INGLÉS

SEMANA N° 14

PRESENT PERFECT
The present perfect is used for actions started in the past and continue in the
present.
We use it…
1. For something that started in the past and continues in the present.
• They've been married for nearly fifty years.
• She has lived in Liverpool all her life.
2. When we are talking about our experience up to the present
• I've seen that film before.
• I've played the guitar ever since I was a teenager.
• He has written three books and he is working on another one.
3. For something that happened in the past but is important in the present:
• I can't get in the house. I've lost my keys.
• Teresa isn't at home. I think she has gone shopping.

AFFIRMATIVE

Subject + Aux. verb + Verb past + Complement

participle
I, you, we, they + have + studied + at UNI for 2 years.
He, she, it + has + studied + at UNI for 2 years.

NEGATIVE

Subject + Neg. aux. + Verb past + Complement

participle
I, you, we, they + haven’t + eaten + at that restaurant.
He, she, it + hasn’t + eaten + at that restaurant.

INTERROGATIVE
Aux. + Subject + Main + Complement
verb
Have + I, you, we, they + eaten + at that restaurant?
Has + He, she, it + eaten + at that restaurant?
Short answers
Yes, he has/No, he hasn’t
Yes, I have/No, I haven’t
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There are words that are usually used in present perfect:

• SINCE: it is used to show when a present condition started.

❖ Since + a point in time in the past

Examples: since 6:00, since Saturday afternoon, since 2000.
❖ Since can als introduce a time clause.
Example: Maya has lived in the USA since 2004.

• FOR: it is used to show how long a present condition has lasted.

❖ For + length of time.
Example: for twenty minutes, for 5 years, for long time.

❖ ALREADY: it is used to talk about things that have happened before

now.
✓ It usually comes between have and the present perfect in affirmative
sentences.
Example: I have already finished my homework.
✓ It can also come at the end of the clause.

❖ YET: it is used in interrogative sentences to ask if the action has

happened or not and, in negative sentences to show that the action
hasn’t happened.
✓ It usually comes at the end of the clause.
Example: A: Have you read it yet?
B: No, I haven’t read it yet.

* NOT YET: it is used to talk about things that have not happened
before now.
Example: A: Have you eaten?
B: Not yet.

❖ STILL: it is used in negative sentences in the same way as “yet”.

Example: My visa still hasn't come through.

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❖ Consider…
Present perfect: indefinite past
When you don’t know when something happened or when the specific
time is not important.

✓ EVER: We use “ever” to talk about things that never happen before.
Example: I haven´t ever seen a diamond.

✓ Use ever to ask questions. A: Have you ever tried Thai food?
NEVER
Use never to answer negatively. B: No, I’ve never tried it.

JUST: we use just, recently or lately to talk about events in the very
recent past.
Example: We just bought a new house.

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