Present Perfect for Experiences: Listening Practice
Core PathWay1 Section 1. Work Experiences
Three colleagues — Alex, Sam, and Jordan — are having lunch. They talk about work experiences they have had and haven’t had. Listen for the present perfect and the past simple.
💬 Dialogue 1: Have You Ever Done That at Work?
A company canteen. Three colleagues eat lunch together and compare their work experiences.
📝 Comprehension Check: Work Experiences at the Office
Answer the questions based on what you heard in the audio.
Which speaker went to another country for work in 2019?
Which speaker said a manager always speaks to the board for their team?
Which speaker finished a work deal with another company in just one afternoon?
Which speaker had a meal with the company leader two times?
Which speaker ran the weekly project meetings for two years?
Which speaker helped about fifteen new workers learn their job?
Alex: “So, Sam — you've been here longer than us. Have you ever gone on a business trip abroad?”
Sam: “Yes, many times. I've been to Germany, Japan, and Brazil. The Brazil trip was the most interesting — I went there in 2019 for a trade conference.”
Jordan: “I've never been on a business trip abroad. Not even once. All my trips have been inside this country.”
Alex: “Really? Have you ever given a presentation to the board, Jordan?”
Jordan: “Yes, twice. It was terrifying both times! The first time, I presented the Q3 sales figures. I did it last March.”
Sam: “I've given board presentations many times now. But the first time was awful. I forgot half my notes and had to stop and look at the floor for about ten seconds.”
Alex: “I've never given a board presentation. My manager always does it for our team. Have either of you ever led a negotiation with a client?”
Sam: “Yes, I've led negotiations several times. The toughest one was with a supplier in Tokyo. We spent three days at the table before we reached an agreement.”
Jordan: “I've only led one negotiation. It was with a small local company. It went well, actually — we agreed on the contract in one afternoon.”
Alex: “I've never led a negotiation. Not even once. I've only ever attended them as a note-taker. It's a bit embarrassing, honestly.”
Sam: “Have you ever had lunch with the CEO, Alex?”
Alex: “Ha! No, never. I've seen her in the corridor a couple of times, but that's it. We've never actually spoken. Have you?”
Sam: “Yes, once. It was at a company strategy day two years ago. She was very direct — she asked everyone at the table what they would change about the company.”
Jordan: “I've had lunch with the CEO twice. Once at the Christmas dinner and once at a team award event. She remembered my name the second time, which really surprised me.”
Alex: “Have you ever chaired a meeting, Sam? Like, officially run the whole thing from start to finish?”
Sam: “Yes, many times. I've chaired the weekly project meetings for two years now. It's not my favourite job, but someone has to do it.”
Jordan: “I've chaired a meeting once. My manager was ill, so I stepped in. It was only a short team update, but I was very nervous the whole time.”
Alex: “I've never chaired a meeting. I'd really like to try one day. Have you ever trained a new member of staff?”
Sam: “Yes, many times. I've probably trained about fifteen people over the years. Each one is different — some learn fast, some need a lot more time and support.”
Jordan: “I've trained two people — both in the last year. It's harder than it looks. You realise how much you actually know without knowing that you know it. It's a strange feeling.”
2 Section 2. How Well Do You Know Your Country?
Alex, Sam, and Jordan talk about the UK. They have all lived there, but they haven’t all seen the same parts of it. Listen for the present perfect and the past simple.
💬 Dialogue 2: Have You Ever Been There? — Knowing the UK
Three friends sit in a café and talk about the parts of the UK they have visited and the parts they haven't.
📝 Comprehension Check: How Well Do We Know the UK?
Answer the questions based on what you heard in the audio.
Which speaker has never visited the capital city of England?
Which speaker went to a sports event in Wales?
Which speaker used to live in a very large city for one year?
Which speaker has family members in Scotland?
Which speaker visited a city in Northern Ireland?
Which speaker went to a famous area of English countryside more than two times?
Sam: “I was thinking — we all live in the UK, but how well do we actually know it? Have you two travelled around much?”
Alex: “Honestly? Not that much. I've been to Manchester, Birmingham, and Bristol. But I've never been to Scotland. Not even once.”
Jordan: “Really? I've been to Scotland twice. I went to Edinburgh for a festival one year and to Glasgow the year after. Both were brilliant.”
Sam: “I've been to Scotland many times — I have family in Aberdeen. But I've never been to Wales. I know, I know — it's right next door.”
Alex: “I've been to Wales twice. I went to Cardiff for a rugby match a few years ago, and I visited Snowdonia with my family last summer. The mountains were stunning.”
Jordan: “I've never been to Wales either. I really should go. What about London — have you both been there?”
Alex: “I've been to London loads of times — it's only an hour on the train from where I live. Have you, Jordan?”
Jordan: “Yes, many times. I actually lived there for a year when I was younger. I went to most of the big museums and galleries while I was there.”
Sam: “I've never been to London. I know that sounds strange. I just never had a reason to go — everything I needed was closer to home.”
Alex: “You've never been to London? That's incredible! It's the capital! Have you been to any big cities at all?”
Sam: “Yes, of course! I've been to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Leeds, and Sheffield. I just haven't been south very much. My life has always been in the north.”
Jordan: “So does that mean you don't really know your own country? Or is it just a different part of it?”
Sam: “That's a good question. I think I know the north really well. But I've missed a big part of it, haven't I? I suppose every person knows a different version of the same country.”
Alex: “I think that's true for most people. I've never been to Northern Ireland. Not even once. I've always wanted to go to Belfast — I've heard it's changed a lot.”
Jordan: “I've been to Belfast once. I went for a long weekend two years ago. The city was really interesting — there's so much history in every street.”
Sam: “Have you been to any smaller towns or villages? I think that's where you really see what a country is like — not in the big cities.”
Alex: “Yes, I've been to quite a few. I've visited the Cotswolds several times. I went there first as a child and I've been back twice since then. It's one of my favourite places.”
Jordan: “I've been to the Lake District twice. It's beautiful. I went hiking there last spring and I honestly didn't want to leave — I stayed an extra day.”
Sam: “I've been to the Highlands in Scotland many times. That's my favourite part of the UK without question. I think you can know a country deeply without knowing all of it.”
Alex: “Maybe. But I think we all have gaps. The UK is bigger than it looks on a map — and there's still a lot I haven't seen. I think that's actually a good thing. It means there's always somewhere new to go.”
3 Section 3. Amazing Truth or Big Fat Lie
Alex, Sam, and Jordan are playing a game. Each person says something amazing they have done. Is it true or is it a lie? The others ask questions to find out. Listen carefully!
💬 Dialogue 3: Amazing Truth or Big Fat Lie
Three friends play a game at a dinner table. Each person makes an amazing claim about something they have done. The others try to catch the liar.
📝 Comprehension Check: Two Truths and a Lie
Answer the questions based on what you heard in the audio.
Which speaker said the food they ate felt like a snack from a packet?
Which speaker was with a family member when they saw something strange?
Which speaker got money from a friend at the end of their story?
What does Jordan say about Sam's story?
Why does Sam think Jordan's story is true?
What does Alex say about their own story after the group decides?
Sam: “OK, I'll go first. I have eaten a live spider. A big one. In Thailand.”
Alex: “No! Really? Was it actually alive when you ate it? Like, moving?”
Sam: “Yes, completely alive. It was at a street market. The vendor put it in my hand and I just… did it. It tasted like a salted crisp, honestly.”
Jordan: “OK, my question — did you swallow it whole or did you chew it?”
Sam: “I chewed it. Twice. Then I swallowed. The legs were the worst part — they got stuck between my teeth.”
Alex: “I think that's a BIG FAT LIE. You're too calm about it. Nobody is that calm about eating a live spider. You'd be screaming.”
Jordan: “I think it's the AMAZING TRUTH. The detail about the legs is too specific to be made up. A liar would just say 'it was disgusting' and stop there.”
Sam: “It is the AMAZING TRUTH! I have a photo on my phone to prove it — you can see the spider in my hand before I ate it. Your turn, Alex.”
Alex: “Right. I have met a real werewolf. In a forest in Romania, at midnight.”
Sam: “A werewolf. OK. I need a moment. My question — what did it look like exactly? Give me every detail.”
Alex: “It was very tall, covered in dark fur, and it walked on two legs. It looked at me for about five seconds and then ran into the trees.”
Jordan: “My question — were you alone? And why were you in a forest at midnight? That part is what I want to know.”
Alex: “I was with my cousin. We were camping. We heard a noise and went to look. We both saw it clearly. My cousin screamed and ran straight back to the tent.”
Sam: “I say BIG FAT LIE. Werewolves are not real, Alex. I'm sorry. That's just a fact.”
Jordan: “I say BIG FAT LIE too. But I love the story. Ten out of ten for creativity. The cousin detail was a nice touch.”
Alex: “It is… the BIG FAT LIE! Ha! But — and this is true — we really did see something large in those trees. It was probably a big dog. But we ran anyway. OK, Jordan — your turn.”
Jordan: “I have climbed a mountain in my pyjamas. Not Everest — but a proper mountain. In Scotland.”
Sam: “In your pyjamas? My question — why? Why were you wearing pyjamas on a mountain? I need a reason.”
Jordan: “It was a dare. My friends bet me twenty pounds that I wouldn't do it. I started at six in the morning. It took four hours to reach the top.”
Alex: “My question — what did other walkers say when they saw you in pyjamas on a mountain? That must have been quite a sight.”
Jordan: “Most of them laughed. One man offered me his jacket. I said no, because the rules of the dare said I had to wear only the pyjamas. No extra layers.”
Sam: “I say AMAZING TRUTH. The detail about the jacket is too good to be invented. And twenty pounds is exactly the kind of money you'd do something stupid for.”
Alex: “I say AMAZING TRUTH too. Nobody invents pyjamas as a detail — if you were making it up, you'd say something more dramatic, like 'in my underwear'.”
Jordan: “It is the AMAZING TRUTH! I have the photos. And I collected my twenty pounds at the top — my friend drove up the road and met me there to pay.”
Sam: “That is the best story I have ever heard. You win this round, Jordan. Absolutely no question.”
Alex: “Agreed. Right — next round. Who's going first? And this time, make it harder to guess. I want a real challenge.”
4 Section 4. The Best, the Worst, and the Longest
Four friends — Alex, Sam, Jordan, and Chris — share their most extreme experiences. Each one describes a superlative moment from their life. Listen for ‘the most… I have ever…’ and the past simple details that follow.
💬 Dialogue 4: Superlative Experiences
Four friends sit around a table after dinner. They take turns sharing the most extreme experiences of their lives.
📝 Comprehension Check: Extreme Experiences
Answer the questions based on what you heard in the audio.
Which speaker went to a celebration that lasted three days?
Which speaker did not get good news after a very long day of tests and interviews?
Which speaker had to wait many hours in an airport because of a missed flight?
Which speaker stayed at work through the night to fix a serious problem?
What does Chris say about the wedding ceremony on Saturday night?
What does Jordan say about the day of the job interview?
What does Sam say about the day after the long work shift?
What does Alex say about the time spent waiting in Singapore airport?
Chris: “Let's play a game. Everyone shares their most extreme experience — the longest, the shortest, the strangest. I'll start. Last month, I went to the longest wedding I have ever been to in my life. It lasted three days.”
Alex: “Three days? Where was this? You have to tell us everything.”
Chris: “It was in India. My colleague invited me to her wedding in Rajasthan. The ceremony started on a Friday evening and the final celebration finished on Sunday afternoon. There were five different events — a welcome dinner, a ceremony, a reception, a brunch, and a farewell lunch.”
Sam: “That is the most incredible thing I have ever heard. Was it amazing or just exhausting? I can't decide which I would feel.”
Chris: “Both. The most beautiful part was the ceremony on Saturday night — there were hundreds of candles and the music was extraordinary. But by Sunday I was completely finished. I slept on the flight home.”
Jordan: “Let me tell you about the longest job interview I have ever experienced. It lasted an entire day — eight hours. Eight hours for one job.”
Alex: “Eight hours? For one job? That sounds extreme. What did they actually make you do for eight hours?”
Jordan: “First, there was a written test for ninety minutes. Then a group task with five other candidates. Then two one-to-one interviews. Then a presentation I had to prepare in thirty minutes. And finally, a panel interview with six people in the room.”
Sam: “That sounds like the most stressful day you have ever had. Did you get the job after all of that?”
Jordan: “No. They called me the next day and said I was the second choice. It was the most disappointing phone call I have ever received. I sat down on the floor when I heard.”
Chris: “Oh, that's awful. The worst feeling. I'm sorry, Jordan. OK, Sam — what's yours?”
Sam: “I've probably worked the longest shift of anyone here. I worked for nineteen hours straight. Not a single proper break.”
Alex: “Nineteen hours? Was that even legal? What happened to make that necessary?”
Sam: “It was a crisis at work. A major system failed the night before a big product launch. I went in at seven in the morning and I didn't leave until two the next morning. I had a sandwich at my desk at some point — that was my break.”
Jordan: “Well Sam, That's the longest shift I've ever heard of anyone working!. How did you feel the next day? Could you even walk?”
Sam: “I slept for twelve hours. It was the best sleep I have ever had. And the launch worked perfectly, which made every hour of it worth it.”
Chris: “OK, Alex — you're last. What's the most extreme experience you have ever had? It needs to top a three-day wedding, an eight-hour interview, and a nineteen-hour shift.”
Alex: “Well, let's see…I bet I've taken the longest journey of anyone here. It was thirty-two hours of travel from door to door.”
Sam: “Thirty-two hours! Where on earth were you going? That is extraordinary.”
Alex: “I was going to New Zealand. I flew from my city to London, then London to Singapore, then Singapore to Auckland. I missed my connection in Singapore and had to wait six hours in the airport.”
Jordan: “Six hours stuck in an airport! That sounds like the most boring six hours I have ever imagined. What did you do?”
Alex: “Actually, it wasn't that bad at all. Singapore airport is extraordinary — it has a swimming pool, a cinema, and a garden inside it. I swam, watched a film, and had a meal. It was the most unusual airport experience I have ever had.”
Chris: “So the worst part of the trip became the best part? That's a nice twist.”
Alex: “Exactly. And New Zealand was worth every single hour of travel. It was the most beautiful country I have ever visited. I would go back tomorrow if I could.”
Sam: “Right — so we have a three-day wedding, an eight-hour interview, a nineteen-hour shift, and a thirty-two-hour journey. I think I win for the most painful experience. Nineteen hours with no break is serious.”
Jordan: “I disagree — my story is the most heartbreaking. Second place after eight hours of tests! That is genuinely sad.”
Chris: “I think Alex wins. A swimming pool inside an airport is the most extraordinary thing any of us has ever described. That detail alone is worth the prize.”
5 Recap: What You Practised Today
You listened to four different conversations today. Each one used the present perfect for experiences. Here is what to remember.
Use have/has + past participle to talk about life experiences. Use ever in questions. Use never or not even once for zero experiences. Use once, twice, or many times to say how often.
When you give details — the time, the place, what happened — switch to the past simple. This is the key pattern: present perfect for the WHAT, past simple for the WHEN and HOW.
For the biggest or most extreme experiences, use a superlative with the present perfect: the most beautiful country I have ever visited, the longest day I have ever worked. This is a very natural and common pattern in spoken English.
You heard all of these patterns in real conversations — at work, on a trip, in a game, and at a dinner table. The more you listen, the more natural these patterns will feel.
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