PRESENT PERFECT-2 We use yet in questions and negative
sentences:
[Link] we say, ‘something has
Has it stopped raining yet?
happened,’ this is usually new
information: I’ve written the email, but I haven’t sent it
yet.
Ow! I’ve cut my finger.
5. We can also use the past simple (did,
The road is closed. There’s been an
went had etc.) in the examples on this
accident. (= There has been…)
page. So, you can say.
Police have arrested two men in
Ben isn’t here. He’s gone out. OR He
connection with the robbery.
went out.
2. When we use the present perfect,
‘Are you hungry?’ ‘No, I’ve just had
there is a connection with now. The
lunch.’ OR ‘No, I just had lunch.’
action in the past has a result now:
Tom has lost his key. (He doesn’t have it
now) TO STUDY MORE
He told me his name, but I’ve forgotten it. [Link] is looking for his key. He can’t find
(I can’t remember it now) it.
Sally is still here. She hasn’t gone out. (Tom has lost his key)
(She is here now)
[Link]’s English wasn’t very good. Now it
I can’t find my bag. Have you seen it? is better.
(=Do you know where it is now?)
(Her English has improved.)
3. Compare gone (to) and been (to):
3. My bag was here, but it isn’t here
James is on holiday. He has gone to Italy. anymore.
(=He is there now or on his way there)
(My bag has disappeared.)
Amy is back home now. She has been to
Italy. (=she has now come back) 4. Lisa can’t walk, and her leg is in plaster.
4. You can use the present perfect with (Lisa’s leg has broken.)
just, already, and yet. 5. Last week the bus fare was Ks 200.
Just = a short time ago: Now it is Ks 300.
‘Are you hungry?’ ‘No, I’ve just had (The bus fare has gone up.)
lunch.’ 6. Dan didn’t have a beard before. Now he
Hello. Have you just arrived? has a beard.
Already = sooner than expected: (Dan has grown a beard.)
Don’t forget to pay the bill.’ ‘I’ve already 7. It was raining ten minutes ago. It isn’t
paid it.’ raining now.
‘What time is Mark leaving? ‘He’s already (It has stopped.)
left.’ 8. I washed my sweater, and now it’s too
Yet = until now. We use yet to show that small for me.
we are expecting something to happen. (My sweater has shrunk.)
[Link] parents are on holiday. They’ve [Link] lunch you go to see a friend at her
gone to Singapore. house. She says, “would you like
something to eat?”
10. Hello! I’ve just been to the shops. I’ve
bought lots of things. You say: No, thank you. I’ve just had
lunch.
11. Tom has just gone out. He’ll be back
in about an hour. 6. Joe goes out. Five minutes later, the
phone rings and the caller says, ‘Can I
12. Alice isn’t here at the moment. I don’t speak to Joe?’
know where she’s gone.
You say: I’m afraid, Joe’s already gone
13. You’re very late. Where have you out.
been?
7. We are eating in a restaurant. The
14. Sally is still here. She hasn’t gone
waiter thinks you have finished and starts
out.
to take your plate away.
15. I can’t find my bag. Have you seen it
You say: Wait a minute! I haven’t
anywhere?
finished yet.
16. I can’t log on to the website. I have
8. You plan to eat at a restaurant to night.
forgotten my password.
You phone to reserve a table. Later your
17. I sent Joe an email this morning, but friend says, “Shall I phone to reserve a
he hasn’t replied to it. table?”
18. Is the meeting still going on, or has it You say: No, I’ve already done it.
finished?
9. You know that Susan is looking for a
19. The weather has changed. It’s colder place to live. Perhaps, she has been
now. successful.
20. You haven’t signed the form. Could You ask her: Have you already found it?
you sign it now, please?
10. You are still thinking about where to
21. Are your friends still here, or have go to your holiday. A friend asks, “Where
they gone home? are you going for your holiday?
You say: I haven’t decided yet.
Using already, just, or yet. 11. Laura went out, but a few minutes ago
she returned. Somebody asks, “Is Laura
1. ‘When is David going away?’ still out?”
‘He’s already gone.’
2. ‘Have your course started yet?’ You say: No, she’s just come back.
‘Not yet. It starts next week.
3. ‘Do you know where Julia is?’
‘Yes, I have just seen her.’
4. Paul doesn’t know what he’s going
to do.
He hasn’t decided yet.
EXAMPLE CONVERSATION: The weather is very bad here. It’s rained
every day since I arrived. (=from when I
DAVE: Have you travelled a lot, Jane?
arrived until now)
JANE: Yes, I’ve been to lots of places.
It’s good to see you again. We haven’t
DAVE: Really? Have you ever been to seen each other for a long time.
China?
# In the same way, we use the present
JANE: Yes, I’ve been to China twice. perfect with today, this evening, this
year etc. when these periods are not
DAVE: What about India? finished at the time of speaking:
JANE: No, I haven’t been to India. I’ve drunk four cups of coffee today.
Have you had a holiday this year?
# When you talk about a period of time I haven’t seen Tom this morning. Have
that continues from the past until now, you?
we use the present perfect.
# We say, ‘It’s the (first) time something
In the same way we: has happened.’ For example:
Have you ever eaten pizza? Don is having a driving lesson. It’s his first
We’ve never had a car. lesson. We can say:
I don’t know what the film is about. I’ve It’s the first time he has driven a car. (not
seen it. drives) OR
Susan really loves that book. She’s read He hasn’t driven a car before. OR
it three times. (She has read) He has never driven a car before.
It’s really boring movie. It’s the most # In the same way we say:
boring movie I’ve ever seen.
Sarah has lost her passport again. This is
the second time this has happened. (not
Been (to) = visited: happens)
I’ve never been to China. Have you been Andy is phoning his girlfriend again. It’s
there? the third time he’s phoned her this
evening. ###
# 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 I arrived etc.):
Have you heard anything from Ben
recently?
I’ve met a lot of people in the last few
days.
Everything is going well. There haven’t
been any problems so far.
