2 We/wait for 30 minutes.