2. Present Perfect Tense
FORM: have / has + past participle
Affirmative: I have seen the film before.
She has seen the film before.
Interrogative: Have you seen the film before?
Has she seen the film before?
Negative: They haven’t seen the film before.
He hasn’t seen the film before.
3. Present Perfect Tense
We may say that this verbal tense is a mixture of
present and past.
USES OF THE PRESENT PERFECT
1. To talk about a completed past action at a non-specific
time. The action is finished. You don't know,
care or remember when it happened.
– I have read that book before.
– She has already done her homework.
4. Present Perfect Tense
2. With words such as FOR and SINCE, to
talk about something that began in the
past and continues to now.
I've studied at this school since last June.
She‘s lived in West Palm Beach for 2 years.
“Llevo + periodo de tiempo”
5. Present Perfect Tense
When we use the Present Perfect with FOR or
SINCE it gives the idea that something began in
the past and continues into the present (and may
continue into the future)
FOR + LENGTH OF TIME
We use the Present perfect with “for” + length of
time (for ten minutes, for two weeks, for years,
for a long time) to show how long a present
condition has lasted.
6. Present Perfect Tense
Examples:
I have worked at this job for two years.
He has lived in Florida for five months.
They've been married for a long time.
7. Present Perfect Tense
SINCE + POINT IN TIME
Use the present perfect with “since” + point in
time (since 5:00, since Monday, since 1994)
to show when something started.
- I've worked here since last year.
- They've been married since November.
8. SINCE can also introduce a time clause.
OK….. What’s a time clause?
Take a look at the following examples:
I’ve lived in Lake Worth since I moved to Florida.
When the action in the time clause ended in the
past, we use the simple past tense in the time
clause.
(“moved to Florida” is over…It happened…It is
finished.)
I’ve studied at the AEC since I’ve lived in Florida.
When the action in the time clause began in the
past but continues into the present, use the
present perfect. (I still live in Florida.)
9. So……
How do we ask questions using this tense?
When we want to know the length of
time something has taken place we use
the question words “HOW LONG.”
How long have you lived in Campillo de Arenas?
I’ve lived here for 2 years.
How long has she studied English at the AEC?
She’s studied at the AEC since 2005.
10. Wake up! Back to Use #1
(completed past action at a non-specific time)
We often use the Present Perfect with already to
talk about things that have happened before now.
I’ve already eaten breakfast.
She’s already read that book.
You’re too late.He’s already left for school.
Already usually comes between have and
the past participle. However, it can also
come at the end of the clause.
11. We may use the present perfect with not yet to talk
about things that have not happened before now.
We’re hungry. We haven’t eaten lunch yet.
Sure I’ll go with you. I haven’t seen that movie yet.
We’ve waited for an hour, but they haven’t arrived yet.
Notice that yet usually comes at the end of the clause.
12. We usually use yet in questions to find out if
something has happened before now.
Have you bought your mother a present yet?
Has she seen that movie yet?
Sometimes we use already in a question to
express surprise that something happened
sooner than expected.
Have you already bought your mother a present?
I didn’t know you had a chance to go shopping.
Have they already left for school? It’s so early.
13. We may use the present perfect with just (acabar
de) to mean something happened a short time ago.
I have just lost my umbrella.
Oh... I have just forgotten her address.
Notice that just usually have mid-position in the
sentence.
14. We can sometimes use the present perfect with ever
and never to talk about general experiences.
Have you ever been to Italy?
George has never driven a car.
15. Contrast between Present
Perfect and Past Simple
We use definite expressions with the Past simple
tense: yesterday, last week, … ago etc, while we
don’t use definite time expressions with the Present
perfect tense.
I have been to France three times
When did you go there last?
I went there last Summer
16. Contrast between Present
Perfect and Past Simple
Gerald has bought a new car. He bought it last
week.
Have you met Ray? – Yes, I met him when we
were students.
My parents have been to India. In fact, they
went there twice last year.
Has anybody phoned me? – Yes, Joyce
phoned an hour ago.
I’ve seen that man before. – Really? When did
you see him?
17. Contrast between Present Perfect and Past Simple
We use the present perfect to talk
about general experiences in the
past without any reference to when
they happened:
I’ve travelled to Italy several times.
We use the past simple to tak about
past experiences with reference to a
specific time in the past:
I spent last summer in Italy.
18. Contrast between Present
Perfect and Past Simple
We normally use the Present Perfect to ask
about a general experience and Past
Simple to talk about the details of that
experience.
- Have you seen Torrente 5?
- Yes, I saw it last Friday.
- Did you like it?
- Well, not really.
19. Please note the difference
• He has been to London.
Now he is here. He can
tell you wonderful stories
about London.
• He has been in London
for two weeks. He is still
in London.
• Where’s Peter? He has
gone to London. He is in
Italy or on his way to
London.
20. BEEN VS GONE
GONE: indicates that someone
is not present.
BEEN: refers to the experience
of having visited a place.
-She’s gone to Victor’s.
-I’ve never been to Victor’s.