3.1.2: Present Perfect Tense with Time Expressions

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Time Expressions Used with Present Perfect

Ever means “at any time”. It is usually used with questions. It is placed before the past participle •Have you ever been to the Alamo? It is sometimes used in negative statements with a contracted form. We haven't ever traveled overseas.	Yet means “up to now”. It is usually placed at the end of a question. • Have you visited NASA yet? • Has Josh eaten breakfast yet? Yet is also used in negative sentences. •We haven’t visited the San Jacinto Monument yet. •She hasn’t seen the new baby yet.	Already means “before now”. We use it to say that something happened before something else or earlier than expected. It may come before the past participle or at the end of the question. •Have you already finished your homework? •I have already eaten breakfast.
Never means "not at any time." It is a more common way to express negative meanings. It is placed before the past participle We have never traveled overseas. Joe has never attended college.	Just refers to the very recent past. It comes before the past participle. I’ve just bought a new car. Nat has just arrived. We have just eaten dinner.	Recently means "in the near past." It refers to a time that is less recent than "just." It usually come before the past participle or at the end of the sentence. •I’ve recently eaten at that restaurant. •I’ve eaten at that restaurant recently.
So far means "up to now" and often implies that something different might happen later. It comes before or after a sentence. It's been quiet so far. So far, we have completed five units.	For refers to the duration of time. I have lived in the United States for five years. We have been in the classroom for two hours.	Since refers to the point in time that the action began. I have lived in the United States since I graduated from high school. Sheila has played the piano since she was a teenager.

More Examples:

• Scientists have studied climate change for decades.
• One geologist has been fascinated by the topic since college.
• Have you ever driven an electric car?
• The students have never seen the movie An Inconvenient Truth.
• We have already watched two videos about climate change, though.
• Have you watched Climate Change Basics yet?
• So far I have recycled 300 soda cans.
• I have just taken my final exams.

Videos and Other Resources

Watch this video to learn more about forming and using present perfect...

Watch this video to learn more about the difference between present perfect and simple past...

Try this website to practice forming and using present perfect...

Exercise 1: Put the words in the jumbled sentences in the correct order:

1. visited | Have | you | Rome | ever?
2. to | She | has | moved | recently | a | new | city.
3. finished | yet | homework | you | Have | your?
4. have | left | for | They | already | the | airport.
5. job | just | He | a | new | has | started.
6. eaten| have | they | yet | Have | dinner ?
7. seen | recently | you | him | Have?
8. has | never | He | Japan | been | to.
9. she | finished | already | her | Has | presentation

Exercise 2: Choose the correct adverb (ever, never, yet, already, just, lately, recently) to complete each sentence. Some sentences have more than one correct answer.

1. Have you __________ been to Asia?
2. She has __________ finished her homework.
3. They haven't arrived ___________.
4. He has ___________ started his new job.
5. We have __________ moved to a new house.
6. Have you __________ seen the latest movie?
7. She has __________ received a promotion at work.
8. They haven't met their new neighbors __________.
9. He has __________ traveled to Europe.
10. Have you __________ tried sushi before?

Exercise 3: Answer the following questions. Use already or yet.

1. Have you ever visited Galveston?

2. Have you had breakfast yet?

3. Have you finished any classes at SanJac yet?

4. Have you ever lived in another state in the US?

5. Have you ever read a complete book in English?

6. Have you gotten your driver’s license yet?

Practice Present Perfect Tense

Exercise 4:

Choose the correct adverb from the options provided to complete each sentence

1. Sarah has__________ finished her homework.

a) already b) ever c) so far d) never

2. Have you __________ been to Paris?

a) yet b) so far c) never d) ever

3. They have__________ cleaned the entire house.

a) never b) ever c) already d) so far

4. We have ______seen the new movie that just came out, and we loved it.

a) yet b) ever c) just d) never

5. Tom has visited ten states in the United States _______. He plans to visit all fifty states in his lifetime.

a) just b) never c) yet d) so far

6. I have__________ eaten breakfast, but I'm still hungry.

a) already b) never c) so far d) recently

7. I __________ visited the Grand Canyon when I was a student in Arizona.

a) ever b) just c) so far d) recently

8. She hasn't finished her project __________.

a) already b) just c) yet d) so far

9. Have you _________eaten sushi before?

a) just b) ever c) recently d) never

Exercise 3:

Choose the correct option (for or since) to complete each sentence.

1. She has worked at the company ________ five years.

   a) for
   b) since

2. They have known each other ________ they were children.

   a) for
   b) since

3. He has lived in this city ________ 2010.

   a) for
   b) since

4. We have been friends ________ a long time.

   a) for
   b) since

5. She has not studied math________ she started college.

   a) for
   b) since

6. We have been best friends ________ we met in college.

   a) for
   b) since

7. We have lived in our new house ________ six months.

   a) for
   b) since

8. He has played the guitar ________ he was a teenager.

a) for
b) since

Exercise 4:

Using Present Perfect and Simple Past to Describe Our Experiences

When we talk about our experiences, we often use the present perfect first. When we add details about our experiences, we usually use simple past. For each set of questions below, answer with complete sentences. Use the present perfect tense to answer the first question. Then, add details using the simple past. Write two or three complete sentences for each answer.

• What is your favorite place that you have traveled to in the past? When did you go there? What did you do?
• Who is one person that you have met since you came to the United States? When and where did you meet that person?
• What new or unusual food have you tried recently? Did you like it?
• What classes have you already taken in English? What did you learn in those classes?

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