Present Perfect Simple 3 - Life Experience

We use the present perfect simple to talk about life experiences – things that have happened (or have not happened) at some time before now.

We do not say exactly when it happened. The important thing is that it happened at some point in our life and became part of our life experience.

Look at the examples:

I have visited Italy.
= At some time in my life, I went to Italy.
She has never tried sushi.
= Trying sushi has not happened at any time in her life.
Have you ever seen snow?
= Has this happened at any time in your life?

Asking about experiences

Ever = at any time in your life
We usually use ever in questions when we ask if something has happened at least once in someone's life.
→ Have/Has + subject + ever + past participle?

Have you ever driven a car?
Has he ever played golf?

How many times...? = counting experiences
We use how many times to ask how often something has happened.

How many times have you been to London?
I have called him twice.
I have seen this film before.

Have/has been to = visited a place
For experiences with places, we use have/has been to.
- Have you ever been to Africa?
- She has been to Italy twice.

Answering/talking about life experiences

Never = not at any time
Never already has a negative meaning, so we use have/has, not haven't/hasn't.
- I have never worn a skirt.
- Kate has never seen my brother.
It's the first time...
When something happens for the first, second, or third time in our lives, we also use the present perfect:
- This is the first time I have eaten Indian food.
- It's the third time she has worn this dress.

Common irregular participles

drive → driven, fly → flown, ride → ridden
see → seen, wear → worn, buy → bought
swim → swum, feel → felt

Quick reference

Experience: have/has + past participle
I have visited Spain.
Question about experience: have/has + subject + (ever) + past participle?
Have you ever tried sushi?
Counting experiences: How many times + have/has + subject + past participle?
How many times have you been to London?
Negative experience: have/has + never + past participle
She has never flown in an airplane.
Visited a place: have/has been to + place
Have you ever been to Hawaii?
First/second/third time: It's the first/second/third time + subject + has/have + past participle
This is the first time I have eaten Indian food.