EXERCISE

Put the

1.

verbs

Mary:

in brackets into the correct

/ ..............................
..............................

fo

.' rm.

(b e ) h ere to visit my friend, Linda .

(she / fee/) better today?

Nurse: /'m sorry, but the patients

right now. The cann
finish.
y
ot
Mary: AII right, /
2.

3.

(~heck~ by the doctors

(VISlt)untl the doctors
(wait).

An accident

..............................
(occur) near my house /ast night A
man
(hit) by a caro He
: yo~ng
bicycle when someone in front of him sudd~~i

(ride) his
car door. The accident
y
(open) a
..... :
(see) by severa/ witnesses. The
..............................
(question) /ast night by the po/ice.
y
A:
B:

What
W
e

(do) now to he/p the victims of the tsunam'

l.

(collect) clothes and b/ankets. Food

(sen.d) by he/icopters right now and medica/ he/
(f/y m) tomorrow.
p

r.

..............................

EXERCISE

THE PRESENT

PERFECT SIMPLE-

EL PRETRITO

TIME

PERFECTO COMPUESTO

EXPRESSIONS

EXPRESIONES

Rewrite the sentences using the words in brackets.

WITH

THE

TEMPORALES

PRESENT

PERFECT

CON EL PRETRITO

SIMPLEPERFECTO

COMPUESTO

1. MMyffriend and / usually do homework

y nend,
2.

together,

but she's away today

(whom)
.

SPECIAL

The shop is ~;~~;i~~~i~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~;~.;~;~;

4.

/f you want to change y~.~;.~~~~~;~~.~~:.~;~ ..;~~~ ..~~;;:.;~;;

EXPRESIONES

PRESENT

WITH

ESPECIALES

PERFECT

CONTRASTE

You can change your appearance

No one cou/d understand what he .~~;~. ;~.~~;

ENTRE

EL PRETRITO

THE

PRESENT

PERFECT

CON EL PRETRITO

PERFECTO

SIMPLE

/ CONTRAST

EL PRETRITO

PERFECTO

WITH

PERFECTO

PAST SIMPLECOMPUESTO

SIMPLE

His words
5.

EXPRESSIONS
-

COMPUESTO

Adverts about the sale

3.

SIMPLE

/'// never fO~~~~~~~~~;~i~~~;~~~~~~~~~~~~:;~~~~~~~

THE PRESENT

PERFECT CONTINUOUS

EL PRETRITO

PERFECTO COMPUESTO

CONTINUO

/'11 never forget Mrs Martin

I

6.

....................................

The municipa/ity will award 500

h
Frve undred euros

to wh

'.

oever wrns. (winner)

........................................................................................

742

.. .....

PRESENT

PERFECT

PERFECT

CONTlNUOUS-

CONTRASTE

ENTRE

Y EL PRETRITO

SIMPLE

/ CONTRAST

EL PRETRITO

PERFECTO

WITH

PERFECTO

COMPUESTO

PRESENT

COMPUESTO

CONTINUO

EXERCISE

THE
EL

PRESENT
PRETRITO

PERFECT
PERFECTO

SIMPLE

~"In

COMPUESTO

AFIRMATIVA:

Sujeto

+ have / has + participio pasado del verbo principal

'

They have sung.

+ have / has not + participio pasado del verbo principal They haven't sung.

INTERROGATIVA:

Have / Has

+ sujeto + participio pasado del verbo principal

Have they sung?

Nota 1: En la conversacin, el auxiliar have se contrae con el sujeto. En afirmativa,

no confundas la 3a persona del singular he has = he's con la del presente
del verbo to be, he is = he's.
Nota 2: Los verbos regulares forman el participio aadiendo ed, los irregulares no y
hay que aprenderlos de memoria.
El Present Perfect Simple (Pretrito Perfecto Compuesto) se usa para:
A

B
C

h?l:'(~.~.I!.C?~'!
(know) each other for five years.
.
1.
(you be)? I
(be) very worned.
Where
,
}.
(write) him several letters since September.
We

NEGATIVA:

Sujeto

Hablar de acciones pasadas sin especificar cundo han ocurrido.

He has been to London several times.

3. I~~.:::::::::::::::::::: .... (not write) his speech yet.

4.
(ride) on a donkey three times before.
5. He ..... :..................
not announce) how many houses he plans to build.
The buJider
(
6.

Jenny
7. .

Indicar que la accin ocurri en un momento que todava no ha acabado.

Suele ir con expresiones temporales como this morning, this week, this month,
this afternoon, etc.
This morning 1 haven't smoked a single cigarette.

1 haven't read a novel since the school year began.

E

Acciones que acaban de terminar. Entonces se usa just en la frase y se traduce

por "acabar de ... "
Tom has just left the party.
Dar noticias recientes aunque la accin ya haya ocurrido.
The President has been assassinated.

(vou, tell) your teacher what you read?

EXERCISE

.
estions in the Present Perfect Simple using the words given below. Then
~ Wnte qu
.
ith full sentences that are true for you.
answer the questlOns WI
1. you / visit / the Canary Islands?

Have you visite(Uh~ ..c;~n?l:f}'.!?J~n~~.?

/d .
........
h
't' 'ted the Canary Is an s.
Yes 1have visited the Canary . .'?.1.~~~~J~p{.! ?y~r:... y!?!..
.
.

2. you / read / the entire Bible?

.....................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................

3. you / drive a car?

.....................................................................................................................

Nota: Fijate en que las expresiones que empleamos deben indicar que quedan
incluidos momentos tanto del pasado como del presente.
Acciones que empezaron en el pasado y an continan. La frase suele llevar las
preposiciones for o since, y el verbo a veces se traduce en presente.
1 have .had this house for ages.

a new caro

(buy)

8.

Acciones en el pasado cuyos efectos son visibles en el momento actual.

JiU is home in bed. She has caught a cold.

This month we have done a lot of decorating, as we are having a

wedding party for our daughter.

.
t Perfect Simple form of the verbs in brackets.
. the blanks with the Presen

.....................................................................................................................
4.

your parents / buy you / a computer?

.....................................................................................................................
.

5. you / be / on a skiing holiday / this year?

....................................................................................

.....................................................................................................................

6. you / start / a new hobby / lately?

.

.
.

.
745

144

EXERCISE

Write sentences in the Present Perfect Simple usin the

.
the connection to the present.
g
words in brackets to show

TIME

2
A

EXPRESSIONS

EXPRESIONES

WITH

THE

TEMPORALES

PRESENT

PERFECT

CON EL PRETRITO

SIMPLEPERFECTO

COMPUESTO

Las preposiciones for y since se usan mucho con el Present Perfect Simple e
, introducen expresiones temporales. Ambas indican que la accin empez en
el pasado y que contina en el momento presente.
For indica lo que dura la accin.
We have been here for an hour.
Since seala el momento en que empez.
\ We have been here since ten o'clock.

1. Why can't you open the door? (/ose / keys)

.( lH!Y.~.!Q?.t. my'h~y.~

2.

Nota 1: Si queremos preguntar cunto tiempo ha durado la accin hasta

ahora, lo hacemos con how long.

I have to take the bus. (car /.~;~~.~.~~~~.;

3.

~~~~~. ;~.~~~.:~~~~;~. .,

.~.~~.~~~~.~..;

.;~.~.~~;

How long have you lived in London?

Nota 2: No se pueden usar el Present Simple ni el Present Continuous para
expresar cunto tiempo lleva ocurriendo algo.

I'm living here for three years. )(

~~~'~'i~~;'
~i'~~'
.,..;~Ir~~~;
'~'i~'i~';
~.~~~.; .

4.

~.~.~.,~
..~.~~
..~~~; ~~ .~~.;~.~.

5. .,

'I~~.~~.;~~.~~~~.~.~.
~~~'i~~~~;""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

1 live here since 1998. )(

8

Adems de for y since tenemos otras expresiones temporales que se emplean

con el Present Perfect Simple. Fijate en que las cuatro primeras deben
colocarse entre el auxiliar have y el verbo en participio de pasado.
1 Ever (slo se utiliza en frases interrogativas y negativas)

6.

;;i~~~~~~~:~;;~~~~~~~~~~~r~.~~~~~;~i~~.:~.~~.~.~~~;
.

7.

.;.

Have you ever seen a whale?

1 haven't ever been to a theme park.

2 Never (slo en frases afirmativas)

;~.'i~';:,""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""'"

1 have never eaten sushi.

3 Already (slo en frases afirmativas)

"1 don't know." (your watch / stop?)

8. .,

9.

~~n:t,~a~ ~~~t;ts;YS~~,~

~~n':p~~~~
t~~~;h,; .,

This director has already made two films.

I;~S~;

,~~~,;g

~I~SS~;)"""""""""""""""""

4 Just (para indicar que la accin acaba de ocurrir)

1 have just received a presento

;on

~ I~O

~~I,~~~)""""""""""""""""""""""'"

1O.~~;~~~~;:;~~~~~:;~~~;I~~~~;;
.
.....................................................................................................................
746
~47

EXERCISE

5 Yet (slo suele usarse en oraciones interrogativas y negativas)

fj\l in the blanks with ever, never, recentlv, always or often.

Has the teacher seen your exercises yet?

No, he hasn't seen them yet.

6 Lately, recently, always, often, so far, etc.

Estudia los siguientes ejemplos para que veas el uso de estas expresiones
temporales utilizadas con el Present Periect Simple y su posicin en la frase.
Fjate en que lately, recently y so far se suelen colocar al final de la oracin,
sin embargo always y often van siempre entre el auxiliar have y el verbo
principal en participio pasado.
Mary hasn't visited us lately.
She has called me recently.
We have had three exams so faro
1 have always enjoyed classical music.
She has often thought of moving to a different city.
.-'
I have ...

1.
EXERCISE

She has

2.

di a
15

a dogo I feel much safer now.

pp

ointed me. She is so responsible!

. d
[ohn and Tina have got mame

3.

Fill in the blanks with for or since.

~~~~::~!y.
.... bought

I must send them a wedding

presento

1.

It's been ages ..... ?J.T}~~..... he travelled abroad.

4.

2.

I haven't

5.

3.

Has she asked for more money

4.

Sheila has visited [ames in Rome three times

5.

Where have you been? I've been here

6.

lan hasn't been to a concert

7.

She has taught at the same school

8.

He's had his cat

9.

Margaret hasn't been to London

received any letters

over a week.

Has she

account

over an hour!

here.

6. [ohn has
7. We have
8. They have

ages.

moving to the city?

h d ood service at this bank. That's why I don't have an

a g

I have

she started working there?

he moved there.

considered

disliked love stories. They bore him.

.
.

seen him so happy. He's dancing with joy!

m

she began teaching.

et her at the museum.

EXERCISE

She loves art.

it was a kitten.

FiII in the blanks with yet, already or just.

10.

Mr Smith has worked in this office

1998.
over four years.

1.

.
Id
h
't learned to tell the time
My ve-year-o
son asn

2.

Anna has

3.

He's

phoned

to tell us that she'll be late.

been to visit Grandma.

.
4. [ohn hasn't arrived home

5.

Be quiet! My parents have

.Y~~

He went two days ago.

His wife is waiting for him.
put the baby to sleep.

149

EXERCISE

Choose the correct answer.

SPECIAL

1. He received the Nobel Prize ten years

2.

a. since

Has the postman

been

a yet

. just

4.

5.

6.

. a ways

My cousin has ............

a. often

c. often
b ro ken mto
.
our flat.

b.

c.

often

. ever
He's out d ..
.
rlvlng now.
c
.
. just
d. always

yet

ever

d.

b.

already

a. often

b.

He has
a. always

d.

She has worn black

a. since

b.

for

She left school three years

a. before

b.

yet

her husband

14. She has been busy

..................
a I
. a ways
b. yet
15.

c.

ago

c.

orgotten to do anything
.
d
never
.
boys?

1 He has been to

2 He has gone to significa que todava est all.

Where is George? 1 think he has gone to France. He has been to
England, to Holland and to Germany. He has been travelling a lot
recently.

c.

since

0~~~.?~~.~~~
(skate)

d.

since

3.

yet

4. That was the most interesting

(read) in years.

d.

on ice.

(lock) myself

That was the best dinner l

6. That was the worst concert

hear).

d.

2. This is the third time I

out of the house this week.

(ever eat).
book I

5. She is the most charming woman

(ever meet).

already

~ Fillin the blanks with the Present Perfect Simple form of the verbs in brackets.
1. This is the first time I

et
. y
and hasn't had enough ti
t
irne o see me
lately

EXERCISE

already

d.

c.
.

====-

significa que ha ido a algn lugar y ha regresado.

d.

died.

recently

yet

ever

never

Have been to / Have gone to.

yet

c. always
felt so upset in his life.

PERFECT
EL PRETRITO

c. for

c li1mb e d a mountain?

Have you ..................

CON

ti" tomorrow.

a. before

COMPUESTO

PRESENT

...................

b.

PERFECTO

THE

ESPECIALES

Tambin lo empleamos despus de expresiones como the first time, the second
time, the only time, etc.
This is the second time he has won the lottery.

She can't wait to see h'

.
rrn agaln.
f
c. or
d. ago
hasn't elected a chairman

The committee

EXPRESIONES

b oug h tacar

c. often
h
d h
pone
. S e won't phone again
b. never
c. ever
8. She s a very responsible worker. She has
.
.
a. just
b
ti
. recen y
c. always
9 . Th e girls have
. d
............
arnve ,but where are the
a. recently
b. often
c. never
10. I won't be away
long.

13.

always

7. She has
.
.
a. just

12.

d.

WITH

Solemos emplear este tiempo despus de adjetivos en superlativo. El adverbio

ever se aade a menudo para dar enfsis.
That is the worst film 1 have ever seen.

She last saw him five year

s
.
a. smcs
b. just

a. already

11.

recently

3. A burglar has .......

a. just

d.

EXPRESSIONS

3 ==--=--"'= -

t::"\
0ago

before

SIMPLE

(ever

---

7. This is the second time this series

(appear) on TV.

8. This is the most beautiful town I

(ever see).

just

d. just

151

EXERCISE
PRESENT

4
A

PERFECT

CONTRASTE

ENTRE

Y EL PRETRITO

SIMPLE

/ CONTRAST

EL PRETRITO

PERFECTO

WITH

PAST

PERFECTO

SIMPLE

Choose the corred answer.

COMPUESTO

SIMPLE

===- - --El Present Perfect Simple tiene relacin con el presente aunque nos estemos
refiriendo a una accin acabada en el pasado. No nos interesa el momento en
que se realiz la accin, pero sus resultados nos afectan ahora.
El Past Simple indica claramente que la accin ocurri en el pasado, por ello
suele ir acompaado de expresiones temporales especficas.
Expresiones temporales:

10

..
d
f om northern Europe. It (has flown, flew) thousands of
Thls bir comes r
1. kilometres in search of a warm c1imate.
I (haven't spoken, didn't speak) to my cousin for ages.

2.

He (heard, has heard) many political jokes lately.

3.

Irene (didn't see, hasn't seen) her best friend for three months.

4.

ohn (has been, went) to Europe several times since 2000.

5. j
Shakespeare (has written, wrote) many plays.
6.

Present Perfect Simple

(tiempo indefinido)

Past Simple
(tiempo especfico)

7.

for
since

yet
already

lately
recently

yesterday
ayear ago

last month
when 1was a child

ever / never

just

so far

last week

in the 1960s

El Past Simple responde a la pregunta sobre cundo (when) sucedi algo. El

Present Perfect Simple responde a la pregunta sobre cunto tiempo (how long)
ha estado ocurriendo algo hasta la actualidad.
When did you arrive in Portugal?
A week ago.
How long have you been in Portugal?
For one week. / Since August. / Since the festival began.

EXERCISE

I have been out with her several times

2.

George hasn't ridden a bicycle

4.

He came over

5.

She has had a headache

afternoon but I was too busy to speak to him.

7.

lane last saw him ayear

10.

She

4.

He celebrated his 90th birthday

I have listened to this programme regularly

(leave) over half an hour ago.

(you / see) it?

(spend) two months touring Europe last summer.

(you / read) any books by Stephen King?
(write) The Broker. I
.

(win) the 100 metres at the 2004 Olympics.

7. I

(not speak) to him yet this morning.

open) in our neighbourhood.
8. Last week a new art gallery
.(
9. I hate horror films, but my frinen d
. (always enjoy) them.

.
11.

!~(L

(lose) my peno

3.

he was nine years old.

8. The last time I had a job interview was ten years

9.

the verbs in brackets.

10. The poi ice

two days.

11

~ FiIIin the blanks with the corred Present Perfect Simple or Past Simple form of

6. justin Gatlin

I met her.

they moved to New York.

6. [im has loved basketball ever

EXERCISE

h
5. j o h n G rrs am
(not buy) it yet.

he was 15 years old.

3. Margaret hasn't written to them

uliet (has visited, visited) her aunt in Chicago three months ago.
9. J
10. She (has played, played) the piano since she was six years old.

2. I

~!0.C;.~

We (have seen, saw) something awful yesterday.

8.

1. The bus

Fill in the blanks with for, since, ago, yesterday or last week.
1.

He (painted, has painted) five pictures so far.

We

(not yet catch) the man who

(break into) our flat.
(not have) a holiday yet this year. Perhaps we'll go on

one soon.
12. Yesterday we
Five people

(put) an ad in the newspa~er to sell our car.

(telephone) so far this rnornmg

the last two years.

1'1

EXERCISE

12

1.

2.

YYh~'7..9.tR.Y.C?l!.?:~rtveat the conceni

We arrived at th~'~'~'~'~~~~'~~;~~'~'~'r'I;:""""""""""""

4.

6.

7.

PRESENT

PERFECT

PRETRITO

CONTINUOUS

PERFECTO

COMPUESTO

CONTINUO

sujeto + have / has + been + forma ing

I have been eating.
del
verbo
principal
He has been eating .
.............................................................................................................................................................................

~~~;~;~~~i~~;~~;~~~~~~~~~~~~.
.
+
+
~~.

~~~~.~~.~~.~~~.~~i~~~~i~~
~~'r'.~.~..;

NEGATIVA:
sujeto

have / has not been + forma ing

We have not been eating.
del
verbo principal
She has not been eating .
.............................................................................................................................................................................
Have / Has + sujeto + been + forma ing
Has it been eating?
del
verbo principal
.............................................................................................................................................................................
El Present Perfect Continuous suele referirse a una actividad que comenz en

~.~.~;.
~~~~~I
;~~.~~.~.~.~;~
~.~. .~~.~.
~~'~'~'~~'."""""""""""""""""""""""""""
....................................................
The twins have been ill for the last ~~~~.~~;~:

Have they been eating?

INTERROGATIVA:

A
5.

EL

AFIRMATIVA:

~!

3.

THE

~ Write
answer.questions for the answers below. There m ay be more than one correct

el pasado y que todava contina.

She has been writing a novel for the last three months.

They have been having lunch for three hours.

I':~~'
~~~.~
..~~~~
~. :~.'~~'~~'~'."""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

How long have they been studying?

Nota: Este uso es muy parecido al del Present Perfect Simple con for y since.

~~~~~~~~~~i~
..~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.

Tambin se emplea para acciones muy recientes cuyos efectos todava son

visibles en el momento actual.

I have been cooking. Look at my hands, they are all white with flour.

8.

We've ~~~~;:;~~~~~;~~~~~~~r~~~;;~:~~.

Recuerda que hay una serie de verbos que no pueden ir en forma continua
como know, believe, understand, etc. (Mira la unidad 2 si quieres repasarlos.)

Lasexpresiones temporales que lo acompaan tienen que indicar un periodo

de tiempo: for, since, all day, the whole week, etc.

C
EXERCISE

13

Nota: Se suele traducir de la siguiente manera:

I~ Complete the following sentences with a suitable tirrne expresslon.

.
1. We've
The Second
WorldTVWar ended
2.
had cable
3.
4.

in 1945.

They've been diSCUSSi~~~~~~~~~;~~:::::::::::

I was so ill that I didn't go to school
His friends dropped

6.

[ane hasn't done any work

7.

The Statue of Liberty has st~~~:

I have lived in the same house

ltimamente.)

preparando

.........................

5.

8.

in to visit

I have been doing a lot of work lately. (He estado trabajando mucho

.................................

...........................

They have been preparing the exam for a week. (Llevan una semana
el examen.)

We have been waiting for you for half an hour. (Llevamos esperndote

'l

media hora.)

--

.
.
.

......................................... ..............................

rl==~1~54:r================================================~JA~~=================================================

EXERCISE
~

14

FiII in the blanks with the Present Perfect Continuous

EXERCISE
form of th

1.

1 !Y.f;.RR~'7..C;(f;.!r)0g ... (dean) the house all day.

2.

Kevin .............

3.

1 ................

4.

Take your coat!. It

Gil"

6.

lan
...................................
1

e ver

bs

s In

racket

s,

wn.te
1.

(liIve). In h15 fnen d' s fl at since last year.

que stions in

the

Present Perfect Continuous

..w!!?:r h?~J7g. R~~.'7.

RRil!g(

2. The eat looks hungry. (cat / eat

(snow ).Slnce ear Iy t h.15 mornlng.

.

7. The teenagers ...................................

hour.

1 properly)

(not study) well recently. She

(think) about her trip to the Far East.
(
k)
h
.
wor on t at expenment for the last t

using the words in brackets.

Tom came home with his clothes torno (what / he / do)

(read) The Post for the last ten years.

The scientist
...................................
weeks.

16

3. There are ten people at the bus-stop. (they 1 wait /'Iong)

Wo

4. Gina likes her flat. (she / live

1 there

/ long)

(diISCUSS
) t h e roe k concert for the last
5. You see that something is missing from your plate. (who / eat / food)

8.

1 ........................

(bake) cakes all morning.

6. lean is writing a eomposition. (how long
EXERCISE

,~

Write sentences in the Present Perfect Continuous

using the words given below.

1. Tony comes home late from work every night.

EXERCISE

Tony / work / late / every night

.......

using the words in

We started talking about the environment two hours ago.

1. My marks are not very high.

(11 not try 1 very hard / lately)

.J. h~y.~!!J ~~g!!. try.i.'7g. y'<;[Y..QJH.Q.!~~~/y'

We / talk / environment / two hours

......................................................................................................................

3.

17

Write negative sentences in the Present Perfect Continuous

brackets .

.!.C?~y.h?!~.~~~n.
'.9.C~!r!gJ.~~f!every night .
2.

1 lean 1 write)

1S

2. His clothes are torn and dirty. (he / not take care of / them)

Mi:~elle arrived at the dentist's dinic at five o'clock. Shes still sitting in the
wa.t, ng-room.
3. The pupils don't know what the teaeher is saying. (they

1 not

listen to / her)

She / wait / dentist/s dinic / five oclock

......................................................................................................................

4.

4.

Dave hasn't played tennis this week. (he

1 not feell well)

Karen is going to take a ballet exam soon.

.

Karen / practise / ballet exam / lately

5.

......................................................................................................................

Barbara doesnt swim well. (she / not learn / very long)

.

5. Julian started reading that book two months ago and he's still reading it.

6. Julia has put on a lot of weight. (she / not keep to / her diet)

He / read / that book / two months

.....................................................................................................................
.............................................................................................
.........................

EXERCISE

1a

4.

Perfect Co f
e
n muous rorrn of the verbs in brack

FiI/ in the blanks with the Present

1. The c~i/dren are tired because they .... 0~~~.~~.E!np!ayJng

.
ets,
seek smce 10 o'c/ock this morn
(play) hide-an.].
mg.
2. Your face is all red'
.
(you / sit) on the beach all da ?
3. Here's my wallet! I
y.
...................................
(look) for it for days
4. "Your hands are dirty!"
.
"That's beca use we
5. Wh
(bake) a cake for you, Mummy."
y
6

(he / talk) on the phone for an h

PI

jack

and Jill have been listening to COs all morning.

a. jack and [ill started listening to COs earlier this morning.

b. [ack and Jill have finished listening to COso

e. jack and Jill only listen to COs in the mornings.

anet has been teaching aerobics for two years .

5. J
a.

janet

began teaching aerobics and gave up.

b. Janet taught aerobics for only two years.

e. [anet

began teaching aerobics two years ago.

our:

ease pay attention! You

...................................
7. John really needs a holiday. He
recently.
..

(not listen) at all!

(work)

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE / CONTRAST WITH PRESENT

so hard

PERFECT CONTINUOUS - CONTRASTE ENTRE EL PRETRITO

What a mess in the living-room'

friends?

8.

(you / entertain) youA

Choose the sentence

in e

h
ac

EXERCISE 19
.
.
queston which is c/osest in meaning

to the original.

a. The policeman started look

f h
'.
.
found it.
mg or t e rrussmg fde yesterday and he has just

They have produced several films lately. (son varias pelculas, cada una
distinta de la otra)

@The policeman started look f

h
..
.
found it yet.
mg or t e mlssmg fde yesterday and he hasn't

b. Oonna started touring Thailand six months ago.

e.

They have been writing letters all morning. (una accin continua)
They have written three letters this morning. (acciones separadas)

six months.

a. Oonna's tour of Thailand ended six months ago.

Oonna hasn't been to Thailand for six months.

3. The party has been going on since 11 o'c/ock last night.

El Present Perfect Continuous se emplea para acciones ininterrumpidas. Las

expresiones temporales que lo acompaan nos indican cunto tiempo lleva
ocurriendo la accin.

They have been cooking all morning. (no han interrumpido la accin de
cocinar)

b. The policeman has just started looking for the missing fi/e.

for

COMPUESTO CONTINUO

En cambio, el Present Perfect Simple se usa para acciones separadas. Se podra

contar cuntas veces ha ocurrido algo y por lo tanto, no es una accin
ininterrumpida.

1. The policeman has been looking for the missing fi/e since yesterday.

2. Oonna has been touring Thailand

PERFECTO COMPUESTO Y EL PRETRITO PERFECTO

El Present Perfect Continuous suele poner nfasis en la accin en desarrollo,

mientras que el Present Perfect Simple la considera acabada.
Who has been using my computer? (seguramente est encendido
todava)
Who has used my computer? (es posible que me haya dado cuenta al
encender/o, no por haberlo visto encendido)

a. The party ended at 11 o'c/ock last night.

b. The party started at 11 o'c/ock last night and hasn't finished
t
e. The p t
d
ye .
ar y starte only after 11 o'c/ock last night.

~~158~================================~~==~A~Ik~~~=====================================TI

EXERCISE

.-

20

1.

2.

Carol

-':.~~~.~~r:.~~
(own) this car since 2002.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Mrs Smith
..............................
..............................

(tour) Italy for the last three weeks. She

(visit) the Leaning Tower of Pisa and she
(clirnb) to the top of St Peter's in Rome.
(write) four reports so far this week and he feels like
(write) for a month!

a.

7.

8.

e.

has been taking

d.

has taken

her gallery since it opened.

have visited

e.

have been visiting

d.

visit

Look at the baby! He

chocolate again.

a. was eaten

e.

eats

b. has been eating

d.

ate

john

for you for over two hours!

a. am waiting

e.

has been waiting

b. waits

d.

wait

(have) problems with my caro I

.
(drive) it all these years without any problems. However, for the last few weeks
it
(break down) regularly.

(have) this car for over ten years and I

EXERCISE

21

EXERCISE
Jeremy wants a dogo Fill in his mother's

22

questions.

Jeremy:

Mum, I really want a dogo

Mother:

(1)

Jeremy:

I've wanted a dog for years.

Mother:

(2)

Jeremy:

Yes, I will walk the dogo I promise.

Mother:

(3)

lerernv:

Yes, I've thought it over very carefully. Please say yes.

Mother:

(4)

Jeremy:

1'11 pay for its food.

Mother:

(5)

Jeremy:

Yes, I've talked to Dad.

Mother:

Well , we'lI talk it over this evening.

!!.t?~.!~0.gh?y.~.y.C?l!.~?0~~~.?.9.C?g~

Choose the correct answer.

1. How long

in the garden?

a. is he standing

has he been standing

2.

3.

4.

160

Many people

b. are visiting

(investigate) the robbery for months now,

(not solve) it yet.

In the last few weeks, I

..............................

6.

(try) since yesterday.

Mike
he

my bag? It's not where I left it.

b. has been taken

(try) to contact her doctor twice today, and [irn

The detectives
but they

Who
a. was taking

FiII in the blanks with the Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Continuous
form of the verbs in brackets. There may be more than one correct answer.

..............................

:.-

The teacher

e. does he stand
d. he stands
the tests yet.

a. didn't check

e. hasn't checked

b. hasn't been checking

d. doesn't check

Mr lackson
for a week.

to London on business

a. has been going

e. has gone

b. goes

d. was going

The Browns

to a new house.

a. have moved

e. have been moving

b. has moved

d. move

TRANSLATION
~

Translate the sentences below into your native language.

1.

have never seen you so happy!

2.

No one has taken the dog for a walk since breakfast.

3.

l can't imagine why my friend hasn't written.

4.

There have been many good films lately.

5.

How long have you been waiting?

6.

Where have you been all day?

7.

"ve been looking for this book for over a month.

8.

She's already seen this film four times.

SPOT
~

THE

ERROR

Can you correct the mistakes?

K
THE PAST PERFECT
EL PRETRITO

1.

'haven't seen him since before two years.

2.

We have been to the USA last summer.

3.

Ronnie is sleeping for three hours.

4.

She has been my friend since we've been little.

5. We know each other for ten years.

THE PAST PERFECT

When have you received the letter?

CONTlNUOUS

CONTINUOUS,

PRETRITO

CONTINUO

/ CONTRAST WITH

PAST

PAST PERFECT / CONTRAST WITH

PERFECT - CONTRASTE
PLUSCUAMPERFECTO

How long are you waiting here?

8.

Have you enjoyed the film last night?

COMPUESTO

9.

He has been calling you three times today.

PLUSCUAMPERFECTO

1.

PAST PERFECT

7.

She is learning French since 2001.

CONTlNUOUS

PLUSCUAMPERFECTO

PASADO CONTINUO,

10.

EL PRETRITO

PRESENT

6.

SIMPLE

PLUSCUAMPERFECTO

Y ENTRE

ENTRE EL
CONTINUO

y EL

EL PRETRITO

y EL PRETRITO

PERFECTO