B1 — Lesson 3

Appearance, Character & Present Perfect

Describing People · Life Experiences · For/Since · Past Simple Contrast
← Back

Vocabulary: Looks & Personality

B1 Focus: These words go beyond basic descriptions (like "tall" or "good"), allowing you to describe specific physical features and deeper personality traits.

Physical Appearance

Well-built/ˌwelˈbɪlt/Добре сложен / Мускулест
Overweight/ˌəʊ.vəˈweɪt/С наднормено тегло (учтиво)
Bald/bɔːld/Плешив
Freckles/ˈfrek.əlz/Лунички
Wrinkles/ˈrɪŋ.kəlz/Бръчки
Pale/peɪl/Блед
Curly / Straight/ˈkɜː.li/ /streɪt/Къдрава / Права (коса)

Character Adjectives

Ambitious/æmˈbɪʃ.əs/Амбициозен
Arrogant/ˈær.ə.ɡənt/Високомерен / Арогантен
Cheerful/ˈtʃɪə.fəl/Весел / Жизнерадостен
Moody/ˈmuː.di/С променливо настроение
Sensible/ˈsen.sə.bəl/Разумен
Modest/ˈmɒd.ɪst/Скромен

Compound Adjectives

Move beyond single adjectives. Compound adjectives make your descriptions sound more natural and precise — you'll hear them in every TV series and business meeting.
Good-looking/ˌɡʊdˈlʊk.ɪŋ/Красив / Привлекателен (общо)
Middle-aged/ˌmɪd.əlˈeɪdʒd/На средна възраст (≈40–55 г.)
Easy-going/ˌiː.ziˈɡəʊ.ɪŋ/Спокоен / Лесен за общуване
Hard-working/ˌhɑːdˈwɜː.kɪŋ/Трудолюбив
Kind-hearted/ˌkaɪndˈhɑː.tɪd/Добросърдечен / Много добър

Character Idioms

These idioms appear in films, business meetings, and everyday conversation. Learning them now will set you apart at B2.
A pain in the neck/ə ˈpeɪn ɪn ðə nek/Досадник / Досаден човек
A heart of gold/ə ˌhɑːt əv ˈɡəʊld/Много добър / Добросърдечен
A couch potato/ə ˌkaʊtʃ pəˈteɪ.təʊ/Мързеливец / Диванен картоф
A dark horse/ə ˌdɑːk ˈhɔːs/Тъмен кон / Скрити таланти

Phrasal Verbs (Clothes & Behaviour)

Dress up/dres ʌp/Обличам се официално
Put on/pʊt ɒn/Слагам си / Обличам (дреха)
Take off/teɪk ɒf/Събличам / Свалям
Show off/ʃəʊ ɒf/Фукам се / Показвам се

🔁 Vocabulary in Context — Quick Check

Select the correct word for each sentence based on the context.
📝 Select the best answer for each sentence.
1. He never talks about his successes; he is very ___.
2. You don't need to ___ for the party; jeans and a t-shirt are fine.
3. Since he started going to the gym, he has become very ___.
4. She is so ___; one minute she is happy, and the next she is angry.
5. My grandfather has lost all his hair. He is completely ___.

Grammar Lab: Present Perfect Simple

The Present Perfect connects the past to the present. We use it for life experiences, recent events, and actions that started in the past and continue today.

1. Form: Have / Has + Past Participle (V3)

Form the Present Perfect using have/has and the Past Participle (V3). For regular verbs, add -ed. For irregular verbs, you must memorise the 3rd column (e.g., go → went → gone).

Affirmative & Negative

  • I/You/We/They have ('ve) / haven't + V3
  • He/She/It has ('s) / hasn't + V3
  • ✅ "I have lost some weight."
  • ✅ "She hasn't dyed her hair."

Questions

  • Have / Has + Subject + V3?
  • ✅ "Have you seen my glasses?"
  • ✅ "Has he arrived yet?"
  • ❌ "Do you have seen...?" (Never use do/does)
📝 Easy: Select the correct present perfect form.
1. She ___ a lot since we last met.
2. I ___ that new film yet. (not / see)
3. ___ to London before?
4. My parents ___ a new car.
5. ___ his hair recently? He looks completely different!
🎯 Challenge: Type the correct present perfect form of the verb in brackets.
1. They ___ (open) a new coffee shop in the High Street.
2. ___ (she / ever / visit) Scotland? I think she'd love it.
3. I'm sorry — I ___ (not / finish) the report yet.
4. My brother ___ (become) very easy-going since he left university.
5. ___ (you / take) your umbrella? It looks like rain.

2. Signal Words: Just, Already, Yet, Ever, Never

These words frequently accompany the Present Perfect. Their position in the sentence is strictly tested at B1.

Just & Already & Never

  • Position: Between have/has and V3.
  • Just = very recently. "I have just eaten."
  • Already = sooner than expected. "She has already left."
  • Never = not at any time. "He has never been arrogant."

Yet & Ever

  • Yet = until now. Goes at the END of negative sentences and questions. "Have you finished yet?" / "I haven't started yet."
  • Ever = at any time in your life. Goes before V3 in questions. "Have you ever met a famous person?"
📝 Easy: Select the correct signal word for each sentence.
1. Don't call her — she has ___ gone to bed.
2. Have you ___ tried snorkelling? You'd love it.
3. I haven't eaten anything this morning ___.
4. Careful — I've ___ painted that fence! Don't touch it.
5. She is very modest; she has ___ bragged about her achievements.
🎯 Challenge: Type the correct word (just, already, yet, ever, never) into the gap.
1. Have you ___ been to Paris? It's beautiful.
2. I don't want to watch that film. I have ___ seen it three times.
3. The postman hasn't arrived ___.
4. Be careful! I have ___ washed the floor. It's still wet.
5. She is very kind-hearted; she has ___ refused to help someone in need.

3. Unfinished States: For vs Since

We use Present Perfect to talk about states that started in the past and are still true now. We use for or since to say how long.

⏳ For (A period of time)

  • Use to express the duration of the action.
  • Examples: for three days, for ten years, for a long time, for ages, for two months.
  • ✅ "I have known him for five years."

📅 Since (A specific starting point)

  • Use to express the exact moment the action began.
  • Examples: since 2015, since Monday, since I was a child, since yesterday.
  • ✅ "We have lived here since 2010."
📝 Easy: Select 'for' or 'since'.
1. She has had long, straight hair ___ she was a teenager.
2. He has been an easy-going person ___ a very long time.
3. We have been friends ___ over ten years.
4. I haven't seen my arrogant cousin ___ Christmas.
5. They have lived in that flat ___ three months.
🎯 Challenge: Type the correct present perfect form of the verb (brackets) AND type 'for' or 'since'.
1. She ___ (work) at the company ___ 2019.
2. I ___ (not/eat) anything ___ this morning.
3. He ___ (be) bald ___ about five years.
4. We ___ (know) each other ___ we were at school.
5. They ___ (not/speak) to each other ___ the argument last week.

4. Present Perfect Nuance: Been vs Gone

This is a classic B1 trap. Both use the Present Perfect, but they tell us very different things about where someone is right now.

✈️ Have BEEN to (Experience)

  • You went there and came back. It is a life experience.
  • ✅ "I've been to London three times." (I am at home now.)
  • ✅ "She's been to the shops." (She's back.)

🚶 Have GONE to (Still away)

  • You went there and have not returned yet.
  • ✅ "Where's Maria?" "She's gone to the hair salon." (She isn't back yet.)
  • ✅ "He's gone to Edinburgh for the week."
💡 Memory tip: If you can still talk to the person, they have been (they're back). If they're not in the room, they've gone!
📝 Easy: Select 'been to' or 'gone to'.
1. A: "Where's Dad?" B: "He's ___ the supermarket. He'll be back in an hour."
2. I've ___ Rome twice. It's a magnificent city.
3. You'll have to speak to her tomorrow — she's ___ a meeting in Birmingham.
4. Have you ever ___ Scotland? The scenery is breathtaking.
5. My sister has ___ Australia for six months. We really miss her.
🎯 Challenge: Choose the correct option — think about whether the person is back yet or still away.
1. "I can't find Tom anywhere." "Oh, he ___ the gym. He left an hour ago."
2. "I ___ New York four times, so I know it quite well."
3. "Is Dr Evans in?" "No, sorry — she ___ a conference in Edinburgh."
4. "Has anyone in this class ___ a job interview?" Several hands went up.
5. "Where's the manager?" "He's ___ head office. He should be back by three."

5. "Get" for Changes in Appearance

In the Present Perfect, we often use get (+ adjective) to describe physical changes that have happened over time. This sounds very natural in spoken British English.

Get + Adjective

  • "He's got a bit overweight since he stopped playing football."
  • "You've got a tan! Have you been on holiday?"

Get + Comparative

  • "I've got a few more wrinkles since I started this job!"
  • "Her hair has got much longer."

Common Collocations

  • get fit · get bald · get pale
  • get a tan · get wrinkles
  • get well-built · get overweight
📝 Easy: Select the correct phrase using have/has got + one of: [a tan · fit · bald · a few wrinkles · overweight]
1. Wow, you look amazing! You ___ since you joined that fitness class.
2. He ___ recently. He should really start exercising again.
3. Look at your father's forehead — he ___ since last year.
4. You've been in Spain for two weeks — you ___! You look great.
5. His hair has been falling out for years; he ___ completely.
🎯 Challenge: Rewrite each sentence using Present Perfect + get so the meaning stays the same.
1. He is now overweight. (He / overweight / since he retired)
2. She looks very tanned. (She / a tan / on holiday)
3. His hair is much thinner now. (He / quite bald / recently)
4. She is in great shape now. (She / very fit / since she started running)
5. I have more lines on my face now. (I / a few more wrinkles / since I started this job)

7. Present Perfect Continuous

We use the Present Perfect Continuous to talk about actions that started in the past and are still happening now, or that recently stopped but have a visible result. The focus is on the duration or the ongoing process rather than a completed result.

Form

  • have / has + been + V-ing
  • ✅ "I have been studying English for three years."
  • ✅ "She has been waiting for an hour."
  • ❌ "I am studying English since three years." (Wrong!)

When to use it

  • Ongoing action: "He has been working all morning." (He is probably still at it.)
  • Recent action with result: "You look exhausted — what have you been doing?"
  • With for / since: "They have been arguing since this morning."
Present Perfect SimplePresent Perfect Continuous
Focus on the result.
"I have written ten emails." (They're done.)		Focus on the duration / process.
"I have been writing emails all day." (Ongoing or just finished.)
How many / how much:
"She has read three books this week."		How long:
"She has been reading for three hours."
State verbs (know, like, be, want, have) do NOT use continuous:
"I have known him for years." ✅		"I have been knowing him for years." ❌
State verbs are never used in continuous form.
💡 Tip: If the sentence answers HOW LONG? and the action is ongoing, use Present Perfect Continuous. If it answers HOW MANY / HOW MUCH? or the action is complete, use Present Perfect Simple.
📝 Easy: Select the correct Present Perfect Continuous form.
1. She ___ at this school for three years and loves it.
2. I ___ for the bus since half past eight. Where is it?
3. You look tired. What ___ you ___?
4. They ___ that song for over an hour! It's driving me mad.
5. He ___ a lot of overtime recently — he looks exhausted.
🎯 Challenge: Choose Present Perfect Simple or Present Perfect Continuous. Think about whether the focus is on the result, the number, or the ongoing duration.
1. I ___ (read) this novel all week — I'm nearly finished.
2. She ___ (write) five reports today. They are all submitted.
3. How long ___ you ___ (know) her? — Since university.
4. He ___ (train) every day for six months. He looks very well-built now.
5. We ___ (live) in this flat since January — it's still quite new to us.

6. B1 Nuance: Present Perfect vs Past Simple

The biggest trap in exams is choosing between Present Perfect and Past Simple. It is all about TIME.

Present Perfect (Unfinished / No Time)

  • The time is NOT finished (today, this week) OR we don't say when it happened (life experience).
  • ✅ "I have been to Italy." (Sometime in my life)
  • ✅ "She has drunk three coffees today." (Today isn't over)

Past Simple (Finished Time)

  • The action happened at a specific, finished time in the past.
  • Signal words: yesterday, last week, in 2010, two days ago, when I was young.
  • ✅ "I went to Italy in 2018."
  • ✅ "She drank coffee yesterday."
📝 Easy: Select the correct tense. Look for the time expressions carefully!
1. I ___ to the cinema last Saturday.
2. She ___ never eaten Thai food in her life.
3. ___ you see Tom yesterday morning?
4. Look at him! He ___ so much weight — he looks incredible.
5. We ___ here since 2015.
🎯 Challenge: Type the correct verb form — Present Perfect OR Past Simple.
1. I ___ (go) to the cinema last night.
2. She ___ (never/eat) sushi in her life.
3. ___ (you/see) Tom yesterday morning?
4. Look at him! He ___ (lose) so much weight!
5. We ___ (live) in this house since 2015.

Reading: Transformations

Read the texts carefully. Notice how the Present Perfect is used to describe changes, life experiences, and unfinished states compared to the Past Simple for finished events.
🎓

Text 1: The School Reunion

I have just returned from my 10-year high school reunion. It was fascinating to see how much everyone has changed since we graduated in 2016. Some people look completely different! Take Mark, for example. In school, he was quite overweight and very shy. Since then, he has started lifting weights and is now extremely well-built and outgoing. He showed off his new physique on the dance floor! Sarah has also changed a lot. She used to have pale skin and straight, dark hair. Now, she has dyed her hair blonde and has got a tan from living in Spain for three years. Despite the physical changes, some things remain the same. David is still as arrogant as he was at 18. He spent the whole evening talking about how much money he has made. I haven't seen most of these people for a decade, and I probably won't see them for another ten years, but it was certainly an interesting night.

Questions:

1. When did the author's high school graduation happen?

2. How has Mark changed since school?

3. Why does Sarah have a tan now?

4. 🔍 Inference: What does the author think of David's personality?

5. How long has it been since the author last saw most of their classmates?

🎭

Text 2: An Actor's Life

Journalist: "You have had a very successful career, Leo. Have you ever played a villain?" Leo: "Actually, no, I haven't. I have always played the cheerful, sensible hero. However, my appearance has changed a lot recently for my new film role. I have had to shave my head, so I am completely bald right now. I have also put on ten kilos to look more intimidating." Journalist: "Was that difficult?" Leo: "Yes! Last year, I was quite thin for a romantic comedy. I ran five kilometres every day. But for this role, I haven't exercised for two months, and I have eaten a lot of junk food. It affects my mood too. My wife says I have become very moody since I started this diet. I suppose the physical changes have influenced my character temporarily!"

Questions:

1. Has Leo ever played a villain in a film before?

2. How has Leo's appearance changed for his new role?

3. Why did Leo run five kilometres every day last year?

4. 🔍 Inference: Why is Leo's wife commenting on his mood?

5. How long has it been since Leo last exercised?

Text 1 / 2

Cloze Text: Open Gaps

Read the text about personal changes. Type exactly ONE word into each numbered gap. Focus on Present Perfect structure (have/has), signal words (since, for, ever, never, etc.), and lesson vocabulary.

I don't think I am the same person I was five years ago. I (1) changed significantly, both inside and out. For example, I have (2) been a very shy person, but recently I have become much more outgoing and ambitious.

My appearance is different too. I have (3) weight because I go to the gym now, so I am quite well-built. I haven't eaten junk food (4) six months! I also cut my hair last week — I (5) long curly hair before, but now it is very short.

My old friend Jake saw me yesterday. We haven't spoken (6) university. He has (7) started a new job as a lawyer, so he was wearing a very smart suit. He loves to dress (8) and show off his success. He asked me, "Have you (9) thought about working in law?" I laughed and said no, I haven't decided what I want to do (10) .

Key Word Transformation (KWT)

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first, using the word given in capitals. Do not change the key word. Use between two and five words including the key word.

Exercises

Fast-paced practice covering the Present Perfect, vocabulary, signal words, and the Present Perfect vs Past Simple contrast.

Error Correction

Each sentence contains one error. Find it and type the corrected sentence. Type correct if there is no error.

A. Present Perfect Form & Signal Words

Check that have/has matches the subject, the V3 form is correct, and words like 'yet' and 'already' are in the right position.

🔧 Find the error. Type the corrected sentence — or type correct.
1. "She have never been to London."
2. "I already have finished my homework."
3. "We haven't met his sensible brother yet."
4. "Have you ever saw a ghost?"
5. "He hasn't yet eaten breakfast."

B. Tense Choice: Present Perfect vs Past Simple

Look out for time markers! If there is a finished past time (yesterday, in 2020), you MUST use Past Simple. If using for/since for an unfinished state, use Present Perfect.

🔧 Fix the tense error — or type correct.
1. "I have went to the cinema last night."
2. "She has lived here since five years."
3. "We knew each other since 2010."
4. "Did you ever eat sushi in your life?"
5. "He was very arrogant when he was young."