PRESENT PERFECT

1. Form: we use HAVE or HAS + PAST PARTICIPLE. + I / you / we / they He / she / it I / you / we / they He / she / it HAVE HAS HAVE / VE HAS / S HAVENT HASNT been to London. lived abroad for 2 years. been to London. lived abroad for 2 years. been to London? lived abroad for 2 years? No, I / you / we / they HAVENT. No, he / she / it HASNT.

? I / you / we / they He / she / it

Short answers Yes, I / you / we / they HAVE. Yes, he / she / it HAS.

2. Uses: the past action or situation is related to the present in different ways. The action continues from the past to the present. e.g. Ive lived in this town for many years. (I still live here) The time reference includes the present. e.g. Hes been ill all this week. There is no reference to any specific time (in my whole life). e.g. Ive never been to Australia. The action is recent and we dont say exactly when. e.g. Theyve just arrived at the airport. 3. Adverbs: for, since, already, yet, just, recently, ever, never, today, all day, all my life, etc. FOR: to say how long a period is (duration). e.g. for three days, for one month, for two weeks, for a long time, etc. SINCE: to say when the period started. e.g. since October, since I was a child, since 2001, etc. JUST: we mean a short time ago. Use: positive sentences. Position: between HAVE and the PAST PARTICIPLE. e.g. Weve just come back from our holiday. ALREADY: we mean sooner than expected. Use: positive sentences. Position: between HAVE and the PAST PARTICIPLE. e.g. Were late! The party has already started!

YET: when were expecting something to happen. Use: negative and interrogative sentences. Position: at the end of the sentence. e.g. Its 11 am and you havent finished breakfast yet. Have you done your homework yet? EVER: we mean in your life up to now. Use: interrogative sentences. Position: between the SUBJECT and the PAST PARTICIPLE. e. g. Have you ever played cricket? NEVER: we mean not ever. Use: positive sentences with a negative meaning. Position: between HAVE and the PAST PARTICIPLE. e.g. I have never been to New York. 4. Note: There are two possible past participle forms: BEEN and GONE. GONE: someone went to one place and they are still there. e.g. Shes gone to the bank. (Shes at the bank now) BEEN: someone went to one place and they came back. e. g. Hes been to the supermarket today. (He is at home now)

PRESENT PERFECT OR PAST SIMPLE?

1. The past simple refers to completed actions in the past. We say WHEN these things happened or the time is understood. The present perfect refers to a period of time from the past until now. We dont say WHEN these things happened. e.g. Ive been to Barcelona twice. (in my life up to now) How long have you had this vespa? (you have it now) Ive bought a new computer. (you dont say when) Marilyn Monroe was married three times. (shes dead) I went there in 1990 and 2005. (on two specific occasions) How long did you have your vespa? (you dont have it now) I bought it on Saturday. (you say when) My friend has been married three times. (shes alive)

2. Conversations often begin in the present perfect (with a general question) and then change to the past simple (with questions asking for specific details). e.g. A: Have you ever broken your leg? B: Yes, I have. (life experience) A: When was it? B: When I was ten years old. (specific detail)