Positive Answers: Ever, Recently, Lately, So Far, Up to Now, Until Now & Present Perfect Experience
In this exercise, every answer gives a positive meaning. That means the sentence says that something has happened, is happening, or has developed up to now.
ever is used in questions about life experience (at any time in your life).
Have you ever visited London?
[Warst du jemals in London?]
never means not at any time in your life.
recently means a short time ago.
I have recently started a new course.
[Ich habe kürzlich einen neuen Kurs begonnen.]
lately means in the recent period until now.
She has been very active lately.
[Sie war in letzter Zeit sehr aktiv.]
so far / up to now / until now mean from the past to this moment.
So far, everything has gone well.
[Bisher ist alles gut gelaufen.]
Why do we often answer with the Past Simple after a Present Perfect question?
The Present Perfect is often used to ask about a person's experience or whether something has happened at any time up to now. If the answer is yes, we often continue with the Past Simple because we start talking about a specific time or event in the past (when, where, or what happened).
Have you ever been to London?
Yes, I have. I went there in 2023.
[Ja, war ich. Ich war 2023 dort.]
Have you ever flown in a helicopter?
Yes, I have. I flew over the Alps last summer.
[Ja, habe ich. Ich bin letzten Sommer über die Alpen geflogen.]
Have you ever tried Japanese food?
Yes, I have. I tried it during a trip to Berlin.
[Ja, habe ich. Ich habe es während einer Reise nach Berlin probiert.]
Simple rule:
Use the Present Perfect to ask about an experience up to now.
Use the Past Simple when you describe when, where, or what happened with a finished time.
Answer: Yes, I have.
Longer present perfect answer: Yes, I have played tennis before.
Past simple with finished time: Yes, I played when I was a child.
Incorrect: Yes, I have played when I was a child.
Timeline:
Past ───────────────► Now
The question looks at your whole life until now.
The answer often focuses on one specific moment in the past.
[Kurz erklärt auf Deutsch:
Das present perfect benutzen wir, wenn wir nach Erfahrungen im Leben fragen.
Oft steht dabei ever oder never.
ever = jemals
never = noch nie / niemals
Wenn man sagt, wann etwas passiert ist, benutzt man meistens das simple past.
Deshalb ist zum Beispiel Yes, I played when I was a child. richtig, aber Yes, I have played when I was a child. falsch.]
1. Have you ever played tennis? ______
Yes, I played when I was a child.
a) Yes, I have played when I was a child.
b) Yes, I played when I was a child.
[Ja, ich habe gespielt, als ich ein Kind war.]
2. Have you ever eaten sushi? ______
Yes, I tried it last year.
a) Yes, I tried it last year.
b) Yes, I have eaten it last year.
[Ja, ich habe es letztes Jahr probiert.]
3. Have you ever worked abroad? ______
Yes, I worked in Spain in 2019.
a) Yes, I have worked in Spain in 2019.
b) Yes, I worked in Spain in 2019.
[Ja, ich habe 2019 in Spanien gearbeitet.]
4. Have you ever flown in a helicopter? ______
Yes, I flew in one during a holiday in Canada.
a) Yes, I flew in one during a holiday in Canada.
b) Yes, I fly in one during a holiday in Canada.
[Ja, ich bin im Urlaub in Kanada in einem geflogen.]
5. Have you ever stayed in a luxury hotel? ______
Yes, I stayed in one in Dubai last summer.
a) Yes, I stay in one in Dubai last summer.
b) Yes, I stayed in one in Dubai last summer.
[Ja, ich habe letzten Sommer in Dubai in einem übernachtet.]
6. Have you ever swum in the ocean? ______
Yes, I swam in the ocean in Greece.
a) Yes, I swam in the ocean in Greece.
b) Yes, I have swum in the ocean in Greece.
[Ja, ich bin in Griechenland im Meer geschwommen.]
7. Have you ever taken a cooking class? ______
Yes, I took one in 2022.
a) Yes, I have taken one in 2022.
b) Yes, I took one in 2022.
[Ja, ich habe 2022 einen gemacht.]
8. Have you ever traveled alone? ______
Yes, I traveled alone in 2017.
a) Yes, I travel alone in 2017.
b) Yes, I traveled alone in 2017.
[Ja, ich bin 2017 allein gereist.]
9. Have you ever lost your passport? ______
Yes, I lost it once on a trip to Italy.
a) Yes, I lose it once on a trip to Italy.
b) Yes, I lost it once on a trip to Italy.
[Ja, ich habe es einmal auf einer Reise nach Italien verloren.]
10. Have you ever cooked for many people? ______
Yes, I cooked for twenty people at my birthday party.
a) Yes, I cooked for twenty people at my birthday party.
b) Yes, I cook for twenty people at my birthday party.
[Ja, ich habe auf meiner Geburtstagsparty für zwanzig Leute gekocht.]
11. Have you ever missed a flight? ______
Yes, I missed one last year because of traffic.
a) Yes, I have missed one last year because of traffic.
b) Yes, I missed one last year because of traffic.
[Ja, ich habe letztes Jahr wegen des Verkehrs einen verpasst.]
12. Have you ever fallen asleep in a meeting? ______
Yes, I fell asleep in one during a long seminar.
a) Yes, I fell asleep in one during a long seminar.
b) Yes, I have fallen asleep during a long seminar last year.
[Ja, ich bin bei einem langen Seminar in einer Besprechung eingeschlafen.]