Present perfect simple - completed past actions connected to the present with a stated or unstated time reference: They have gone to New York (unstated time, we don’t know when they left, they are still there now) I have met Jane at the pizzeria this morning (stated time, it’s still morning – action connected to the present) Cher has given me an autograph (she’s still alive, action connected to the present) - to announce news or give new information: Ann and John have divorced Somalia’s Prime Minister has decided to resign - for unfinished actions/events, often with still or yet: She still hasn’t finished her homework I haven’t had breakfast yet - for events repeated over a period of time until present (they may continue): I’ve been to the greengrocer’s every day - for recent events in the past (often with just): Jane has just cut her finger Uncle Jim has returned - when the time period is not finished: Rachel has started writing a short-story this morning (it’s still morning) for ages for 2/3/4, … years since … lately recently never ever so far, up to now already yet just Present Perfect Simple past tense yesterday the day before yesterday … ago in 1988 the other day last … once upon a time at the turn of the century in July during the summer Simple past tense - completed past actions not connected to the present with a stated or implied time reference: They went to New York months ago (stated time months ago) I met Jane at the pizzeria this morning (implied time – it’s afternoon now) Richard Burton gave me an autograph (he’s dead, action not connected to the present) - to give details of the news: Ann started to drink heavily and ignored all John’s pleas The Prime Minister stated that it was his personal decision and was not forced by anyone - for completed actions/events in the past, often with ago: I finished it hours ago - for events repeated over a period of time in the past (they are now finished): I went to the greengrocer’s every day - for events which happened at a particular time/period in the past: I met Sue at noon - when the time period is finished: Rachel wrote a short-story this morning (it’s now evening, so ‘this morning’ is in the past) Fill in the blanks with the appropriate tense form of the verb: Model: ………………………………………… Speak I spoke to Jane a few minutes ago I’ve spoken to the manager about it Be They ………………… to the circus days ago They ………………… to the circus once so far Have we …………………… a good time at the theatre last Tuesday We ………… just ………… breakfast Make We ………………… a disastrous experiment We ………………… a lot of blunders when we were little Take He …………………… an umbrella with him It ………………… Jim hours to get home last night Do The storm ……………… a lot of damage to our gardens The trip to the capital last summer………………… the children a lot of good Come The Whites ………………… to Cluj in the late 1990’s Everyone who was invited …………… to my party What punishment did you get? 5) Have you ever taken a photo? ……………………………………… What did you photograph? ……………………………………… 6) Have you ever been to the zoo? ……………………………………… What animals did you like? 7) Have you been to the cinema lately? ……………………………………… What film did you see? 8) Have you ever ironed your shirt? ……………………………………… Did it look better after it was ironed? ……………………………………… Fill in the correct tense form of the verb: The accident ………………………………… (happen) Complete these conversations, use the present perfect to open the conversation and in 2003 the past tense to ask for specific information: My father …………………………………… (be away) for three weeks 1) Have you ever ridden a bike? The kids ………………………………… (go to bed) ten minutes ago …………………………………… The telephone …………………… (be) invented by Alexander Graham When did you first ride one? Bell in 1876 …………………………………… I won the first prize when ………………………… (be) 22 2) Have you ever written a poem? I ……………………… (break) my leg last winter in Austria