Activities: “How to use the present perfect in English?”
Activities: “How to use the present perfect in English?”
Peter has had a busy day! Use this description of everything he did to answer the questions below:
Peter is a busy man. He works for the city as supervisor for Parks and Gardens. Here is a page from his schedule today:
Time | Activity | Notes | ✔ |
|---|---|---|---|
8:00am | Check water system in Bryant Park | done, leak fixed | ✔ |
9:00am | Meet with Bob, the tree caretaker | done, Bob will prune tomorrow | ✔ |
10:00am | Contact greenhouse: flowers ready? | not done, the flowers aren’t ready | ❌ |
11:00am | Go to office, make phone calls | done, called another greenhouse | ✔ |
12:00pm | Lunch with Susan | not done, Susan can’t make it | ❌ |
1:00pm | Meet with Mayor | done, plans for July 4th made | ✔ |
2:00pm | Speak at Northbrook Grade School | done, kids loved the talk about bees | ✔ |
3:00pm | Check on municipal apple orchard | done, have to buy fertilizer | ✔ |
4:00pm | Go to office, paperwork | done, called suppliers, did books | ✔ |
5:00pm | Pick up shirts at dry cleaners | done, clean shirt for the party! | ✔ |
6:00pm | Housewife’s Association dinner party | done, was a nice dinner | ✔ |
Peter has several conversations today. Based on the time of the conversation and Peter’s schedule, can you use the present perfect to complete the conversations? The verb you should use is in parenthesis.
Conversation 1: The Mayor calls Peter at 11:00 a.m. with some questions
Mayor: Good morning Peter. I was wondering? Did you check on the water leak at Bryant Park today?
Peter: Oh yes, I (call) the waterworks and they are going to fix it this morning.
Mayor: That’s good. And do we have flowers for the July 4th celebration?
Peter: I called the greenhouse, but the flowers (not arrive) yet. I’m going to call another greenhouse right now.
Mayor: Excellent. We want the park beautiful for the 4th! Are we still meeting at 1:00?
Peter: Yes, I (put) it into my schedule for today.
Conversation 2: Peter’s wife, Susan, calls him at 11:30
Susan: Hey honey, how your day (be)?
Peter: I (have) a lot of work to do today. I’ve been to Bryant Park, I (speak) with the Mayor, and I’m trying to find some flowers from a new greenhouse. How about you? How your day (go)?
Susan: That’s why I called. My mother (cut) herself just now and I am taking her to the doctor. So, we can’t have lunch today.
Peter: Oh, that’s too bad. I hope it’s not serious!
Susan: I think it’s just a scratch, but she (call) me twice, she thinks it’s bad, so best to have the doctor look at it.
Conversation 3: Peter calls Susan at 4:30
Peter: Hi Susan. I just (finish) all of my phone calls and I’ll be home in about 30 minutes.
Susan: Oh, that’s good. We need to get ready for the dinner party this evening.
Peter: Yes, I already (tell) the Mayor I’ll be there.
Susan: How did the talk go at the school?
Peter: I never (have) so much fun. The kids really liked the talk about bees. I don’t think they ever (think) that bees are more than just bugs that sting.
Susan: Ha, kids are funny! Oh, did you pick up your shirts at the cleaners?
Peter: Yes, I already (pick) them up. I went out on my lunch hour to get them. See you in half an hour.
Conversation 4: The dinner party
Mayor: Busy day today, right Peter?
Peter: Oh, yes, I never (have) such a busy day before.
Peter: Well, I (contact) three different greenhouses today, and all of them say the same thing, it’s going to be hard to get flowers.
Mayor: Oh, well, tomorrow I’ll make some calls. I (meet) the owner of a new greenhouse in Taylorsville, he may be able to help us out.
Peter: you (drive) out to the municipal apple orchard this week?
Mayor: No, I (not see) it yet. Is there a problem?
Peter: The apple trees look a little sad. I (order) some fertilizer to see if that will help.
Mayor: That’s good. Those trees (have) problems in the past. I’m sure you can fix it.
Peter: Thanks. I (do) some research and all the experts say fertilizer is the answer to the problem.
