Level 4 Chapter 8 - Present perfect vs Present vs Past

PRESENT PERFECT

The present perfect can be used ...

- to describe an action that began in the past and is still going onnow. It is not yet finished.

She's had three cups of coffee today. (She may have more.)
This year has been busy. (The year is not over.)

- to describe a past action or event when it's not important to know exactly when it happened.

I've forgotten your name. (I don't know it now.)
She's lost her handbag. (She doesn't have it now.)

- to say how many times you have done something.

This is my favorite film. I've seen it three times.
Jane has been to Australia twice.

- to talk about actions and events with time indicators relating to the present.

Jack has never ridden a horse. (up to now)
Have you ever smoked a cigar? (in your life)
I haven't smoked since 1989. (I hope never to smoke again.)
Sharon has ridden a horse, but she hasn't ridden for ten years.
Have you checked into the hotel YET?

SIMPLE PAST OR PRESENT PERFECT?

The present perfect can describe WHAT you have done, without reference to time.

The simple past is used if you mention a specific time in the past - WHEN you did it. Compare:

I have been to Jamaica.

I went to Jamaica three years ago.

John has done his homework.

John did his homework last night.

I've already seen the film.

I saw the film on Wednesday evening.

She has lived in California.

She lived in California in 1991.

"FOR" OR "SINCE?"

Use "for" to talk about duration; a period of time:
for three hours, for ten years, for as long as you like, etc...

Use "since" to refer to a specific point of time in the past
since 1957, since the last time I wrote, since I was born, etc...

"HAS BEEN TO" OR "HAS GONE TO?"

"Has been to" means "went there and left."

Ann has been to London. (She went there on June 8 and left June 15.)
Bill has been to the bank. (He's back from the bank now.)

"Has gone to" means "there now or on the way there."

Ann has gone to London. (She's in London now or on her way there.)
Bill has gone to the bank. (That's where he is now.)

I first ________ Mr Johnson in 1975.
1. have met
2. meet
3. meeting
4. met
Ken's plane was supposed to arrive an hour ago but it still ________
1. didn't arrive.
2. hasn't arrived.
3. doesn't arrive.
4. isn't arriving
I __________ in New York my entire life and I never want to move.
1. live
2. 've lived
3. lived
4. am living
David isn't coming to the movies with us. He _________the film, so he plans to go swimming instead.
1. already sees
2. has already been seeing
3. has already seen
4. is already seeing
The heavyweight champion _________ three boxing matches so far this year.
1. has had
2. had
3. has
4. is having
My last vacation was _________.
1. during five years
2. five years ago
3. since 1999
4. for five years
My garden is drying out because it ________ in several weeks.
1. didn't rain
2. isn't raining
3. hasn't rained
4. doesn't rain
Yesterday Bob ________ his son to the doctor for a yearly check-up.
1. has taken
2. took
3. is taking
4. takes
___________ to Frank lately.
1. Did you talk
2. Have you talked
3. Are you talking
4. Do you talk
I know for a fact that Margo _______ a horse in her life, she's afraid of them.
1. has never ridden
2. never rides
3. is never riding
4. never rides
Harry hasn't visited his parents _________.
1. six months ago
2. for six months
3. during six months
4. since six months
Do you know what Tom is doing ? I _________ from him since he got back from Greece
1. don't hear
2. haven't heard
3. didn't hear
4. 'm not hearing
No thanks. I ___________ six cups of coffee today already.
1. 've had
2. had
3. 'm having
4. have
Tomorrow will be Harry's first day back at work. He _______ill since May 1st..
1. is
2. is being
3. has been
4. was
Gloria is afraid of flying. In fact she has __________ flown!
1. yet
2. never
3. ever
4. already
Jill _________ to Paris. She'll be back next week.
1. goes
2. has been
3. has gone
4. was going
__________ to the concert or to the basketball game last Saturday night?
1. Have you gone
2. Did you go
3. Are you going
4. Have you been
Brian _________ his first two tennis matches but was defeated in the finals.
1. won
2. has won
3. wins
4. is winning
Everyone who _________ the new director so far is favourably impressed.
1. has met
2. met
3. meets
4. is meeting
Beatrice has worked here since 1992. She _________ our company right after she finished college.
1. was joining
2. has joined
3. is joining
4. joined
I ___________ enough to eat. Would you like the rest of my pie.
1. 've had
2. 'm having
3. have
4. had
I'm sorry, can you tell me your name again ? I'm afraid I _______ it.
1. forget
2. 've forgotten
3. 'm forgetting
4. forgot
Christine __________ Hawaii for a couple of weeks. Would you like to leave her a message ?
1. has gone to
2. has been going
3. went
4. has been to
We _________ visitors every weekend for the past two months.George and I are looking forward to a quiet weekend.
1. have
2. have had
3. had
4. are having
____________ a replacement yet for the player who's resigning from the team?
1. Are you finding
2. Do you find
3. Did you find
4. Have you found
My computer __________ down an hour ago and I had to call a technician to repair it.
1. break
2. broke
3. is breaking
4. has broken
Hannah hasn't been to see us since she ______ back from China.
1. has got
2. got
3. is getting
4. gets
I already know Mr Hanson. We ________ into each other at several business conferences.
1. have run
2. run
3. are running
4. were running
The police ________ the stolen car a week ago.
1. have located
2. are locating
3. located
4. locate