1. The Present Perfect Tense

2. S + Have/Has + past Participle
Present => some kind of link to the present time
Perfect => some link to the past time

3. Recent events => recently, lately, in the last few years
There have been a lot of protests among teachers recently
The economic crisis has hit almost everybody lately
Technology has transformed learning methods in the last few years

4. 2. Indefinite past (recent) => just, already, yet
I have come to repair my car
The train has already left.
Have you read this book yet?
They have just had lunch: they can’t be hungry again!
Where have you been? – I’ve been away for some days

5. It hasn’t stopped raining. We can’t go for a picnic!
3. Result
It hasn’t stopped raining. We can’t go for a picnic!
They have painted their house grey. It looks awful.

6. 4. Experiences => in my life, ever, never, before, up to now, up till now, so far
Have you ever been to London?
Yes, I’ve been there a few times
(When did you go?)

7. 5. Period of time including past and present =>today, this week, this month…
She has bought a lot of new clothes this month
I have had three cups of coffee this morning
You have worked hard today. Let’s have a break.

8. 6. Duration of state (be, have, know, opinion, perception, feeling…) => how long, for, since
How long have you been here?
We have known each other for a few years
They have had that car since last December.

9. Compare… Simple past I met Susan two minutes ago
I went to London last week
They got married in 2010
Present Perfect
I have just met Susan
I have been to London twice
They have been married for two years

10. Talking about duration
Duration of state => Present perfect simple
I have been here for two hours
I have wanted to move to this country all my life.
Duration of action => Present Perfect Continuous
I have been waiting for two hours
NB He hasn’t worked here for a long time, as he retired in 2001.

11. Present Perfect Continuous S + Have/has BEEN +V-ing (Gerund)
Duration of action
He’s been talking for hours
Result of prolonged recent activity
You’re sweating! - I’ve been playing tennis.
Long recent actions
He’s been playing on the Playstation all afternoon.
NB No continuous in negative sentences:
I haven’t played tennis for three years.

12. ? Has he been working here for long?
“da molto”
+ He has been working here for a long time /for long
? Has he been working here for long?
- He hasn’t worked here for a long time: he retired in (false duration )
He hasn’t been working here for long: He started three months ago. (False negative)

13. Personal/ Impersonal forms
Aspetto da due ore
= I’ve been waiting for two hours
Ha la moto nuova da due giorni
= He has had a new motorbike for two days
Non ci vediamo da tre mesi
= We haven’t met for 3 months
Sono due ore che aspetto
= ****
Sono due giorni che ha la moto nuova…
= It’s two days since he bought his new motorbike
Sono tre mesi che non ci vediamo
= It’s three months since we last met

14. Compare… Italian E’ arrivato da dieci minuti E’ morto da due anni
English
He arrived ten minutes ago
He died two years ago