METU/SFL Spring 2025

DBE
GHO 4
102 GROUP
PRESENT PERFECT
(Student’s Copy)
This material includes practice on
-the following two functions of the Present Perfect: talking about repeated actions at some indefinite time in the past and things
that have happened in a time period that is not finished
-the difference between “been to” and “gone to”
- many times, today, this morning/week/month/year, so far, up to now, until now, to date,
over the past (…) hour/week/month/year, recently, lately, how long, ever (including the short form with Present Perfect), never,
(never)…before, yet, still, already, just

TASK 1. Read the text below, and answer the questions about John, the firefighter.

Have you imagined yourself as a war reporter, a soldier, or a firefighter before? Some people have very
dangerous jobs. John Navy is one of them. He is a firefighter. He has worked as a firefighter for ten years.
He has had to save people from burning buildings many times.

This month, John has already rescued three people from fires, and he has helped to stop a big fire in a
factory. So far, he has never been seriously hurt, but he knows the job is not safe. He says “I love my job,
but it is really hard. I’ve recently started thinking about a different career path.” He still hasn’t decided if he
will stay in this job for the rest of his life.

Dangerous jobs like John's are very important, and they require a lot of courage.

1- Is John an experienced firefighter? How do you know?

_______________________________________________________________________________.
2- What has he done this month?
_______________________________________________________________________________.
3- What plans does he have for the rest of his career?
_______________________________________________________________________________.

You have studied two functions of the Present Perfect in your coursebook. Now you can see two more
functions of the Present Perfect in the text you have read above.

MEANING & FUNCTION MODEL SENTENCES & OTHER EXAMPLES

1. The Present Perfect Tense is used to talk about He has saved people from burning buildings many times.
repeated actions at some indefinite time in
the past. In other words, we don’t know exactly *He has had to save people from burning buildings many
when the action took place / happened. times.

I’ve flown on an airplane many times.

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 He’s been on a lot of talk shows over the past two weeks.
She’s visited five countries over the past month.
2. The Present Perfect Tense is also used to talk This month, John has already rescued three people
about things that have happened in a time period from fires.
that is not finished, such as today, (It is still this month, and it is possible that he will save
this morning/week/month/year, so far, up to now, some more people from fires.)
until now, to date,
in the last / over the past hour/week/month/year, So far, he has never been seriously hurt.
recently/lately. (Present Perfect Passive!!!)

She’s had three cups of coffee this morning.

(It is still this morning, and it is possible that she will
have some more.)

This channel has shown about four wildlife

documentaries this week.
(It is still this week, and it is possible that it will show
some more documentaries.)

We have received over 20,000 entries for

the competition so far.
(We can still receive more entries for the competition.)

Additional Adverbs & Time Expressions in the Present Perfect Tense

In your coursebook, you have studied various adverbs and time expressions that we use with the Present
Perfect. Below you will see some more of these.

Before MODEL SENTENCES & OTHER EXAMPLES

We use the Present Perfect with before to talk Have you imagined yourself as a war reporter, a
about general life experience. soldier, or firefighter before?

We can use before with the Present Perfect A: Have you won an award before?
Tense to ask questions. It means “at any time up = (Have you ever won an award?)
before now.”
B: No, I’ve never won one.

A: Have you ever been abroad?

OR
Have you been abroad before?
B: Yes, I have. / Yes, twice.
No, I haven’t.
Never…before
We can use “never…before” with the Present I have never considered being a firefighter before.
Perfect to talk about life experiences.
Present Perfect + superlative form of adjectives

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We can use the Present Perfect with the This is the best book I’ve ever read.
superlative form of adjectives to talk about
experiences. It is common to use “ever” in this Dune is the most exciting film I’ve ever seen.
type of sentences.
NOTE: Ever can also be used for emphasis with
comparatives and superlatives of adjectives. In Only the Brave must be on everyone's firefighter
this case, Present Simple Tense is used. cinematic list. It is the best firefighter themed film
‘the' + superlative of adjectives + … + 'ever' ever.

Recently/lately
We use “recently” and “lately” with the Present I’ve recently started thinking about a different career
Perfect to talk about an event that happened path.
not long ago. We can use these at the beginning The worker has recently repaired a high-voltage
of a sentence or between the auxiliary verb and power line despite some risks.
the main verb. Lately I have used very dangerous chemicals in the
lab.
Still
We use “still” to talk about something that He still hasn’t decided if he will stay in this job for the
hasn’t finished – especially when we expected it rest of his life.
to finish earlier.
We can use “still” with the negative sentences in Many developed countries, such as the US, still
Present Perfect. haven’t banned the use of plastic bags.

Be careful!!! Be careful about the place of “still” in the sentence:

“Still” is also used with the other tenses in Subject + still + haven’t/ hasn’t + V3 + (object).
positive and question statements.
You can rephrase this sentence by using “yet”:
Examples for other tenses:
Simple Present: Many European countries still Many developed countries, such as the USA, haven’t
use plastic bags today. banned the use of plastic bags yet.
Present Continuous: In some countries, the
governments are still working on a new law on
the use of plastic bags.

TASK 2. Complete the sentences with an appropriate word in the box. You may use the words more
than once.
ever still just before yet already recently

1. They said that they posted the package, but it __________________ hasn’t arrived.

2. I haven’t found a flat __________________. All the houses near the university campus are
very expensive.
3. I’ve __________________ seen this film. It has been a year since I watched it. Let’s watch
something else.

4. The plane has __________________ taken off. It has been in the air for only about two
minutes.

5. Have they finished painting your house __________________?

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 6. Have you seen "Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey"? I think it’s the worst film _________.

7. I have never been abroad __________________.

8. Have you __________________ heard from Verena? She hasn’t written to me over the past
month.

Been to vs. gone to

TASK 3. Read the dialog between two firefighters below, and answer the questions that follow.
Jill: Hey, have you heard about John? He has gone to a wildfire in the mountains. He’s still there helping.
Sam: Yes, he took part in wildfire training, and he did a great job. He was one of the best trainees. Fighting
wildfires is particularly tough. Have you ever been to a wildfire before?
Jill: Yes, I’ve been to one. It was a couple of years ago. It was really intense!
Sam: Wow! I’ve never been to a wildfire, but I’d like to get that experience.

1. Which sentences tell us that John has not come back from the mountains?
________________________________________________________________________________.
2. How does Sam ask about Jill’s experience about fighting wildfires?
________________________________________________________________________________.

"Been to" → Experience (Visited and Returned)

We use "been to" to talk about places someone has visited at least once in their life and has returned
from.

"Gone to" → Currently There (Not Returned Yet)

Use "gone to" when talking about someone who has traveled to a place and is still there (has not returned
yet).

TASK 4. Complete the sentences with "been to" or "gone to".

1. Sarah isn’t at home. She has _________________ the supermarket.
2. I have _________________ Italy three times. It’s a beautiful country!
3. My brother isn’t here right now. He has _________________ the gym.
4. Have you ever _________________ a music festival?
5. Tom has _________________ New York for work. He won’t be back until next week.
6. Lisa isn’t at school today. She has _________________ the doctor’s office.
7. I have never _________________ Japan, but I’d love to go one day.
8. Jake has just _________________ the airport to catch his flight.

TASK 5. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb to complete the phone conversation between
Maria and Joe. Use Present Perfect or Simple Past Tense.
JOE : Hi, honey! How are you?

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MARIA : I’m OK – a little tired, I guess. I only (1) ______________________ (sleep) a few hours last night.
I’m writing this big report for tomorrow’s meeting, and I (2) ______________________ (stop)
worrying about it all week.
JOE : You need to rest. Listen – maybe I’ll come and see you this weekend. We (3) _________________
(only/see) each other twice this month.
MARIA : OK. But I really have to work. Do you remember the last time you (4) _________________ (come)
here? I (5) ______________________ (do) any work at all since then.
JOE : OK. Now, why don’t you go and make yourself a cup of coffee and just relax?
MARIA : Coffee? No, I really shouldn’t. I (6) _______________________ (have) five cups today. Moreover,
yesterday I (7) _______________________ (drink) at least six.
JOE : Well then, get some rest, and I’ll see you tomorrow.