Unit 13 Extension

From the indefinite past to the definite past

Ask about experiences up to now, then find out what happened on a particular occasion.

Step 1 — Two ways of looking at the past

Present perfect: Have you ever visited Paris?

Past simple: When did you visit Paris?

The first question asks about your experience up to now. It does not ask when the visit happened. The second asks about a particular past occasion.

Present perfect: experience up to now	Past simple: a past event
I've seen that film before.	I saw it last Friday.
Have you ever been to Scotland?	When did you go there?
She's eaten Italian food before.	She ate some in London two days ago.
Have you ever met a famous person?	Who did you meet?

Remember: a past simple sentence does not always name the time. The event is still presented as a past occurrence. We often use the present perfect when experience up to now matters and the time is not specified.

Step 2 — Words that often help us choose

Present perfect	Past simple
ever: Have you ever seen a ghost?	yesterday: I saw him yesterday.
never: I've never ridden a camel.	last week: We went last week.
before: I've eaten that before.	two days ago: I ate it two days ago.
just: I've just arrived.	a moment ago: I arrived a moment ago.
already: She's already finished.	when I was a child: I visited when I was a child.
yet: Have you finished yet? / I haven't finished yet.	in 2022: They moved here in 2022.

These are useful clues, not mechanical rules. Meaning and how the speaker views the time matter too.

Choose the better form

1. Have you ever ______ a camel?

rode ridden

2. I ______ him at the station yesterday.

have seen saw

3. She's ______ arrived, so you can speak to her now.

just ago

4. When ______ you last visit Oxford?

have did

5. I haven't finished my homework ______.

yet yesterday

Step 3 — Have you ever…? Ask your partner

Student A asks a question using Have you ever…? Student B answers honestly. If the answer is yes, ask follow-up questions about that occasion. Then change roles.

A: Have you ever seen a ghost?

B: Yes, I have.

A: Where did you see one? When did it happen? What did you do?

B: I saw one in an old house when I was a child. I ran away!

Find a suitable verb for each prompt. More than one verb may be possible.

1. a ghost

2. Oxford

3. wine

4. flowers

5. London

6. a Japanese car

7. a horror film

8. Palace Pier

9. the Royal Pavilion

10. a crocodile

11. Italian food

12. a person from Taiwan

13. some Turkish

14. a TV programme

15. a really good-looking person

16. a very serious student (if you have taught)

17. a mountain bike

18. a camel

19. Scotland

20. the Loch Ness monster

Possible verbs: see, go to, visit, drink, buy, drive, watch, eat, meet, learn, appear on, teach, ride, travel to.

Remember: use the past participle after have/has: Have you ever seen…? Have you ever ridden…? Have you ever eaten…?

Choose and vary your follow-up questions

Question word	Possible follow-up
When?	When did you see it?
Where?	Where did you go?
Who?	Who did you go with? / Who went with you?
What?	What did you eat? / What happened?
Why?	Why did you go there?
How?	How did you get there?
How long?	How long did you stay?
Which?	Which film did you see?

If your partner says No, I haven't, move on. If they say yes, try to ask at least two different follow-up questions. Listen to the answer and ask another question if you want to know more.

Step 4 — Build the questions

Write a present perfect question and then a suitable past simple follow-up. Several answers may be possible.

1. a camel — (ride) / (where)

2. Italian food — (eat) / (what)

3. Scotland — (be) / (where)

4. a famous person — (meet) / (who)

The checker accepts common answers. Your teacher or partner can accept other grammatical questions that fit the prompt.

Step 5 — Recent events: just, already and yet

I've just arrived. = a very short time ago

She's already finished. = finished before now

Have you finished yet? = asking if it has happened by now

I haven't finished yet. = it has not happened up to now

Compare: “I've just arrived.” — “I arrived five minutes ago.”

1. I've ______ finished my lunch. (a very short time ago)

2. Have you done your homework ______?

3. She's ______ seen that film, so she doesn't want to watch it again. (before now)

The main focus remains life experience and particular past events. We will study other present-perfect uses, including for and since, separately.

Step 6 — A short dialogue

Leila: Have you ever been to Edinburgh?

Marco: Yes, I have. I went there two years ago.

Leila: Who did you go with?

Marco: I went with my sister. We visited the castle and ate in a little restaurant.

Leila: Have you ever tried haggis?

Marco: No, I haven't. Have you?

Leila: Yes, I have. I tried it when I visited Scotland last year.

Discuss

Find two present perfect questions.
Find three past simple verbs.
Why does Marco say “Have you ever been to Edinburgh?” before saying “I went there two years ago”?

Make your own dialogue

Choose one prompt from Step 3. Write a short dialogue with at least one present perfect question and two past simple follow-up questions.

Final reminder

Present perfect: Have you ever done it? — asks about experience up to now.

Past simple: When did you do it? What happened? — asks about a particular past occasion.

The aim is not just to choose the right tense in writing. Use the present perfect to open a conversation, then the past simple to find out what happened.