UNIT 14 Present perfect (2)
A Study this example conversation:
Dave: Have you traveled a lot, Jane?
Jane: Yes, I've been to 47 different countries.
Dave: Really? Have you ever been to China?
Jane: Yes, I've visited China twice.
Dave: What about India?
Jane: No, I've never been to India.
When we talk about a period of time that continues up to the present, we use the present perfect. Jane and Dave are talking about the places Jane has visited in her life (which is a period continuing up to the present).
Here are some more examples:
- "Have you read Hamlet?'' ''No, I haven't read any of Shakespeare's plays.''
- How many times have you been to the United States?
- Susan really loves that movie. She's seen it eight times.
- Carlos has lived in Argentina all his life. (or Carlos has always lived in Argentina.)
We often use ever and never with the present perfect:
- Have you ever eaten caviar?
- We have never had a car.
We often use the present perfect after a superlative:
- What a boring movie! It's the most boring movie I've ever seen.
B You have to use the present perfect with This is the first time. . . , It's the first time. . . , etc. Study this example situation:
- Ron is driving a car. He is very nervous and unsure because it's his first time behind the wheel of a car. You can say:
or: He has never driven a car before.
Here are some more examples:
- Kathy has lost her passport again. It's the second time she has lost it.
- Is this the first time you've been in the hospital?
C Use the present perfect to say that you have never done something or that you haven't done something during a period of time that continues up to the present:
- I have never smoked.
- I haven't smoked for three years. (not I don't smoke for . . . )
- I haven't smoked since September. (not I don't smoke since . . . )
- Jill hasn't written to me for nearly a month.
- Jill has never driven a car.
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