B1 · Intermédiaire Chapitre 3

Raconte ton histoire : tes expériences et ton parcours

3 Règles totales
33 exemples
5 min
Règles dans ce chapitre Pratique rapide

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of sharing your journey and connecting through shared life experiences.

  • Express things you haven't done yet using negative forms.
  • Ask engaging questions about others' past experiences and achievements.
  • Inquire about the duration of ongoing life situations using 'How long'.
Your story, your journey, your voice.

Ce que tu vas apprendre

Prêt à donner du relief à tes conversations ? Dans ce chapitre, on s’attaque à un pilier de l’anglais intermédiaire : le Present Perfect. C’est l’outil magique pour lier ton passé à ton présent et raconter qui tu es vraiment. Tu vas d'abord apprendre à utiliser la forme négative (haven't / hasn't) pour parler de ce que tu n'as pas encore eu la chance de faire ou des expériences qui manquent à ton palmarès. Ensuite, on passera aux questions pour que tu puisses interroger les autres sur leurs aventures et briser la glace naturellement. Enfin, tu maîtriseras la structure « How long have you...? » pour exprimer la durée de tes passions, de tes études ou de ton job. Pourquoi c’est crucial ? Imagine-toi en plein networking ou lors d’une soirée : au lieu de simples phrases courtes, tu sauras tisser des liens profonds en t'intéressant au parcours de ton interlocuteur. À la fin de ce chapitre, tu ne te contenteras plus de lister des faits ; tu seras capable de partager ton vécu avec nuance et de poser les bonnes questions pour vraiment découvrir les autres. C'est le moment de faire briller ton anglais !

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to describe unfulfilled plans and missed experiences using negative present perfect structures.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to initiate conversations about life milestones and travel by forming present perfect questions.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to accurately ask and answer questions regarding the duration of current jobs, residences, or hobbies.

Guide du chapitre

Overview

Overview
Ready to unlock a new level of confidence in your English conversations? This chapter is your guide to confidently sharing your unique story and truly connecting with others about their journeys. As a B1 English grammar learner, you're at a fantastic stage where you can handle most situations while travelling and express yourself more deeply.
Mastering the grammar in this section will empower you to move beyond simple past events and discuss the experiences that have shaped you, and those you haven't encountered yet. You'll learn the essential tools for
English talking about life experiences
with nuance and precision.
We'll dive into how to use the Present Perfect Negative to talk about things you haven't done or seen, and how to formulate engaging Present Perfect questions to ask about the richness of others' lives without needing to know *exactly* when something happened. Crucially, you'll also discover how to use
How long
with the Present Perfect to inquire about the duration of ongoing situations, creating meaningful connections by asking about someone's journey, not just their destination. This B1 English grammar will help you sound more natural and engaged in everyday chats.
How This Grammar Works
At its heart, the Present Perfect connects the past to the present. We use have/has + the past participle of a verb. For example,
I have travelled a lot.
This chapter expands on this core idea.
First, let's look at the Present Perfect Negative. We use it to talk about things that haven't happened up to now, often implying they might still happen. You form it by adding not to have or has: haven't (have not) or hasn't (has not).
For instance, "I haven't tried surfing yet" means that, up to this moment, surfing is not an experience I've had. Or, "She hasn't visited her grandparents this month" implies the month isn't over and she still might.
Next, we use Present Perfect questions to ask about experiences or actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past, but are relevant to the present. We don't care *when* exactly, just *if* it happened. The structure is Have/Has + subject + past participle...? A common word used here is ever.
For example,
Have you ever seen a live concert?
or
Has he finished his project yet?
These questions open the door to sharing life stories.
Finally, to ask about the *duration* of something that started in the past and is *still ongoing* in the present, we use
How long
with the Present Perfect. The structure is How long + have/has + subject + past participle...? or How long + have/has + subject + been + -ing...? For example,
How long have you lived in London?
(You still live there.) or
How long has she been studying French?
(She is still studying it.) This is perfect for understanding commitments and ongoing situations.
Common Mistakes
  1. 1✗ Using Simple Past for general experiences:
* ✗
Did you ever go to Japan?
* ✓
Have you ever been to Japan?
* *Explanation:* When asking about an *experience* at an unspecified time, use the Present Perfect. Simple Past is for actions completed at a specific past time.
  1. 1✗ Using Present Perfect with a specific past time expression:
* ✗
I have seen that movie last night.
* ✓
I saw that movie last night.
* *Explanation:* The Present Perfect doesn't use specific past time markers like last night, yesterday, or «in 2020.» For those, use the Simple Past.
  1. 1✗ Incorrect negative form or question structure:
* ✗
She not has eaten breakfast.
/
How long you are learning English?
* ✓ "She hasn't eaten breakfast yet.« / »How long have you been learning English?"
* *Explanation:* Remember the correct auxiliary verb (have/has) and its placement in negatives and questions.
Real Conversations
Dialogue 1: Sharing Experiences
A: "Have you ever tried making your own bread?
B: No, I haven't tried that yet! I always just buy it. Have you baked much?
A: Yes, I have baked a lot during the lockdown. It's really fun!
Dialogue 2: Asking About Duration
A: "How long have you been working here?
B: I have been working at this company for five years.
A: Wow, that's a long time! I haven't been working here even for a year yet.
Quick FAQ
Q: What's the difference between "I haven't gone and I didn't go"?
A: "I haven't gone" means you haven't gone *up to this point in time*, and there's a possibility you still might go. "I didn't go" refers to a specific past occasion when you chose not to go, and the chance to go on that occasion is over.
Q: When should I use ever with the Present Perfect?
A: You use
ever
in Present Perfect questions to ask if someone has *at any time* in their life had a particular experience, like
Have you ever visited New York?
Q: Can I use since and for with
How long have you...?
A: Yes, absolutely! When answering questions like
How long have you been learning English?
, you'll often use
I have been learning English for two years
(duration) or
I have been learning English since 2022
(starting point).
Q: Why is it important to learn the Present Perfect for B1 English?
A: The Present Perfect is crucial for B1 learners because it allows you to talk about experiences, achievements, and ongoing situations, which are fundamental for sharing personal information and connecting with others. It's key for
English talking about life experiences
naturally.
Cultural Context
Native English speakers frequently use these Present Perfect structures in everyday conversations to discuss their lives and inquire about others'. While there might be slight regional preferences (e.g., American English sometimes uses the Simple Past more often than British English for recent, unspecified events), the ability to use the Present Perfect for experiences, things haven't happened, and durations (How long...) is universally understood and essential for sounding natural and engaged in personal communication. These patterns are fundamental for building rapport and sharing your story.

Exemples clés (6)

1

I `haven't seen` that Netflix show yet.

Je n'ai pas encore vu cette série Netflix.

Le Présent Perfect Négatif (pas encore fait)
2

The `Uber hasn't arrived` at the location.

L'Uber n'est pas encore arrivé à l'endroit indiqué.

Le Présent Perfect Négatif (pas encore fait)
3

`Have you ever seen` the Northern Lights?

As-tu déjà vu les aurores boréales ?

Poser des questions sur la vie et le progrès (Questions au Present Perfect)
4

`Has she finished` her presentation for tomorrow?

A-t-elle terminé sa présentation pour demain ?

Poser des questions sur la vie et le progrès (Questions au Present Perfect)
5

`How long have you lived` in New York City?

Depuis combien de temps habites-tu à New York ?

Present Perfect avec "How Long": Demander la durée
6

`How long has she worked` for this company?

Depuis combien de temps travaille-t-elle pour cette entreprise ?

Present Perfect avec "How Long": Demander la durée

Conseils et astuces (3)

⚠️

Le piège de la double négation

Attention ! En anglais, ne dis jamais 'I haven't never'. Utilise plutôt 'I have never' ou 'I haven't ever' pour rester correct.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Le Présent Perfect Négatif (pas encore fait)
🎯

Pense 'lien avec MAINTENANT'

Le Present Perfect, c'est ton meilleur ami quand une action ou expérience passée a encore un rapport avec le moment présent. Si ça affecte now, utilise-le ! Have you eaten?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Poser des questions sur la vie et le progrès (Questions au Present Perfect)
💡

Écoute bien 'for' et 'since'

Si quelqu'un répond à une question de durée avec 'for' (ex: for three years) ou 'since' (ex: since 2020), tu sais qu'on lui a posé la question avec le present perfect
How long have you...?
.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Present Perfect avec "How Long": Demander la durée

Vocabulaire clé (6)

abroad in or to a foreign country ever at any time never at no time experience knowledge or skill gained from doing things achievement something done successfully by effort duration the length of time that something continues

Real-World Preview

users

The Networking Event

Review Summary

  • Subject + haven't/hasn't + Past Participle
  • Have/Has + Subject + Past Participle?
  • How long + have/has + Subject + Past Participle?

Erreurs courantes

Many learners use the Past Simple 'went' instead of the Past Participle 'been/gone'. Always use the third form.

Wrong: I haven't went to Spain.
Correct: I haven't been to Spain.

If the situation started in the past and continues now, you must use Present Perfect, not Present Simple.

Wrong: How long do you know him?
Correct: How long have you known him?

Mixing 'Did' (Past Simple) with 'eaten' (Participle). Use 'Have' for life experiences without a specific time.

Wrong: Did you ever eaten sushi?
Correct: Have you ever eaten sushi?

Next Steps

You've just unlocked the ability to truly get to know people in English. This is a huge milestone for your B1 journey—keep using these questions in your daily life!

Write a 'Bucket List' of 5 things you haven't done yet.

Record yourself asking 3 'How long' questions about a friend's hobby.

Continue to: S'exprimer avec fluidité : Maîtrise les 'ing' et les infinitifs

Pratique rapide (8)

Quelle phrase pose correctement une question sur une expérience de vie ?

Choisis la phrase correcte :

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Have you ever visited London?
'Have you ever visited' est la structure correcte du Present Perfect pour demander une expérience de vie générale.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Poser des questions sur la vie et le progrès (Questions au Present Perfect)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur dans la phrase.

Find and fix the mistake:

`How long did she live in London?` (She still lives there.)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: How long has she lived in London?
Puisqu'elle vit toujours à Londres, l'action est continue, nous devons donc utiliser le present perfect ('has lived') au lieu du passé simple ('did live').

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Present Perfect avec "How Long": Demander la durée

Complète la phrase avec la forme négative correcte.

I ___ (not/see) the new Spider-Man movie yet.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: haven't seen
On utilise 'haven't' avec 'I' et le participe passé 'seen' pour le present perfect.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Le Présent Perfect Négatif (pas encore fait)

Choisis la bonne forme pour compléter la question.

`How long _____ you known your best friend?`

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: have
La forme du present perfect nécessite 'have' pour 'you' et le participe passé 'known' pour demander la durée continue de la connaissance de quelqu'un.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Present Perfect avec "How Long": Demander la durée

Choisis le bon verbe auxiliaire.

___ you ever eaten sushi?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Have
'You' prend le verbe auxiliaire 'Have' dans les questions au Present Perfect.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Poser des questions sur la vie et le progrès (Questions au Present Perfect)

Quelle phrase est correcte ?

Choose the grammatically correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She hasn't finished her coffee.
'She' nécessite 'hasn't' et le participe passé 'finished'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Le Présent Perfect Négatif (pas encore fait)

Trouve et corrige l'erreur.

Find and fix the mistake:

Has you finished your project?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Have you finished your project?
'You' nécessite 'Have', pas 'Has', et 'finished' est le participe passé correct.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Poser des questions sur la vie et le progrès (Questions au Present Perfect)

Trouve l'erreur dans la phrase.

Find and fix the mistake:

They haven't gave us the Wi-Fi password yet.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: They haven't given us the Wi-Fi password yet.
Le participe passé de 'give' est 'given', pas 'gave'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Le Présent Perfect Négatif (pas encore fait)

Score: /8

Questions fréquentes (6)

Non, tu dois utiliser le participe passé 'seen'. 'Saw' est seulement pour le passé simple. Vérifie toujours ta liste de verbes irréguliers !
Oui, les deux sont corrects ! 'I haven't' est plus courant, mais 'I've not' est souvent utilisé dans certaines régions du Royaume-Uni. Tu auras l'air naturel avec les deux.
Elles interrogent sur des actions ou des expériences passées à un moment non spécifié, mais qui ont un lien ou une pertinence avec le présent. Par exemple,
Have you ever been to Paris?
Tu commences par Have ou Has (selon le sujet), puis le sujet, suivi du participe passé du verbe principal. Par exemple, Have you finished?
Il s'agit de demander la durée d'une action ou d'un état qui a commencé dans le passé et qui est toujours en cours ou vrai au présent. Pense à ça comme un lien entre un point de départ passé et 'maintenant'. Par exemple,
How long have you lived here?
signifie que tu y vis toujours.
Oui, mais ça veut dire quelque chose de différent !
How long did you...?
demande la durée d'une action *complètement terminée* dans le passé. Par exemple,
How long did you live in Paris?
implique que tu n'y habites plus.
Chapitre précédent
Raconte tout ! Maîtrise le style indirect pour les questions et les ordres
Chapitre suivant
S'exprimer avec fluidité : Maîtrise les 'ing' et les infinitifs
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