Present Perfect — The Bucket List (already / yet)

B1 — grammar, vocabulary, listening, reading, writing

Sofía: Bucket list check! I have already run a marathon. Well... half. OK, a quarter.

Ben: I have already gotten a tattoo — a tiny map of Colombia. I haven't shown it to my mum yet.

Kenji: I have already eaten hormigas culonas. I haven't tried mondongo yet. I need time.

Abuela Carmen: I have done everything on my list. So I have started a new list.

Common mistake: “I have saw that movie.” — Correct: “I have seen that movie.”

The present perfect (have + third form) talks about your life results up to now — perfect for a bucket list: what you have already done and what you haven't done yet.

have / has + third form (participle)
FormStructureExample
Affirmative + alreadyhave/has + already + participleI have already gotten a tattoo
Negative + yethaven't/hasn't + participle + yetI haven't written a book yet
QuestionHave/Has + subject + participle (+ yet)?Have you finished your list yet?
Short answerYes, I have. / No, she hasn't.Have you tried it? Yes, I have.
already = done ✓before the participleShe has already visited Peru
yet = pending ⧗at the end of negatives and questionsHave you eaten yet?

Practice

  1. I have already ___ a tattoo. (gotten, got it, getting)
  2. I haven't written a book ___. (already, yet, never)
  3. She has ___ visited Peru — twice! (yet, ever, already)
  4. 'Already' goes with things you have done; 'yet' goes with pending things in negatives and questions.
  5. The present perfect uses the second form of the verb: 'I have wrote'.
  6. Kenji has already ___ (eat) hormigas culonas.
  7. We haven't ___ (climb) a volcano yet.
  8. ___ you finished your bucket list yet?
  9. Unscramble: I, haven't, written, a, book, yet
  10. Unscramble: she, has, already, run, a, marathon
  11. Find the mistake: I have saw that movie three times.
  12. Find the mistake: Ben hasn't showed the tattoo to his mum yet.
  13. Find the mistake: I have already wrote two chapters.
  14. I have already tried mondongo. — Write the negative form (use 'yet').
  15. She has finished her list. — Write the yes/no question (use 'yet').
  16. Have you gotten a tattoo? — Answer with a short answer (Yes).
  17. I have already swum with dolphins. — Write the negative form (use 'yet').
  18. They haven't flown in a helicopter yet. — Write the affirmative form (use 'already').
  19. Have you eaten breakfast today? (short answer)
  20. Have you climbed Everest? (short answer, No)

Listening

Sofía: OK, team bucket list. Kenji, what have you already done in Colombia?

Kenji: I have already ridden a chiva, and I have already swum in the Caribbean.

Ben: Impressive. I haven't ridden a chiva yet. Is it safe?

Kenji: Ben, you have already fallen off a hammock. Nothing is safe for you.

Abuela Carmen: I have won three dance competitions, and I haven't finished yet.

Sofía: Abuela has already done more things than all of us together!

Reading

Ben's bucket list is a small notebook with two columns. The left column says DONE: 'I have already gotten a tattoo (a tiny map of Colombia). I have already swum in two oceans. I have already eaten the spiciest taco in Mexico — and survived.' The right column says NOT YET: 'I haven't written my travel book yet, but I have already written the title: Clumsy Around the World. I haven't shown my tattoo to my mum yet. And I haven't learned to dance salsa yet — Abuela Carmen says there is no hope, but she has agreed to try one more time.'