PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

USE
We use the present perfect to talk about:
 A life experience without specifying when:
I have been to London twice.
There is no time expression because we are talking about a whole life
experience, not individual events.
 An event in the past with a result in the present (that it is still true).
They have missed the bus (so they will be late).
Helen has broken her pencil (so she needs a sharpener).
He’s hurt his foot (so he can’t play football).
 A situation that started in the past and continues until the present.
I’ve lived here for ten years.

STRUCTURE
AFFIRMATIVE NEGATIVE INTERROGATIVE

Subject + have / has + past
participle
I have washed the dishes.
Mary has bought many
presents.
Subject + have / has + not +
past participle
The students haven’t
understood the lesson.
Elisabeth hasn’t read the book
yet.
Have / has + subject +
past participle
Have you watched the film
Titanic?
Have they arrived?

COMMON EXPRESSIONS
For, since
 For (+ a period of time)
Tom has worked here for three months.
 Since (+ a date, it describes the point when the time period started)
Tom has worked here since July 10th
Yet, so far, already
 Yet (negative and interrogative)
Have you finished this book yet?
 So far (affirmative and interrogative)
How many pages have you read? I’ve read 56 pages so far.
 Already (affirmative)
I’ve already written my letter.
Just (we use just when we describe a very recent event)
Cathy has just phoned from the airport.
Ever, never (we use ever and never when we ask or talk about our experiences in
life)
 Ever (interrogative)
Have you ever eaten Japanese food?
 Never (negative)
I’ve never been to Italy.
Frequency adverbs (always, often...)
He has always loved you.
We have often visited Spain.

*’Have been’ and ‘have gone’

If we have been to a place, we went there and have now returned: Melisa has been
to China. (and she has come back)
If we have gone to a place, we went there but have not returned: Melissa has gone
to China. (and she is still there)

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE AND CONTINUOUS

 We often use the present perfect simple if our attention is on the finished
result, but the present perfect continuous if our attention is on the action.

I’ve written that email to Jackie. I was meaning to do it for ages.

I’ve been writing that email to Jackie and it’s taken an hour! I’m exhausted!

 If we give details of how many or how much we use the present perfect
simple.
I’ve written four emails.
I’ve done a lot of cooking and cleaning this afternoon.