New Inside Out/Elementary/Unit 15/Present Perfect Simple
Present Perfect Simple
FORMATION: The present perfect simple tense is formed with has/have + past participle (third column). USE: 1. When you use the present perfect its usually to express new information.
Look! Ive bought a new dress!
2. We use the present perfect when the action is connected to the
present.
Wheres your book? Ive lost it. (I dont have it now)
3. When we want to express experiences weve had in our life.
Ive eaten snake. (In all my life, from the time I was born until now, this is one of the experiences Ive had.)
4. We use the present perfect with today/this evening/this year: when
periods of time are not finished.
Ive had five classes today
PRESENT PERFECT AND PAST SIMPLE
The present perfect will always tell us something that is connected
to the now. The past simple tense will tell is something that is only related to the past.
You can use the present perfect for things that are recent.
Ive just painted the walls. Do you like them?
We use the past simple for things that are not recent or new and are only related to the past. I walked to school alone yesterday.
We use the present perfect to give the new information:
Ive just met the man of my dreams! But we use the past simple when we talk further about the new information: Where did you meet him? What did he say to you? Was he good-looking?