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Learning Objectives

2 minutes reading
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Use Present Perfect Simple to describe professional experience without specific dates
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Apply "for" and "since" correctly to express duration
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Use "already", "yet", "just" and "ever" in professional contexts
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Communicate achievements and recent results in stand-up meetings and updates
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Key for this lesson

The Present Perfect connects past experience to present relevance. Ask yourself: "Is this still relevant now?" If yes, use Present Perfect.

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Grammar Explanation

4 minutes reading
Present Perfect Simple

Experience & Results Connected to Now

Subject + have/has + past participle

Use for: Experience without specific time, recent results, unfinished time periods, duration with for/since

already yet just ever never for since
For vs Since

Expressing Duration

FOR + period of time | SINCE + point in time

FOR: two years, three months, a week, ages

SINCE: 2020, January, Monday, I started

for 5 years since 2019 for ages since then
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Key Markers for Present Perfect

ALREADY (positive - completed before expected), YET (negative/questions - not completed), JUST (very recently), EVER (at any time - questions), NEVER (at no time - negative meaning)

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Context & Professional Usage

5 minutes reading

Professional Context (70%)

💼 CV & Interviews: "I've managed teams of up to 15 people."
📊 Stand-up Updates: "I've completed the data analysis."
📧 Email Updates: "I've already sent the proposal."
🏆 Achievements: "We've increased sales by 20% this quarter."
⏳ Duration: "I've worked here for three years."

Everyday Usage (30%)

✈️ Travel: "I've been to Japan twice."
📚 Experience: "I've never tried sushi."
🏠 Life changes: "I've just moved to a new flat."
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Business English Examples

6 minutes reading
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Correct Professional Usage

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"I've worked on several international projects."

Experience without specific dates

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"She's already sent the quarterly report."

Completed before expected

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"We've been partners for five years."

Duration up to now

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"I've just finished the client presentation."

Very recent completion

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"Have you ever managed a remote team?"

Asking about any past experience

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"The IT department hasn't resolved the issue yet."

Not completed (expected)

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Common Business Mistakes

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"I have worked here since three years."

Use: "I've worked here for three years." (FOR + period)

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"I have sent the email yesterday."

Use: "I sent the email yesterday." (Past Simple with specific time)

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"Did you ever work abroad?"

Use: "Have you ever worked abroad?" (Present Perfect for general experience)

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Professional Listening Exercise

6 minutes

Listen to Maria, a senior project manager, leading a weekly project check-in meeting:

🎵 Audio: Stand-up Meeting Update
Ready
0:00 / 0:00
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Speed:

Maria (Senior Project Manager at Innovate Solutions):

"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?"

B2 Vocabulary Explained: A bottleneck is a point of congestion or delay in a process.

Question 1: What is the main purpose of Maria's update?

💡 Hint: Listen for what Maria says she wants to do in this meeting.

Question 2: What has Jian's development team accomplished?

💡 Hint: Listen for "Jian has already finished..."

Question 3: What is the main obstacle currently delaying Project Fusion?

💡 Hint: Listen for the word "bottleneck."

Question 4: Complete: "I've sent them three emails this week, but I _______________ a reply yet."

💡 Hint: Negative Present Perfect with "yet" - something expected but not happened.
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Quick Comprehension Quiz

4 minutes

Choose the correct option for each professional situation:

1

In a job interview: "I _____ three international companies in my career."

A have managed
B managed
C am managing
2

Email update: "I _____ the contract to legal for review. They should respond by tomorrow."

A send
B have already sent
C am sending
3

Which is correct for duration? "She has worked here _____ 2018."

A for
B since
C from
4

Stand-up meeting: "The client _____ the proposal yet. We're still waiting."

A didn't approve
B doesn't approve
C hasn't approved
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Professional Practice Exercises

7 minutes

Exercise A: Complete with FOR or SINCE

1.

I've been a project manager _______ five years.

💡 Hint: "Five years" is a period of time.
2.

She's worked in the finance department _______ 2019.

💡 Hint: "2019" is a point in time.
3.

We've been partners with TechCorp _______ nearly a decade.

💡 Hint: "Nearly a decade" is a period of time.
4.

The marketing team has been using this software _______ they launched the new website.

💡 Hint: "They launched the new website" is a point in time.

Exercise B: Complete with ALREADY, YET, JUST, or EVER

1.

Have you _______ worked with clients from Asia before?

💡 Hint: Used in questions to ask about experience at any time.
2.

I've _______ finished the report - it's printing now.

💡 Hint: Used for very recent actions.
3.

We haven't received their feedback _______.

💡 Hint: Used in negatives for something expected but not done.
4.

Good news - the client has _______ approved the budget!

💡 Hint: Used for something completed sooner than expected.

Exercise C: Error Correction

1.

❌ "I have worked here since five years."

💡 Hint: "Five years" is a period, not a point in time. Which preposition do you need?
2.

❌ "She has sent the email yesterday."

💡 Hint: "Yesterday" is a specific past time. Which tense do you need?
3.

❌ "Did you ever managed a budget this large?"

💡 Hint: For general experience questions, use Present Perfect. Also check the verb form.
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Speaking Preparation

4 minutes
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Preparation for Class

Use these topics to prepare for speaking practice with your teacher. Focus on using Present Perfect correctly.

💼 Task 1: Professional Experience (Controlled - 1 min)

Complete these sentences about your professional experience:

  • "I've worked in _______ for _______ years."
  • "I've managed/led/coordinated _______."
  • "I've never _______ but I'd like to."
  • "I've already _______ this year."
📊 Task 2: Project Update (Guided - 2 min)

Imagine you're giving a stand-up update. Answer these questions:

  • "What have you completed since our last meeting?"
  • "What haven't you finished yet?"
  • "How long have you been working on your current task?"
  • "Have you encountered any problems?"
🔄 Task 3: Discussion (Free - 1 min)

Discuss one of these topics with your teacher:

  • Career: What are the most important things you've learned in your career?
  • Skills: What new skills have you developed recently?
  • Changes: How has your industry changed since you started working?
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Summary: Present Perfect in Business

Key uses: Experience (I've managed...), Recent results (I've just finished...), Duration (I've worked here for/since...)
Key markers: already, yet, just, ever, never, for, since
Remember: No specific past time with Present Perfect!

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