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U4.7: It was all new once! - Key grammar: Present perfect

Last updated 4 months ago
6 questions
The present perfect is formed with have + past participle (done, opened, eaten, etc.): I’ve had this camera for two years.
Well, I’m going to talk about my digital camera. Actually, I’ve got it here, because it’s very small and fits in my bag, but it takes great pictures. Everything is automatic, so I just point it and press the button.

I’ve had this camera for two years. My parents gave it to me for my birthday when I was 18. I didn’t ask for a camera, so it was a complete surprise, but it’s been really useful.

Since I got the camera, I've carried it with me everywhere I've gone on holiday. For example, in July I went on holiday to Denmark and Sweden. They're lovely places, and in summer it's still light at midnight, so I got some great photos there. Also, I've taken lots of photos of special occasions. For instance, when my grandmother was 70, I took photos of her party.

I use it to remember things, so I put all the photos on my computer. Then I upload them onto Facebook, so my friends can see them.

I've used the camera so often because it's easy to use and I carry it everywhere. I just enjoy taking photos of places which are beautiful and people I'm with, everywhere they're happy. I've taken more than a thousand photos since July. In all, it's been a really great present and I've really enjoyed using it.
0

Look at the extract in blue from Amani’s talk in the recording script and underline the verbs in the present perfect.

Present perfect

Forms


Uses

We use the present perfect to describe:
  • Something which started in the past and still continues now: I’ve lived in Guangzhou all my life. (I was born there and I still live there now.)
  • Things which happened in the past, but no time is given, and they have a result in the present: There’s no class today because our teacher has gone on holiday. (She went on holiday sometime in the past, and the result in the present is that there’s no class today.)
5

Match these uses of the present perfect with the examples you underlined in Exercise 1. We use the present perfect for something which:

  • I've carried
  • It's been
  • I've had
  • I've taken
  • I've gone
  • 1 started in the past and continues in the present.
  • 2 happened in the past, but we don’t say an exact time in the past.
5
Complete these sentences by putting the verbs in brackets into the present perfect.
  1. The number of people using mobile phones _has risen_ (rise) by 500 percent since 2003.
  2. The invention of electronic books _______ (change) the way many people read.
  3. Since I started using email, I _______ (not write) a traditional letter.
  4. I _______ (forget) the word which means ‘in the middle of the night’.
  5. The library _______ (become) much more comfortable since they installed air conditioning.
  6. It is a device to help people find keys which they _______ (lose).
4
IELTS candidates often make mistakes with the present perfect. Find and correct the mistakes in these sentences.
  1. In recent years, life changed and it’s not like it was in the past. has changed
  2. In the last few years, new technologies has brought enormous benefits. _______
  3. In recent years, there are many problems arising regarding things you can find on the Internet. _______
  4. With the rapid progress of science and technology, there are a lot of changes in the world. _______
  5. During the last few years, money become more important as a way of satisfying our needs. _______

For and since

For

  • We use for + a number of hours/days/years, etc. to say how long something has been happening: Example: He has worked here for 12 years.
  • We use the present perfect + for to say how long something has been happening and is still happening now: Example: I’ve had this camera for six months.
  • We use the past simple + for to say how long something happened that started and finished in the past: Example: My piano lesson lasted for two hours.

Since

  • We use since + a time in the past to say when something started which is still happening now: Example: I’ve had this car since January.
  • We always use since with the present perfect because it means ‘from [that time in the past] till now’: Example: The price of food has increased since 2005.
2
Look at these two sentences from Amani's talk and answer the questions below.

I've had this camera for two years. I've taken more than a thousand photos since July.

Which preposition (for or since) is used to say: 1 the length of time (a number of days or weeks or years, etc.)? _________ 2 from a specific time in the past (a day, a month, etc.) until now? __________
Other Answer Choices:
since
for
5
Complete these sentences by writing for or since in each gap.
  1. I've had this mobile phone _for_ six months.
  2. I was given this touchscreen computer for my birthday, so I've had it _______ March.
  3. He's been in Australia _______ almost a year.
  4. She hasn't taken any photos _______ last summer.
  5. She hasn't phoned me _______ the meeting.
  6. Ali hasn't done any homework _______ three weeks.