A.
Study this example conversation:
DAVE:
Have you travelled a lot, Jane?
JANE:
Yes, I've been to lots of places.
DAVE:
Really? Have you ever been to China?
JANE:
Yes, I've been to China twice.
DAVE:
What about India?
JANE:
No, I haven't been to India.
When we
talk about a period of time that continues from the past until now, we use the
present perfect (have been/have travelled etc.). Here, Dave and Jane are
talking about the places Jane has visited in her life (which is a period that continues
until now).
* Have
you ever eaten caviar? (in your life)
* We've
never had a car.
* 'Have
you read Hamlet?' 'No, I haven't read any of Shakespeare's plays.'
* Susan
really loves that film. She's seen it eight times!
* What a
boring film! It's the most boring film I've ever seen.
In the
following examples too the speakers are talking about a period that continues
until now (recently/in the last few days/so far/since breakfast etc.):
* Have
you heard from George recently?
* I've
met a lot of people in the last few days.
*
Everything is going well. We haven't had any problems so far.
* I'm
hungry. I haven't eaten anything since breakfast. (= from breakfast until now)
* It's
nice to see you again. We haven't seen each other for a long time.
B.
We use the present perfect with today/this morning/this evening etc. when these
periods are not finished at the time of speaking (see also Unit 14B):
* I've
drunk four cups of coffee today. (perhaps I'll drink more before today is finished)
* Have
you had a holiday this year (yet)?
* I
haven't seen Tom this morning. Have you?
* Ron
hasn't worked very hard this term.
C.
Note that we say 'It's the first time something has happened' (present
perfect). For example:
Don is
having a driving lesson. He is very nervous and unsure because it is his first
lesson.
* It's
the first time he has driven a car. (not 'drives') or He has never driven a car
before.
* Linda
has lost her passport again. It's the second time this has happened. (not
'happens')
* This
is a lovely meal. It's the first good meal I've had for ages. (not 'I have')
* Bill
is phoning his girlfriend again. That's the third time he's phoned her this
evening.
EXERCISES
8.1
You are asking somebody questions about things he or she has done. Make
questions from the words in brackets.
1.
(ever/ride/horse?)
Have you
ever ridden a horse?
2.
(ever/be/California?)
3.
(ever/run/marathon?)
4.
(ever/speak/famous person?)
5.
(always/live/in this town?)
6. (most
beautiful place/ever/visit?) What
8.2
Complete Bs answers. Some sentences are positive and some negative. Use a verb
from this list:
be be
cat happen have
meet play read
see see try
1 A:
What's George's sister like?
B: I've
no idea. I've never met her.
2. A:
How is Amy these days?
B: I
don't know. I --- her recently.
3. A:
Are you hungry?
B: Yes.
I --- much today.
4. A:
Can you play chess?
B: Yes,
but --- for ages.
5. A:
Did you enjoy your holiday?
B: Yes,
it's the best holiday --- for a long time.
6. A:
What's that book like?
B: I
don't know ---
7. A: Is
Brussels an interesting place?
B: I've
no idea --- there.
8. A:
Mike was late for work again today.
B:
Again? He --- every day this week.
9. A: Do
you like caviar?
B: I
don't know ---
10. A:
The car broke down again yesterday.
B: Not
again! That's the second time --- this week.
11.
Who's that woman by the door)
B: I
don't know --- before.)
8.3
Complete these sentences using today/this year/this term etc.
1. I saw
Tom yesterday but I haven't seen him today.
2. I
read a newspaper yesterday but I --- today.
3. Last
year the company made a profit but this year ---
4. Tracy
worked hard at school last term but ---
5. It
snowed a lot last winter but ---
6. Our
football team won a lot of games last season but we ---
8.4
Read the situations and write sentences as shown in the examples.
1. Jack
is driving a car but he's very nervous and not sure what to do.
You ask:
Have you driven a car before?
2. Len
is playing tennis. He's not very good and he doesn't know the rules.
You ask:
Have ---
3. Sue
is riding a horse. She doesn't look very confident or comfortable.
You ask:
---
She
says: ---
4. Maria
is in London. She has just arrived and it's very new for her.
You ask:
---
She
says: ---
