Examples of situations when you should use Present Perfect! "The art of speaking English outside the classroom"

Do you remember the last time you consciously used Present Perfect in a conversation? Are you sure that you use it at all? If not, it is not because you didn't need it, but rather because you are not entirely confident when the good moment arrives. Like we've discussed in my previous article <click here to check it out>, Present Perfect revolves around its KEY WORDS that determine when you should use it or move on to Past or Present Simple. And as we all know PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT, so I want you to work a bit with these key words today.

Think of your own examples - how would you describe your life adventures in Present Perfect, what 'Have you ever...?' questions would you ask your idol? Or simply, could you tell me what you've been up to recently?

Study the examples below, do the exercise and finally - write a sentence or two of your own :)

Download the printable PDF version here!
 
Casual English – Examples of situations in which you need to use Present Perfect


1.      BEFORE / NEVER – BEFORE / ALREADY

When your friends talk to someone you don’t know and you want to introduce yourself:

Hello, I don’t think we’ve met before, I’m Kasia. (It’s the first time I see you)

I believe we’ve never met; I’m Kasia, and you?

When somebody invites you to see a film, concert, exhibition that you already know:

Thanks, but I’ve seen it before. (I saw it some time ago)

Thanks, but I’ve already seen it.

2.      EVER

When you meet somebody new and you want to make a small talk:

Have you ever wanted to move to another country?

When you comment on some special food you’re eating / extraordinary show you’re watching:

Have you ever eaten anything similar to this?

Possible answer: I’ve never tried anything like it.

Have you ever seen anything similar to it?

Possible answer: I haven’t seen anything like it before.

3.      RECENTLY / LATELY:

When you describe your recent past:

I’ve bought a car lately.

Do you know what’s up with Peter? I haven’t seen him recently.

When you recommend something:

You should visit London one day, I’ve been there recently and I am in love with this city! 

4.      SINCE / FOR

When you want to precisely explain how long you’ve been doing something:

I’ve lived in this city since 2010. (And I still live here)

I’ve lived in this country for 4 years. (And I still live here)

*I’ve been a secretary since I finished school. (I am still a secretary but I am not at school anymore)

(* In sentences we use Present Perfect before ‘SINCE’ and Past Simple after!)

I’ve been a secretary for majority of my adult life.

5.      YET

When you talk about something that is not completed:

I haven’t written my essay yet, I need more time!

It’s already the 15th of September but John hasn’t paid his bills yet.

I haven’t called the doctor yet, but I promise, I’ll do it today!

When you want to check if something is ready/ done/ completed:

Have you confirmed our appointment yet?

Have you booked the hotel yet?

Have you paid yet?

6.      JUST

When you talk about something that you completed a very short moment ago:

Let me call you back in a moment, I’ve just come back home and I need to take off my coat first.

What are you doing? – I’ve just finished watching the film you recommended me last week.

Hello, John? Listen, I’ve just landed so I should reach your apartment in about 1 hour.


PRACTICE PART:

Fill the gaps with suitable Present Perfect key words (before, never, ever, already, just, yet, since, for):

1.      I’ve ……………….been to Japan, but I hope I will visit this country one day.

2.      Have you …………………..believed that you’d be a famous actress one day?

3.      I’m sorry, but I can’t come to your party. I’ve …………………finished my work and I have no power.

4.      Don’t disturb me now, I haven’t finished writing my job application ………………….and the deadline is till tomorrow!

5.      Yes, I’d love to see that movie with you, I haven’t seen it ………………….

6.      I haven’t seen Amanda ……………………she moved to Canada 2 years ago.

7.      I’ve worked in this company ………………..2012 but it feels like I’ve been here ……………ages!

8.      Ughhh, that’s disgusting! I’ve ……………….eaten anything so bad in my life!

9.      I’ve …………………posted the letter, so you should get it by Tuesday.

10.  Have you read that book ………………..? I’d like to borrow it.

 

PRACTICE PART - Key:
1.      I’ve ………never……….been to Japan, but I hope I will visit this country one day.
2.      Have you ……ever……………..believed that you’d be a famous actress one day?
3.      I’m sorry, but I can’t come to your party. I’ve ……just……………finished my work and I have no power.
4.      Don’t disturb me now, I haven’t finished writing my job application ……yet…….and the deadline is till tomorrow!
5.      Yes, I’d love to see that movie with you, I haven’t seen it ………before………….
6.      I haven’t seen Amanda ………since……………she moved to Canada 2 years ago.
7.      I’ve worked in this company ………since………..2012 but it feels like I’ve been here ………for……ages!
8.      Ughhh, that’s disgusting! I’ve ………never……….eaten anything so bad in my life!
9.      I’ve ………just/already…………posted the letter, so you should get it by Tuesday.
10.  Have you read that book ……yet…………..? I’d like to borrow it.
 

Location: Fleurier, 2114 Val-de-Travers, Suisse

Popular posts from this blog

I used to get up early vs I'm used to getting up early and I'm getting used to getting up early

Image
Today we're going to discuss three popular constructions that may cause you some trouble. What are the differences between 'used to' and 'be used to -ing'? And what on earth is 'get used to -ing' all about? Study the table below, read the examples and try to come up with your own examples! Visit my website with lost of exam tips, printable lessons and ESL games   https://www.teatimeschool.ch/ As usual - you can download the printable version with some extra speaking activities by clicking HERE . I USED TO PLAY THE PIANO/ I’M USED TO PLAYING THE PIANO/ I’M GETTING USED TO PLAYING THE PIANO USED TO BE USED TO + ING GET USED TO +ING I used to like boy bands. (I liked boy bands in the past, now I don’t like them) I am used to getting up early because I start my job at 6 a.m. (It is normal for me to get up early because of my job) When I first moved to France it was difficult for me to speak
Read more

Conditionals - how to use them outside classroom!

Image
At some point of your English adventure, you must have come across the famous CONDITIONALS. Your teachers were exaggerating how important it is to master this specific grammar point and you promised eagerly to mix the tenses correctly till the rest of your lives. Just to... never use them outside the classroom. In fact, conditionals are really useful means of expression, even if it's perfectly possible to survive a foreign holiday without them :) To help you understand how you can use conditionals in real life conversations, I have written the short text below. Try to notice the logical  differences between the three conditionals and don't hesitate to ask me questions if you still have any! For the analizers, some warm-up questions before; for the hard-workers - some vocabulary practice. Key for the lazy ones also included :) Everybody's happy? Good! Now, let's get to work! PDF version Before reading the text, discuss these questions: 1.   Is it difficult
Read more

FCE Vocabulary Revision - Sport and Leisure

Image
Today, we'll look at another topic that is often discussed at the FCE exam. The short exercise below checks your knowledge on the topic of Sport & Leisure activities. Try not to cheat and don't read the key before you finish the task! Good luck! :) Download the printable PDF version here!   Fill the gaps with the words given below: got stuck          skillful          recover         failure         postpone          spare         runner-up          pitch        viewers           spectators           draw          pastime           gambling            1.        When we were children, we liked to spend our free time on a football …………………………….. 2.        From the moment Peter learnt to swim, he ………………………….in it and now he’s the state champion! 3.        They won 4–0 in front of over 40,000 cheering ......................... . 4.        I was training hard for the tournament, but my performance was a total ………………… 5.        We’ll need to
Read more