3ºESO UNIT 2
THE PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE & THE PAST SIMPLE
FORM: [has/have + past participle]
Examples:
You have seen that movie many times.
Have you seen that movie many times?
You have not seen that movie many times.
USE 1: Unspecified Time Before Now
We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now.
The exact time is not important. You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with specific time
expressions such as: yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in
Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc. We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific
expressions such as: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet,
etc.
Examples:
I have seen that movie twenty times.
I think I have met him once before.
There have been many earthquakes in California.
People have travelled to the Moon.
People have not travelled to Mars.
Have you read the book yet?
Nobody has ever climbed that mountain.
How Do You Actually Use the Present Perfect? The concept of "unspecified time" can be very
confusing to English learners. It is best to associate Present Perfect with the following topics:
TOPIC 1: Experience
You can use the Present Perfect to describe your experience. It is like saying, "I have the
experience of..." You can also use this tense to say that you have never had a certain
experience. The Present Perfect is NOT used to describe a specific event.
Examples: I have been to France. THIS SENTENCE MEANS THAT YOU HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING
IN FRANCE. MAYBE YOU HAVE BEEN THERE ONCE, OR SEVERAL TIMES. YOU CAN ADD THE NUMBER OF TIMES AT
THE END OF THE SENTENCE: I have been to France three times.
I have never been to France. THIS SENTENCE MEANS THAT YOU HAVE NOT HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF GOING
TO FRANCE.
I think I have seen that movie before.
He has never travelled by train.
Joan has studied two foreign languages.
A: Have you ever met him?
B: No, I have not met him.
TOPIC 2: Change Over Time
We often use the Present Perfect to talk about change that has happened over a period of
time.
Examples:
You have grown since the last time I saw you.
1
The government has become more interested in arts education.
Japanese has become one of the most popular courses at the university since the Asian studies
programme was established.
My English has really improved since I moved to Australia.
TOPIC 3: Accomplishments
We often use the Present Perfect to list the accomplishments of individuals and humanity. You
cannot mention a specific time.
Examples:
Man has walked on the Moon.
Our son has learned how to read.
Doctors have cured many deadly diseases.
Scientists have split the atom.
TOPIC 4: An Uncompleted Action You Are Expecting
We often use the Present Perfect to say that an action which we expected has not happened.
Using the Present Perfect suggests that we are still waiting for the action to happen.
Examples:
James has not finished his homework yet.
Susan hasn't mastered Japanese, but she can communicate.
Bill has still not arrived.
The rain hasn't stopped.
TOPIC 5: Multiple Actions at Different Times
We also use the Present Perfect to talk about several different actions which have occurred in
the past at different times. Present Perfect suggests the process is not complete and more
actions are possible.
Examples:
The army has attacked that city five times.
I have had four quizzes and five tests so far this term.
We have had many major problems while working on this project.
She has talked to several specialists about her problem, but nobody knows why she is sick.
Time Expressions with Present Perfect
When we use the Present Perfect it means that something has happened at some point in our
lives before now. Remember, the exact time the action happened is not important.
Sometimes, we want to limit the time we are looking in for an experience. We can do this with
expressions such as: in the last week, in the last year, this week, this month, so far, up to
now, etc.
Examples:
Have you been to Mexico in the last year?
I have seen that movie six times in the last month.
They have had three tests in the last week.
She graduated from university less than three years ago. She has worked for three different
companies so far.
My car has broken down three times this week.
2
NOTICE
"Last year" and "in the last year" are very different in meaning. "Last year" means the year
before now, and it is considered a specific time which requires Simple Past. "In the last year"
means from 365 days ago until now. It is not considered a specific time, so it requires Present
Perfect.
Examples:
I went to Mexico last year. I WENT TO MEXICO IN THE CALENDAR YEAR BEFORE THIS ONE.
I have been to Mexico in the last year. I HAVE BEEN TO MEXICO AT LEAST ONCE AT SOME POINT BETWEEN
365 DAYS AGO AND NOW.
USE 2: Duration From the Past Until Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)
With Non-Continuous Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Present
Perfect to show that something started in the past and has continued up until now. "For five
minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Tuesday" are all durations which can be used with the
Present Perfect.
Examples:
I have had a cold for two weeks.
She has been in England for six months.
Mary has loved chocolate since she was a little girl.
Although the above use of Present Perfect is normally limited to Non-Continuous Verbs and
non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, the words "live," "work," "teach," and "study" are
sometimes used in this way even though they are NOT Non-Continuous Verbs.
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never,
ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
You have only seen that movie once.
Have you only seen that movie once?
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:
Many tourists have visited that castle. ACTIVE
That castle has been visited by many tourists. PASSIVE
FOR & SINCE
Since and for both express duration up to a point in the present, but we use them differently.
We use since + the starting point of the activity.
Example:
We have lived in this house since we got married.
I've been waiting here since 9 o'clock.
I haven’t seen her since Christmas!
3
We use for + a time period:
Example:
We have lived in this house for thirty years.
I've been waiting here for three hours.
JUST (acabar de): They have just finished painting their house. They are absolutely exhausted!
Have you just phoned me? I didn’t hear my phone.
EXERCISES
A) Using the words in brackets, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses, either
the Past Simple, or the Present perfect Simple.
1. A: Did you like the movie "Star Wars?"
B: I don't know. I (see, never) .........................................that movie.
2. Sam (arrive) ......................................in San Diego a week ago.
3. My best friend and I (know) ......................................each other for over fifteen years. We
still get together once a week.
4. Stinson is a fantastic writer. He (write) ..................................ten very creative short stories in
the last year. One day, he'll be as famous as Hemingway.
5. I (have, not) .......................................this much fun since I (be) ......................................a kid.
6. Things (change) .........................................a great deal at Coltech, Inc. When we first (start)
.....................................................working here three years ago, the company (have, only)
....................................six employees. Since then, we (now, expand) .....................................to
include more than 2000 full-time workers.
7. I (tell)......................................him to stay on the path while he was hiking, but he (wander)
....................................off into the forest and (be) .................................. bitten by a snake.
8. Listen Donna, I don't care if you (miss)............................................ the bus this morning. You
(be)..................................................,late to work too many times. You are fired!
9. Sam is from Colorado, which is hundreds of miles from the coast, so he (see,
never)..................................... the ocean. He should come with us to Miami.
10. How sad! George (dream) .................................of going to California before he died, but he
didn't make it. He (see, never).................................. the ocean.
11. In the last hundred years, travelling (become)..................................... much easier and very
comfortable. In the 19th century, it (take) ............................two or three months to cross North
America by covered wagon. The trip (be)........................................... very rough and often
dangerous. Things (change).................................... a great deal in the last hundred and fifty
years. Now you can fly from New York to Los Angeles in a matter of hours.
12. Jonny, I can't believe how much you (change) .....................................since the last time I
(see)................................... you. You (grow) ...........................at least a foot!
13. This tree (be) .................................planted by the settlers who (found)
..................................our city over four hundred years ago.
14. This mountain (be, never) ....................................climbed by anyone. Several mountaineers
(try) ..................................................to reach the top, but nobody (succeed, ever)
...................................... The climb is extremely difficult and many people (die)
......................................trying to reach the summit.
15. I (visit, never) ........................................Africa, but I (travel) .............................................to
South America several times. The last time I (go) .......................................to South America, I
(visit) ....................................Brazil and Peru. I (spend) ....................................two weeks in the
Amazon, (hike) ........................................for a week near Machu Picchu, and (fly)
....................................over the Nazca Lines.
4
B) Decide whether the following sentences require for, since or from.
1 I've been in the same job .....................................twenty years.
2 I've been in the same job ................................. I left school.
3 John's been on holiday three times ................................ Christmas. What a life!
4 It's been snowing ........................................Monday. It's a metre deep in our garden.
5 The bridge still isn't finished. They've been building it ...........................................six
years.
6 I'm not surprised you were cold and tired if you were skiing .............................. six hours
without a warm drink or any lunch.
7 The writer Oscar Wilde lived in Italy and France ....................... the last three years of his
life.
8 Oscar Wilde lived in Italy and France ............................1897 until his death in 1900.
9 The missing man hasn't been seen ..............................three weeks.
10 Queen Victoria was on the throne ............................... 1837 to 1901.
11 England hasn't won the football World Cup ............................... 1966.
12 We live in Milan now, but we lived in Rome ................................. a few years.
C) Complete the sentences with YET, STILL, ALREADY as appropriate.
1. You don't have to do it. I've ______ done it.
2. I've had no time. I haven't done it ______ .
3. Don't wake him. He's ______ asleep.
4. I've ______ told you what to do. Listen carefully this time.
5. The plane has ______ arrived. It was really early.
6. We broke up over six months ago but I ______ miss him.
7. Are you ______ working for the same company?
8. There's no need to tell him. He ______ knows.
9. We haven't finished ______ .
10. Nobody else knows ______ . I haven’t told anyone.
11. I have ______ done this type of work before. In fact, I have a lot of experience.
12. It's old but it ______ works well.
13. I bought it seven years ago and I haven't had any problems ______ .
14. I read your report but I ______ need to talk to you because there are some sections I
don’t understand.
15. Is it ______ nine o' clock? I can’t believe it! I thought it was earlier.
5
16. Oh no! It's ______ raining. I thought it would have stopped.
17. I'm feeling lazy. I'm ______ in bed.
18. Is the pizza cooked ______ ?
19. I cannot take on any more jobs. I've ______ got too much work.
20. I cannot believe it. Half past four in the morning and you are ______ up!
IF YOU HAD DIFFICULTIES WITH THE PREVIOUS EXERCISE, STUDY THE NOTES BELOW.
Still, Yet, Already (todavía, aún, ya)
Uno de mis seguidores de Twitter me ha pedido que explique las diferencias
entre still, yet y already y cuándo utilizarlos. Este tema puede dar lugar a confusión
porque las traducciones – todavía, aún y ya – no siempre corresponden a la misma palabra
inglesa y es importante saber en qué situaciones se utiliza cada una.
STILL
Significado:
todavía, aún (frases y preguntas positivas)
Posición:
Antes del verbo principal, después de is, am are, was, were
Uso:
Indicar que algo sigue o seguía ocurriendo en un momento dado
YET
Significado:
todavía, aún (frases y preguntas negativas)
ya (preguntas positivas y negativas)
Posición:
Normalmente al final de la oración.
Uso:
Indicar si algo ha sucedido hasta el momento presente.
Según el uso, no se utiliza en el pasado (con los verbos auxiliares wasn’t,
Restricciones:
weren’t, didn’t y hadn’t)
ALREADY
Significado:
ya (frases positivas)
ya (preguntas positivas para indicar sorpresa)
Flexible: antes del verbo principal / después de is, am are, was, were o al
Posición:
final de la oración.
Uso:
Indicar que algo ya sucedía antes del momento al que se refiere.
(Para “ya” en frases negativas, se utiliza “anymore” o “now”, por ejemplo: Ya no viven aquí
– They don’t live here anymore/now.)
6
Fíjate en los siguientes ejemplos para entender la explicación anterior:
STILL
I still go swimming every weekend. Todavía voy a nadar cada fin de semana.
We still have to call them to arrange the time of the meeting. Tenemos que llamarlos
todavía / aún para concertar la hora de la reunión.
Do you still smoke? ¿Todavía fumas?
They still went running in spite of the rain. Todavía / Aún fueron a correr a pesar de la
lluvia.
Did you still buy him a present after how he treated you? ¿Todavía le compraste un
regalo después de cómo te trató?
I think we’ll still have it next week. Creo que lo tendremos todavía / aún la semana que
viene.
Will you still be able to come? ¿Podrás venir todavía / aún?
We can still see them. Todavía / Aún podemos verlos.
Can you still do it? ¿Puedes hacerlo todavía / aún?
I would still call him if I were you. Todavía / Aún lo llamaría si fuera tú.
Would you still send them a message? ¿Todavía / Aún les enviarías un mensaje?
Is he still here? ¿Todavía / Aún está aquí?
Yes, he’s still here. Sí, todavía / aún está aquí.
Was she still working there when you spoke with her? ¿Trabajaba allí todavía / aún
cuando hablaste con ella?
Yes, she was still working there. Si, todavía / aún trabajaba allí.
I’m still going to complain about it. Todavía / Aún voy a quejarme de ello.
Are you still going to visit them in spite of the prices of the flights? ¿Todavía / Aún vas a
visitarlos a pesar de los precios de los vuelos?
YET
Not yet. Todavía no
Does he speak yet? ¿Ya habla?
He doesn’t speak yet. No habla todavía / aún.
Why doesn’t he speak yet? ¿Por qué no habla todavía / aún?
He doesn’t need to speak yet. No necesita hablar todavía / aún.
We can’t see them yet. No podemos verlos todavía / aún.
Can’t you do it yet? ¿No puedes hacerlo todavía / aún?
I wouldn’t call him yet if I were you. No lo llamaría todavía / aún si fuera tú.
Wouldn’t you send them a message yet? ¿No les enviarías un mensaje ya?
Is he here yet? ¿Ya está aquí?
Isn’t he here yet? ¿Todavía no está aquí?
7
No, he isn’t here yet. No, no está aquí todavía / aún.
They haven’t gone running yet. No han ido a correr todavía / aún.
Have you bought him a present yet? ¿Le has comprado un regalo ya?
Haven’t you finished it yet? ¿No lo has acabado ya / todavía / aún?
Aunque yet indica si algo ha sucedido hasta el momento presente, se puede utilizar
con won’t o not going to (futuro) cuando estos transmiten la idea de presente. Por
ejemplo:
I’m not going to complain about it yet. Todavía / Aún no voy a quejarme de ello. (De
momento, no voy a quejarme de ello)
He won’t have it yet. No lo tendrá todavía / aún. (Estoy bastante seguro de que ya no lo
tiene)
ALREADY
He’s only two and he speaks a little already / he already speaks a little. Sólo tiene dos
años y ya habla un poco.
Does he speak already? (Indicando sorpresa) / Does he already speak? ¿Ya habla?
Yes, he speaks already (Indicando sorpresa) / he already speaks. Sí, ya habla.
Is he already here? / Is he here already? (Indicando sorpresa) ¿Ya está aquí?
Yes, he’s already here / he’s here already? Sí, ya está aquí.
Was she already working there? / Was she working there already? ¿Ya trabajaba allí?
Yes, she was already working there / she was working there already. Sí, ya trabajaba allí.
I‘m already late! ¡Ya voy tarde!
Have you finished it already? (Indicando sorpresa)/ Have you already finished it? ¿Ya lo
has acabado? (¡Qué rápido!)
The concert had already started / had started already by the time we arrived. El concierto
había empezado ya cuando llegamos.
Had it already started? / Had it started already? ¿Ya había empezado?
 Ahora te toca a ti un poco de práctica. ¿Cómo se traducirían estas frases.
1. ¿Todavía tienes los £20 que te presté ayer?
2. Todavía voy a venderlo.
3. ¿Lo has vendido ya?
4. ¿Lo has vendido ya? (indicando sorpresa)
5. No he encontrado nada que me guste aún.
6. ¡Ya tienen la solución!
8