PRESENT PERFECT

SIMPLE & CONTINUOUS

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 PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE & CONTINUOUS

1. PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

2. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

PRESENT PERFECT PRESENT PERFECT
SIMPLE CONTINUOUS

HAVE/HAVEN’T
HAS/ HASN’T P.P. HAVE/HAVEN’T
+ BEEN + VERB-ING
HAS/ HASN’T

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 PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE
1. PPS is used to talk about an action that happened at unspecified time in the past, but it is relevant to
be mentioned at the present time.
Relevant

When?? Present
 Examples:
1. A: Is Tom there?
B: No, he’s gone.
2. A: I need to have these documents translated.
B: I can help you because I’ve studied translation.

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 PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

2. PPS is used to talk about how many actions a person has done during a period of time in his or her life.

Present

Time Expressions
 Examples:
Once
- I’ve seen Titanic more than three times. Twice
- Ericka’s been to Paris twice so far this year. Three times
- I think I’ve taught Present Perfect more than twenty Four times …
times. So far
- My friend has worked in ten different countries.
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 PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

3. PPS is used to talk about a past action within a present framework.

Present

 Examples: Time Expressions

- I’ve eaten an apple today. Today
- Marios’s bought a new laptop this month. This week
- Have you travelled this year? This month
This year

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 PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE
(TIME EXPRESSIONS)
4. FOR / SINCE

PPS is used with FOR or SINCE to talk about an action that started in the past and continues now. FOR is used
followed by a period of time and SINCE is followed by a past action

Present

 Examples: FOR + Period of Time

- I’ve lived in SJL for 15 years. (action verb)
- Julissa has had her car since 2015. (state verb) SINCE + Specific past action

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 PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
(TIME EXPRESSIONS)
FOR / SINCE

PPC is used with or without FOR or SINCE to talk about an action that started in the past and continues now.
FOR is used followed by a period of time and SINCE is followed by a past action

Present

 Examples: FOR + Period of Time

- I’ve been living in SJL for 15 years. (action verb)
- Julissa has been having her car since 2015. (state verb) SINCE + Specific past action
- A: Why do you look so tired?
B: I’ve been working very hard.
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 PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE
(TIME EXPRESSIONS)
5. JUST

PPS is used with JUST to talk about a past action a short time before mentioned.

Present

 Examples:
- My uncles have just arrived.
JUST (seconds or minutes)
- My mother has just finished cooking.
 PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE
(TIME EXPRESSIONS)
6. ALREADY

PPS is used to talk about an action that is finished before expected.

Present
 Examples:
- A: Let’s go to see Aquaman
B: No, I’ve already seen that film. ALREADY “Before expected”
- It’s 11:30 am and she’s already had lunch.
 PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE
(TIME EXPRESSIONS)
7. NEVER

PPS is used to talk about an action that has never occurred in a person’s life.

Present

 Examples:
- I have never been to London.
- My friends have never smoked.
- She’s never been abroad.

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 PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE
(TIME EXPRESSIONS)
8. ALWAYS

PPS is used to talk about a feeling, opinion or action that has always existed in a person’s life.

Present

Examples:
- I’ve always loved eating fish.
- Marina’s always thought like that.

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 PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE
(TIME EXPRESSIONS)
9. YET

PPS is used with YET with negative sentences to talk about an action that has never occurred but it is
expected in the future.

PPS is used with YET with question forms to ask if an action has already been done.

Present
 Examples:
- I haven’t been to London yet. (= I’ve never been there before, but I want to.)
- Lucy hasn’t eaten suri yet. (=She’d like to do it)

- Have you finished the test yet? (-)/(?)

- Has your sister passed the FCE exam yet?
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 PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE
(TIME EXPRESSIONS)
10 RECENTLY

PPS is used with RECENTLY to talk about an action that has occurred not so long ago.

Present (-)/(?)
 Examples:
- I ‘ve recently seen an action film.
- Lucy has written a poem recently. RECENTLY
- Recently, MVLL has published a book. (days, weeks or a few months)
- Have you been to Brighton recently?

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 PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE
(TIME EXPRESSIONS)
11. EVER

Ever is uses in Yes/No questions to know if an action occurred in a person’s life.

Present

 Examples:
- Have you ever been to London? Yes, I have.
- Have your friends ever smoked? Never actually.
- Has she ever been abroad? No, never.

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 PPS & PPC with & without FOR/SINCE

PRESENT PERFECT PRESENT PERFECT

SIMPLE CONTINUOUS

FOR / SINCE The baby has cried for The baby has been crying Both sentences mean
ten minutes. for ten minutes. the same. The baby is
still crying.
The sentence in PPS
means that the baby
FOR / SINCE The baby has cried. The baby has been crying. cried in the past, but
now he’s not. The
second sentence, the
baby is still crying.

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 RECENTLY / LATELY
Use recently/lately with PPS for a completed action at an unspecified
time.

I’ve recently read a book by MV LLosa.

Use recently/lately with PPC for an action that is not completed until
now.

I’ve recently been reading a book by MV LLosa.

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