EnglishYour life experiences
Teacher asks:
- Have you ever been to another country?
- Have you ever tried extreme sports?
- Have you ever had an unusual job?
- What is the most interesting thing you have done?
Useful replies
- Yes, I have. / No, I haven't.
- I have been to ...
- I have never tried ...
- I have already ...
Your examples
- I have ...
- I have never ...
- I have already ...
Words for life changes and achievements
Read the examples aloud. Choose three words that connect to your life.
- achieve [/əˈtʃiːv/]
- to successfully reach a goal
She has achieved her goal. - succeed [/səkˈsiːd/]
- to get the result you want
He has succeeded in business. - graduate [/ˈɡrædʒueɪt/]
- to complete university or college
I have graduated from university. - move [/muːv/]
- to go and live in a different place
They have moved to a new city. - get married [/ɡet ˈmærid/]
- to become a husband or wife
We have got married recently. - retire [/rɪˈtaɪə/]
- to stop working because of age
My father has retired. - abroad [/əˈbrɔːd/]
- in or to another country
She has lived abroad. - opportunity [/ˌɒpəˈtjuːnəti/]
- a useful or exciting chance
I have had a great opportunity. - experience [/ɪkˈspɪəriəns/]
- knowledge or skill gained from doing something
He has had useful experience. - career [/kəˈrɪə/]
- the work you do during your life
She has changed her career. - apply for [/əˈplaɪ fɔː/]
- to ask formally for a job, course, or place
I have applied for the job. - improve [/ɪmˈpruːv/]
- to become better or make something better
My English has improved. - take part in [/teɪk pɑːt ɪn/]
- to join an activity or event
We have taken part in a project. - settle down [/ˈsetl daʊn/]
- to begin a stable, quieter life in one place
They have settled down here.
Say about yourself
- I have ...
- I have never ...
- I have already ...
Past to present
The timeline
Past | Connection | Now |
|---|---|---|
start of an activity | ➝ ➝ ➝ | still true / relevant now |
Present Perfect connects the past to now.
Present Perfect Simple
Form: have/has + past participle
Use | Example | Focus |
|---|---|---|
Life experience | I have visited Paris. | Something happened at some time in my life. |
Completed result | She has achieved a lot. | What is complete now. |
Recent action | We have just arrived. | A very recent result. |
Unfinished state | I have lived here for five years. | A state that began in the past and is still true. |
Subject | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
I / you / we / they | have worked | have not worked | Have you worked? |
he / she / it | has worked | has not worked | Has she worked? |
Key adverbs
- Have you ever lived abroad?
- I have never tried skiing.
- She has already applied for the job.
- Have they finished yet?
- They have not finished yet.
- We have just arrived.
Word | Typical use |
|---|---|
ever | questions about experience |
never | a negative life experience |
already | something happened earlier than expected |
yet | mainly questions and negative sentences |
just | a very recent action |
Present Perfect Continuous
Form: have/has + been + verb-ing
Use | Example | Focus |
|---|---|---|
Duration | I have been studying English for three years. | The activity and its length. |
Ongoing temporary activity | It has been raining all day. | An activity continuing now or stopping very recently. |
Recent activity with a result | He is tired because he has been working. | The activity, not the finished result. |
Subject | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
I / you / we / they | have been working | have not been working | Have you been working? |
he / she / it | has been working | has not been working | Has she been working? |
Simple or Continuous?
Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|
I have written three emails today. | Focus on the number and completed result. |
I have been writing emails all morning. | Focus on the activity and duration. |
She has lived here for five years. | A continuing state; very common. |
She has been living here for five years. | Focus on the process or duration; also possible. |
State verbs such as know, believe, understand, and want do not usually use the continuous form.
- I have known Sam for ten years.
- Not: I have been knowing Sam for ten years.
For and since
for + period of time | since + starting point |
|---|---|
for three years | since 2021 |
for a month | since Monday |
for a long time | since I was a child |
Question: How long have you lived here?
- I have lived here for five years.
- I have been living here since 2021.
A common transfer problem
Some languages use a present form for an activity that started in the past and continues now. English uses Present Perfect.
- ✓ I have lived here for five years.
- ✓ I have been living here for five years.
- ✗ I live here for five years.
Common mistakes
Incorrect | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
I have been to Paris last year. | I went to Paris last year. | Use Past Simple with a finished, specific past time. |
I have lived here since five years. | I have lived here for five years. | Use for with a period. |
I have lived here since 2021. | I have lived here since 2021. | Use since with a starting point. |
She has been knowing him for years. | She has known him for years. | Know is usually a state verb. |
Have you finished already? | Have you finished yet? | Yet is more typical in neutral questions. |
Choose the best form
Time expressions
Connect each expression with the correct word.
Connect each time expression with for or since
- 2019
- since
- two months
- for
- last Friday
- since
- a long time
- for
Meaning and tense
Connect each sentence with the best form.
Connect each sentence with the form that completes it
- She ___ three awards.
- has won
- She ___ for the competition all week.
- has been training
- I ___ abroad.
- have lived
- It ___ since morning.
- has been raining
Look for the clue
Choose the form that matches the meaning.
- I have known Maria [___] ten years.
- He [___] for a new job all week.
- Have you [___] run a marathon?
Complete the sentence
Use the verb in brackets.
- I [___] on this project since 9 a.m.
- She [___] many goals in her career.
Make the question
Use the words in the prompt.
Your friend / study English / ?
[___]
Correct the sentence
Change the tense to show a situation that started in the past and continues now.
I live in this city since 2022.
[___]
Maya's life story
Listen for Maya’s experiences, achievements, and activities that continue now.
Listen again
- Which countries has Maya lived in?
- How long has she been living in Valencia?
- What jobs has she had?
- What achievements does she mention?
Key ideas to remember
Focus | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
Experience, result, recent action, continuing state | have done | I have achieved a goal. |
Duration or ongoing activity | have been doing | I have been improving my English. |
Period of time | for | for two years |
Starting point | since | since 2022 |
Key takeaway: English often connects past → present with Present Perfect.
Word review
achieve • succeed • graduate • move • get married • retire • abroad • opportunity • experience • career • apply for • improve • take part in • settle down
Check the meaning
Final update
- I have ...
- I have been ... for/since ...
