Present Perfect Time Expressions Exercises

The present perfect frequently appears with a specific set of time expressions that signal its use: already, yet, just, ever, never, recently, lately, so far, and this week/month/year. These words connect the past to the present moment, which is exactly what the present perfect does. Already shows something happened sooner than expected and goes before the past participle: "I have already eaten." Yet appears in questions and negatives at the end: "Have you eaten yet?" / "I haven't eaten yet." Just means "a very short time ago" and goes before the participle: "She has just left."

Ever means "at any time" and is used mainly in questions: "Have you ever been to Brazil?" Never means "at no time" and replaces "not" in negatives: "I have never been to Brazil." Recently and lately both mean "in the recent past" and can go at the end or beginning of a sentence. So far means "up to now": "I have written three emails so far." Understanding where to place these adverbs is just as important as knowing what they mean. In Cambridge gap-fill tasks, choosing the right word depends on whether the sentence is positive, negative, or a question.