Present perfect and past (2) (I have done and I did)

A. Do not use the present perfect (I have done) when you talk about a

    finished time (for example, yesterday/ten minutes ago/in 1985/when

    I was a child). Use a past tense:

 

    * The weather was nice yesterday. (not 'has been nice')

    * They arrived ten minutes ago. (not 'have arrived')

    * I ate a lot of sweets when I was a child. (not 'have eaten')

    * A: Did you see the news on television last night? (not 'Have you seen')

      B: No, I went to bed early. (not 'have gone')

      Use a past tense to ask When ...? or What time ...?:

   * When did they arrive? (not 'have they arrived')

   * What time did you finish work?

        Compare:

     Present perfect

   * Tom has lost his key. He can't get into the house.

      Here, we are not thinking of the past action. We are thinking of the 

      present result of the action: Tom doesn't have his key now.

      Past simple

   * Tom lost his key yesterday. He couldn't get into the house.

      Here, we are thinking of the action in the past. We don't know from

      this sentence whether Tom has his key now.

B. Compare present perfect and past:

      Present perfect (have done)

   * I've done a lot of work today.

     We use the present perfect for a period of time that continues from

     the past until now. For example, today, this week, since 1985.

   * It hasn't rained this week.

   * Have you seen Ann this morning? (it is still morning)

   * Have you seen Ann recently?

   * I don't know where Ann is. I haven't seen her. (= I haven't seen her 

     recently)

   * We've been waiting for an hour. (we are still waiting now)

 

   * Ian lives in London. He has lived there for seven years.

   * I have never played golf. (in my life)

    The present perfect always has a connection with now. See Units 7-12.

 

    Past simple (did)

   * I did a lot of work yesterday.

     We use the past simple for a finished time in the past. For example,

     yesterday, last week, from 1985 to 1991.

   * It didn't rain last week.

   * Did you see Ann this morning? (it is now afternoon or evening)

   * Did you see Ann on Sunday?

   * A: Was Ann at the party on Sunday?

     B: I don't think so. I didn't see her.

   * We waited (or were waiting) for an hour. (we are no longer waiting)

   * Ian lived in Scotland for ten years.

     Now he lives in London.

   * I didn't play golf when I was on holiday last summer.

     The past simple tells us only about the past. See Units 5-6.

EXERCISES

14.1 Are the underlined parts of these sentences right or wrong? Correct

        the ones that are wrong.

      1. _I've lost_ my key. I can't find it anywhere. RIGHT

      2. _Have you seen_ the news on television last night? WRONG: Did you

          see

      3. _I've bought_ a new car. Do you want to see it? ---

      4. _I've bought_ a new car last week. ---

      5. Where _have you been_ yesterday evening? ---

      6. Jenny _has left_ school in 1991. ---

      7. I'm looking for Mike. _Have you seen_ him? ---

      8. I'm very hungry. _I haven't eaten_ anything today. ---

      9. Diane _hasn't been_ at work yesterday. ---

    10. When _has this book been_ published? ---

14.2 Make sentences from the words in brackets. Use the present perfect

        or past simple.

      1. (it/not/rain/this week) It hasn't rained this week.

  

      2. (the weather/be/cold/recently) The weather ---

      3. (it cold/last week) It ---

      4. (I not/read/a newspaper yesterday) I ---

      5. (I not/read/a newspaper today)

      6. (Ann/earn/a lot of money/this year)

 

      7. (she not/earn/so much/last year)

      8. (you  have/a holiday recently?)

14.3 Put the verb into the correct form, present perfect or past simple.

      1. I don't know where Amy is. Have you seen (you/see) her?

      2. When I --- (get) home last night, I --- (be) very tired and I --- (go)

          straight to bed.

      3. Your car looks very clean --- (you/wash) it?

      4. George --- (not/be) very well last week.

      5. Mr Clark --- (work) in a bank for 15 years. Then he gave it up.

      6. Molly lives in Dublin. She --- (live) there all her life.

      7. --- (you/go) to the cinema last night?' 'Yes, but it --- (be) a mistake.

          The film (be) awful.

      8. My grandfather --- (die) 30 years ago. I --- (never/meet) him.

     9. I don't know Carol's husband. I --- (never/meet/him).

   10. A: Is your father at home?

        B: No, I'm afraid he --- (go) out.

        A: When exactly --- (he/go) out? B: About ten minutes ago.

   11. A: Where do you live?

        B: In Boston.

        A: How long --- (you/live) there?

        B: Five years.

        A: Where --- (you/live) before that?

        B: In Chicago.

        A: And how long --- (you/live) in Chicago?

        B: Two years.

14.4 Write sentences about yourself using the ideas in brackets.

       1. (something you haven't done today)

            I haven't eaten any fruit today.

      2. (something you haven't done today)

      3. (something you didn't do yesterday)

      4. (something you did yesterday evening)

      5. (something you haven't done recently)

       6. (something you've done a lot recently)

Present perfect and past (1) (I have done and I did)

A. Study this example situation:

 

     Tom is looking for his key. He can't find it.

 

     He has lost his key. (present perfect)

     This means that he doesn't have his key now.

     Ten minutes later:

     Now Tom has found his key. He has it now.

     Has he lost his key? (present perfect)

  

     No, he hasn't. He has found it.

     Did he lose his key? (past simple)

     Yes, he did.

     He lost his key (past simple)

     but now he has found it. (present perfect)

    The present perfect is a present tense. It always tells us something about now. 

    'Tom has lost his key' = he doesn't have his key now (see Unit 7).

    The past simple tells us only about the past. If somebody says 'Tom lost his key',

    we don't know 

    whether he has it now or not. We only know that he lost it at some time in the

    past.

    Two more examples:

    * Jack grew a beard but now he has shaved it off. (so he doesn't have a beard

       now)

    * They went out after lunch and they've just come back. (so they are back now)

B. Do not use the present perfect if there is no connection with the present (for
     example, things that happened a long time ago):

 

    * The Chinese invented printing. (not 'have invented')

   * How many plays did Shakespeare write? (not 'has Shakespeare written')

   * Beethoven was a great composer. (not 'has been')

 Compare:

   * Shakespeare wrote many plays.

   * My sister is a writer. She has written many books. (she still writes books)

C. We use the present perfect to give new information (see Unit 7). But if

     we continue to talk about it, we normally use the past simple:

   * A: Ow! I've burnt myself.

      B: How did you do that? (not 'have you done')

      A: I picked up a hot dish. (not 'have picked')

  * A: Look! Somebody has spilt milk on the carpet.

     B: Well, it wasn't me. I didn't do it. (not 'hasn't been ... haven't done')

     A: I wonder who it was then. (not 'who it has been')

EXERCISES

13.1 What has happened in these situations?

      1. Jack had a beard. Now he hasn't got a beard. He has shaved off his beard.

      2. Linda was here five minutes ago. Mow she's in bed. She ---

      3. The temperature was 25 degrees. Now it is only 17. The temperature ---

      4. The light was off. Now it is on. Somebody ---

      5. The tree was only three metres high. Now it is four. The tree ---

      6. The plane was on the runway a few minutes ago. Now it is in the air.

 The plane ---

13.2 Put the verbs in brackets in the correct form, present perfect or past simple.

       1. 'Where's your key?' 'I don't know. I've lost it.' (lose)

       2. I was very tired, so I lay down on the bed and went to sleep. (be)

       3. Mary --- to Australia for a while but she's back again now. (go)

       4. 'Where's Ken?' 'He --- out. He'll be back in about an hour.' (go)

       5. I did German at school but I --- most of it. (forget)

       6. I meant to phone Diane last night but I --- (forget)

  

       7. I --- a headache earlier but I feel fine now. (have)

      8. Look! There's an ambulance over there. There --- an accident. (be)

      9. They're still building the new road. They --- it. (not/finish)

    10. 'Is Helen still here?' 'No, she --- out.' (just/go)

  

    11. The police --- three people but later they let them go. (arrest)

   12. Ann --- me her address but I'm afraid I --- it. (give, lose)

   13. Where's my bike? It --- outside the house. It --- (be, disappear)

   14. What do you think of my English? Do you think I ---? (improve)

13.3 Are the underlined parts of these sentences right or wrong? Correct the ones

         that are wrong.

     1. Do you know about Sue? _She's given up_ her job. RIGHT

     2. The Chinese _have invented_ printing. WRONG: The Chinese invented

     3. How many plays _has Shakespeare written?_ ---

     4. _Have you read_ any of Shakespeare's plays? ---

     5. Aristotle _has been_ a Greek philosopher. ---

     6. Ow! _I've cut_ my finger. It's bleeding. ---

     7. My grandparents _have got_ married in London. ---

     8. Where _have you been born?_ ---

     9. Mary isn't at home. _She's gone shopping._ ---

   10. Albert Einstein has been the scientist who _has developed_ the theory of

          relativity. ---

13.4 (Section C) Put the verb into the most suitable form, present perfect or past

          simple.

     1. A: Look! Somebody has split (spill) coffee on the carpet.

         B: Well, it wasn't (not/be) me. I didn't do (not/do) it.

 

    2. A: Ben --- (break) his leg.

        B: Really? How --- (that/happen)?

        A: He --- (fall) off a ladder.

   3. A: Your hair looks nice. --- (you/have) a haircut?

       B: Yes.

       A: Who --- (cut) it? --- (you/go) to the hairdresser?

       B: No, a friend of mine --- (do) it for me.

When ...? and How long ...? For and since

A. Compare When ...? (+ past simple) and How long ...? (+ present perfect):

     A: When did it start raining?

     B: It started raining an hour ago/at 1 o'clock.

     A: How long has it been raining?

  

     B: It's been raining for an hour/since 1 o'clock.

     A: When did Joe and Carol first meet?

     B: They first met a long time ago/when they were at school.

     A: How long have Joe and Carol known each other?

     B: They've known each other for a long time./since they were at school.

  

B. We use both for and since to say how long something has been happening.

    We use for when we say a period of time (two hours, six weeks etc.):

    * I've been waiting for two hours.

      for two hours

      two hours ago -> now

      two hours/a week/20 minutes/50 years/five days/a long time/six months/ages

   * Sally's been working here for six months. (not 'since six months')

   * I haven't seen Tom for three days. (not 'since three days')

     We use since when we say the start of a period (8 o'clock, Monday, 1985 etc.):

   * I've been waiting since 8 o'clock.

     since 8 o'clock

      8 o'clock -> now

      since

 

      8 o'clock/1977/Monday/Christmas/12 May/lunchtime/April/they were at school

  * Sally's been working here since April. (= from April until now)

  * I haven't seen Tom since Monday. (= from Monday until now)

     It is possible to leave out for (but not usually in negative sentences):

  * They've been married (for) ten years. (with or without for)

  * They haven't had a holiday for ten years. (you must use for)

     We do not use for + all ... (all day/all my life etc.):

  * I've lived here all my life. (not 'for all my life')

C. We say 'It's (a long time/two years etc.) since something happened':

  * It's two years since I last saw Joe. (= I haven't seen Joe for two years/the last time I saw

    Joe was two years ago)

  * It's ages since we went to the cinema. (= We haven't been to the cinema for ages)

    The question is How long is it since ...?

  * How long is it since you last saw Joe? (= When did you last see Joe?)

  * How long is it since Mrs Hill died? (= When did Mrs Hill die?)

EXERCISES

12.1 Write questions with how long and when.

  1. It's raining.

     (how long?) How long has it been raining?

     (when?) When did it start raining?

  2. Kate is learning Italian.

     (how long/learn?)

     (when/start/learn?)

  3. I know Martin.

     (how long/know?)

     (when/first/meet?)

  4. Bob and Alice are married.

     (how long?)

     (when?)

12.2 Read the situations and complete the sentences beginning in the way shown.

 

       1. (It's raining now. It's been raining since lunchtime.) It started raining at lunchtime.

       2. (Ann and I are friends. We first met years ago.) We've known each other for years.

       3. (Mark is ill. He became ill on Sunday.) He has ---

 

       4. (Mark is ill. He became ill a few days ago.) He has ---

       5. (Sarah is married. She's been married for two years.) She got ---

       6. (You've got a camera. You bought it ten years ago.) I've ---

       7. (Sue has been in France for the last three weeks.) She went ---

       8. (You're working in a hotel. You started in June.) I've ---

12.3 Put in for or since.

      1. It's been raining since lunchtime.

      2. Tom's father has been doing the same job --- 20 years.

  

      3. Have you been learning English ---a long time?

      4. Sarah has lived in London --- 1985.

      5. --- Christmas, the weather has been quite good.

      6. Please hurry up! We've been waiting --- an hour.

      7. Kevin has been looking for a job --- he left school.

      8. The house is very dirty. We haven't cleaned it --- ages.

      9. I haven't had a good meal --- last Tuesday.

12.4 Write BS sentences using the words in brackets.

     1. A: Do you often go on holiday?

        B: (no/five years) No, I haven't had a holiday for five years.

    2. A: Do you often eat in restaurants?

        B: (no/ages) No, I ---

 

    3. A: Do you often see Sarah?

        B: (no/about a month) ---

    4. A: Do you often go to the cinema?

        B: (no/a long time) ---

 

        Now write B's answers again. This time use It's ... since...

    5. (1) No, it's five years since I had a holiday.

    6. (2) No, it's ---

    7. (3) No, ---

    8. (4) ---

How long have you (been) ...?

A. Study this example situation:

   

    Bob and Alice are married. They got married exactly 20 years ago, so today is their 20th 
    wedding anniversary.

    They have been married for 20 years.

    We say: They are married. (Present)

    but How long have they been married? (Present perfect) (not 'How long are they married?')

    They have been married for 20 years. (Not 'they are married for 20 years')

    We use the present perfect to talk about something that began in the past and still
    continues now. 

Compare the present and the present perfect:

 

   * Amy is in hospital.

     but She has been in hospital since Monday. (not 'Amy is in hospital since Monday')

   * We know each other very well.

     but We have known each other for a long time. (not 'we know')

   * Are you waiting for somebody?

     but How long have you been waiting?

B. I have been doing something (present perfect continuous) = 'I started doing something in
    the past and I am still doing it (or have just stopped)':

    * I've been learning English for a long time. (not 'I am learning')

    * Sorry I'm late. Have you been waiting long?

    * It's been raining since I got up this morning.

    The action can be a repeated action:

   * 'How long have you been driving?' 'Since I was 17.'

C. I have done (simple) or I have been doing (continuous)

    The continuous is more usual with how long, since and for (see also Unit 10B):

    * I've been learning English for a long time. (not usually 'I've learnt')

      You can normally use either the continuous or simple with live and work:

   * John has been living/has lived in London for a long time.

   * How long have you been working/have you worked here?

     But we use the simple with always:

   * John has always lived in London. (not 'has always been living')

     You can use the continuous or the simple for actions repeated over a long period:

   * I've been collecting/I've collected stamps since I was a child.

    Some verbs (for example, know/like/believe) are not normally used in the continuous:

   * How long have you known Jane? (not 'have you been knowing')

   * I've had a pain in my stomach since I got up this morning.

     For a list of these verbs, see Unit 4A. For have see Unit 17.

D. We use the present perfect simple in negative sentences like these:

  * I haven't seen Tom since Monday. (= Monday was the last time I saw him)

  * Jane hasn't phoned me for two weeks. (= the last time she phoned was two weeks ago)

    EXERCISES

11.1 Are the underlined verbs right or wrong? Correct them if they are wrong.

         1. Bob is a friend of mine. _I know him_ very well.  RIGHT

         2. Bob is a friend of mine. _I know him_ for a long time.  WRONG: I've known him.

         3. Sue and Alan _are married_ since July.  ---

         4. The weather is awful. _It's raining_ again.  ---

         5. The weather is awful. _It's raining_ all day.  ---

         6. I like your house. How long _are you living_ there?  ---

         7. Graham _is working_ in a shop for the last few months.  ---

         8. I'm going to Paris tomorrow. _I'm staying_ there until next Friday.  ---

 

         9. 'Do you still smoke?' 'No, I gave it up. _I don't smoke_ for years.'  ---

       10. That's a very old bicycle. How long _do you have_ it?  ---

11.2 Read the situations and write questions from the words in brackets.

        1. John tells you that his mother is in hospital. You ask him:

            (how long/be/in hospital?)

            How long has your mother been in hospital?

       2. You meet a woman who tells you that she teaches English. You ask her:

           (how long/teach/English?)

 

      3. You know that Jane is a good friend of Carol's. You ask Jane:

           (how long/know/Carol?)

    

      4. Your friend's brother went to Australia some time ago and he's still there. You ask your
          friend:

          (how long/be/in Australia?)

      5. Tim always wears the same jacket. It's a very old jacket. You ask him:

          (how long/have/that jacket?)

     6. You are talking to a friend about Alan. Alan now works at the airport. You ask your friend:

         (how long/work/at the airport?)

     7. A friend of yours is having driving lessons. You ask him:

         (how long/have/driving lessons?)

     8. You meet somebody on a train. She tells you that she lives in Glasgow. You ask her:

         (always/live/in Glasgow?)

11.3 Complete BS answers to A's questions.

      1. A: Amy is in hospital, isn't she?

          B: Yes, she has been in hospital since Monday.

     2. A: Do you see Ann very often?

         B: No, I haven't seen her for three months.

     3. A: Is Margaret married?

         B: Yes, she --- married for ten years.

  

    4. A: Are you waiting for me?

        B: Yes, I --- for the last half hour.

    5. A: You know Linda, don't you?

        B: Yes, we --- each other for ages.

    6. A: Do you still play tennis?

        B: No, I --- tennis for years.

    7. A: Is Jim watching TV? 

        B: Yes, he --- TV all evening.\

    8. A: Do you watch TV a lot?

        B: No, I --- TV for a long time.

    9. Have you got a headache?

        B: Yes, I --- a headache all morning.

  10. A: George is never ill, is he?

        B: No, he --- ill since I've known him.

  11. A: Are you feeling ill?

        B: Yes, I --- ill since I got up.

  12. Sue lives in London, doesn't she?

        B: Yes, she --- in London for the last few years.

  13. Do you still go to the cinema a lot?

        B: No, I --- to the cinema for ages.

  14. Would you like to go to New York one day?

        B: Yes, I --- to go to New York. (use always/want).