Been in/been to/gone to

1. Mr Bloggs isn't in his office at the moment. He had gone to the dentist's. (= He hasn't come back yet.)

2. Mr Bloggs is at the dentist's now. He has been in the dentist's surgery for half an hour already. (= He is still there.)

3. Mr Bloggs is back now. He has been to the dentist's. (= He's come back.)

Exercise 14. Complete the sentences with gone to or been to/in.

1. We have _ London for half a year already and we like the city very much.

2. The Smiths have _ Germany for years now. They like it there.

3. John has _ Oxford in his car. He is staying the night with friends.

4. The Hunts have _ Greece to live. I'm sure they'll be happier there.

5. Hello! I've just _the shops. Look! I've bought lots of things.

Since/for

for + a period of time		since = a starting point
for	three hours	since	3 o'clock
	four weeks		5 May
	six months		September
	ten years		2000
	a long time		he finished school
	ages
I've had this job for six years.		He’s wanted to be a pilot since he was 10
They've been married for a long time.		We've worked together since 1997.

Exercise 15. Complete the sentences with since and for.

1. Jack has been the manager __ three years.

2. I've lived in Moscow __ I was three.

3. They've had this car __ last year.

4. I've learnt English __ quite a few years.

5. We've been with the firm __ seven months.

Exercise 16. Choose the right tense.

Example: Daniel (has been/was) quite different since he (has got/got) married.

Daniel has been quite different since he got married.

1. Things (have been/were) difficult since my father (has lost/lost) his job.

2. Since my neighbour (has taken up/took up) the saxophone, I (haven't had/didn't have) any peace.

3. Mr Danis (has been/was) very strange since he (has had/had) the accident.

4. Since Charles (has gone/went) to live in America, we (haven't heard/didn't hear) anything from him.

5. They (have lived/lived) next door to us since they (have moved/moved) here in 1990.

Present Perfect vs. Past Simple

Present Perfect	Past Simple
1. It is used to talk about something which started in the past and continues to the present. /______ 10 years _______/ Past ___________Present She's lived in Cardiff for ten years. ( = She still lives in Cardiff now.) I've spoken to Peter this morning. (It's still morning.)	1. It is used to talk about something which started and finished in the past. /_______ 10 years _________/ Past ______________ Present She lived in Belfast for ten years. (= She doesn't live in Belfast now.) I spoke to Peter this morning. (It's now afternoon, evening, or night time.)
2. It is used when the result of a past action is connected to the present. I've lost the key. (= I haven't got it now.)	2. It is used when the result of a past action is not connected to the present. I lost my key, but then I found it. (Now I have the key again.)
3. It is used to announce “news”. Someone has stolen my bike.	3. It is used to give details of the news. I left the bike outside a shop and when I returned, my bike wasn't there.
4. It is used with expressions which refer to “any time up to now”. lately, recently, never, so far, already, yet, before, etc. Have you ever driven a car? He's never been to Edinburgh. I've taken up painting recently.	4. It is used with expressions which refer to a definite past time. yesterday, last week, a month ago, etc. Did you drive a car yesterday? He went to Manchester last month. I took up painting a week ago.
5. It is never used to ask when something happened.	5. It is used to ask when something happened. When did you graduate?

Exercise 17. There are mistakes in some of these sentences. Find the mistakes and correct them.

1. When did Neil Armstrong walk on the Moon?

2. You did a lot of interesting things in your life.

3. How many people have died in the Second World War?

4. We saw the new Steven Spielberg's film last week.

5. Doris was interested in music since she's been a child.

Exercise 18. Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Perfect or Past Simple.

1. I _ (know) Paul Carter since my childhood.

2. (It's 9.30 in the morning) - __ you _ (see) Mrs Lynne this morning?

3. (It's the middle of the afternoon). - I'm really hungry. I _ (not/have) any breakfast this morning and I _ (not/have) time to go out for anything to eat this afternoon.

4. Oh, no! Someone _ (steal) my car radio!

5. Who _ (discover) America?

6. When _ you _ (meet) Mr Brown?

Exercise 19. Ask "How long ...?" and "When ...?" questions.

Example: Amy's grandparents have lived in Ireland all their life. - How long have they lived in Ireland?

1. Frank and Rachel have known each other for five years.

2. He met Rachel when he travelled to Wales five years ago.

3. Debby and her friend have worked in a bank for two months.

4. They got this job two months ago.

5. The manager has been ill for the last three days.

Exercise 20. Complete the following sentences using ago, for, or since, and put the verbs in brackets in the correct form Past Simple or Present Perfect.

1. Oxford __ (be) a centre of learning __ more than a thousand years.

2. William Shakespeare __ (be) born about four hundred years __.

3. It __ (be) four hundred years __ Shakespeare's birth.

4. Ten years __ very few people __ (know) much about computers.

5. - Have your heard from Patricia recently?

- No. She __ (not/write) to me __ last summer. I __ (not/hear) from her __ some time, either. She __ (send) me a postcard from the Bahamas about three months __, but I __ (hear) nothing __ then.

- She's lucky! I __ (not/be) to the beach __ ages!