Speaking: Grammar in Speaking B1 - Lesson 1: Using Present Perfect for Experiences (Have you ever...? Yes, I have.)

Speaking: Grammar in Speaking B1 - Lesson 1

Using Present Perfect for Experiences (Have you ever...?)

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to use the Present Perfect tense to ask about and describe life experiences, and know when to switch to the Past Simple.

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Talking About Life Experiences

We use the Present Perfect¹ tense to talk about experiences² in our lives. The important idea is *if* we did the action, not *when* we did it. The most common question form is "Have you ever...?⁴".

A conversation about experiences has a special flow. Watch how it moves from Present Perfect to Past Simple.

Sophea: Have you ever eaten Italian food?

Rithy: Yes, I have. It's delicious.

Sophea: Oh, really? When did you try it? (Switches to Past Simple for details)

Rithy: I tried it last year. I went to a new Italian restaurant in Phnom Penh.

Sophea: Nice! I've never tried it, but I want to.

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Key Grammar Terms

1. Present Perfect: A tense used to talk about past experiences that have a connection to the present (Structure: have/has + past participle): បច្ចុប្បន្នកាលបរិបូរណ៍ ↩
2. Experience: Something you have done in your life: បទពិសោធន៍ជីវិត ↩
3. Past Participle: The third form of a verb, used for perfect tenses (e.g., go -> went -> gone): កិរិយាស័ព្ទទី៣ ↩
4. Have you ever...?: The classic question form for asking about life experiences: តើអ្នកធ្លាប់...ទេ? ↩

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record_voice_over Pronunciation: Contractions & Linking

To speak fluently, we use contractions and link the words together.

• Contractions: "I have" becomes "I've". "have not" becomes "haven't". "has not" becomes "hasn't".
• Linking: The question "Have you ever...?" links together to sound like one smooth phrase. Listen: "Have-you-ever-been-to-Thailand?"

lightbulb The Conversation Pattern: Present Perfect ➡ Past Simple

This is the most important rule for conversations about experience.

Step 1: ASK about the general experience with PRESENT PERFECT.

"Have you ever tried sushi?"

Step 2: GIVE a short answer.

"Yes, I have." / "No, I haven't."

Step 3: If the answer is YES, ask for specific details with PAST SIMPLE.

"Oh, cool! When did you try it?" / "Where did you eat it?" / "Did you like it?"

Step 4: ANSWER the detail questions with PAST SIMPLE.

"I ate it last month in a Japanese restaurant. It was delicious."

sports_esports Practice Your Experiences

Activity 1: What's the Past Participle³?

For irregular verbs, we need the 3rd form. What is it for these common verbs?

1. see - saw - ? (Answer: seen)
2. eat - ate - ? (Answer: eaten)
3. be - was/were - ? (Answer: been)
4. do - did - ? (Answer: done)
5. write - wrote - ? (Answer: written)

Activity 2: Ask Your Partner

Work with a partner. Ask them these questions. If your partner says "Yes, I have," you MUST ask a follow-up question in the Past Simple (When...? Where...? Why...? Who... with?).

• Have you ever been to another country?
• Have you ever seen a snake in real life?
• Have you ever eaten something very strange?

task Your Grammar Mission

This week in Battambang, your mission is to learn about someone's experiences.

Ask a friend, classmate, or family member one "Have you ever...?" question. Listen carefully to their answer. If they say yes, remember to ask for more details using the Past Simple. For example, "When did you do that?"