PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

F.C.E. USE OF ENGLISH

PRESENT PERFECT: OTHER USES

THE PRESENT PERFECT IS USED WITH THE FOLLOWING ADVERBS:

ALREADY, NEVER. EVER, JUST, YET in order to express:

ALREADY: I’ve already done my homework. I can go out now. (FINISHED ACTIONS IN THE PRESENT)

NEVER: I’ve never visited Italica. I think we should go this Saturday. (UNDONE ACTIONS THE LIFETIME)

EVER: Have you ever been to NY?. /No-one has (ever) proved aliens exist.

JUST: I’ve just seen Mary in the park. If you go now, you’ll find her there. (VERY RECENTLY DONE ACTIONS)

YET: I haven’t done my homework yet. I should start now. / have you made the bed yet? (UNDONE OBLIGATIONS)

POSITION OF THE ADVERS: BEFORE THE PAST PARTICIPLE, except for YET, at the end of the sentence.

PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS emphazises the lenght of an activity:E.g.: I’ve been working on my project all morning. PPC explains a present situation:E,g,: John is totaly dirty. He’s been playing football.

COMPARE>: I have lived here for three years.I have been living here for three years.

Is there any contrast?

With STATE VERBS (LIVE, WORK, STAY, SLEEP, ETC), there is little contrast.

FCE USE OF ENGLISH, Part 4: Sentence Transformation

PAST TENSES. SPECIAL USES

1. I haven’t watched TV for at least three weeks!

LASTIt’s at least three weeks…………………………………………………………..

………...TV.

Structure:

IT’S (AT LEAST) + PERIOD OF TIME(*) + SINCE (I) LAST + SIMPLE PAST

(*): AGES, A LONG TIME, THREE DAYS, ETC.

SINCE I LAST WATCHED

2. The last time I went to France was three years agoFORI have………………………………………………………………..

………………..three years

3. I met Gary when we were at University togetherKNOWNI…………………………………………………………………….we were at

university together

NOT BEEN TO FRANCE FOR

HAVE/’VE KNOWN GARY SINCE

FCE USE OF ENGLISH, Part 4: Sentence Transformation

PAST TENSES. SPECIAL USES

4. We were playing football just now and we are really dirtyBEENWe are really dirty

because……………………………………………………….football

5. I’ve never eaten a better meal than thisEVERThis is the……………………………………………………………………………eaten

6. Who was your opponent in that tennis match I saw you play YESTERDAY?PLAYINGWho……………………………………………………………………against in that

tennis match I saw yesterday?

WE HAVE BEEN PLAYING

BEST MEAL I HAVE EVER

WERE YOU PLAYING

FCE USE OF ENGLISH, Part 4: Sentence Transformation

7. I didn’t feel very well this morning and I don’t feel any better now.FEELING

I…………………………………………………………..ill all day.

8. This is my first visit to the USANEVER

I……………………………………………………………….the USA before

9. We sold our old car two hours ago. JUST

We ……………………………………………..……………………our old car

HAVE FELT/’VE BEEN FEELING

HAVE/’VE NEVER BEEN TO

HAVE JUST SOLD

FCE USE OF ENGLISH, Part 4: Sentence Transformation

FCE Use of English Part 4PERFECT TENSES II (REVISION)

1. She hasn’t seen her aunt for at least two yearsLASTIt’s at least two years………………………………………………………….her aunt.

2. The last time I spoke English was five years agoFORI have………………………………………………………………..………………..five

years

3. My father met my mother when they made a journey togetherKNOWNMy parents………………………………………………..…..they made a journey

together

4. We sold our old car two hours ago. JUSTWe ……………………………………………..……………………our old car

5. These are the best hollidays we have had for ages!NEVERWe ………………………………………………………………best hollidays

than these ones.

6. My parents moved here from Canada ten years ago.FORMy parents………………………………………………………ten years

FCE Use of English Part 4PERFECT TENSES II (REVISION)

7. The plane was going to take off at two and it is still in the runaway

YETThe plane……………………………………………………………..………..

8. This is the first time Sara go to the city zoo. NEVERShe……………………………………………………………….the city zoo

before

FCE Use of English Part 4PERFECT TENSES II (REVISION)