Here are some sample dialogues: Q: Have you ever been to Australia? A: Yes, I've been to Australia once for a business trip. Q: How many times have you been to Mexico? A: I've been to Mexico three times for conferences. Q: Have you ever visited South Africa? A: No, I've never been to South Africa. Q: How many times have you been to Thailand? A: I've been to Thailand twice on vacation.

1. Present Perfect
Indefinite Past

2. They’ve been to Rome.
What verb tense is this? present perfect
Is the action past, present, past
or future?
Do we know exactly when no
this action happened?

3. Present Perfect
Now
Past Future
•Use the present perfect when you do not We’ve traveled to Egypt.
know when something happened or when
Crystal has been to Rome.
the specific time is not important.
•The present perfect always has a
The hotel has closed.
connection to the present. Use the present (So we can’t stay there now.)
perfect to show that the result of the action
The flight has been cancelled.
or state is important in the present. (So we can’t take our flight.)

4. Present Perfect
Use the verbs in the list to complete the sentences
talking about the indefinite past. Don’t forget to change
the verb into the past participle form.
Base Form Verbs
1. Julie _____________ several trips this year.
make
hear 2. You _______________ on a camel. Did you enjoy it?
fly 3. I’d like to go to Costa Rica. I _____________ that it’s
swim beautiful.
ride
4. They _____________ the ancient Egyptian pyramids
see
before.
5. He ______________ Air France many times. It’s his
favorite airline.

5. Present Perfect
•For many speakers been to and gone to Omran has been to the mall.
have different meanings. Omran has gone to the mall.
But he is
back now. And he is
still there.
Use the form have + been + to + a place to tell your
partner where you have been.
I’ve been to Canada.
I’ve been to that restaurant.
I’ve been to Jones Hall.

6. Present Perfect with Adverbs
•We can use the present perfect with
adverbs to talk about the indefinite past.
often
I’ve always traveled by train.
never
twice.
I’ve traveled by train many times.
BE CAREFUL! Do not use the present perfect with
I’ve traveled by train yesterday.
adverbs that refer to the definite past.

7. W
Present Perfect with Adverbs
Have you ever ridden an elephant?
Yes, I have.
Yes, I have ridden an elephant in India.
No, never.
No, I’ve never ridden an elephant.
•To answer positively, we normally add more information. To
answer negatively, we normally use never.

8. Present Perfect with Adverbs
I haven’t been to the beach lately.
I’ve been to the beach recently.
I’ve recently been to the beach.
I’ve just been to the beach.
REMEMBER: In American
English, we often use just
and recently with the
simple past. You can’t use
lately with the simple past.

9. Present Perfect with Adverbs
Actions that Action happened Action happened
Repeated Actions continue to the anytime before very recently (but
in the Past present now still indefinite)
twice always ever just
many times never never lately
recently
hardly ever •Use ever to ask
rarely questions.
•Just and
sometimes •Use never in recently can be
often negative used with the
simple past.
usually answers.

10. Present Perfect Word Order
Kanna has often traveled by train.
Olga has traveled by train many times.
Adham hasn’t been to the beach lately.
Nawaf has recently been to the beach.
Zhen has just been to the beach.

11. Present Perfect
These two people are talking about where they
have been while traveling for work. Work with a
partner to write 2 sentences and 2 answers that
they might say.
example:
Q: Have you ever visited New York City?
A: Yes, I have been there twice.
Q: How many times have you been to Guam?
A: I have never been to Guam.