Intermediate 5 | Lesson 09 | Present Perfect - Recent Activity

Wedding Plans

Meg talks about the things she needs to do for her wedding.

Todd: So, Meg, you're getting married soon. How are things going?

Meg: Things are going pretty well. We have a lot of planning to do.

Todd: I bet. So have you hired a band yet?

Meg: No, we haven't hired a band yet. My brother has some friends who were in a band. So he's going to ask them.

Todd: Cool. And have you gotten the caterer for the wedding?

Meg: Yes, we have gotten a caterer because the food is very important. So we ordered it in advance.

Todd: Oh, what kind of food?

Meg: We're going to have traditional American food.

Todd: Oh, nice. Nice. So have you bought a dress yet?

Meg: Yes, of course, I have bought a dress. That's the most important part. So last week I picked up my new dress.

Todd: Have you tried it on yet?

Meg: Yes, I've tried it on many times already.

Todd: Okay. Cool. Have you shown it to your groom-to-be?

Meg: No. I haven't shown it to my groom-to be because it has to be a surprise on the wedding day.

Todd: Oh, that's right. So have you ordered the flowers?

Meg: No, not yet. I haven't ordered the flowers because I'm waiting for some special flowers from the florist. So still waiting.

Todd: And have you sent out the invitations?

Meg: Yes. We have sent out the invitations. We sent them out maybe a month ago.

Todd: Oh, cool. So then I assume you have booked the hall.

Meg: Yes. We have booked the hall because we wanted to have it at a special hall. So we booked it probably six months ago.

Todd: Okay. Cool. Well, the only one problem, I didn't get an invite. Am I invited to your wedding?

Meg: Oh, I brought the invitation with me today.

Todd: Okay. Great. Thanks.

Present Perfect - Recent Changes

Point 1: We often use the present perfect to discuss status of actions that need to be done.
  • Have you finished the report yet?
  • No, I have not finished yet. / No, not yet.
  • Have you even started?
  • Yes, I already started. / Yes, I have
Point 2: We use the particle yet in the questions and negative forms to show an action is time sensitive.
  • Have you eaten yet?
  • No, I haven't eaten yet.
  • Has he left yet?
  • Not yet. He will leave soon.
Point 3: We also use the word already in the question and affirmative forms to show an action is time sensitive.
  • Have you already eaten?
  • Yes, I've already eaten.
  • Have you already started?
  • Yes, we already have.
Point 4: Both the present perfect and the simple past can be used to discuss the status of recent events.
  • Have you finished the report yet?
  • Yes, I've finished it.
  • Did you finish the report yet?
  • Yes, I finished it.
Answer the following questions about the interview.

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