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C1 ADVANCED · GRAMMAR · PART 4

Perfect tenses and time

Haven't … since, it's (been) ages since, the first time, had never … before and by the time.

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

Part 4 at C1 still loves time expressions – with a twist: perfect tenses, the past perfect and phrases like 'by the time'. Let's make sure your timing is right!

Present perfect and time

since / for
haven't + past participle + since / for
I haven't seen Anna since her wedding.
It's (been) ages since
It's been + time + since + past simple
It's been ages since I saw a film.
The last time
The last time + past simple = haven't + past participle + since
The last time she visited us was in May. = She has not visited us since May.

Past perfect

The first time
It was the first time + had + past participle = had never … before
It was the first time I had flown. = I had never flown before.
By the time
By the time + past simple, past perfect
By the time we arrived, the film had started.

Continuous perfect forms

Present perfect continuous
have been + -ing (how long until now)
I've been waiting for an hour.
Past perfect continuous
had been + -ing (before another past moment)
She had been working there for years when she left.

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 (3–6 words).

The last time I spoke to Mark was at the wedding.
SPOKEN
I haven't spoken to Mark since the wedding.

The last time + past simple → haven't + past participle + since. 'Haven't' counts as two words.

I haven't been to a concert for years.
AGES
It's been ages since I went to a concert.

Haven't + past participle + for = It's been ages since + past simple.

When we got to the station, the train had already left.
TIME
By the time we got to the station, the train had already left.

By the time + past simple, past perfect.

Common mistakes

  • ✗ I haven't seen her since three years.✓ I haven't seen her for three years.Since + a point in time; for + a period.
  • ✗ By the time we arrived, the film started.✓ By the time we arrived, the film had started.The earlier action needs the past perfect.
  • ✗ It's the first time I see snow.✓ It's the first time I've seen snow.It's the first time + present perfect.
Finn the puffin, smiling kindly
Finn's exam tip

Picture a quick timeline: which action happened first? The earlier one often needs a perfect tense. Then count your words – 'haven't' counts as two!

Quick check

Complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first. Use the key word and write 3–6 words.

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