Talking about past experiences and recent results without a specific time
⏱️ 32 minutes
B1 Bridge
👂 Listening | 🗣️ Speaking | ✍️ Practice
🎯 Learning Objectives
Distinguish between the Past Simple and the Present Perfect for workplace stories
Use key time expressions (for, since, already, yet, ever, never) accurately
Ask and answer questions about professional and personal experiences with confidence
Deliver project updates and recent results using clear Present Perfect structures
📚
Grammar Explanation
4 minutes
Present Perfect Simple – Form
Structure: Subject + have/has + past participle (worked, seen, been)
Affirmative:I have finished the report. / She has sent the email. Negative:They haven't received the feedback yet. Questions:Have you ever used this software? / Has she arrived yet?
When do we use it?
Life & Work Experiences: highlight what you have done without stating when. Workplace: "I've managed teams of over 20 people." Daily: "I've never been to South America."
Recent Past Actions with Results Now: the action is recent and the result matters in the present. Workplace: "I've lost my security pass." Daily: "She's just arrived."
Unfinished Time Periods: actions that started in the past and continue now (with for/since). Workplace: "We've worked with this client for five years." Daily: "I've known him since university."
Key Time Expressions
for + period (for two weeks) • since + point (since 2020) already (positive) • yet (negative/questions) ever (questions) • never (negative statements) just / recently / lately for fresh results
🔑 Learning Tip: If the time is finished or specific (yesterday, in 2019), use the Past Simple. If the time is unknown or still relevant now, choose the Present Perfect.
🎯
Context & Professional Usage
5 minutes
Professional Context
💼 Job Interviews & Networking: "I've worked on several international projects."
📊 Project Updates: "We haven't finished the user testing yet."
👋 Team Introductions: "I've been in the marketing team for three years."
⚠️ Problem Solving: "The server has gone down again."
❓ Experience Questions: "Have you ever attended the annual tech conference?"
Everyday Usage
☕ Coffee Breaks: "I've just bought a new phone."
🗓️ Making Plans: "Do you want lunch? I've already eaten."
👥 Small Talk: "I haven't seen you for ages!"
📺 Sharing News: "Have you seen the latest episode?"
✅ Daily Achievements: "I've finally started that book everyone is talking about."
💡
Business English Examples
6 minutes
✅ Professional & Daily Usage
✓ "Our team has hit all its targets for this quarter." → Ongoing quarter, result matters now.
✓ "Have you ever worked with a client from Japan?" → Asking about career experience, no specific time.
✓ "I'm sorry, Ms. Chen hasn't arrived yet." → Expected action that is still pending.
✓ "We've used this software since the company started." → Action that began in the past and continues now.
✓ "I've forgotten my wallet at home." → Recent action with a present consequence.
✓ "She's travelled to more than twenty countries." → Life experience without a specific time.
❌ Common Business Mistakes
✗ "I have worked here in 2018."
✓ "I worked here in 2018." → Finished time, use Past Simple.
✗ "She didn't send the invoice yet."
✓ "She hasn't sent the invoice yet." → 'Yet' pairs with Present Perfect.
✗ "Did you ever see the final project plan?"
✓ "Have you ever seen the final project plan?" → 'Ever' asks about experience up to now.
🎧
Professional Listening Exercise
6 minutes
Listen to Maria, a senior project manager, leading a weekly check-in for Project Fusion:
Audio: Maria's Project Update
Ready
0:00 / 0:00
Speed:
⚠️ Unable to load audio. Please verify the source URL.
Maria speaks (approx. 2:15 minutes):
"Good morning, everyone. Thanks for joining. Let's get started on the weekly check-in for Project Fusion. It's been a busy week, and I'm pleased to say we've made some excellent progress.
First, the development team. Jian, you and your team have done a fantastic job. I know you have worked long hours, and it shows. Jian has already finished the integration module, which is a huge step forward. We haven't tested it fully yet, but initial reports look very positive.
Now, for marketing. Sarah, have you prepared the launch-day social media content yet? I saw the draft, and it looks great. Your team has created some really engaging visuals. On a related note, I've spoken to the external PR agency, and they have confirmed their support for the launch week.
There is one small issue. We still need the final budget approval from the finance department. I've sent them three emails this week, but I haven't received a reply yet. This is becoming a bit of a bottleneck for us, as we can't confirm the advertising spend. I've managed many projects in my career, and there's always one delay!
Outside of work, I hope you are all doing well. Personally, I haven't had much free time lately, but I have finally started that book everyone is talking about.
So, to summarize, we're mostly on track. Our main task is to get that budget approved. Any questions so far?"
Vocabulary:bottleneck = a delay or obstacle that slows a process.
Question 1: What is the main purpose of Maria's update?
Question 2: What has Jian's development team accomplished?
Question 3: What is the main obstacle currently delaying Project Fusion?
Question 4: Complete Maria's sentence: "I've sent them three emails this week, but I _______________ a reply yet."
🧠
Quick Comprehension Check
4 minutes
Choose the correct option for each business scenario:
1. Your manager asks about your skills. Choose the best question:
A) Did you ever use Python for data analysis?
B) Have you ever used Python for data analysis?
C) Do you ever use Python for data analysis?
2. You're talking to a colleague about lunch. You want to say you have already eaten.
A) I've eaten already, thanks.
B) I ate already, thanks.
C) I'm eating already, thanks.
3. You're giving a project update. The report is not finished.
A) I didn't finish the report yet.
B) I haven't finished the report already.
C) I haven't finished the report yet.
✏️
Professional Practice Exercises
7 minutes
Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Form
Select the option that best completes each sentence.
Context Option A: Software Development Team
1. Good! We (1) have fixed / fixed the login bug.
2. Great! When (2) have you done / did you do that?
3. Tom (3) has found / found the solution yesterday afternoon.
4. Since then, we (4) have already implemented / already implemented the patch.
Context Option B: Marketing Agency
1. Good! We (1) have finished / finished the initial designs.
2. Great! When (2) have you sent / did you send them for review?
3. I (3) have sent / sent the email an hour ago.
4. So far, the client (4) hasn't replied / didn't reply yet.
Exercise 2: Gap Fill (for, since, already, yet, ever, never)
Complete with the correct expression.
Context Option A: Engineering Firm
1. Have you ________ seen a system failure this big?
2. She has worked here ________ 2015.
3. We haven't received the technical drawings ________.
4. They have worked on this project ________ six months.
5. Don't worry about the calculations; I've ________ done them.
Context Option B: Hospital Administration
1. I have ________ worked in the emergency department; I'm always in records.
2. The new director has been with us ________ last September.
3. Have you updated the patient files ________?
4. Dr. Evans has been in surgery ________ three hours.
5. You can send the new rota; I've ________ approved it.
Exercise 3: Sentence Building
Put the words in the correct order. Use the Present Perfect.
Context Option A: Financial Consulting
1. you / report / the quarterly / finished / Have / yet / ?
2. for / I / this company / have / ten years / worked /.
3. never / I / such a complex / have / seen / spreadsheet /.
Context Option B: Retail Management
1. inventory / checked / Have / the new / you / yet / ?
2. I / the weekend manager / since / have / been / July /.
3. never / a customer / so angry / I / seen / have /.
Exercise 4: Error Correction
Correct the one mistake in each sentence.
Context Option A: Tech Startup
1.The developers has pushed the new code to the server.
2.I haven't saw the final prototype yet.
3.We work in this office for two years.
Context Option B: University Department
1.Professor Lin have published three papers this year.
2.I haven't graded the final exams already.
3.She is a teaching assistant here since 2021.
🗣️
Professional Speaking Preparation
4 minutes
📚 PREPARATION FOR CLASS Use these topics to prepare for speaking practice with your teacher
Speaking Tasks - Prepare and Practice with Your Teacher:
Task 1 (Controlled Practice – 1 minute): Complete these sentences with true information about your professional life. Choose a scenario: (A) introducing yourself to a new team, or (B) updating your professional profile.
I've worked in my current role for ________.
I've worked in this industry since ________.
I have recently ________.
I have never ________.
I have already ________ this year.
Task 2 (Guided Practice – 2 minutes): Prepare Present Perfect questions for your teacher. If the answer is "yes", follow up with a Past Simple question. Scenario Options: (A) networking event, (B) company newsletter interview.
Have you ever worked abroad? → When did you work there?
Have you ever managed a large team? → How many people were in your team?
Have you recently learned a new skill? → What did you learn?
Task 3 (Free Practice – 1 minute): Choose one scenario and speak for 30-60 seconds. Your teacher will ask follow-up questions.
Project Update: What have you completed? What haven't you done yet? What challenges have you faced?
Career Summary: Highlight key achievements and skills you've developed.
Weekly Review: What have you done so far this week? Have you finished your most important task yet?
📋
Summary & Professional Applications
3 minutes
🎯 Professional Key Takeaways:
Present Perfect in Business:
• Highlight experience and achievements without exact dates.
• Show recent results with present impact ("We've just launched...").
• Describe actions continuing to now with for / since.
Past Simple in Business:
• Use when the time is finished or specific ("in 2018", "last week").
• Ideal for timelines, lessons learned, and incident reports.
Signal Words: Present Perfect: for, since, already, yet, ever, never, just, lately. Past Simple: yesterday, last + time, ago, in + year.
💼 Professional Study Tips:
Update your CV/LinkedIn: Rewrite 2–3 achievements using the Present Perfect.
Listen actively: Note every Present Perfect update you hear in meetings.
Start updates smartly: Open your next email with "So far this week, I've..." or "We have made..."
