Have YouEver…?
Present Perfect for experience
CEFR Pathway · You are here
Warm-up · Section 1
5 minGet talking
Ask your partner 3 'Have you ever…?' questions. React to every answer with 'Really?' or 'Wow, where?'
Tell your partner 3 things you have done in your life. One must be unusual. Partner guesses which one is fake.
Name 3 countries / cities you have visited. Partner asks one follow-up question per place.
Grammar focus · Section 2
8–10 minPresent Perfect for life experience
Use 'have/has + past participle' to talk about experiences in your life so far — when it happened isn't important, just that it happened.
→ Have you ever eaten sushi? — Yes, I have. / No, I haven't.
→ She has been to Japan twice.
→ I've never tried skiing.
→ Have you ever met anyone famous? — Yes! I met Adele in 2019. (now Past Simple — specific time)
More detail
Always pair it with 'ever' (questions), 'never' (negative), or no time word. The moment you say 'yesterday' or 'last year', SWITCH to Past Simple.
Question 1.____ you ever ____ to Italy?
Question 2.I ____ ____ sushi before. I'd love to try it.
Question 3.She ____ ____ that film three times.
Question 4.Have you ever broken a bone? — Yes, I ____.
Question 5.I ____ ____ to Paris in 2019. (specific date → ?)
Build the sentence → spot the natural chunks → say it aloud → reply like a real conversation.
1.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
2.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
3.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
Vocabulary · Section 3
5–7 minWords & phrases to own
Don't just read these — say one out loud, then use it about your life.
to give something a go
to try something for the first time
"I'd give skydiving a go — once."
Name one thing you'd give a go this year.
a bucket list
things you want to do before you die
"Japan is top of my bucket list."
What's #1 on your bucket list?
once in a lifetime
a very rare, special experience
"Seeing the Northern Lights was once in a lifetime."
Name a once-in-a-lifetime experience you'd love.
off the beaten track
unusual, away from tourist places
"We found a tiny café off the beaten track."
Recommend an off-the-beaten-track place.
to tick something off
to complete an item from a list
"I finally ticked Iceland off my list."
Last thing you ticked off a list?
I've always wanted to…
phrase to express a long-held wish
"I've always wanted to learn the guitar."
Finish: 'I've always wanted to…'
you should totally…
informal strong recommendation
"You should totally try the new Thai place."
Strongly recommend something to your partner now.
no way!
expression of surprise / disbelief
"No way! That's incredible."
React with 'No way!' to your partner's next sentence.
Discuss with a partner
- →Share 3 bucket-list items. Partner reacts with 'No way!' or 'You should totally…'.
- →Recommend an off-the-beaten-track place to your partner.
Finish the sentence about you
- I've always wanted to …
- You should totally …
- I'd give …
60-second write
Write your top 3 bucket-list items in full sentences.
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Pronunciation · Section 4
3–4 minContracting 'have' and 'has'
- • I've been there → /aɪv bɪn ðeə/
- • She's tried it → /ʃiːz traɪd ɪt/
- • Have you ever…? → /əv juː ˈevə/
- • I've never done that → /aɪv ˈnevə dʌn ðæt/
How to say it
Natural speakers ALWAYS contract: 'I have' → 'I've', 'she has' → 'she's'. Saying the full form sounds robotic. Also: the 'h' in 'have' often disappears in questions: 'Have you ever…' sounds like /əvjuːˈevə/.
Reading · Section 5
8–10 minMaya's bucket list
Maya is 28 and obsessed with her bucket list. So far, she's travelled to 22 countries, learned to surf in Portugal, and slept in an ice hotel in Sweden. She's never been skydiving — that's the next big one. 'I've always wanted to jump out of a plane,' she says, 'but I've never had the courage.' Last year she ticked off another big one: she ran a marathon in Berlin. 'It was once in a lifetime. I'll never do it again — but I'm so glad I've done it.'
Question 1.How many countries has Maya visited?
Question 2.What is next on her list?
Question 3.When did she run the marathon?
Q1.Maya has been skydiving.
Q2.She wants to run another marathon.
Q3.She has slept in an unusual hotel.
Listening · Section 6
8–10 minFirst date questions
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Tom:OK, classic first-date question: have you ever lived abroad?
Aya:Yes! I've lived in two countries — Japan, obviously, and I spent a year in Canada. What about you?
Tom:I've never lived abroad, actually. I've travelled a lot, but I've always come home.
Aya:Have you ever wanted to?
Tom:Totally. It's on my bucket list. Spain, maybe. Have you ever been?
Aya:Once, for a weekend. Doesn't really count. You should totally give it a go — life-changing.
Question 1.How many countries has Aya lived in?
Question 2.Has Tom lived abroad?
Question 3.Where would Tom like to live?
Exam skills · Section 7
5 minCambridge PET — Speaking Part 1 (personal questions)
Task
Answer 'Have you ever…?' questions in 2–3 sentences: confirm + give one detail + add a reaction or follow-up.
Strategy
Don't answer with just 'Yes' or 'No'. Use the formula: SHORT ANSWER + DETAIL + EXTENSION. 'Yes, I have. I went to Rome last summer. The food was incredible.' Notice how you switch to Past Simple as soon as you add a specific time.
Example
Examiner: 'Have you ever tried a sport you didn't enjoy?' — 'Yes, I have, actually. I tried golf about two years ago and I found it really boring. I think I'll stick with football!'
Practice · Section 8
8–10 minFill in the blank
Question 1.I ____ never ____ to South America.
Question 2.____ you ever ____ a horror film alone?
Question 3.She ____ ____ that book three times — she loves it.
Question 4.I ____ ____ him last week at the party.
Question 5.Skydiving is on my ____ list.
Q1.Make it natural: 'I never have tried sushi.' →
Q2.Question form: 'You / ever / be / Japan?'
Q3.React to 'I've climbed Everest!' (surprise):
Writing · Section 9
5 minPut it in writing
Your task
Write a 100-word 'About Me' bio for a language-exchange app. Include 3 things you HAVE done (Present Perfect), 1 thing you HAVEN'T done yet, and 1 thing on your bucket list.
Show model answer
Hi! I'm Léa, 26, from Lyon. I've travelled to about 15 countries — my favourite was Vietnam. I've also learned three languages (French, English, a bit of Spanish) and I've worked as a tour guide for two summers. I haven't visited South America yet, but it's high on my list. On my bucket list: I've always wanted to see the Northern Lights in Iceland. Tell me — what's the most amazing place you've ever been? Excited to chat!
Speaking · Section 10
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
EXPERIENCE INTERVIEW · In pairs. Student A is a magazine journalist; Student B is a guest. A asks 5 'Have you ever…?' questions (real or invented answers OK). After each answer, A MUST ask one follow-up question with Past Simple ('Really? When did you…?'). Swap roles. The goal: smooth switching between Present Perfect (general) and Past Simple (specific).
Useful phrases
- • Have you ever…?
- • Yes, I have / No, I haven't / Actually, I've never…
- • Really? When did you…?
- • Where did it happen?
- • You should totally try…
- • It's on my bucket list.
- AHave you ever tried Korean food?
- B_______________
- AOh nice — what did you order?
- B_______________
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
First contact with Present Perfect — keep it experience-only today; tense contrasts come in lesson 18. ~30 min total
Homework · Section 11
Take-homeTake it home
Write 5 'Have you ever…?' questions and answer them honestly in full sentences.
Record a 90-second voice note about your top 3 life experiences so far.
Find an English celebrity interview online; note every Present Perfect you hear.
Recap · Section 12
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- Present Perfect = have/has + past participle.
- Use it for life experiences when the time isn't important.
- Pair with 'ever', 'never', 'before' — NOT with specific dates.
- Switch to Past Simple the moment you add a time (yesterday, in 2020, last summer).
- Always contract: I've / she's / they've.