Self-discovery: listening, and the present perfect
First the listening skill: read the questions, listen once for the main idea, then listen again for names, numbers and reasons. Now the grammar. We form the present perfect with have or has + the past participle: I have written, she has seen. We use it for three things. First, an experience at an unknown time: Have you ever met a writer? I have never met one. Second, a situation that started in the past and goes on now: He has lived here since he was five (since + a starting point) or for six years (for + a length of time). Third, a recent action: I have just finished; she has already left; they haven’t arrived yet. The passive uses have or has been + the past participle, when the action matters more than the doer: The window has been broken. Be careful: has gone to means the person is still there, has been to means the person went and came back. Do not use a finished time such as yesterday with the present perfect. Your book has a text on page 16 about a real doctor: read it after this lesson.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Experience | have / has (not) + participle; ever, never | Have you ever written to a newspaper? |
| Goes on until now | since + starting point; for + length | She has played chess since she was nine. |
| Recent action | just, already, yet | He has just finished. They haven’t come yet. |
| Passive | have / has been + participle | The window has been broken. |
Mostafa, you started the school newspaper in September. Why?
I wanted to learn how other students think. I have always been shy, and writing is easier for me than talking.
How many articles have you written so far?
Eleven. I have written about the canteen, the library and a school trip. I have also interviewed two teachers.
What have you learned about yourself?
I have learned that I am curious and that I can listen well. I have also learned that I make mistakes, and that is fine. My first article was never printed because it was too long!
Has anyone helped you?
Yes. My Arabic teacher has supported me since the first week, and my friends have checked my spelling.
What is your advice for other students?
Try something new. You have not discovered everything about yourself yet.
| Base verb | Past simple | Past participle |
|---|---|---|
| break | broke | broken |
| see | saw | seen |
| eat | ate | eaten |
| write | wrote | written |
| take | took | taken |
| give | gave | given |
| go | went | gone / been |
Interview a family member for two minutes: What have you learned this year? What have you never tried? What have you just finished? Write six present perfect sentences about their answers, and underline have or has and the participle in each.