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THE PRESENT PERFECT

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The P. P. links past and present.

Past + Present

PAST PRESENTPRESENT PERFECT

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S + HAVE/HAS + PAST PARTICIPLE

The same form (have + past participle) existsin many European languages, but the uses inEnglish are different.

Form

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The Present Perfect is used to talk about:

1. Recent Past Actions/ Present Result2. Experiences3. Unfinished Past

Uses

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I have lost my address book Have the childern had their dinner? The teacher has read my report.

Time is not stated but

I lost my address book in the library three months ago.

Did you feed the cat yesterday? The teacher read my report last week.

1.Recent Past Actions

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The Present Perfect expresses a past action that had apresent result.

The taxi hasn’t arrived yet. (We are still waiting for it)

What have you done to your lip? (It’s bleeding)

PRESENT RESULT

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I haven’t done my homework yet (negative)

Has the doctor arrived yet? (question)

I’ve already done my homework. (positive)

She’s just had some good news.

The adverbs YET, ALREADY, JUST are common with this use.N.B. The position of the adverbs in the sentence!

JUST, ALREADY, YET: PRESENT RESULT

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Do the quiz What have you done recently.pdf

What have you done recently?

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The Present Perfect is used to talk about experiences inour life.

I’ve been to the USA.Time is not stated.

N.B. Be careful! There is a difference between go & be

EXPERIENCE2. EXPERIENCES

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Tony has gone to New York (means he has left and is still away)

Tony has been to New York (means he visited New York and is back)

BEEN & GONE

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I’ve never been to USA. (= in my life)I haven’t tried sushi before. (= in my life)Have you ever eaten Chinese? (= in your life)How many times has she been married (= in her life)

The adverbs EVER, NEVER,BEFORE, once, twice, threetimes… are common with this use.

Have you ever…? EXPERIENCES

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Do the quiz Have you ever.pdf

Have you ever?

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The Present Perfect expresses an action that began in thepast and still continues.

We’ve lived in the same house for 25 years.How long have you known each other?They have been married since 1987.

Difference between SINCE & FORItalian language expresses this idea with the present.

3. UNFINISHED PAST

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The time expressions that are common with this use are:

three years 2009FOR = a period SINCE = a moment of time in time

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PRESENT PERFECT or PAST SIMPLE?

Me? I’ve never stayed in a five-star hotel! but I stayed in a one-star hotel in 2010. It was terrible!

Have you stayed in a five-star hotel recently?

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Does not say when… Completed Action

Have you ever been toNew York?

Yes, I have alreadybeen to N. Y.No, I haven’t been toN. Y. yet.

Have you ever been toNew York?

Oh, yes. I wentthere last year andI liked it a lot.

Present Perfect or Past Simple ?

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Unfinished Action Completed Action

I’ve lived in Texas for six years. (I still live there)

I’ve written several books (In my life)

Have you seen Amy this morning?(It’s still morning)

I lived in Texas for six years. (Now I live somewhere else)

Shakespeare wrote 30 plays. (He’s dead)

Did you see Amy this morning?

(It’s the afternoon or evening)

Present Perfect or Past Simple ?

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We use the Present Perfect Continuous TO EMPHASIZE anActivity which started in the past and is continuing, is still inProgress now, or has just stopped and has present result.

I’ve been studying English for years (and I’ m still doing it).I’ve been in class all morning (and I’ve just come out). How long have you been working in this field?

Remember: State verbs are rarely used in the Continuous.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUSPresent Perfect Continuous

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Recently completed action

Activity over a period of time

I’ve painted the kitchen andnow I’m doing the bathroom.

I’ve read ten chapters.(with numbers or quantities)

I’ve cut my fingers.(verbs that dont’ have the ideaof a long time: find, break…)

I’ve been decorating the kitchenall morning.

I’ve been reading all day. (period of time)

It has been rainig!(verbs that have the idea of along time: wait, work, learn…)

Present Perfect: Simple or Continuos?