 We use it to talk about a past event.

 For something that started in the past and continue until

today (The present).

Questions
Aux.( have/has) + Subject + Verb in past participle + Complement+ ?

Have you seenMaria this week?

Short answers
Yes, I have. Yes, she has.
No, theyhaven't. No, he hasn't.

Affirmative
Subject + Aux.( have/has) + Verb in past participle+ Complement.
 Ihave eaten frog legs.

Negative
Subject + Aux.( have/has) +Not + Verb in past participle+
Complement.

Ihaven't tasted a meal so delicious.

 We use it to talk about experience.

Ex: I think I have seen that movie before.
Note: We can’t use the present perfect with a time in the past.

Ex: I have been in Spain in 2008

 We use the present perfect to talk about things that are

unfinished.
Ex: We have lived here since I was a child.
 We use the present perfect to show a present result of a past
action.
Ex: I have lost my wallet.
He lost his wallet sometime in the past but the result “he
doesn’t have money” is in the present.
 Note: You cannot use the present perfect with specific
time expressions such as:
Yesterday/One year ago/Last week/At that moment/That
day/One day.

BUTwe can use it to refer to a time which is not finished yet.

Ex: Have you seen Helen today?

We have bought a new car this week.

 We can use the present perfect with unspecific expressions

such as:
Ever: Have you ever been to France before?
Never: I have never eaten Sushi.
Once: I’ve tried chicken wingsonce.
Many times: I’ve played Mario Kart many times.
Several times: We’ve been to NYC several times.
Already: I’ve already eaten fried chicken. (+)
Yet: She hasn’t finished her homework yet. (-)
 Exercises
USE THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
1. She/go/ to the library today?

2. You/eat/ Thai food before?

3. It/rain/all day?

4. He/not/forget/his books
 5. She/steal/all the chocolates

6. I/explain/it well?

7. We/buy a new lamp

8. We/not/plan/our holiday yet

For and since
We have lived here for five years.
He has been away since Tuesday.

We often use for and since when talking about time.

for + period: a "period" is a duration of time - five minutes, two

weeks, six years. For means "from the beginning of the period to
the end of the period".

since + point: a "point" is a precise moment in time - 9 o'clock,

1st January, Monday. Since means "from a point in the past until
now".

Look at these examples:

 For Since
a period a point
from start to from then (past) to
end now(present)

>===< x===>|

for 20 minutes since 9am

for three days since Monday
for 6 months since January
for 4 years since 1997
for 2 centuries since 1500
for a long time since I left school
for ever since the beginning of time

For
For can be used with all tenses. Here are a few
examples:

 They study for two hours every day.

 They are studying for three hours today.
 He has lived in Bangkok for a long time.
 He has been living in Paris for three months.
 I worked at that bank for five years.
 Will the universe continue for ever?

We do not use for with "all day", "all the time":

  I was there all day. (not for all day)

Since
‘Since’ is normally used with perfect tenses:

 He has been here since 9am.

 He has been working since he arrived.
 I had lived in New York since my childhood.

We also use since in the structure "It is [period] since":

 It was a year since I had seen her.

 How long is it since you got married?

Both for and since also have other meanings, with no reference to

time. Here are some examples:

 This is for you.

 Since you ask, I'll say yes.

 Since he didn't study, he didn't pass the exam.

In the following sentences, should you use 'for' or 'since'.

 1. I have lived in London ___ six months.

 2. I have danced ___ I was small.

 3. She hasn't had a day off ___ three months.

 4. I've lost so much flexibility ___ I injured my leg.

 5. They have all improved in attitude ___ the headmaster talked to them.

 6. Wars have been happening ___ centuries, it won’t ever change.

 7. I haven't been on holiday ___ ages.

 8. I haven't eaten that much ___ Christmas.

 9. I haven't been on holiday ___ last year.

 10. She hasn't seen her jacket ___ yesterday, I think she lost it.

Exercise. Do we use for or since with the following time references?

 I haven't phoned home ____________ Christmas.

 We've been here ____________ nine o'clock.
 I have worked for International House ____________ more than eight years.
 I haven't visited my home town ____________ I left school.
 I haven't been to the cinema ____________ ages.
 I have studied non-stop ____________ 9:15.
 I have had a driving licence ____________ I was eighteen (years old).
 She hasn't had a day off ____________ 1999. Johan has been in
England ____________ more than two weeks now.
 Peter has been my best friend ____________ we were nine.