PRESENT PERFECT

The present perfect tense is a tense of connection between past and present.

ST: subj. + have/has + past participle of the main verb.

My sister has forgotten how to ride horses.

NEG: subj. + have/has + not (haven't/hasn't) + past participle of the main verb.

My sister hasn't forgotten how to ride horses.

QUE: have/has + subj. + past participle of the main verb... ?

Has my sister forgotten how to ride horses?

USE​:
1) with time expressions when the time period is not finished: this morning, this
evening, this year, this month, today, this week ...

I haven't eaten this morning. --> It's still morning

I didn't eat this morning. --> it's afternoon, it's evening, the morning is over.

2) with an activity that happened at a point in the past, without a specific reference of
time and place.

I've visited London once in my life.

The meaning of this statement is important for the conversation.

3) we use the present perfect for life experiences

Have you ever been to Colombia?

No, I've never been there/ Yes, I have.

The focus of the sentence is on WHAT happened and not on WHEN it happened.

4) we use the present perfect with ever, never, just, already, yet, before, up to now,
still, so far, for, since.

ever - ​used to ask about a life experience.

It goes before the past participle in questions
Have you ever been to Colombia?

never​ - used to talk about experiences you haven't had. - with positive verb but with a
negative meaning
It goes before the past participle
No, I've never been to Colombia.

just -​ shortly before now.

It goes before the past participle
This morning, I've just had breakfast.

already - ​earlier than expected

It goes before the past participle
This morning, I've already had breakfast.

yet​- not until now

used in questions and negatives; it goes at the end of the sentence.

This morning, I haven't had breakfast yet.

Have you received the results of your exam yet?

before - ​in the past

Before has a free position
This morning, I've had breakfast before dawn.

up to now/so far/still - ​ until now

I haven't had breakfast up to now.

I still haven't had breakfast this morning.
I haven't had breakfast so far.

for - ​it goes with the amount of time an action lasted

I've played the piano for 15 years.

since - ​it fixes the point in the past in which the action started.

I've played the piano since 2005.

5) we use the present perfect for unfinished actions started in the past.

I've worked as teacher for 5 years. --> I still work as a teacher now.

6) the present perfect is used for actions happened in the past but having a
connection, result or influence in the moment of speaking.

She told me her name 5 minutes ago, but I've forgotten it.

LISTENING
I've looked at the sales figures. They've shot up by 20%. - Present perfect
I looked at the sales figures this morning. They shot up by 20% last month. - Past simple

Present perfect --> WHAT HAPPENED

Past simple ---> WHEN IT HAPPENED

I haven't eaten this morning.

Have you ever eaten insects?
I have eaten insects, I've eaten ants.
I've never eaten insects.