ENGLISH IN USE · UNIT 40
Present Perfect and Past Simple
Already · yet · ever · for · since · definite past time
Step 1 · Read the conversation
Maya and Leo meet after a holiday. Read their conversation and notice how they talk about experiences, recent events and definite times in the past.
Maya: Have you ever been to Scotland?
Leo: Yes, I have. I've been to Edinburgh twice, but I've never visited the Highlands.
Maya: I went to the Highlands last year. The scenery was amazing.
Leo: When did you go?
Maya: I went in August. We stayed there for a week.
Leo: I've wanted to go there for years. I haven't booked a trip yet.
Maya: You should! I've already sent you some photographs.
Leo: I haven't seen them yet. I've been really busy this week.
Maya: How long have you worked at your new school?
Leo: I've worked there since September. Before that, I taught in Leeds for three years.
Maya: Did you enjoy living in Leeds?
Leo: Yes, I did. I lived there from 2021 to 2024, and I made some good friends.
Step 2 · Check your understanding
Choose an answer for each question. Feedback appears when you select an option. Use Show Answers if you need help.
1. Has Leo visited the Highlands?
2. When did Maya go to the Highlands?
3. Has Leo seen Maya's photographs?
4. How long has Leo worked at his new school?
Step 3 · Notice the difference
Compare the forms and the time expressions. These are useful patterns, not a substitute for understanding the whole sentence.
| Use | Present perfect | Past simple |
|---|---|---|
| Experience, with no definite past time stated | Have you ever been to Scotland? I've never visited the Highlands. | — |
| Event at a definite past time | — | I went last year. I went in August. |
| Something expected or not done up to now | I've already sent the photographs. I haven't seen them yet. | I saw them yesterday. |
| Duration continuing up to now | I've worked here for two years. I've worked here since September. | I worked there for three years. (The period is finished.) |
Remember the time expressions
- already often means something has happened sooner than expected: I've already finished.
- yet is common in questions and negative sentences: Have you finished yet? / I haven't finished yet.
- ever asks whether something has happened at any time up to now: Have you ever tried sushi?
- in your life can add emphasis to an experience question: What's the most exciting place you've ever visited in your life?
- for introduces a period of time: for six months, for ten years.
- since introduces the point when a period began: since Monday, since 2020.
- yesterday, last week, in 2019, two days ago refer to a definite finished time and normally take the past simple.
Step 4 · Choose the tense
Choose the form that best fits the context.
1. I ______ that film three times, but I saw it again last night.
2. We ______ our grandparents last Sunday.
3. Have you finished your homework ______?
4. She has lived in Bristol ______ 2022.
5. They ______ in Rome for a year, but now they live in Cardiff.
6. Have you ______ eaten anything as spicy as this?
7. I ______ the report already, so you can read it now.
8. He ______ his first job in 2018.
Step 5 · Correct the mistakes
Each sentence contains a tense or time-expression mistake. Rewrite the sentence correctly. Press Return or move to another field to check your answer. Contractions are accepted.
1. I've visited my aunt yesterday.
2. Have you ever went to Greece?
3. I have lived here since five years.
4. She hasn't called me already.
5. We have moved to Brighton in 2020.
- I visited my aunt yesterday.
- Have you ever been to Greece? / Have you ever gone to Greece?
- I have lived here for five years.
- She hasn't called me yet.
- We moved to Brighton in 2020.
Other grammatically correct wording may be possible.
Step 6 · Complete the sentences
Use the verb in brackets in the present perfect or past simple. Include the time expression where one is given. Feedback appears when you press Return or leave a field.
1. I __________ (never / try) Indian food, but I'd like to.
2. My brother __________ (buy) a new bike last week.
3. __________ you __________ (see) that new exhibition yet?
4. They __________ (know) each other since primary school.
5. We __________ (stay) in a small hotel when we visited York last year.
6. She __________ (work) here for six months, and she still enjoys it.
7. I __________ (already / send) the email, so you don't need to send it.
8. Where __________ you __________ (go) on holiday last summer?
- I've never tried Indian food, but I'd like to.
- My brother bought a new bike last week.
- Have you seen that new exhibition yet?
- They have known each other since primary school.
- We stayed in a small hotel when we visited York last year.
- She has worked here for six months, and she still enjoys it.
- I've already sent the email, so you don't need to send it.
- Where did you go on holiday last summer?
Step 7 · Ask and answer about experience
Write your own answers. These questions are about your experience up to now, so the present perfect is often useful. You can use the example answers if you get stuck.
1. Have you ever visited a country where you couldn't speak the language?
2. What's the most interesting book you've ever read?
3. Have you done anything interesting recently?
4. How long have you lived in your present home, or how long have you studied English?
5. What did you do last weekend?
- Yes, I have. I visited Hungary a few years ago, and I couldn't speak Hungarian.
- The most interesting book I've ever read is a history of exploration.
- Yes, I have. I've recently started learning to cook Thai food.
- I've lived here for eight years. / I've studied English since I was at school.
- I went for a long walk and met some friends last weekend.
Your answers will be different. The checker can remind you of the target tense, but it cannot judge every aspect of your writing.
Step 8 · Write about your life and recent past
Write a short account (about 100–150 words). Include experiences, something you have already done or haven't done yet, a situation continuing from the past, and at least two events at definite past times.
Self-check
I've visited several interesting places, but I've never been to Japan. I've already travelled around much of Europe, although I haven't visited Portugal yet. I've lived in my present town for six years, since I moved here for work. Last year, I spent a week in Scotland with two friends. We visited Edinburgh and went walking in the hills. Yesterday, I met an old friend for lunch, and we talked about our school days. I've known her since we were teenagers, but we hadn't seen each other for nearly a year. I'd like to travel more in the future, and I hope I'll visit Japan one day.
This is one possible answer. Your own experiences and wording will be different.