Present Perfect

Present Perfect Vs. Simple Past

Maram Al- Abdullah

Structure

Present Perfect : Has or Have + P.P

He / She/ It has worked hard

hasn’t worked hard
Has Ali worked hard?
Short answers Yes he has.
No, he hasn’t.

They / we / you/ I have worked hard

haven’t worked hard
Have Ali and Ahmad worked hard?
Short answers Yes, they have.
No, they haven’t.

Note : We cannot use I’ve, they’ve, you've, she’s in short answers.

Yes, I have. NOT Yes, I’ve.
 Present Perfect
Present Perfect Vs. Simple Past
Uses:

X X X X
Past present future

1-The Present Perfect expresses an action which began in the past and continues to the present.

Examples:
I’ve known John for six years.
How long have you worked for The Times?

Note: The time expressions (For / Since) are common with this use.
For : a period of time
Since: a point in time
 For Since
I’ve lived here for three years.
half an hour we were at school They’ve lived here since I was in the primary
a long time March school.
I’ve known Safa for a long time.
two weeks 2001
I’ve worked in this company since 2001.
three months I was 14
seven years ten o’clock
ages Last Wednesday Note :
Peter has been a teacher for ten years.
a while …etc. We first met …etc. Peter is a teacher for ten years.

2- The present perfect connects the present and the past. It expresses experiences in life before now.
The action can continue to the present and probably to the future.

Example:
I’ve met a lot of famous people.( before now)
He has won a lot of awards. ( in her life)
I’ve travelled a lot in Africa. ( in my life)
She’s written three books. ( up to now)
He has made six TV programs. ( so far, he’ll continue to make more)
3- The Present Perfect expresses a past action with results in the present. It is often a recent past action.

Examples:
I’ve lost my wallet. ( I haven’t got it now)
The taxi has arrived. ( It’s outside now)
She has just had some good news.
Ali has already finished his homework.
It’s 11 o’clock and she hasn’t got up yet.
Have you paid the electricity bills yet?

Just , already are mainly used for positive sentences, and the are mainly positioned between the auxiliary and
main V .
Yet is used in questions and negative sentences.

Ever / Never
Have you ever been to London?
I’ve never been to America.

Time expressions used in Present Perfect tense :

Ever , Never, Since , For, Yet, Already , and Just, How long?
 Present Perfect Vs. Simple Past

I lived in Paris for two years, from 2007-2009. (The action is finished)
I’ve lived in Paris since 2009. ( I still do, the action isn’t finished)
I’ve been to London. ( this is an experience in my life)
I went with my husband two years ago. ( definite past time)
Have you ever flown in a helicopter? ‘ yes, I have.’
Where did you fly? ‘ I flew over New York.’
Simple Past Present Perfect
Last week Since Monday
yesterday ever
The day before yesterday never
In 1999 Just
Three months ago Already
On July 21st yet
For two weeks (but now ended) For two weeks ( and continues)
Q: Fill in the spaces with since / for:

1- I’ve lived in this city -------------- seven years.

2- She’s worked in this farm -------------- 2005.
I haven’t seen my friend ---------------ages.
Salma hasn’t visited her brother ------------- her birthday.
He hasn’t read any book ------------ last year.
I have had this car ------------- three months.

Q2: Write the appropriate tense :

I have wanted to be a doctor __________ I was a kid.
Salma and her colleagues --------------- already ----------- their exams. ( revise)
The government -------------------- the procedures of the election yet. ( finish)
Where ------------- Rami ----------- last night? ( sleep)
An earthquake ------------ California on 25th, July, 1906.( hit)

Maram Al- Abdullah

 Speaking
Question Tags

Question tags are very common in spoken English. They help to keep a conversation going, and mean, ‘ say something to agree with me’ .

Patterns:
Positive sentence, negative tag
Negative sentence, positive tag using the auxiliary verb in the question tag. If there is no aux. use do, does, did

Examples:

You’ve lived in Australia for years, haven’t you ?

You will stay in touch, won’t you?
He didn’t call last night, did he?
The post office closes at 5:30, doesn’t it ?
You wanted to buy a car, didn’t you?
You can swim in the ocean, can’t you?
Ali has done his homework, hasn’t he?
Hala won’t go to Amman , will she?

Note: For negative question tags with I’m …………, use aren’t.
***I’m late, aren’t I?
I’m not late, am I?