G
ESC
  • Type to search across all units
← All units

Unit 20 · Present perfect

I have done (present perfect) and I did (past)

Study

A

With a finished time (yesterday / last week etc.), we use the past (arrived/saw/was etc.):

past + finished time
yesterday.
last week.
We arrived at 3 o'clock.
in 2002.
six months ago.

Do not use the present perfect (have arrived / have done / have been etc.) with a finished time:

›

I saw Paula yesterday.

(not I have seen)

›

Where were you on Sunday afternoon?

(not Where have you been)

›

We didn't have a holiday last year.

(not We haven't had)

›

'What did you do last night?' 'I stayed at home.'

›

William Shakespeare lived from 1564 to 1616. He was a writer. He wrote many plays and poems.

Use the past to ask When ... ? or What time ... ?:

›

When did you buy your computer?

(not When have you bought)

›

What time did Andy go out?

(not What time has Andy gone out)

B

Compare:

present perfect past
I **have lost** my key. (= I can't find it now) I **lost** my key last week.
Ben **has gone** home. (= he isn't here now) Ben **went** home ten minutes ago.
**Have** you **seen** Kate? (= where is she now?) **Did** you **see** Kate on Saturday?
time until now finished time
past past
now now
**Have** you **ever been** to Spain? (= in your life, until now) **Did** you **go** to Spain last year?
My friend is a writer. He **has written** many books. Shakespeare **wrote** many plays and poems.
Sam **hasn't phoned** me yet. Sam **didn't phone** me yesterday.
We've **lived** in Singapore for six years. (= we live there now) We **lived** in Glasgow for six years, but now we live in Singapore.

Exercises (4)

0/4 exercises checked
—
20.1

Complete the answers to the questions.

  1. 1
    1 Have you seen Kate?
    Yes, I saw her five minutes ago. example
  2. 2
    2 Have you started your new job?
    Yes, I last week.
  3. 3
    3 Have your friends arrived?
    Yes, they at 5 o'clock.
  4. 4
    4 Has Sarah gone away?
    Yes, she on Friday.
  5. 5
    5 Have you worn your new suit?
    Yes, I yesterday.
20.2

Are these sentences OK? Correct the verbs that are wrong. (The verbs are underlined.)

  1. 1
    1 I've lost my key. I can't find it.
    ✓ 正确，无需修改example
  2. 2
    2 Have you seen Kate yesterday?
    Did you seeexample
  3. 3
    3 I've finished my work at 2 o'clock.
  4. 4
    4 I'm ready now. I've finished my work.
  5. 5
    5 What time have you finished your work?
  6. 6
    6 Sue isn't here. She's gone out.
  7. 7
    7 Steve's grandmother has died two years ago.
  8. 8
    8 Where have you been last night?
20.3

Put the verb in the present perfect or past.

  1. 1
    My friend is a writer. He has written (write) many books. example
  2. 2
    We didn't have (not/have) a holiday last year. example
  3. 3
    I (play) tennis yesterday afternoon.
  4. 4
    What time (you/go) to bed last night?
  5. 5
    (you ever meet) a famous person?
  6. 6
    The weather (not/be) very good yesterday.
  7. 7
    Kathy travels a lot. She (visit) many countries.
  8. 8
    I (switch) off the light before going out this morning.
  9. 9
    I live in New York now, but I (live) in Mexico for many years.
  10. 10
    'What's Canada like? Is it beautiful?' 'I don't know. I (not/be) there.'
20.4

Put the verb in the present perfect or past.

  1. 1
    1 A: {} (you/ever/be) to Florida?
    B: Yes, we went (go) there on holiday two years ago. A: (you/have) a good time? B: Yes, it (be) great. example
  2. 2
    2 A: Where's Alan?
    (you/see) him? B: Yes, he (go) out a few minutes ago. A: And Rachel? B: I don't know. I (not/see) her.
  3. 3
    3 Rose works in a factory. She {} (work) there for six months. Before that she {} (be) a waitress in a restaurant. She {} (work) there for two years, but she {} (not/enjoy) it very much.
  4. 4
    4 A: Do you know Mark's sister?
    B: I (see) her a few times, but I (never/speak) to her. (you/ever/speak) to her? A: Yes. I (meet) her at a party last week. She's very nice.