Present Perfect about Life Experiences

Use of Present Perfect One of the uses of Present Perfect is to talk about experiences we have had in our lifetime, e.g. ride a horse, travel abroad, fly by plane, be at a live concert, meet somebody famous, see a snake, sleep in a tent, etc. It is like saying, "I have the experience of..." 

We use the present perfect when talking about an action happened at some point in the past. The date or time that it happened is not important. The focus is on the action, not when.

You can also use this tense to say that you have never had a certain experience.

Examples: I have been to France. This sentence means that you have had the experience of being in France. Maybe you have been there once, or several times.

I have been to France three times. You can add the number of times at the end of the sentence, e.g. once, twice, five times, several times, many times.

I have never been to France. This sentence means that you have not had the experience of going to France.

Form The present perfect is formed from the present tense of the verb have and the past participle of a verb. With he, she and it we use has. have/has + past participle Common words to talk or ask about experiences are ever and never.

  Positive Negative Question I / you / we / they I have slept in a tent. I have not slept in a tent. I have never slept in a tent. Have you ever slept in a tent? he / she / it He has slept in a tent. He has not slept in a tent. He has never slept in a tent. Has he ever slept in a tent?

I have never ridden a horse. 2. She has travelled abroad twice. 3. They have flown by plane several times. 4. Have you ever been at a live concert? 5. We have never met anybody famous. 6. He has tried kite surfing once. 7. Jane has never seen a snake. 8. Tom has been to Australia five times. 9. Have you ever received a prize? 10. Have Jane and Tom ever won the lottery?

HAVE FUN WITH PRESENT PERFECT TO TALK ABOUT LIFE EXPERIENCES ;-)