Present Perfect

1
Present Perfect

• Dragana Filipovic

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Present Perfect Simple

• have / has past participle
• I have seen the film before.
• She has seen the film before.
• Have you seen the film before?
• Has she seen the film before?
• They havent seen the film before.
• He hasnt seen the film before.

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Present Perfect Continuous

• have / has been present participle
• I have been working all the time .
• She has been working all the time.
• Have you been working all the time?
• Has he been working all the time?
• We havent been working all the time.
• He hasnt been working all the time.

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Recent events

• Present Perfect Simple is used to describe recent
  events without a definite time. The idea of time
  or place in the speakers mind makes the event
  recent. A time expression may emphasise
  recentness (just, recently, lately).
• Ive left my shopping bag behind.
• Ive just broken my watch.

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• We can also describe events that have not
  happened.
• I havent found her phone number yet.
• The event may be connected with the present,
  because the result of the event is present. No
  definite time is given for the event.
• Ive broken my arm, as you can see.
• I think Ive eaten something bad. I dont feel
  well.

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Indefinite events

• Present Perfect Simple No definite time is
  given for the event.
• Ive been to France three times.
• Compared with Past Simple Events described
  using the Past Simple have definite time
  (yesterday, last week ...)
• I went to France last year.

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• The tense used can depend on the time expression.
• This is the first time I have eaten Japanese
  food.
• If we think of a definite place for an event,
  this may suggest a definite time.
• I left my shopping bag on the train.

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The difference between the Present Perfect and
the Past Simple

• The Present Perfect is used when the present
  result is important.
• The Past Simple is used for something that
  happened in the past and that has no direct link
  to the present.

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• We have finished the house. Now we need a
  vacation.
• BUT
• We finished the house and left for a vacation.
• I have met Ray a few times but I dont like him.
• BUT
• I met Ray a few times but I didnt like him.

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• The Present Perfect cannot be used for something
  that happened at a specific time in the past. It
  cannot be used with words and phrases of past
  time which say (or ask) when something happened,
  e.g. yesterday, last week / month / year, ago,
  at five oclock, on Sunday, When ?
• These words refer to events that happened and
  were completed in the past. Therefore we use them
  with the Past Simple.

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• 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.
• Ive seen that man before. Really? When did
  you see him?

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• Some words or phrases of time, e.g. today, this
  morning / week / month / year, can be used with
  either the Present Perfect or the Past Simple. If
  the period is not finished at the time of
  speaking / writing, the Present Perfect is used.
• I havent seen Rachel this morning. Have you?
  No, she hasnt come yet. (Its still morning.)
• I didnt see Rachel this morning. Did you? No,
  she didnt come in at all. (Its afternoon or
  evening.)

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• The Present Perfect can be used only for events
  or actions that are connected with the present.
  With events, people or actions that are known to
  be connected with the past (e.g. historical
  events, people who are dead), the Past Simple is
  used.
• Stephen King has written many books.
• Agatha Christie wrote detective stories.
• Michael Jackson has appeared all over the world.
• How many songs did the Beatles write?

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Circle the correct tense

• I looked up at the sky and saw / have seen a very
  bright light.
• I lost / have lost the keys to my car. I dont
  know what to do.
• I felt /have felt much better when I got to the
  mountains.
• It rained / has rained for two days before we
  could leave the hotel for the first time.

15
Answers

• I looked up at the sky and saw a very bright
  light.
• I have lost the keys to my car. I dont know what
  to do.
• I felt much better when I got to the mountains.
• It rained for two days before we could leave the
  hotel for the first time.

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• I told / have told you the same thing over and
  over again. Why dont you listen? Ill tell you
  again, but please pay attention this time.
• It became /has become very hot in here suddenly.
  Is there something wrong with the
  air-conditioning?
• Havent you finished your homework yet? I
  finished / have finished mine hours ago.
• I waited /have waited for hours but nobody came.

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Answers

• I have told you the same thing over and over
  again. Why dont you listen? Ill tell you again,
  but please pay attention this time.
• It has become very hot in here suddenly. Is there
  something wrong with the air-conditioning?
• Havent you finished your homework yet? I
  finished mine hours ago.
• I waited for hours but nobody came.

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• I met / have met many interesting people since I
  came here last May.
• You smoked / have smoked ten cigarettes so far
  today. Dont you think you should stop?
• Last week I invited / have invited a few friends
  over for dinner.
• After less than 10 minutes they realised / have
  realised that they were lost.

19
Answers

• I have met many interesting people since I came
  here last May.
• You have smoked ten cigarettes so far today.
  Dont you think you should stop?
• Last week I invited a few friends over for
  dinner.
• After less than 10 minutes they realised that
  they were lost.

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Extended or repeated events

• With verbs that describe states, the Present
  Perfect Simple describes a state which lasts up
  to the present.
• Ive lived in this house for five years.
• The Present Perfect Continuous can also describe
  a state which lasts up to the present moment.
• Ive been living in this house for five years.

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• There is little difference in meaning between
  simple and continuous in this case, or with How
  long questions. The verbs sit, lie, wait, stay
  prefer the Present Perfect Continuous.
• How long have you been waiting?
• The Present Perfect Simple can describe a
  habitual action in a period of time up to the
  present moment.
• Ive never worn a tie to work, and I refuse to
  start now!

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• We use the Present Perfect Continuous for a
  continuous or repeated activity that began in the
  past and continues into the present. It
  emphasises the activity itself and its duration.
• Jack has been waiting for over an hour.
• Ive been studying since 5 oclock.

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Contrasts between simple and continuous

• Not completed Use of the Present Perfect
  Continuous can suggest that an action is not
  completed, or has recently finished.
• Weve been walking for hours! Lets have a rest.
• Ive been digging the garden. Thats why Im so
  dirty.

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• Completed Use of the Present Perfect Simple can
  show that an action is complete. Given the number
  of actions suggests completion.
• Ive written ten pages of my homework
  assignment!

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Circle the correct tense

• We have been driving /drove / drive around for an
  hour and we are still lost. Lets stop and ask
  somebody.
• I am / have been /was here since Tuesday and I
  still cant find my way around.
• I have been reading / read /have read that book.
  Do you have another one to lend me?

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Answers

• We have been driving around for an hour and we
  are still lost. Lets stop and ask somebody.
• I have been here since Tuesday and I still cant
  find my way around.
• I have read that book. Do you have another one to
  lend me?

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• I just came / have just come / have just been
  coming in. Id like to rest for a while.
• How long have you been /were you /did you in Rome
  last year?
• I read / have read / have been reading this book
  for over a month. Ill finish it soon.
• Who ate / has eaten / has been eating my chips?
  There are none left.

28
Answers

• I have just come in. Id like to rest for a
  while.
• How long were you in Rome last year?
• I have been reading this book for over a month.
  Ill finish it soon.
• Who has eaten my chips? There are none left.

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• Who ate /has eaten /has been eating my chips?
  Soon Ill have none left.
• It rained / has rained /has been raining all day!
  Why cant it stop!
• Have you been / Have you gone / Did you go to the
  concert in the park last week?
• I watched / have watched / have been watching
  this video ten times so far.

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Answers

• Who has been eating my chips? Soon Ill have none
  left.
• It has been raining all day! Why cant it stop!
• Did you go to the concert in the park last week?
• I have watched this video ten times so far.

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Note the difference

• He has been to Italy. ? Now he is here. He can
  tell you wonderful stories about Italy.
• He has been in Italy for two weeks. ? He is still
  in Italy.
• Wheres Peter? He has gone to Italy. ? He is in
  Italy or on his way to Italy.