Exercise 4B, page 3 - English File Studetn's book, pre-intermediate, Oxford

3 GRAMMAR present perfect or past simple? (1)

a 4.17 Listen to Kate, Rosie and John answering questions about shopping. Which chain stores from 1a do they mention?

b Listen again. What did each person buy? Are they happy with what they bought?

c 4.18 Look at the beginning of Kate's interview. What do you think the missing verbs are? Listen and check.

A 1________________ you ________________ to a chain store recently?

B Yes, I 2________________. I 3________________ to H&M three weeks ago.

A And what 4________________ you ________________?

B I 5________________ a skirt.

d What tense is the first question and short answer? What tense is the rest of the interview?

e G p.132 Grammar Bank 4B

f In pairs, ask and answer the questions.

Have you been to a chain store recently?

Where did you go?

When did you go there?

What did you buy?

Are you happy with it?

4B present perfect or past simple? (1)

present perfect: experiences and unfinished time

She's been to New York three times.

Have you ever been to Ikea?

I've never met Nina's husband.

He's seen that film twice.

4.19

• We often use the present perfect to talk about past experiences or to talk about the recent past when we don't specify a time. In questions and negatives we often use ever (= at any time in your life) and never.

present perfect or past simple?

A Have you ever been to Mexico? B Yes, I have.

A When did you go there? B I went last year.

A Jack's broken his leg. B Oh no! When did that happen?

A Yesterday. He broke it playing football.

4.20

• Conversations about experiences or the recent past often begin in the present perfect (with a general question or some news) and then change to the past simple to ask for or give specific details, e.g. when, what, where, who with, etc.

been and gone

Compare the present perfect of be and go.

Mike has been to Paris. = He went to Paris and came back.

Mike has gone to Paris. = He's in Paris now.

4B

a Complete with the verb in the present perfect.

Have you ever broken your leg? (break)

1 ________________ you ever ________________ clothes from that shop? (buy)

2 I ________________ always ________________ a pair of designer sunglasses. (want)

3 I ________________ ________________ this book. Is it good? (not read)

4 We ________________ ________________ to the new shopping centre. (not be)

5 ________________ your brother ever ________________ abroad? (live)

6 They ________________ ________________ to South America twice. (be)

7 She ________________ ________________ before. (not fly)

8 James ________________ ________________ his girlfriend's family. (not meet)

9 ________________ you ________________ in this restaurant before? (eat)

10 Jenny ________________ never ________________ me about her family. (tell)

b Complete the conversation with the present perfect or past simple.

A Have you been to the new shopping centre? (be)

B Yes, I ¹________________ there last month – it ²________________ great. (go, be)

A ³________________ you ________________ anything? (buy)

B I ⁴________________ ________________ a new pair of shoes. (get)

A ⁵________________ they expensive? (be)

B Yes, very! ⁶________________ you ________________ any new clothes recently? (buy)

A No, but my boyfriend ⁷________________ ________________ me a jacket for my birthday last week. (give)

c Complete with been or gone.

A Where's Rob? B He's gone to the football match.

1 The kids aren't here. They've all ________________ out.

2 Have you ever ________________ to the swimming pool in town?

3 I haven't ________________ to Sue's new flat yet.

4 My sister has ________________ to live in France and she's really enjoying it.

5 Oh, good. Dad's ________________ to the shop – the fridge is full.