PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

Have/ has +past participle I’ve finished all my homework.

Has/ have not +past participle I haven’t finished all my homework.

Hasn’t/ haven’t +past participle
Have/ has +Subject +past participle Have you finished all your homework?

A. We use the Present Perfect:

1. for experiences in our life up to now
• Have you visited any other countries?
• Yes, I've been to Itally and France.

2. for an event in the past that has a result in the present

• Helen has broken her pencil. ( Where is the pencil sharpener?)
• I've hurt my leg. ( I can't play football.)

3. for recent events ( no definite time is given)

• The taxi's just arrived.

4. for a situation that started in the past and continues until the present
• I've lived here for ten years.
• She has studied English since she was 10.
 • I've often seen Jim with his dog in the park.

5. to show completion ( how many things are completed so far)

• I've read a hunderd pages of this book.

6. when we don't know exactly when the past event took place, or it is not important
• He has been on many TV shows.

B. Adverbs of time used with Present Perfect

1. Just - Refer to events that recently occurred
• Are you hungry? – No, I’ve just had dinner.
• Is Tom here? – No, I’m afraid he’s just gone out.

2. Already -An action that has happened at an unspecified time before now. It suggests that there
is no need for repetition
• What time does the film start? – It has already started.

3. Yet - Refer to events that have occurred up to now (is used in negative sentences and questions)
• He hasn’t arrived yet.
• Have you eaten the apples yet?

4. For - Talk about a period or duration of time (doesn’t have to be an exact number, but it needs
to refer to a period of time
• He has lived in Paris for a long time.
• We’re going to New York for the weekend.
5. Since - Refer to a specific point in time
• I have lived here since 2010.
 • I have been walking since 5 p.m.
6. Ever/Never - Express the idea of an unidentified time before now (they always placed before the
main verb (past participle)
• He has never been abroad.
• Have you ever been to Europe?
7. Still - is used for actions that have not taken place yet, but we are expecting them to happen (is
used in negative sentences)
• I still haven’t found my keys.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Have/ has been+ verb+ing I’ve been working on my homework all day.

Has/ have not been + verb+ing I haven’t been working working on my

Hasn’t/ haven’t been + verb+ing homework all day long.
Have/ has been+Subject + verb+ing Have you been working on your homework all
day long?

The Present Perfect Continuous can also describe a state which lasts up to the present moment, but the focus
is on how long that activity has been in progress.
I have been listening to that new music album you recommended.

STATE VERBS

Some English verbs, which we call state, non-continuous or stative verbs, aren't used in continuous
tenses. A verb which isn't stative is called a dynamic verb, and is usually an action.

Some Stative (or State) Verbs

agree hear realise

appear imagine recognise
be include remember
believe involve see
belong know seem
consist like smell
contain look (=seem) sound
deny love suppose
depend matter surprise
deserve mean taste
disagree mind think (=have an opinion)
dislike need understand
doubt owe want
feel (=have an opinion) own weigh (=have weight)
fit possess wish
hate prefer
have promise
 • I have owned this house since 2010.
• I have been owning this house since 2010.

PRESENT PERFECT OR PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

Both tenses talk about something which started in the past.

Present Perfect Simple Present Perfect Continuous
Is a COMPLETED action that has a result in the present Is an action that IS STILL HAPPENING now

Focuses on the RESULT Focuses on the ACTION

He has worked on his project all week and he is going to He has been working on his project all week, but he
present it tomorrow. still has two more topics to write about.

Focuses on HOW MUCH of the activity is complete Focuses on HOW LONG an activity has been in
I have read all the book you gave me. progress
I have been reading the books you gave me, but I still
have one.

May give the idea that something is PERMANENT May give the idea that something is TEMPORARY
I have been a teacher for more than 12 years and I still I have been teaching Japanese for two years, but I am
love my job. about to end my contract.
Focuses on HOW MANY TIMES an action has been Focuses on the PROCESS OF CHANGE over a
repeated period of time and that the changes are not finished
I have read the book you gave me several times. My English has been getting better since I started
online classes.

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE OR PAST SIMPLE

Present Perfect Simple Past Simple

With SINCE or FOR, about a period of time which With FOR, about a period of time which is finished.
continues up to the present moment I lived in Iasi for 6 years.
I have lived in Botoșani for 10 years.
I have lived in Botoșani since 2010.

With questions asking HOW LONG With questions asking WHEN

How long have you lived here? When did you move here?
How long have you been living here?

In the negative, for UNFINISHED ACTIONS and For COMPLETED ACTIONS and events in the
events, often with still or yet. past, often with AGO.
I still haven’t finished reading that book. I finished reading that book two days ago.
For events REPEATED over a period of time until the For events REPEATED over a period of time in the
PRESENT (they may continue) PAST ( they are now finished)
You have played video games every day this week. You played video games every day. ( not any more)

For events that happened in the RECENT PAST For events that happened at a PARTICULAR
The train from Paris has arrived. TIME in the PAST
The train from Paris arrived at 2.00 p.m.

When the time stated is NOT FINISHED When the time stated is FINISHED
I have spent this morning cleaning my room. (it is still I spent this morning cleaning my room. (it is afternoon
morning) or evening)

When we talk about a period of time UP TO THE When we talk about past events which are NOT
PRESENT CONNECTED TO THE PRESENT
Brad Pitt has won two Oscars. (he may win more) Katharine Hepburn won four Oscars. (she is dead)

When we talk about HOW MANY TIMES something When we talk about HOW MANY TIMES
has has HAPPENED UP TO NOW something HAPPENED IN THE PAST
Peter has taken his driving exam four times. Peter took his driving exam four times last year.