Present perfect,

present perfect
continuous and past
simple.
Use the past simple to talk about things that happened
and were completed in the past.

• I lived in London for three

years. (I don’t live in
London now.)

P.S.: Use the past simple with ago to I moved there five years ago.
show when something started.
Use the present perfect and present perfect continuous to talk about
things that started in the past but were not completed. These things
continue up to the present and may continue into the future.

• I’ve lived in Montreal my

whole life.
or
• I’ve been living in Montreal my
have lived
Have been living whole life.
(I was born in Montreal, and
I’m still living there today.)

• I’ve known Joy for a long time.

Remember! Non-action verbs are not usually
• NOT I’ve been knowing Joy for
used in the continuous.
a long time.
We often use the present perfect and the present perfect
continuous with for, since, yet and already.

For + length of time to show how

• I’ve been working here for two years.
long the action has happened

Since + a point of time to show

• I’ve been working here since 2016.
when the action started

Yet is used to show that something

• I haven’t finished the class yet
hasn’t happened, but that we expect to
happen in the future • Have you practised yet?
Already is used to show that • I’ve already explained this.
something happened earlier than
we expected.
 Use the past simple with past time
expressions.

• He graduated in 2017
(last year).

• He met his wife

in 2003. Not He
has met his
wife in 2003

Be careful! Don’t use specific time expressions with

the present perfect except after since.
Use the present perfect without time expressions to talk
about things that happened at some indefinite time in the
past.

• She’s read a book about

skydiving. (We don’t know
when she read it, or the time
is not important.)
Use the present perfect and past simple with
unfinished time periods such as today, this week,
this month, and this year.

Use the present perfect for • He’s jumped three times this month.
• The month isn’t over. He might jump again.
things that might happen
again in the future.

• He jumped three times this month.

• The month isn’t over, but he probably won’t jump again.
Use the past simple

This morning, this afternoon • I’ve had three cups of coffee this morning (it’s still morning.)
• I had three cups of coffee this morning (it’s now afternoon.)
and this evening can be
either unfinished or finished.