Теория

Present perfect questions

To ask questions about people’s experiences, use the present perfect simple. In the answers, we use a range of different structures.

Use the past simple to talk and ask about the details of the event.

A: Have you seen that new Spielberg film?

B: Yes, I saw it last week. It was OK, but it wasn’t brilliant.

Use the present perfect to ask questions about recent activities.

Do not use the present perfect with past time expressions.

I have been there last month. ✗

I went … ✓

Use questions to continue the conversation.

A: Have you ever been to Japan?

B: No. Have you?

A: I went to see Hamlet last night. Have you seen it?

B: Yeah. What did you think of it?

Use future forms to talk about plans or hopes.

A: Have you ever been to Australia?

B: No, but I’d love to.

A: Have you ever been to Paris?

B: No, but we might go in the summer.

Use the present simple to give your opinion.

A: Have you been there before?

B: Yeah, several times. It’s fantastic. I love it.

Use expressions such as supposed to and I was told to report what you know.

A: Have you ever tried frogs’ legs?

B: No, but they’re supposed to be quite nice.

A: Have you been to the city museum?

B: No, but I was told it was quite boring.

We sometimes use the present perfect to emphasise a yes or no answer. The present perfect is also used in some other expressions to add information to a yes / no answer.

A: Have you finished?

B: Yes, I have now. Thanks.

A: Have you ever been to New Zealand?

B: No, I’ve never really wanted to. It’s too far away.

The future

There is no future tense in English and sometimes there is not much difference in meaning between two forms. Take any definition of future forms as just a guide, not as fixed rules.

Questions

To ask about plans, use the present continuous, be going to or Have you got any plans?

What are you doing now / later / tomorrow?

What are you going to do when you finish / when you go back / on Friday?

Have you got any plans for the weekend / for the holidays?

Definite plans

Do not use I will for plans you have already made.

A: What are you doing in the summer?

B: I’ll go I’m going to Bulgaria. I’ll spend I’m going to spend two weeks there.

Use have / have got with nouns such as meeting / appointment / class.

I have / I’ve got a dentist’s appointment at 4 tomorrow.

She has / She’s got a meeting at 4.30.

The present continuous and be going to

For arrangements with other people, use the present continuous.

We’re having a party on Saturday night.

A few of us are meeting later, if you’d like to come.

We also use be going to. However, be going to has a wider use for plans further in the future.

I’m going to look for a job once my English is better.

I’m going to buy a house abroad when I retire.

Sometimes people use probably with this forms.

I’m probably just going to stay in.

Uncertain plans

These expressions show plans are incomplete:

I’m not sure.

I haven’t decided yet.

It depends on the weather.

I don’t know yet.

I haven’t thought about it. I’ve no idea.

These expressions are often used with: I’m / We’re thinking of Use this structure to talk about ideas you have had, but have not made any arrangements for yet. Native speakers sometimes use I was thinking of to show less certainty.

We’re thinking of going to Morocco for New Year.

I was thinking of maybe going to Sri Lanka for a week or two this summer.

Will

Use will to make a decision at the moment of speaking.

I don’t know what I’m doing yet. I’ll phone you later.

Use will with an adverb to show uncertainty.

Maybe I’ll go and see a film.

I’ll probably go.

Will is also used in other ways, such as in conditional sentences. (See p. 146)

Might

Use might to show less certainty (50%).

I might just stay in and read. I’ll see. It depends how I feel.