1. Present Perfect
By Dragana Filipovic

2. Present Perfect Simple
have / has + past participle
I have seen the film before.
She has seen the film before.
Have you seen the film before?
Has she seen the film before?
They haven’t seen the film before.
He hasn’t seen the film before.

3. Recent events
Present Perfect Simple is used to describe recent events without a definite time. The idea of time or place in the speaker’s mind makes the event recent. A time expression may emphasise recentness (just, recently, lately).
I’ve left my shopping bag behind.
I’ve just broken my watch.

4. We can also describe events that have not happened.
I haven’t found her phone number yet.
The event may be connected with the present, because the result of the event is present. No definite time is given for the event.
I’ve broken my arm, as you can see.
I think I’ve eaten something bad. I don’t feel well.

5. Indefinite events
Present Perfect Simple – No definite time is given for the event.
I’ve been to France three times.
Compared with Past Simple – Events described using the Past Simple have definite time (yesterday, last week ...)
I went to France last year.

6. The tense used can depend on the time expression.
This is the first time I have eaten Japanese food.
If we think of a definite place for an event, this may suggest a definite time.
I left my shopping bag on the train.

7. The difference between the Present Perfect and the Past Simple
The Present Perfect is used when the present result is important.
The Past Simple is used for something that happened in the past and that has no direct link to the present.

8. We finished the house and left for a vacation.
We have finished the house. Now we need a vacation.
BUT
We finished the house and left for a vacation.
I have met Ray a few times but I don’t like him.
I met Ray a few times but I didn’t like him.

9. The Present Perfect cannot be used for something that happened at a specific time in the past. It cannot be used with words and phrases of past time which say (or ask) when something happened, e.g. yesterday, last week / month / year, …ago, at five o’clock, on Sunday, When …? …
These words refer to events that happened and were completed in the past. Therefore we use them with the Past Simple.

10. Gerald has bought a new car. He bought it last week.
Have you met Ray? – Yes, I met him when we were students.
My parents have been to India. In fact, they went there twice last year.
Has anybody phoned me? – Yes, Joyce phoned an hour ago.
I’ve seen that man before. – Really? When did you see him?

11. Some words or phrases of time, e. g
Some words or phrases of time, e.g. today, this morning / week / month / year, can be used with either the Present Perfect or the Past Simple. If the period is not finished at the time of speaking / writing, the Present Perfect is used.
I haven’t seen Rachel this morning. Have you? – No, she hasn’t come yet. (It’s still morning.)
I didn’t see Rachel this morning. Did you? – No, she didn’t come in at all. (It’s afternoon or evening.)

12. The Present Perfect can be used only for events or actions that are connected with the present. With events, people or actions that are known to be connected with the past (e.g. historical events, people who are dead), the Past Simple is used.
Stephen King has written many books.
Agatha Christie wrote detective stories.
Michael Jackson has appeared all over the world.
How many songs did the Beatles write?