Present Perfect Simple

Form have/has + past participle

Statement: I/you/we/they have flown…
He/she/it has flown…
Negative: I/you/we/they haven’t flown…
He/she/it hasn’t flown…
Question: Have I/you/we/they flown…?
Has he/she/it flown…?
Use Example
Situation and states that started in the She’s had her motorbike for over six
past and are still true years
A series of actions continuing up to now We’ve travelled by taxi, bus, plane and
train – all in the last twenty-four
hours!
Completed actions at a time in the past Have you ever flown in a helicopter?
which is not mentioned
Completed actions where the important I’ve booked the coach tickets
thing is the present result

 Watch out:
Phrases such as It’s the first/second/etc time… are followed by the present
perfect simple.
 It’s the second time I’ve been on a plane

- Speakers of American English often use the past simple in situations where
speakers of British English would use the present perfect simple.
US: We already saw the Sphinx.
UK: We’ve already seen the Sphinx.
- Speakers of American English use gotten as the past participle of the verb
“get”, except when “get” means “have” or “possess”. Speakers of British
English only ever use got.
US: We’ve already gotten Dan a new backpack for his summer vacation.
UK: We’ve already got Dan a new backpack for his summer vacation.

Practice Exercises
A. Complete these sentences by putting the verbs in brackets into the
present perfect.
1. The number of people using mobile phones …. (rise) by 500 percent
since 2003
2. The invention of electronics books …. (change) the way many people
read.
3. Since I started using, I …. (not write) a traditional letter.
4. I …. (forget) the word which means “in the middle of the night”.
5. The library …. (become) much more comfortable since they installed
air conditioning.
6. It is a device to help people find keys which they …. (lose).

B. IELTS candidates often make mistakes with the present perfect. Find
and correct the mistakes in the sentences.
1. In recent years, life changed and it’s not like it was in the past.
2. In the last few years, new technologies have brought enormous
benefits.
3. In recent years, there are many problems arising regarding things you
can find on the Internet.
4. With the rapid progress of science and technology, there are a lot of
changes in the world.
5. During the last few years, money become more important as a way of
satisfying our needs.

C. Complete these sentences using for or since in each gap.

1. I’ve had this mobile phone …. months.
2. I was given this touchscreen computer for my birthday, so I’ve had it ….
March.
3. He’s been in Australia …. almost a year.
4. She hasn’t taken any photos …. last summer.
5. She hasn’t phoned me …. the meeting.
6. Ali hasn’t done any homework …. three weeks.

D. Complete using the words in the box.

Already – Before – Ever – For – Just – Rarely – Since – So – Still – Yet

1. Have you …. dreamt of winning the lottery?

2. I haven’t worked out how to set the timer on the video ….
3. My dad’s lived in the same house …. he was born.
4. The film’s only been on …. a couple of minutes.
5. Bruce has knocked three men out of the competition …. far.
6. I …. get the chance to get any exercise – I’m just too busy.
7. He’s only …. got home.
8. It’s eleven o’clock and Todd …. hasn’t come home. Where could he be?
9. I’ve never met Ruth …. What’s she like?
10. Have you finished ….? That was quick

E. Rewrite correctly. Change the words or phrases in bold.

1. My dad is often getting up late on Saturday mornings.
………………………………………………………………………………………
2. Are you speaking any other languages apart from English?
………………………………………………………………………………………
3. I already buy all my Christmas present and it’s only October!
………………………………………………………………………………………
4. It’s the first time I’m ever having a party at home
………………………………………………………………………………………
5. Actually, I think Darren does works quite hard sometimes.
………………………………………………………………………………………
6. Carlo is never eating Chinese food before.
………………………………………………………………………………………
7. Sean already books a table for tonight.
………………………………………………………………………………………
8. Needs Melanie any help painting her new flat?
………………………………………………………………………………………

F. Complete using the correct form of the verb in brackets.

1. It’s the first time …. (I/ever/eat) octopus!
2. Sandy …. (not/see) his sister since she went to university.
3. They …. (go) on holiday to Spain and won’t be back until the end of the
month.
4. …. (you/ever/meet) anyone famous?
5. …. (I/not/finish) the book yet so I can’t tell you what happens.
6. …. (You/already/decide) where you’re going this summer.
7. …. (We/live) here for the last six years.
8. …. (I/never/hear) such nonsense!

G. Choose the correct answer.

1. Ian …. a shower at the moment, 6. That’s the first time …. an
so could you call back in about half answer right today!
an hour? A. I get
A. Takes B. I am getting
B. is taking C. I have got
C. has taken D. I have been getting
D. has been taking
2. …. to Ipswich before? 7. Jessica has …. left, I’m afraid.
A. Do you ever go A. Already
B. Are you ever going B. Yet
C. Have you ever been C. Still
D. Have you ever been going D. So far

3. I …. To all the local newspapers 8. Dan …. in the living room while

and TV stations to complain we redecorate his bedroom.
A. Already write A. Sleeps
B. Already writing B. Is sleeping
C. Have already written C. Has slept
D. Have already been writing D. Does sleep
4. …. TV for the last four hours? 9. Unfortunately, Simone …. a day
Turn it off and get some exercise! off very often.
A. Do you watch A. Doesn’t get
B. Are you watching B. Isn’t getting
C. Watched you C. Hasn’t got
D. Have you been watching D. Hasn’t been getting
5. Eric, …. hockey competitively or 10. Actually, I …. a cup of tea first
just for fun? thing every morning but then I
A. Do you usually play switch to coffee.
B. Are you usually playing A. Do drink
C. Have you usually played B. Am drinking
D. Have you usually been playing C. Have drunk
D. Have been drinking

H. Find the extra word in each line.

1. I’ve been to travelling around Europe all summer. It’s the first time I’ve
2. ever been going abroad, and I’ve had a fantastic time! I’ve seen
3. loads of interesting places and I have to also made loads of new friends.
4. I’ve been decided to stay in touch with them now I’m back. One of
5. them, Giselle, is French. She was making on holiday too. We now send
6. text messages are to each other all the time. They’re usually in English
7. because my French isn’t very good! I’m planning to have visit her in
8. France next year sometime. I hope I can. I am love meeting people from
9. other countries! I want to have lots of friends from all over the world!
10. Travelling certainly broadens the mind but it also is broadens your circle
of friends

I. Match to make sentences.

1. I think …. A. darker hair than her sister.
2. I’m thinking …. B. I’m going to buy the new Racetrack CD.
3. Phil’s looing …. C. a haircut at the moment.
4. Phil looks …. D. for his glasses. Have you ever seen then.
5. Claire has …. E. not old enough to drive a car.
6. Claire is having …. F. of getting Dad a CD for his birthday.
7. Andy is …. G. very annoying at the moment!
8. Andy is being …. H. like he needs a holiday!

J. Rewrite the sentence using the word given.

1. What’s the price of the ticket, Jimmy? Much
How ………………………..., Jimmy?
2. Are these your trainers? To
Do …………………………… you?
3. Sasha’s not keen on team sports at all. Like
Sasha ………………………………. team sports at all.
4. It’s only her second time in the recording studio. Been
She …………………………… in a recording studio once before.
5. We got here three hours ago. Have
We ……………. three hours.
6. This is my first experience of flying alone. Time
It is the first ……………………………. alone.
7. Sharon’s in the bath at the moment. A
Sharon …………………………………… at the moment.
8. Paul enjoys surprises apart from his birthday. Does
Paul …………………………………………. surprises, just not on his birthday