www.liveinenglish.wordpress.com PRESENT PERFECT: USE AND FORMULATION   www.liveinenglish.wordpress.com PRESENT PERFECT: USE AND FORMULATION

FORM: have / has + past participle Present Perfect Tense FORM: have / has + past participle Affirmative: I have seen the film before. She has seen the film before. Interrogative: Have you seen the film before? Has she seen the film before? Negative: They haven’t seen the film before. He hasn’t seen the film before.

Present Perfect Tense 1- Personal experiences: It is used to express personal experiences, there is not a definite time given. The time expressions ever and never are very often used with this meaning -I have never been to Japan. Have you ever been there? -She has written three books -He has given speeches in universities all around the world

Present Perfect Tense 2- Actions finished in not finished period of time (i.e.: this week, today, this year…) -I have trained with my team twice this week -I haven’t eaten anything so far today -He has gone to the cinema all weekends this month --I’ve visited three countries this year

Present Perfect Tense 3- It is used to express actions that started in the past and continue to the present, the time period is not finished. We use for and since with this meaning. We use for with periods of time and since with points of time. -I haven’t eaten since yesterday morning. I am really hungry -I have lived in this city for seven years -I haven’t drunk anything for two days. I am terribly thirsty -She has done rhytmyc gimnastics since she was a child

FOR OR SINCE? a period of time a point in past time - - - - - - - - - - - - - • - - - - - - - - - - 20 minutes 6.15pm three days Monday 6 months January 4 years 1994 2 centuries 1800 a long time I left school ever the beginning of time

Contrast between Present Perfect and Past Simple We use past simple when we express finished actions in the past and we mention the time when they were completed; that is, we use definite expressions such as: yesterday, last week, … ago etc. I have been to France three times When did you go there last? I went there last Summer

Contrast between Present Perfect and Past Simple 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?

Present Perfect Tense Have you ever listened to classical music before? Where did you hear it?

Present Perfect Tense Have you walked along a riverside similar to the one on the photograph? When did you do it?

Note the difference He has been to London.  Now he is here. He can tell you wonderful stories about London. He has been in London for two weeks.  He is still in London. Where’s Peter? He has gone to London.  He is in Italy or on his way to London.

Contrast between Present Perfect and Past Simple Already Ever For Never Since Since then So far, up to now, until now Still Yet Today, this week, this month, this year… (One week, two years, three hours) ago From…to In (1997…) Last week, night, month, year… When…(I was a child, she was in the school…) Yesterday