The present perfect tense connects the past with the present. It allows you to talk about experiences you've had, things that have recently happened, and actions that continue to affect your current situation. In this unit, you’ll learn how to form and use the present perfect, how it differs from the past simple, and how to express the idea of “life so far.”
We’ll introduce key time expressions such as already, just, yet, ever, never, for, and since, and show you how to use them correctly. You’ll also practice asking and answering experience-based questions like Have you ever been to London? and talking about recent events like I’ve just finished my report. This unit helps you express yourself in a more sophisticated way and prepares you for more advanced interactions.

14.1 PRESENT PERFECT: FORM AND STRUCTURE
Objective:
To understand how to form and use the present perfect tense, especially to describe past actions with a connection to the present, using have/has + past participle.

🔹 STRUCTURE OF PRESENT PERFECT
Subject    have/has + past participle    Example
I / you / we / they    have + past participle    They have visited London.
he / she / it    has + past participle    She has finished her homework.
✅ Use “have” or “has” depending on the subject.
✅ Use the past participle form of the verb:
Regular: worked, studied
Irregular: gone, eaten, seen

🔸 AFFIRMATIVE, NEGATIVE, AND QUESTIONS
Form    Structure    Example
Affirmative    have/has + past participle    I have seen that movie.
Negative    haven’t / hasn’t + past participle    She hasn’t eaten yet.
Yes/No Question    Have/Has + subject + past participle?    Have you ever been to Paris?
Wh- Question    Wh- + have/has + subject + past participle?    What have you done?

🔹 WHEN TO USE PRESENT PERFECT
Use Case    Example
Experience (no specific time)    I’ve traveled to Japan.
Recent event (just happened)    He’s just left the office.
Ongoing situation (until now)    We’ve lived here for five years.
Result in present    She has broken her leg. (→ She can’t walk now)
✅ Present perfect focuses on what happened, not when exactly.

🔸 COMMON TIME EXPRESSIONS
Expression    Use Example
ever / never    Have you ever eaten sushi? / I’ve never tried it.
already / yet    I’ve already finished. / Have you eaten yet?
just    She’s just called you.
for + period    We’ve worked here for three years.
since + point in time    He’s lived in London since 2010.

🧠 SENTENCE PATTERNS
Subject + have/has + past participle
Have/Has + subject + past participle?
Subject + haven’t/hasn’t + past participle

❗ COMMON MISTAKES
Mistake    Correction    Why?
I have went there.    I have gone there.    Use past participle, not past
She has not saw it.    She hasn’t seen it.    “Seen” is past participle of “see”
You ever have eaten octopus?    Have you ever eaten octopus?    Question structure
We live here since 2020.    We have lived here since 2020.    Use present perfect for ongoing actions

💬 EXAMPLE DIALOG
Luis: Have you ever been to Argentina?
Rachel: Yes, I have! I went last year.
Luis: I’ve always wanted to go. What was your favorite part?
Rachel: The food! And I’ve kept in touch with some people I met there.
Luis: That’s awesome. I haven’t traveled much lately.
Rachel: Don’t worry—you’ll get the chance soon!

14.2 USING “HAVE YOU EVER…?” FOR LIFE EXPERIENCES
Objective:
To learn how to use the present perfect tense with the question form “Have you ever...?” to talk about life experiences, ask others about theirs, and respond appropriately using yes/no answers and follow-up comments.

🔹 WHY USE “HAVE YOU EVER…?”
The question “Have you ever...?” is used to ask if someone has had a particular experience at any point in their life, up to now. It does not ask when it happened—just whether it has ever happened.
Have you ever eaten sushi? → (at any point in your life, even once)

🔸 STRUCTURE: HAVE/HAS + SUBJECT + EVER + PAST PARTICIPLE
Subject    Auxiliary Verb    “Ever”    Past Participle    Example
I / you / we / they    have    ever    visited    Have you ever visited Italy?
he / she / it    has    ever    tried    Has she ever tried surfing?

🔹 RESPONSES
Response Type    Example
Yes + details    Yes, I have. I went to Japan last year.
No + comment    No, I haven’t, but I’d love to.
Short answer    Yes, I have. / No, I haven’t.
✅ For follow-up, we often ask:
→ What was it like? / When did you do that? / Would you do it again?

🔸 COMMON TOPICS FOR “HAVE YOU EVER…?”
Type of Experience    Sample Questions
Travel    Have you ever been abroad? / Have you ever flown alone?
Food    Have you ever eaten Indian food?
Hobbies    Have you ever gone hiking? / Have you ever painted something?
Life events    Have you ever won a prize? / Have you ever lost your phone?
Danger / thrill    Have you ever ridden a motorcycle? / Have you ever seen a tornado?

🔹 GRAMMAR NOTES
“Ever” usually goes between the auxiliary verb (have/has) and the past participle
Use the past participle form of the verb:
→ go → gone, do → done, see → seen, try → tried

❗ COMMON MISTAKES
Mistake    Correction    Explanation
Did you ever go to London?    Have you ever been to London?    Use present perfect, not past simple
Have you ever went there?    Have you ever gone there?    Use past participle “gone,” not past
Have you ever to travel alone?    Have you ever traveled alone?    Missing auxiliary “have” and verb form
Yes, I ever eat sushi.    Yes, I have eaten sushi.    Incorrect use of “ever” in answer

💬 EXAMPLE DIALOG
Anna: Have you ever been to South America?
Liam: No, I haven’t. But I’ve always wanted to visit Peru.
Anna: I went last year! I visited Machu Picchu—it was incredible.
Liam: That sounds amazing. Have you ever done a long hike like that before?
Anna: No, it was my first time. Totally worth it!

14.3 ALREADY, JUST, YET, EVER, NEVER
Objective:
To correctly use the adverbs already, just, yet, ever, and never with the present perfect tense when talking about experiences, recent events, and expectations.

🔹 “ALREADY” – SOMETHING HAPPENED EARLIER THAN EXPECTED
Use    Example
Affirmative    I’ve already eaten.
Question    Have you already finished your work?
✅ Usually placed between “have/has” and the verb
✅ Indicates something is done sooner than expected

🔸 “JUST” – A VERY RECENT ACTION
Use    Example
Affirmative    She’s just arrived.
Question    Have they just left?
✅ Often used with very recent actions
✅ Comes between have/has and past participle

🔹 “YET” – SOMETHING EXPECTED, BUT NOT HAPPENED (OR ASKING IF IT HAS)
Use    Example
Negative    I haven’t finished my homework yet.
Question    Have you eaten yet?
✅ Usually appears at the end of the sentence
✅ Used in questions and negative sentences only

🔸 “EVER” – AT ANY TIME UP TO NOW (USED IN QUESTIONS)
Use    Example
Question    Have you ever been to Japan?
Negative (rare)    No one has ever said that to me.
✅ Used in questions to ask about life experiences
✅ Usually placed between have/has and the past participle

🔹 “NEVER” – NOT AT ANY TIME UP TO NOW
Use    Example
Affirmative (negative meaning)    I’ve never ridden a horse.
Emphasis    She’s never spoken to me like that before.
✅ Opposite of “ever”
✅ Comes between have/has and the past participle

🧠 SUMMARY TABLE
Adverb    Sentence Type    Position
already    affirmative/questions    between have and verb
just    affirmative/questions    between have and verb
yet    negative/questions    usually at the end
ever    questions    between have and verb
never    negative (affirmative form)    between have and verb

❗ COMMON MISTAKES
Mistake    Correction
I just have eaten.    I have just eaten.
Have you already done it yet?    Have you done it yet? / Have you already done it?
I haven’t never been there.    I’ve never been there.
She has eat just.    She has just eaten.

💬 EXAMPLE DIALOG
Sam: Have you finished the report yet?
Nina: Yes, I’ve just sent it to your email.
Sam: Already? That was fast!
Nina: I’ve never taken this long on a task before, honestly.
Sam: Well, it looks great. Have you ever worked on something similar?
Nina: Not exactly, but I’ve done a few similar projects.

14.4 PRESENT PERFECT VS. PAST SIMPLE
Objective:
To understand the difference between the present perfect and past simple, and to use them correctly when referring to unfinished vs. finished time periods and relevant vs. specific past events.

🔹 KEY DIFFERENCES
Present Perfect    Past Simple
Focuses on the result or relevance now    Focuses on a completed event in the past
No specific time is mentioned    Specific time is mentioned or implied
Used for life experiences, changes, unfinished time    Used for finished time, past actions, stories

🔸 STRUCTURE REMINDER
•    Present Perfect: have/has + past participle
→ I’ve seen that movie.
•    Past Simple: verb + -ed (or irregular form)
→ I saw that movie last week.

🔹 WHEN TO USE PRESENT PERFECT
Use Case    Example
Unfinished time    I’ve read three books this month.
Life experience    Have you ever been to New York?
Recent actions with present result    She’s lost her keys.
Time not specified    We’ve visited Rome before.

🔸 WHEN TO USE PAST SIMPLE
Use Case    Example
Completed action    I saw him yesterday.
Specific time given    We went to Paris in 2019.
Storytelling / narration    He opened the door and entered the room.
Sequence of events    First, we arrived. Then, we checked in.

🔹 SIGNAL WORDS AND TIME MARKERS
Present Perfect    Past Simple
ever, never, just, already, yet    yesterday, last night, two days ago
so far, this week, this year    in 2010, on Monday, when I was a child
since, for    at 3 p.m., then, earlier today

🧠 QUICK TEST: WHICH TENSE?
I ______ (see) that film last year. → ✔ saw (past simple)
I ______ (see) that film before. → ✔ have seen (present perfect)
She ______ (finish) her work two hours ago. → ✔ finished
She ______ (finish) her work, so she’s free now. → ✔ has finished

❗ COMMON MISTAKES
Mistake    Correction    Why?
I have seen him yesterday.    I saw him yesterday.    Use past simple with specific time
I didn’t have never gone there.    I’ve never gone there.    Double negative and wrong tense
He has visited us two days ago.    He visited us two days ago.    Specific time = past simple
We went to London ever?    Have we ever been to London?    Present perfect for life experience

💬 EXAMPLE DIALOG
Carlos: Have you ever eaten Ethiopian food?
Julia: Yes, I’ve tried it once—it was delicious!
Carlos: When did you eat it?
Julia: Last summer, when I was in Berlin.
Carlos: I’ve never tried it. But I went to a Moroccan place last week.
Julia: Nice! I’ve been there too. Did you like it?

14.5 TALKING ABOUT RECENT EVENTS
Objective:
To use the present perfect tense to describe recent actions or news, especially when the time is not specified, but the result is relevant now.

🔹 USING PRESENT PERFECT FOR RECENT EVENTS
Structure    Example
have/has + past participle    I’ve lost my keys. / She has just arrived.
✅ Use when the event happened very recently and affects the present moment

🔸 COMMON EXPRESSIONS FOR RECENT EVENTS
Expression    Use Example
just    He’s just left the building.
already    They’ve already eaten.
yet    Has the taxi arrived yet?
this morning/week/month    I’ve met with three clients this morning.
recently / lately    I’ve seen a lot of progress lately.
✅ These expressions signal a recent but unspecified time and pair naturally with present perfect

🔹 EXAMPLES OF USE
Situation    Example
News or announcement    The CEO has announced a new strategy.
Updates    We’ve launched the new website.
Changes    Prices have gone up.
Complaints or surprises    Someone has taken my seat!
Arrival / departure    She’s just arrived. / They’ve already left.

🔸 PRESENT PERFECT VS. PAST SIMPLE IN RECENT EVENTS
Present Perfect    Past Simple
I’ve broken my glasses. (still broken)    I broke my glasses yesterday. (past time)
We’ve moved to a new office. (new situation now)    We moved to a new office in April. (specific date)
✅ If the result is visible now, use present perfect
✅ If the time is mentioned, use past simple

🧠 SENTENCE PATTERNS
Have/has + just/already/never + past participle
Have/has + not + past participle + yet
Has + subject + past participle + yet?

❗ COMMON MISTAKES
Mistake    Correction    Why?
I have seen him yesterday.    I saw him yesterday.    “Yesterday” = past simple
She just has arrived.    She has just arrived.    Adverb comes after “has”
They haven’t arrived still.    They haven’t arrived yet.    Use “yet” at the end
He has already eat.    He has already eaten.    Use correct past participle

💬 EXAMPLE DIALOG
Ava: Have you seen my phone?
Ben: Yes, you’ve just left it in the kitchen.
Ava: Oh great. Thanks! Has the delivery arrived yet?
Ben: Not yet. But they’ve called to confirm the address.
Ava: Okay, I’ve already paid online, so it should be smooth.

14.6 USING “FOR” AND “SINCE” FOR DURATION
Objective:
To understand the difference between “for” and “since” when talking about the duration of an action or situation that began in the past and continues into the present using the present perfect tense.

🔹 PRESENT PERFECT FOR ONGOING SITUATIONS
The present perfect is used to describe something that started in the past and is still true now.
I have lived in this city for ten years.
She has worked here since 2018.

🔸 “FOR” = A PERIOD OF TIME
Use for to refer to the length of time an action has been happening.
Structure    Example
for + [duration]    for two hours, for five years, for a long time
Example Sentence    I’ve known her for ten years.
    They’ve been married for a decade.

🔹 “SINCE” = A STARTING POINT IN TIME
Use since to refer to the specific moment when the action began.
Structure    Example
since + [specific time]    since Monday, since 2010, since I was a child
Example Sentence    She has lived here since 2015.
    I’ve worked at this company since January.

🔸 COMPARE: “FOR” VS. “SINCE”
Example Sentence    Explanation
I’ve studied English for five years.    Focus on the duration (how long)
I’ve studied English since 2018.    Focus on the starting point (when)

🔹 TENSE COMPATIBILITY
“Since” and “for” are most commonly used with the present perfect, but can also appear with the past perfect and present perfect continuous.
Tense    Example
Present perfect    We have lived here for five years.
Present perfect continuous    She has been working since 8 a.m.
Past perfect    He had known her for a long time before they got married.

🧠 COMMON TIME EXPRESSIONS
With “for”    With “since”
for a week    since Monday
for a few minutes    since 10 a.m.
for ages    since we met
for over a year    since high school

❗ COMMON MISTAKES
Mistake    Correction    Why?
I live here since 2015.    I have lived here since 2015.    Needs present perfect
She works here for two months.    She has worked here for two months.    Present perfect is required
I have lived here since five years.    I have lived here for five years.    Use “for” with a duration
I know him since 2010.    I have known him since 2010.    “Know” requires present perfect

💬 EXAMPLE DIALOG
Sam: How long have you been learning French?
Emma: I’ve studied it for about three years.
Sam: Wow! Since when?
Emma: Since I started university in 2021.
Sam: And are you still taking classes?
Emma: Yes, twice a week. It’s part of my degree.

14.7 DESCRIBING ACHIEVEMENTS AND MILESTONES
Objective:
To use the present perfect tense to talk about personal or professional achievements, goals reached, and life milestones, focusing on results and their relevance to the present.

🔹 TALKING ABOUT ACHIEVEMENTS
Use have/has + past participle to describe things you have accomplished in your life or recently completed.
Type of Achievement    Example
Academic    I’ve completed my degree.
Professional    She has led over 20 projects.
Personal    They’ve climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.
Creative / Practical    He has written two novels. / We’ve built our own house.
✅ These often refer to results that are important now.

🔸 KEY VOCABULARY
Verbs Commonly Used    Examples
complete, finish    I’ve completed the course.
achieve, reach    We’ve reached all our targets.
win, earn, receive    She’s won three design awards.
publish, launch, create    They’ve launched a new app.
pass, graduate    He’s just graduated from university.

🔹 USING TIME EXPRESSIONS
Expression    Example
recently    I’ve recently started my own business.
so far    We’ve had ten meetings so far.
this year / month    She’s published two papers this year.
in my life    I’ve never achieved anything like this in my life.
✅ Use these to emphasize how recent or ongoing the success is.

🔸 LIFE MILESTONES
Milestone Type    Example Sentence
Marriage    They’ve just gotten married.
Travel    I’ve finally visited Asia.
Family    We’ve had our first child.
Career    He’s been promoted to manager.

🧠 SENTENCE PATTERNS
I have + past participle + result or detail
He has recently + past participle + time expression
We’ve achieved + objective / milestone

❗ COMMON MISTAKES
Mistake    Correction    Why?
I have win a competition.    I have won a competition.    Use the correct past participle
She has reach her goals.    She has reached her goals.    Regular verb needs “-ed”
We did launch a new website.    We’ve launched a new website.    Present perfect for recent result
They have finished last week.    They finished last week. (past simple)    Specific time = past simple

💬 EXAMPLE DIALOG
Nora: Have you achieved what you wanted this year?
Tariq: Actually, yes. I’ve started my own business and already signed three clients.
Nora: That’s amazing! I’ve finally passed my certification exam.
Tariq: Congrats! We’ve both made great progress.
Nora: Definitely. It’s been a productive year so far.

14.8 COMMON MISTAKES IN PRESENT PERFECT
Objective:
To identify and correct the most frequent mistakes learners make when using the present perfect tense, especially with structure, time references, and verb forms.

🔹 MISTAKE 1: USING PRESENT PERFECT WITH SPECIFIC PAST TIME
❌ Incorrect    ✅ Correct
I’ve seen that movie yesterday.    I saw that movie yesterday.
She has gone to the doctor last week.    She went to the doctor last week.
✅ Use past simple with a definite time (yesterday, last week, in 2010).

🔸 MISTAKE 2: USING THE PAST FORM INSTEAD OF THE PAST PARTICIPLE
❌ Incorrect    ✅ Correct    Notes
I have ate lunch.    I have eaten lunch.    “eaten” = past participle
He’s wrote a book.    He’s written a book.    “written” = past participle
✅ Many irregular verbs have different past and past participle forms.

🔹 MISTAKE 3: INCORRECT WORD ORDER WITH ADVERBS
❌ Incorrect    ✅ Correct
She just has arrived.    She has just arrived.
I already have finished.    I have already finished.
✅ Place just, already, ever, never between have/has and the past participle.

🔸 MISTAKE 4: DOUBLE NEGATIVES
❌ Incorrect    ✅ Correct
I haven’t never been there.    I’ve never been there.
She hasn’t done nothing today.    She hasn’t done anything today.
✅ Avoid double negatives in English.

🔹 MISTAKE 5: WRONG AUXILIARY OR MISSING “HAVE”
❌ Incorrect    ✅ Correct
He not has arrived yet.    He hasn’t arrived yet.
You ever been to Paris?    Have you ever been to Paris?
✅ Use have/has correctly for the subject, and invert in questions.

🧠 QUICK REVIEW
Type of Mistake    What to Remember
Specific past time    Use past simple, not present perfect
Past vs. past participle    Learn irregular verb forms carefully
Word order    have/has + adverb + past participle
Double negatives    Use only one negative word in a sentence
Auxiliary use    Always use have/has in present perfect

💬 EXAMPLE DIALOG
Dan: I’ve wrote three emails this morning.
Mira: You mean you’ve written three emails.
Dan: Oh, right! Also, I’ve seen that movie last weekend.
Mira: Careful—that should be I saw that movie last weekend.
Dan: Got it. So… I’ve learned something new today!
Mira: Now that’s perfect use of the present perfect!

14.9 UNIT 14 REVIEW
Objective:
To consolidate understanding and usage of the present perfect tense, especially for experiences, recent events, duration, and achievements, with correct grammar and vocabulary.

📘 WHAT YOU LEARNED IN THIS UNIT
🔹 PRESENT PERFECT: FORM AND USE
Structure: have/has + past participle
Examples:
→ I’ve visited London.
→ She has just finished her work.

🔹 “HAVE YOU EVER…?” QUESTIONS
•    Used for life experiences
→ Have you ever eaten sushi?
→ Yes, I have. / No, I haven’t.

🔹 KEY TIME EXPRESSIONS
•    already, just, yet, ever, never
→ They’ve already left.
→ I’ve never done that before.
→ Have you finished yet?

🔹 PRESENT PERFECT VS. PAST SIMPLE
Present Perfect: I’ve broken my arm. (present result)
Past Simple: I broke my arm last summer. (specific past)

🔹 “FOR” AND “SINCE”
•    for + period → for two years
•    since + point in time → since 2020

🔹 DESCRIBING ACHIEVEMENTS AND MILESTONES
She has written three books.
We’ve reached our goal.
They’ve just launched a new product.

🔹 COMMON MISTAKES CORRECTED
I have ate lunch → I have eaten lunch
I’ve been in Paris last year → I was in Paris last year
She just has arrived → She has just arrived

🔹 LISTENING AND SPEAKING PRACTICE
Used in questions: Have you ever...?
Describing life updates: I’ve started a new job.
Sharing experiences in natural conversation

💬 EXAMPLE DIALOG
Noah: Have you finished the book yet?
Leah: Yes, I’ve just finished it this morning.
Noah: What did you think?
Leah: It’s one of the best I’ve ever read. Have you read it?
Noah: Not yet. But I’ve heard great things about it.