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.
We use the present perfect with today/this morning/this evening etc. when these periods are not finished at the time of speaking:
* 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.
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: ---
Answers:
2 Have you ever been to California?
3 Have you ever run a marathon?
4 Have you ever spoken to a famous person?
5 Have you always lived in this town?
6 What's the most beautiful place you've ever visited?
8.2
2 haven't seen
3 haven't eaten
4 I haven't played (it)
5 I've had/I have had
6 I haven't read
7 I've never been/I haven't been
8 has been late/'s been late
9 I've never tried/I have never tried/I've never eaten
10 it's happened/it has happened that's happened/that has happened
11 I've never seen her/I haven't seen her
8.3
2 haven't read one/a newspaper
3 it hasn't made a profit./it has made a loss.
4 she hasn't worked (very) hard this term.
5 it hasn't snowed (much) this winter.
6 haven't won many/any games this season.
8.4
2 Have you played tennis before? No, this is the first time I've played tennis.
3 Have you ridden a horse before? Have you been on a horse before? No, this is the first time I've ridden a horse./... I've been on a horse.
4 Have you been to London before? No, this is the first time I've been to London.
