8. PRESENT PERFECT 2 (I have done)

ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

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. Dave : Really? Have you ever been to China? Jane : Yes, I've been to China twice. Dave : What about India? 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. Some more examples: Have you ever eaten caviar? We've never had a car. Have you read Hamlet?' I No, I haven't read any of Shakespeare's plays.' Susan really loves that film. She's seen it eight times! What a boring film! It's the most boring film I've ever seen. Been (to)= visited: I've never been to China. 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 breakfast etc.): Have you heard anything from Brian recently? I've met a lot of people in the last few days. Everything is going well. We haven't had any problems so far. I'm hungry. I haven't eaten anything since breakfast. (=from breakfast until now) It's good to see you again. We haven't seen each other for a long time.
C	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. Have you had a holiday this year? I haven't seen Tom this morning. Have you? Rob hasn't worked very hard this term.
D	We say: It's the (first) time something has happened. For example: Don is having a driving lesson. It's his first one. It's the first time he has driven a car. (not drives) or          He has never driven a car before. Sarah has lost her passport again. This is the second time this has happened. (not happens) Bill is phoning his girlfriend again. That's the third time he's phoned her this evening.

EXERCISES

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?) __________________________________ 3 (run /marathon?) __________________________________ 4 (speak /famous person?) __________________________________ 5 (most beautiful place /visit?) __________________________________
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 no idea. ___I’ve never met____ her. 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 like? I don't know. ____________ it. 7 Is Brussels an interesting place? I’ve no idea ______ there. 8 I hear your car broke down again yesterday. Yes, it’s the second time ________ 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 1 I haven’t used a computer today today 2 _________________________________________ this week 3 _________________________________________ recently 4 _________________________________________ for ages 5 _________________________________________ since …… this year
8.4	Read the situations and write sentences as shown in the example. 1 Jack is driving a car, but he's very nervous and not sure what to do. You ask: Have you driven a car before? He says: No, this is the first time I’ve driven a car. 2 Ben is playing tennis. He's not good at it and he doesn't know the rules. You ask: Have ________________________________ He says: No, this is the first _______________________________ 3 Sue is riding a horse. She doesn't look very confident or comfortable. You ask: ____________________________________________________ She says: _______________________________________________________ 4 Maria is in Japan. She has just arrived and it's very new for her. You ask: ___________________________________________________ she says: ___________________________________________________

ANSWER KEY