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B2 FIRST · GRAMMAR · PART 4

Present perfect: since, for, the last time

Since and for, the last time, it's ages since, the first time and never … before.

Finn the puffin with glasses and a book, your grammar teacher
Finn says

Many Part 4 questions jump between the past simple and the present perfect. They look tricky, but there are only a few patterns – learn them and you'll spot them straight away!

Since and for

for
present perfect + for + a period of time
I have lived here for ten years.
since
present perfect + since + a point in time
She has worked here since 2020.
Still going on
present perfect continuous + for / since
I've been learning English for six years.

Past simple ↔ present perfect

These pairs mean the same. Learn them as pairs.

The last time
The last time + past simple = haven't + past participle + since / for
The last time I saw her was in May. = I haven't seen her since May.
… ago
started … ago = have (been) + … + for
I started learning the guitar two years ago. = I've been learning the guitar for two years.
It's ages since
It's + time + since + past simple = haven't + past participle + for
It's ages since I went to the cinema. = I haven't been to the cinema for ages.

The first time and never … before

Present
It's the first time I've + past participle = I've never … before
It's the first time I've flown. = I've never flown before.
Past
It was the first time I had + past participle = I had never … before
It was the first time she had driven. = She had never driven before.

How it comes up in Part 4

In Part 4 you complete the second sentence with the key word, so that it means the same as the first one (2–5 words).

The last time I played tennis was two years ago.
PLAYED
I haven't played tennis for two years.

The last time + past simple → haven't + past participle + for.

We moved to Dublin in 2019.
LIVED
We have lived in Dublin since 2019.

Moved in 2019 and still there: present perfect + since.

It's the first time I've tried sushi.
NEVER
I have never tried sushi before.

It's the first time I've … = I've never … before.

Common mistakes

  • ✗ I live here since 2015.✓ I have lived here since 2015.Use the present perfect with 'since' and 'for' for things that are still true.
  • ✗ I have seen him yesterday.✓ I saw him yesterday.A finished time (yesterday, last week, in 2010) needs the past simple.
  • ✗ I haven't seen her since two weeks.✓ I haven't seen her for two weeks.For + a period; since + a point in time.
Finn the puffin, smiling kindly
Finn's exam tip

If the first sentence has 'ago', 'the last time' or 'It's ages since', the answer probably needs the present perfect with 'for' or 'since'. A period of time → for; a point in time → since.

Quick check

Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first. Use the key word and write 2–5 words.

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