1. Money doesn’t grow on trees – Present perfect (recently – lately)
LESSON 3
Money doesn’t grow on trees – Present perfect (recently – lately)

2. PRESENT PERFECT – lately/recently
We can use the PP to talk about past actions or situations that happened not long ago. However, we don’t use it with expressions that refer to a completely finished period of time (yesterday, last week).
I’ve gone shopping with my parents recently.
I went shopping yesterday.
My friend has used her prepaid card lately.
My friend used her prepaid card last week.

3. Present perfect or simple past?
Classify according to their time tense.
Peter has gone to the mall recently.
Sally went to the mall yesterday.
Mark became a doctor last year.
Grace has become a doctor recently.
Alex bought a sandwich at the cafeteria 2 minutes ago.
Derek has bought a sandwich at the cafeteria lately.

4. Present Perfect Simple
SIGNAL WORDS
How do we know it’s present perfect or simple past? Apart from telling whether the action is finished or not we can spot some expressions that will tell us if the sentnces is in present perfect or in simple past.
Simple Past
Present Perfect Simple
yesterday
... ago
in 1990
the other day
last ...
just
already
up to now
until now / till now
ever
(not) yet
so far
lately / recently