PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

 We use:

1. For actions which happened at an unstated indefinite time in the past. The exact time is not important.
e.g. They have bought a new house. (When did they buy it? We don’t know when, the time is not mentioned)

2. For actions which started in the past and are still continuing in the present.
e.g. I have known Mary for ten years. (We met ten years ago and we still know each other.)

3. For actions which have recently finished and their results are visible in the present.
e.g. Tom has just painted the fence. (He has just finished painting. The paint on the fence is still wet.)

4. with today, this afternoon/ morning, etc. when these periods of time are not finished at the time of speaking.
e.g. He has made ten pots this morning. (It is still morning so this period of time is not finished.)

 The Affirmative Form

Subject + have/ has + verb + ed
e.g. She has cleaned the room.

Subject + have/ has + verb in the 3rd form (past participle)

e.g. I have written a letter.

 The Negative Form

Subject + have/ has + not + verb +ed
e.g. She has not/ hasn’t cleaned the room.

Subject + have/ has + not + verb in the 3rd form (past participle)
e.g. I have not/haven’t written a letter.

 The Interrogative Form

Has/ have + subject + verb + ed?
e.g. Has she cleaned the room?

Has/ have + subject + verb in the third form (past participle)

e.g. Have you written a letter?

 Time expressions

Time expressions used with the present perfect simple include: since, for, how long, ever, never, yet, already,
just, so far, recently.

Affirmative
o for – I have known him for six years.
o since – She has been ill since Monday.
o already – We have already eaten our lunch.
o just – I have just posted a letter.
o always – She has always wanted to travel abroad.
 o recently – He has recently published a book.

Questions
o ever – Have you ever met anybody famous?
o how long – How long have you lived here?
o yet – Has Paul left yet?
o lately – Have you seen any good films lately?

Negations
o for – I haven’t talked to him for days.
o since – They haven’t been abroad since 1990.
o yet – She hasn’t answered my letter yet.
o lately – I haven’t seen John lately.
o never – They have never worked abroad.

 Past Simple vs Present Perfect Simple

Past Simple Present Perfect Simple

We use for:
1. an action which happened at a stated time in the
past.
e.g. They bought a big house ten years ago. (When?
Ten years ago. The time is mentioned.)
2. an action which started and finished in the past.
e.g. Tom Crown was an actor for twenty years. (He is
not an actor anymore.)
We use for:
1. an action which happened at an unstated indefinite
time in the past.
e.g. They have bought a yacht. (When? We don’t
know. The time is not mentioned.)
2. an action which started in the past and is still
continuing into the present.
e.g. Tom has been a director for three years. (He
started working as a director three years ago and he
still is.)

 Have gone to vs Have been to

They have gone to the cinema.
- This means that they haven’t come back yet. They are still at the cinema.

She has been to London.

- This means that she has visited London, she is not there now. She has come back.