Unit

7 Present perfect 1 (I have done)

A Study this example situation:

I’ve lost my key. Tom can’t find his key.

He’s lost his key. (= He has lost …)
he has lost his key =
he lost it and he doesn’t have it now
have lost / has lost is the present perfect simple:
finished
I/we/they/you have (= I’ve etc.)
lost
done
he/she/it has (= he’s etc.) been etc.

The present perfect simple is have/has + past participle. The past participle often ends in -ed
(finished/decided etc.), but many verbs are irregular (lost/done/written etc.).
For a list of irregular verbs, see Appendix 1.

B When we say ‘something has happened’, this is usually new information:

Ow! I’ve cut my finger.
The road is closed. There’s been an accident. (= There has been …)
Police have arrested two men in connection with the robbery.
When we use the present perfect, there is a connection with now. The action in the past has a result now:
Tom has lost his key. (= he doesn’t have it now)
He told me his name, but I’ve forgotten it. (= I can’t remember it now)
Sally is still here. She hasn’t gone out. (= she is here now)
I can’t find my bag. Have you seen it? (= do you know where it is now?)
Compare gone (to) and been (to):
James is on holiday. He has gone to Italy. (= he is there now or on his way there)
Amy is back home now. She has been to Italy. (= she has now come back)

C You can use the present perfect with just, already and yet.

Just = a short time ago:

‘Are you hungry?’ ‘No, I’ve just had lunch.’
Hello. Have you just arrived?
Already = sooner than expected:
‘Don’t forget to pay the bill.’ ‘I’ve already paid it.’
‘What time is Mark leaving?’ ‘He’s already left.’
Yet = until now. We use yet to show that we are expecting something to happen.
We use yet in questions and negative sentences:
Has it stopped raining yet?
I’ve written the email, but I haven’t sent it yet.

D You can also use the past simple (did, went, had etc.) in the examples on this page. So you can say:
Ben isn’t here. He’s gone out. or He went out.
‘Are you hungry?’ ‘No, I’ve just had lunch.’ or ‘No, I just had lunch.’

Present perfect ➜ Units 8, 11 been to ➜ Units 8A, 126A Present perfect continuous ➜ Units 9–10
14 Present perfect and past ➜ Units 12–14 yet and already ➜ Unit 111 American English ➜ Appendix 7
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Unit
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. Jane’s life
DaVE: Really? Have you ever been to China? (a period until now)
JaNE: Yes, I’ve been to China twice.
DaVE: What about India? past now
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.

In the same way we say:

Have you ever eaten caviar?
We’ve never had a car.
I don’t know what the film is about. I haven’t seen it.
Susan really loves that book. She’s read it three times. (She’s = She has)
It’s a really boring movie. It’s the most boring movie I’ve ever seen.
been (to) = visited:
I’ve never been to Canada. 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 I arrived etc.):
Have you heard anything from Ben recently? recently
I’ve met a lot of people in the last few days.
Everything is going well. There haven’t been any in the last few days
problems so far. since I arrived
The weather is bad here. It’s (= It has) rained every past now
day since I arrived. (= from when I arrived until now)
It’s good to see you again. We haven’t seen each other for a long time.
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. today
Have you had a holiday this year?
I haven’t seen Tom this morning. Have you? past now

C We say ‘It’s the (first) time something has happened’. For example:
Don is having a driving lesson. It’s his first lesson.
We can say: This is the first time
I’ve driven a car.
It’s the first time he has driven a car. (not drives)
or He hasn’t driven a car before.
or He has never driven a car before.
In the same way we say:
Sarah has lost her passport again. This is the second
time this has happened. (not happens)
Andy is phoning his girlfriend again. It’s the third
time he’s phoned her this evening.

16 Present perfect 1 ➜ Unit 7 perfect + for/since ➜ Units 11–12

Presentfacebook.com/LinguaLIB Present perfect and past ➜ Units 12–14
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 Unit
Exercises 8
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?) Have
3 (run / marathon?)
4 (speak / famous person?)
5 (most beautiful place / visit?) What’s

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 never met her.

I’ve no idea.
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 about? I don’t know. it.
7 Is Brussels an interesting place? I’ve no idea. there.
8 I hear your car broke down again Yes, it’s the second time
yesterday. 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 today
this week
1 I haven’t used a computer today. recently
2 for ages
3 since …
4 this year
5

8.4 Read the situations and complete the sentences.

1 Jack is driving a car for the first time. He’s very nervous and not sure what to do.
It’s the first time he’s driven a car.
2 Some children at the zoo are looking at a giraffe. They’ve never seen one before.
It’s the first time a giraffe.
3 Sue is riding a horse. She doesn’t look very confident or comfortable.
She before.
4 Joe and Lisa are on holiday in Japan. They’ve been to Japan once before.
This is the second time .
5 Emily is staying at the Prince Hotel. She stayed there a few years ago.
It’s not the first this hotel.
6 Ben is playing tennis for the first time. He’s a complete beginner.
before.

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Unit
9 Present perfect continuous (I have been doing)
A It’s been raining.
Study this example situation:

Is it raining?
No, but the ground is wet.
It’s been raining. (= It has been …)
have/has been + -ing is the present perfect continuous:

doing
I/we/they/you have (= I’ve etc.)
been working
he/she/it has (= he’s etc.)
learning etc.

We use the present perfect continuous for an activity that has recently stopped or just stopped:
Why are you out of breath? Have you been running?
Paul is very tired. He’s been working hard. have/has been + -ing
Why are you so tired? What have you been doing? present perfect continuous
I’ve been talking to Amanda and she agrees with me.
Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you. now

B It’s been raining for two hours.

Study this example situation:

It began raining two hours ago and it is still raining.

How long has it been raining?
It’s been raining for two hours. (= It has been …)
We use the present perfect continuous in this way, especially
with how long, for … and since … . The activity is still
happening (as in this example) or has just stopped.

How long have you been learning English? (= you’re still learning English)
Ben is watching TV. He’s been watching TV all day.
Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you for the last half hour.
Chris hasn’t been feeling well recently.
You can use the present perfect continuous for repeated actions:
Silvia is a very good tennis player. She’s been playing since she was eight.
Every morning they meet in the same cafe. They’ve been going there for years.

C Compare I am doing and I have been doing:

I am doing I have been doing

present continuous present perfect continuous

now now
Don’t disturb me now. I’m working. I’ve been working hard. Now I’m going
to have a break.
We need an umbrella. It’s raining. The ground is wet. It’s been raining.
Hurry up! We’re waiting. We’ve been waiting for an hour.

18 Present perfect continuous and simple ➜ Units 10–11 Present perfect + for/since ➜ Units 11–12
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 Unit
Exercises 9
9.1 What have these people been doing or what has been happening?
1 earlier 2 earlier 3 earlier 4 earlier

now now now now

It’s been raining. She They He

9.2 Write a question for each situation.

1 You meet Kate as she is leaving the swimming pool. You say:
Hi, Kate. (you / swim?) Have you been swimming?
2 You have arrived a little late to meet Ben who is waiting for you. You say:
I’m sorry I’m late, Ben. (you / wait / long?)
3 Jane’s little boy comes into the house with a very dirty face and dirty hands. His mother says:
Why are you so dirty? (what / you / do?)
4 You are in a shop and see Anna. You didn’t know she worked there. You say:
Hi, Anna. (how long / you / work / here?)
5 A friend tells you about his job – he sells phones. You say:
You sell phones? (how long / you / do / that?)
9.3 Read the situations and complete the sentences.
1 It’s raining. The rain started two hours ago.
It ’s been raining for two hours.
2 We are waiting for the bus. We started waiting 20 minutes ago.
We for 20 minutes.
3 I’m learning Japanese. I started classes in December.
I since December.
4 Jessica is working in a hotel. She started working there on 18 January.
since 18 January.
5 Our friends always go to Italy for their holidays. The first time was years ago.
for years.
9.4 Put the verb into the present continuous (am/is/are + -ing) or present perfect continuous (have/has
been + -ing).
1 Maria has been learning (Maria / learn) English for two years.
2 Hi, Tom. (I / look) for you. I need to ask you something.
3 Why (you / look) at me like that? Stop it!
4 Rachel is a teacher. (she / teach) for ten years.
5 (I / think) about what you said and I’ve decided to take
your advice.
6 ‘Is Paul on holiday this week?’ ‘No, (he / work).’
7 Sarah is very tired. (she / work) very hard recently.
8 It’s dangerous to use your phone when (you / drive).
9 Laura (travel) in South America for the last three months.

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Unit Present perfect continuous and simple
10 (I have been doing and I have done)
A Compare these two situations:

I’ve been painting

my bedroom.
I’ve painted my bedroom.

There is paint on Kate’s clothes. The bedroom was green. Now it is yellow.
She has been painting her bedroom. She has painted her bedroom.
has been painting is the present perfect has painted is the present perfect simple.
continuous.
Here, the important thing is that something has
We are thinking of the activity. It does not matter been finished. ‘She has painted’ is a completed
whether it has been finished or not. In this action. We are thinking about the result of
example, the activity (painting the bedroom) has the activity (the painted bedroom), not the
not been finished. activity itself.

B Compare these examples:

My hands are very dirty. I’ve been My bike is OK again now. I’ve repaired
repairing my bike. it. (= I’ve finished repairing it)
Joe has been eating too much recently. Somebody has eaten all the chocolates.
He should eat less. The box is empty.
It’s nice to see you again. What have you Where’s the book I gave you? What have
been doing since we last met? you done with it?
Where have you been? Have you been Have you ever played tennis?
playing tennis?

C We use the continuous to say how long (for We use the simple to say how much, how many
something that is still happening): or how many times (for completed actions):
How long have you been reading that How many pages of that book have
book? you read?
Amy is writing emails. She’s been writing Amy has sent lots of emails this morning.
emails all morning.
They’ve been playing tennis since 2 o’clock. They’ve played tennis three times this
week.
I’m learning Arabic, but I haven’t been I’m learning Arabic, but I haven’t learnt
learning it very long. very much yet.

D Some verbs (for example, know) are not normally used in continuous forms (be + -ing):
I’ve known about the problem for a long time. (not I’ve been knowing)
How long have you had that camera? (not have you been having)
For a list of these verbs, see Unit 4A. For have, see Unit 17.
But note that you can use want and mean in the present perfect continuous (have/has been + -ing):
I’ve been meaning to phone Anna, but I keep forgetting.

Present perfect simple ➜ Units 7–8 Present perfect continuous ➜ Unit 9

20 Present perfect + for/since ➜ Units 11–12
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 Unit
Exercises 10
10.1 Read the situation and complete the sentences. Use the verbs in brackets.
1 Tom started reading a book two hours ago. He is still reading it and now he is on page 53.
He has been reading for two hours. (read)
He has read 53 pages so far. (read)
2 Rachel is from Australia. She is travelling round Europe. She began her trip three months ago.
She for three months. (travel)
six countries so far. (visit)
3 Patrick is a tennis player. He began playing tennis when he was 10 years old. This year he won the national
championship again – for the fourth time.
the national championship four times. (win)
since he was ten. (play)
4 When they left college, Lisa and Sue started making films together. They still make films.
They films since they left college. (make)
five films since they left college. (make)

10.2 Ask questions using the words in brackets. Use the present perfect simple (have/has done) or
continuous (have/has been doing).
1 You have a friend who is learning Arabic. You ask:
(how long / learn / Arabic?) How long have you been learning Arabic?
2 You have just arrived to meet a friend. She is waiting for you. You ask:
(wait / long?) Have
3 You see somebody fishing by the river. You ask:
(catch / any fish?)
4 Some friends of yours are having a party next week. You ask:
(how many people / invite?)
5 A friend of yours is a teacher. You ask:
(how long / teach?)
6 You meet somebody who is a writer. You ask:
(how many books / write?)
(how long / write / books?)
7 A friend of yours is saving money to go on a world trip. You ask:
(how long / save?)
(how much money / save?)

10.3 Put the verb into the present perfect simple or continuous.
1 Where have you been? Have you been playing (you / play) tennis?
2 Look! (somebody / break) that window.
3 You look tired. (you / work) hard?
4 ‘ (you / ever / work) in a factory?’ ‘No, never.’
5 Where’s Lisa? Where (she / go)?
6 This is a very old book. (I / have) it since I was a child.
7 ‘Have you been busy?’ ‘No, (I / watch) TV.’
8 My brother is an actor. (he / appear) in several films.
9 ‘Sorry I’m late.’ ‘That’s all right. (I / not / wait) long.’
10 Are you OK? You look as if (you / cry).
11 ‘Is it still raining?’ ‘No, (it / stop).’
12 The children are tired now. (they / play) in the garden.
13 (I / lose) my phone. (you / see) it?
14 (I / read) the book you lent me, but
(I / not / finish) it yet. It’s really interesting.
15 (I / read) the book you lent me, so you can have it back now.

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Unit
11 how long have you (been) … ?
A Study this example situation:

Dan and Kate are married. They got married exactly

20 years ago, so today is their 20th wedding anniversary.
They have been married for 20 years.
We say: They are married. (present)
but How long have they been married?
(not How long are they married?)
They have been married for 20 years. (present perfect)
(not They are married for 20 years)

We use the present perfect to talk about something that began in the past and still
present
continues now.
he is
Compare the present and present perfect:
we know
Paul is in hospital.
do they have
but He’s been in hospital since Monday. (= He has been …)
she is waiting
(not Paul is in hospital since Monday)
We know each other very well.
present perfect
but We’ve known each other for a long time.
he has been
(not We know)
we have known
Do they have a car? have they had
but How long have they had their car? she has been waiting
She’s waiting for somebody.
but She hasn’t been waiting very long. past now

B I’ve known / I’ve had / I’ve lived etc. is the present perfect simple.
I’ve been learning / I’ve been waiting etc. is the present perfect continuous.
When we ask or say ‘how long’, the continuous is more usual (see Unit 10):
I’ve been learning English since January.
It’s been raining all morning.
Richard has been doing the same job for 20 years.
‘How long have you been driving?’ ‘Since I was 17.’
Some verbs (for example, know and like) are not normally used in the continuous:
How long have you known Jane? (not have you been knowing)
I’ve had these shoes for ages. (not I’ve been having)
See also Units 4A and 10C. For have, see Unit 17.

C You can use either the continuous or simple with live and work:
Julia has been living in this house for a long time. or Julia has lived …
How long have you been working here? or How long have you worked here?
But we use the simple (have lived etc.) with always:
I’ve always lived in the country. (not always been living)

D We say ‘I haven’t (done something) since/for …’ ( present perfect simple):

I haven’t seen Tom since Monday. (= Monday was the last time I saw him)
Sarah hasn’t phoned for ages. (= the last time she phoned was ages ago)

22 I haven’t … since/for ➜ Unit 8B facebook.com/LinguaLIB

Present perfect continuous ➜ Units 9–10 for and since ➜ Unit 12A
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 Unit
Exercises 11
11.1 Which is right?
1 Ben is a friend of mine. I know / I’ve known him very well. (I know is correct)
2 I like your house. How long do you live / have you lived here?
3 You’ll need an umbrella if you go out now. It’s raining / It’s been raining.
4 The weather is / has been awful since I arrived here.
5 I’m sorry I’m late. Are you waiting / Have you been waiting long?
6 We’ve moved. We’re living / We’ve been living in New Street now.
7 I met Maria only recently. I don’t know / I haven’t known her very long.
8 Lisa is in Germany. She’s / She’s been there on a business trip.
9 That’s a very old bike. How long do you have / have you had it?
10 I’m not feeling good. I’m feeling / I’ve been feeling ill all day.

11.2 Read the situations and write questions using the words in brackets.
1 A friend tells you that Paul is in hospital. You ask him:
(how long / Paul / hospital?) How long has Paul been in hospital?
2 You know that Jane is a good friend of Katherine’s. You ask Jane:
(how long / you / know / Katherine?)
3 Your friend’s sister went to Australia some time ago and she’s still there. You ask your friend:
(how long / sister / in Australia?)
4 You meet a woman who tells you that she teaches English. You ask her:
(how long / you / teach / English?)

5 Tom always wears the same jacket. It’s very old. You ask him:
(how long / you / have / that jacket?)
6 You are talking to a friend about Joe, who now works at the airport. You ask your friend:
(how long / Joe / work / airport?)

7 You meet somebody on a plane. She says that she lives in Chicago. You ask her:
(you / always / live / in Chicago?)

11.3 Complete B’s answers to A’s questions.

A B

1 Paul is in hospital, isn’t he? Yes, he has been in hospital since Monday.
2 Do you see Lisa very often? No, I haven’t seen her for three months.
3 Is Paul married? Yes, he married for ten years.
4 Is Amy married? Yes, she married to a German guy.
5 Do you still play tennis? No, I tennis for years.
6 Are you waiting for the bus? Yes, I for about 20 minutes.
7 You know Mel, don’t you? Yes, we each other a long time.
8 Jack is never ill, is he? No, he ill since I’ve known him.
9 Martin lives in Italy, doesn’t he? Yes, he in Milan.
10 Sue lives in Berlin, doesn’t she? Yes, she in Berlin for many years.
11 Is Joe watching TV? Yes, he TV all evening.
12 Do you watch TV a lot? No, I TV since last weekend.
13 Do you have a headache? Yes, I a headache all morning.
14 Do you go to the cinema a lot? No, I to the cinema for ages.
15 Would you like to go to New York Yes, I to go to New York.
one day? (use always / want)

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Unit
12 for and since when … ? and how long … ?
A We use for and since to say how long something has been happening.

We use for + a period of time: We use since + the start of a period:

We’ve been waiting for two hours. We’ve been waiting since 8 o’clock.

for two hours since 8 o’clock

two hours ago now 8 o’clock now

for since
two hours a long time a week 8 o’clock April lunchtime
20 minutes six months ages Monday 2001 we arrived
five days 50 years years 12 May Christmas I got up
Sally has been working here for six Sally has been working here since
months. (not since six months) April. (= from April until now)
I haven’t seen Tom for three days. I haven’t seen Tom since Monday.

B We often leave out for (but not usually in negative sentences):

They’ve been married for ten years. or They’ve been married ten years.
They haven’t had a holiday for ten years. (you need for)
You can use in instead of for in negative sentences (I haven’t … etc.):
They haven’t had a holiday in ten years. (= for ten years)
We do not use for + all … (all day / all my life etc.):
I’ve lived here all my life. (not for all my life)

C Compare when … ? (+ past simple) and how long … ? (+ present perfect):

a: When did it start raining?

b: It started raining an hour ago / at 1 o’clock.
a: How long has it been raining?
b: It’s been raining for an hour / since 1 o’clock.

a: When did Joe and Kate first meet?

⎧ a long time ago.
b: They first met ⎨
⎩ when they were at school.
a: How long have they known each other?
⎧
b: They’ve known each other ⎨ for a long time.
⎩ since they were at school.

D We say: it’s (= it is) a long time

since something happened
or it’s been (= it has been) six months (etc.)

It’s two years since I last saw Joe. or It’s been two years since …
(= I haven’t seen Joe for two years)
It’s ages since we went to the cinema. or It’s been ages since …
(= We haven’t been to the cinema for ages)
How long is it since Mrs Hill died? or How long has it been since …
(= when did she die?)

24 How long have you (been) … ? ➜ Unit 11

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 Unit
Exercises 12
12.1 Write for or since.
1 It’s been raining since lunchtime.
2 Paul has lived in Brazil ten years.
3 I’m tired of waiting. We’ve been sitting here an hour.
4 Kevin has been looking for a job he left school.
5 I haven’t been to a party ages.
6 I wonder where Joe is. I haven’t seen him last week.
7 Jane is away on holiday. She’s been away Friday.
8 The weather is dry. It hasn’t rained a few weeks.
12.2 Look at each answer and choose the right question.
1 How long have they been married ?
Ten years ago.
When did they get married?
(When did they get married? is correct)
2 How long have you had this car?
About five years.
When did you buy this car?

3 How long have you been waiting?

Only a few minutes.
When did you get here?

4 How long have you been doing your course?

September.
When did your course start?

5 How long has Anna been in London?

Last week.
When did Anna arrive in London?

6 How long have you known each other?

A long time.
When did you first meet each other?

12.3 Read the situations and complete the sentences.

1 It’s raining. It’s been raining since lunchtime. It started raining at lunchtime.
2 Ann and Jess are friends. They first met years ago. They’ve known each other for years.
3 Mark is unwell. He became ill on Sunday. He has Sunday.
4 Sarah is married. She’s been married for a year. She got .
5 You have a headache. It started when you woke up.
I’ve I woke up.
6 Sue is in a meeting at work. It’s been going on since 9 o’clock.
The meeting at 9 o’clock.
7 You’re working in a hotel. You started working there six months ago.
I’ve been .
8 Kate is learning Japanese. She’s been doing this for a long time.
Kate started .
12.4 Complete B’s sentences.
A B

1 Do you often go on holiday? No, I haven’t had a holiday for five years.
2 Have you seen Lisa recently? No, I about a month.
3 Do you still go swimming regularly? No, I a long time.
4 Do you still ride a bike these days? No, I ages.

Now write B’s answers again. This time use It’s . . . since . . . .
5 (1) No, it’s five years since I last had a holiday.
6 (2) No, it’s
7 (3) No,
8 (4)
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