Verbs

Practice
41a Write the correct form of the present perfect to complete these sentences.
1 to Rome? (you ever be)
2 this film before. (I see)
3 in an office, (she never work)
4 in an aeroplane. (I never be)
5 to Germany? (he ever be)
6 my parents? (you met)
7 in the theatre? (you ever work)
8 to all the capital cities of Europe.
(she be)
9 this book. (I read)
10 that new film about aliens? (you see)
11 abroad, (we never be)
12 a British policeman before.
(they never see)
13 in a foreign country? (they ever live)
14 the President, (they meet)
15 to Brazil. (I never be)

• 's in a verb can be short for is or has:

He's tired. / It's dead. / She's thirsty. (= is)
He's gone. / It's disappeared. / She's left. (= has)

Practice
41 b Are these contractions is or hasl
1 He's tired. (= is) 6 She's worried
2 She's arrived 7 He's left the country
3 It's escaped 8 She's stopped working
4 She's ill 9 He's had a cold
5 He's eaten 10 It's died

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42 Present Perfect/Past Simple

Check
Write these sentences, putting the verbs into the present perfect or past simple.
1 I (read) that book three times.
I've read that book three times.
2 She (go) home three days ago.
She went home three days aqo.

3 I (meet) Mr and Mrs Shelley.

4 She (start) school in 1984.

5 I (leave) the office early last night.

6 He (see) the film before.

7 (You be) to Austria?

8 (You see) the film on TV last night?

9 When (you arrive) in London?

10 John (be) to Germany before.

11 (You read) this book before?

12 I (not see) him yesterday.

13 I never (go) anywhere by plane until now.

14 (You hear) their new record? It's the best they've ever made.

15 I (not know) about the disco last night.

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 Verbs

43 Present Perfect + for/since

USE
• The present perfect + for/since is used when something started in the past
and is continuing now.
I've worked here for six years, (and I'm working here now)
He's lived here since 1990. (and he's living here now)
NOTES
• for + period of time:
I've lived here for six years.
I've worked here for two months.
They've been married for a long time.
• since + a point in time in the past:
I've lived here since 1987.
I've worked here since February.
We've been friends since we started college.
• Note the difference between the present perfect and the past simple:
He's worked here for six months. (= he's working here now)
He worked here for six months. (= he's not working here now)
• It is not possible to say He worked here since 1990.

Practice
43a Circle for or since in each sentence.
1 I've worked here t(fori/since) six years.
2 I lived here [for/since) three months.
3 I've worked in the factory {for/since) 1982.
4 He's been abroad [for/since] five years.
5 I studied French [for/since) twelve years.
6 I've known her [for/since] 1982.
7 I've lived here {for/since) I was a child.
8 We've been in Paris [for/since) we were married.
9 I've known them [for/since) years.
10 We practised {for/since) months.

43b Write these sentences, choosing for or since and putting the verb into the
past simple or present perfect as necessary.

1 I (study) medicine [for/'since) three years but then I stopped.

/ studied medicine for three years but then I stopped.
2 She (work) for me [for/since) she left school.
She's worked for me since she left school.

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Verbs

3 I (work) in the restaurant {for/since) six months but then it closed.

4 I (live) here [for/since] I was a little girl.

5 He (be) in prison now [for/since] three years.

6 I (not see) him [for/since] he left the office.

7 I (not see) her [for/since] several years and then I met her again.

8 We (be) in Vienna [for/since) 1960.

9 I (work) here (for/since) seven years but it's time to leave now.

10 I (live) in England [for/since) 1993.

44 Present Perfect
USE
The present perfect is used to show a connection in the speaker's mind between
the past and the present. This occurs in two main ways:
a) the unfinished past
- by referring to something that started in the past and is continuing now:
I've lived here for seven years, (and I live here now)
I've worked here since 1994. (and I work here now)
Exercise 43.
- or describing something that happened in an unfinished time period:
I've read two books this week.
I've seen him twice today.
She's telephoned three times this morning.
b) the indefinite past: referring to the past with no definite time
(>• Exercise 41). It is connected to the present in some way, and is often used
in the following situations:

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 Verbs

describing something that happened in the past, when the result can be seen
in the present:

He's painted his house.

Someone's taken my wallet.

She's bought a new car.

- describing something that happened recently, often when giving 'news':

Two men have escaped from prison in London.
The prime minister has arrived in Australia.
- with certain words [just, yet, already):
He's just gone out.
I've already told her.
Have you done your homework yet?
- describing personal experience:
I've been to Paris.
He's never been abroad.
- describing personal experience with superlatives or ordinals:
She's the most intelligent person I've met.
This is the third time we've complained.

Practice
The sentences below belong to one or more of the categories above. Complete
these sentences by putting the verbs into the present perfect.

1 She .'?.P.?en...\\\ for several months, (be)

2 This is the nicest restaurant I (see)
3 Three people the company this week, (leave)
4 I three letters already, (write)
5 We two holidays this year, (have)
6 There a revolution in San Serife. (be)
7 I that film, (see)
8 Someone your front gate! (knock down)
9 It's the first time I (be) here.
10 Indonesian food? (you ever eat)
11 your homework yet? (you do)
12 This is the fourth time he my car. (damage)
13 You a shave! (have)
14 She's got the best voice I (ever hear)
15 He here since eight o'clock, (be)

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