PRESENT PERFECT

Structure
The present perfect is formed with the present simple of the auxiliary verb
“have” and the past participle.

Positive Sentence:
 I/you/we/they have (‘ve) gone
 He/she/it has (‘s) gone
Negative Sentence:
 I/you/we/they have not (haven’t) gone
 He/she/it has not (hasn’t) gone
Questions and short answers:
 Have they gone? Yes, they have.
 Has he gone? No, he hasn’t

Uses
In general we use the tense to talk about a present situation which is
connected to the past.

A present situation that started in the past

“I’ve lived in the UK for 25 years”.

A series of actions that have happened in your life up to now

“I’ve been to Milan many times”

A result in the present of a past event

“I think I’ve prepared this report properly. I hope I don’t have to redo it”. (in
this situation the current importance of the past event is
important, not when it happened)

Time Expressions used with the present perfect

Ever and Never

We use ever and never to ask and talk about our general life experience.
“Have you ever visited the Maldives?”
“I have never used this software before.” (If the answer to the question
is Yes we continue to give more information about specific events using the
past simple.)
Already and Yet
We use “already” in positive sentences and refers to something that has been
done ahead of time
“He has already finished his homework” (he has finished it quicker than
expected)
Yet is used in negative sentences and questions and suggests that something
hasn’t happened or finished but will do.
“I haven’t finished the report yet“. (I am late but it will be finished)
“Have you seen that film yet?”
“Haven’t you finished the houseworkyet?” (this negative question is often
used when the person asking is annoyed or frustrated with the other person)
Just
We use “just” to describe something that happened a short time ago.
“He has just gone out to the shops. He won’t be long”.
For and since
We use the two expressions to refer to periods of time. Note the difference.
” How long have you worked for Shell?
“I have worked for Shell for 15 years” (length of time)
“I have worked for Shell since 1999.” (Start of the period)
Unfinished time
We use the present perfect for unfinished time and so we often use time
expressions that include the present like the following:
this morning, today, this month, so far, up to now, recently, until now,
recently, lately, over the last few years and so on
“I have been to the shops this morning“
“So far we have raised £2m for our charity”.
“I have been ver patient with them up to now“.
“I have had some good enquiries recently“.

PAST SIMPLE or PRESENT PERFECT?

Remember that the past simple describes actions in the past that are
finished whilst the present perfect is used when the time period includes the
present.
“I lived in Milan many years ago”
(completed. I live in London now)
“I’ve lived in Milan since 2008″
(a situation that started in the past and continues in the present: I still live in
Milan)