S + Have/Has + past Participle

Present => some kind of link to the present time

Perfect => some link to the past time

1. Recent events => recently, lately, in the last few

years

• There have been a lot of protests among teachers recently

• The economic crisis has hit almost everybody lately

• Technology has transformed learning methods in the last few years

2. Indefinite past(recent)

=> just, already, yet• I have come to repair my car

• The train has already left.

• Have you read this book yet?

• They have just had lunch: they can’t be hungry again!

• Where have you been? – I’ve been away for some days

3. Result

• It hasn’t stopped raining. We can’t go for a picnic!

• They have painted their house grey. It looks awful.

4. Experiences=> in my life, ever, never, before, up

to now, up till now, so far

• Have you ever been to London?

• Yes, I’ve been there a few times

• (When did you go?)

5. Period of time including past and present

=>today, this week, this month…

• She has bought a lot of new clothes this month

• I have had three cups of coffee this morning

• You have worked hard today. Let’s have a break.

6. Duration of state(be, have, know,

opinion, perception, feeling…)=> how long, for, since

• How long have you been here?

• We have known each other for a few years

• They have had that car since last December.

Compare…

• Simple past

I met Susan two minutes ago

I went to London last week

They got married in 2010

• Present Perfect

I have just met Susan

I have been to London twice

They have been married for two years

Talking about duration

Duration of state => Present perfect simple

• I have been here for two hours

• I have wanted to move to this country all my life.

Duration of action => Present Perfect Continuous

• I have been waiting for two hours

NB He hasn’t worked here for a long time, as he retired in 2001.

Present Perfect Continuous

S + Have/has BEEN +V-ing (Gerund)

• Duration of action He’s been talking for hours

• Result of prolonged recent activity You’re sweating! - I’ve been playing tennis.

• Long recent actionsHe’s been playing on the Playstation all afternoon.

NB No continuous in negative sentences: I haven’t played tennis for three years.

“da molto”+ He has been working here for a long time /for long

? Has he been working here for long?

- He hasn’t worked here for a long time: he retired in 2001. (false duration )

He hasn’t been working here for long: He started three months ago. (False negative)

Personal/ Impersonal forms

• Aspetto da due ore= I’ve been waiting for two

hours

• Ha la moto nuova da due giorni

= He has had a new motorbike for two days

• Non ci vediamo da tre mesi= We haven’t met for 3

months

• Sono due ore che aspetto = ****

• Sono due giorni che ha la moto nuova…

= It’s two days since he bought his new motorbike

• Sono tre mesi che non ci vediamo

= It’s three months since we last met

Compare…

• Italian

E’ arrivato da dieci minuti

E’ morto da due anni

• English

• He arrived ten minutes ago

• He died two years ago