UNIT 8

PATHS TO SUCCESS

Focus on

Use of English

Grammar

The Present Perfect Tense

just / already / yet / still

any more / any longer / no longer

been to / been in / gone to

Present Perfect vs. Past Simple

since / for / ago

Further practice: Articles

Reading Career Prospects

Speaking Applying for a Job

Social English

Making an appointment

USE OF ENGLISH

Grammar

The Present Perfect Tense

The Present Perfect Tense is used:

to talk about something which started in the past and continues up to the present

- with time references like before (now), never, ever, up till now, so far

She’s seen this film before.

I’ve never been there.

Have you ever eaten Chinese food?

He's received 30 cards up to now.

I've never tasted papaya so far.

- with since/for

We haven't been there since we were young.

She's worked in London for six months.

- with today, this morning, this afternoon, etc. when these periods of time are not finished at the time of speaking

I've written four letters this morning. (It is still “this morning”)

when the result of a past action is connected to the present

Someone's broken the window. (= The window is now broken.)

We've cleaned the flat. (= The flat is now clean.)

to describe personal experience (with superlatives or ordinals)

She's met a lot of interesting people. (= in her life, up now)

He is the most intelligent person I've met.

This is the third time we've complained.

to announce “news”

I’ve found a new job.

to describe actions which happened at unspecified time in the past

- with no time reference at all

He has passed his driving test.

- with references to recent time, like just, recently lately, already, still, yet

I've just eaten.

He has recently become a director.

I haven't seen you lately.

They've already spoken to me.

She still hasn't answered my letter.

I haven't drunk my tea yet.

Positive form

h as/have + Past Participle (Verb + -ed)

I You We You They	have ('ve) done this job before.
He She It	has ('s) arrived just in time.

Exercise 1. Here are the Past Participles of some verbs. Write the Infinitive.

died	----------	sung	----------	swum	----------
fallen	-----------	bought	----------	left	----------
driven	-----------	won	----------	taught	----------
felt	-----------	built	----------	tried	----------
travelled	-----------	chosen	----------	found	----------

Exercise 2. Complete the sentences putting the verbs in brackets in the Present Perfect Tense.

1. My parents _ in Moscow for fifteen years. (live)

2. I _ a lot of friends. (make)

3. They _ here for two hours. (be)

4. She _ him for many years. (know)

5. We _ three exams so far this winter. (have)

6. I'm not feeling well. I think I _ a cold. (catch)

Exercise 3. In the following sentences, say if 's = is or has.

Example: He's worried. (= is). She's left. (= has)

1. He's tired.

2. She's arrived.

3. He's washed the car.

4. It's disappeared.

5. He's ill.

6. She's frightened.

Negative form

h as not (hasn't)/have not (haven't) + Past Participle (Verb + -ed)

I You We You They	have not (haven't) eaten anything.
He She It	has not (hasn't) been there.

Exercise 4. Make the following positive sentences negative.

Example: George's won the lottery. - George hasn't won the lottery.

1. We've had our holiday this year.

2. The Browns have painted their house.

3. She's done her homework.

4. I've known him for many years.

5. Tom's travelled all over the world.

G eneral questions

Have	I	ever done this before? - Yes/No	I	have (haven’t)
	you		you
	we		we
	you		you
	they		they

Has	he	checked all the information? Yes\ No	he	has (hasn't)
	she		she
	it		it

E xercise 5. Rewrite each sentence as positive, negative or a general question, according to the instructions. Make all the necessary changes.

Example: Diana has recently won $1000. (question) - Has Diana recently won $1000?

I've seen John this morning, (negative) - I haven't seen John this morning.

Mary hasn't written many books, (positive) - Mary has written a lot of books.

1. They've lived in London for five years. (question)

2. I've seen the Statue of Liberty. (negative)

3. Nick hasn't invited you to his party on Sunday. (positive)

4. Julia has decided to be a doctor. (question)

5. The children have brought their little dog with them. (negative)

6. Jack's heard of Frank's engagement to Judy. (question)

7. Mrs Taylor has gone to Canada on business. (negative)

Alternative questions

Have	I	passed the exam or failed it? - The results are not known yet.
	you
	they
	you
	we

Has	he	finished the job or not? - Not yet.
	she
	it

Exercise 6. Ask alternative questions with the following words. Give answers.

Example: she/learn/English/French. - Has she learnt English or French? - She's learnt French.

1) he/buy/a Toyota/a BMW?

2) you/pay/in cash/by credit card?

3) they/win the match/lose it?

4) you/make/many/only a few/grammar mistakes?

5) Mr. Wolley/fix his car himself/take it to a garage?

Special questions

Why have you done this?	- I just wanted to help.
Where has he gone to?	- To Edinburgh.
How has she travelled to Paris?	- By plane, as usual.
How long has she stayed in France?	- For two months.
How many (English books) have you read so far?	- I haven't counted.
How much (money) have they spent on their new house?	- An absolute fortune!
What kind of film have you seen?	- Quite a dull one.
Which dictionary have you bought?	- Collins Cobuild.
Whose house have we rented?	- Mr Brown's.
Object Question
Who have you talked to?	- To our French teacher.
What has Jane been always afraid of?	- The darkness.
Subject Question
Who has helped you?	- A friend of mine.
What has happened?	- I don't know.

NOTE: There are no “When questions” with Perfect Tense in English.

When did you go to Spain? - Last month.

Exercise 7. Complete the questions using a suitable verb.

Example: - Have you finished with that newspaper yet?

- No, I'm still reading it. I won't be long.

1. - How many times _ his driving test?

- Three. His fourth is next Friday.

2. - Hello, Dick. Haven't seen you for ages. Where _?

- I've just returned from a round-the-world cruise.

3. - You hate flying, don't you? How _ this time?

- By plane! I just had to. And you know, I rather liked it.

4. - Jenny, why are you crying? What _?

- A car has just run over my dog.

5. - Have you heard the announcement? What plane __ just __?

- Flight 516 from Geneva.

T ag questions

I You We You They

have (‘ve) just returned from the trip, haven’t

I? you? we? you? they?

- Yes, (No)

I you we you they

have (haven’t)

He She It

has(‘s) changed a lot, hasn’t

he? she? it?

- Yes, (No)

he she it

has (hasn’t)

I You We You They

haven’t been there yet, have

I? you? we? you? they?

- No, (Yes)

I you we you they

haven’t (have)

He She It

hasn’t come yet, has

he? she? it?

- No, (Yes)

he she it

hasn’t (has)

Exercise 8. Give the correct tag to these sentences.

1. They’ve accepted our offer, _ ?

2. Their dog has attacked two children, _ ?

3. He’s never seen such a pretty girl in all his life, _ ?

4. You haven’t failed your exam, _ ?

5. Everyone has heard about the leaning tower of Pisa, _ ?

Exercise 9. Ask questions about the information in italics.

1. I’ve painted this room.

2. They haven’t seen each other for a long time.

3. We’ve had such a busy day!

4. You’ve won a lot of money.

5. Jack’s gone abroad on business.

6. I’ve discussed the idea with her.