1.

Introduction
The present perfect simple expresses an action that is still going on or that
stopped recently, but has an influence on the present. It puts emphasis on the
result.
Present Perfect means 'before now'.The Present Perfect does not express
when an action happened. If we say the exact time, we have to use the Past
Simple.
The present perfect tense is also sometimes called the present perfect
simple tense.
The auxillary verb "have" is always used with the present perfect tense.
The present perfect continuous tense refers to an action that started in the
past, but has continued to the present or has just finished. The present perfect
continous tense uses the auxiliary verb "have - has" and -ing added to the main
verb. It puts emphasis on duration.

2. Form
2.1. Present Perfect Simple
We form the Present Perfect Simple with have and the past participle
(regular verbs: infinitive + -ed; irregular verbs: 3rd column of the table of the
irregular verbs).
have/has + -ed (past participle)
has: 3rd person singular (he, she, it)
have: all other forms

Positive and negative:

I
We 've
You (have) lived in
They haven't Rome.
He 's (has)
She hasn't

Question:
I
How long
we
have
you known
Peter?
How long he
has she

1
Short anwer:
Have you been to Yes, I have. / No, I
Egypt? haven't.
Has she ever written Yes, she has. / No, she
poetry? hasn't.

2.2. Present Perfect Continuous

The Present Perfect Continuous is formed with the auxiliary verb have in
the corresponding form for the subject of the sentence, followed by the
participle 'been' of the auxilary verb be, followed by the -ING form of the
main verb.
have/has + been + -ing (present participle)

Positive and negative:

I
've
We
(have)
You
haven't been
They
working.
He
's (has)
She
hasn't
It

Question:
I
we
have
you been
How they working
long
he ?
has she
it

Short anwer:
Have you been Yes, I have. / No, I
running? haven't.

2
Has he been Yes, he has. / No, he
shopping? hasn't.

3
3. The Basics of Present Perfect Simple and Continuous
The most important thing to remember about the present perfect is that it
can never be used with adverbs which describe finished time periods, such as
yesterday, five minutes ago and at three o'clock. If a time adverb is used
with the present perfect, it should describe a time period which is unfinished.
Example include today and this week. So we say:
I've been to the shops twice already today.
I went to the shops before toy arrived.
Think of the verbs that have the idea of a long time, for example, wait,
work, learn, travel, play. These verbs can be found in the Present Perfect
Continuous.
I've been playing tennis since I was a boy.
Think of the verbs that don't have the idea of a long time, for example,
find, start, buy, die, lose, break, stop. It is unusual to find these verbs in the
Present Perfect Continuous.
I've bought a new dress.
My cat has died.
My radio's broken.
Verbs that express a state, for example, like, love, know, have for
possession, are not found in the Present Perfect Continuous.
We've known each other for a few weeks.
NOT We've been knowing each other for a few weeks.
How long have you had your car?
NOT How long have you been having your car?
The Present Perfect Simple looks at the completed action. This is why, if the
sentence gives a number or a quantity, the Present Perfect Simple is used. The
Continuous is not possible.
I've written three letters today.
NOT I've been writing three letters today.
See the table below for more examples of adverbs of finished and
unfinished time. Note that only adverbs which describe past time have been
included, and that adverbs that describe duration (for etc) have also been
omitted.

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 Unfinished Time Finished Time Note:
today yesterday
* Can be finished or unfinished,
this week last week depending on the time of day
this year last year ** ever is only used in questions
this morning* this morning* *** justis used to describe a very
this afternoon* this afternoon* recently completed action
this evening -
during the last two
during the summer
years
since I left school before I saw you
- at six o'clock
- when I met him.
- five minutes ago
ever** -
just*** -

4. Use
4.1. Present Perfect Simple
The Present Perfect expresses:

1.an action that began in the past and still continuous (unfinished past)
We've lived in the same house for 25 years.
Peter's worked as a teacher since 2000.

Note:
Many languages express this idea with a present tense, but in English
this is wrong.
Peter has been a teacher for ten years. NOT Peter is a teacher for ten
years.

These time expressions are common with this use:

two years
a month
for a few minutes
half an hour
ages

sinc 1970
e the end of the
class
August
5
 8 o'clock
Christmas

We use for with a period of time and since with a point in time.

2.an experience that happened at some time in one's life. The action is in
the past and finished, but the effects of the action are still felt. When the
action happened is not important.
I've been to the United States. (I still remember.)
How many times has he been married? (in his life)
The adverbs ever, never and before are common with this use.
Have you ever been to Australia?
I've never tried bungee jumping.
Questions and answers about definite times are expressed in the Past
Simple.
When did you go to the United States?
He met his second wife in the dry cleaner's.

3.a past action that has a present result. The action is usually in the recent
past.
The taxi hasn't arrived yet. (We're still waiting for it.)
What have you done to your lip? (It's bleeding.)
The adverbs yet, already and just are common with this use.
I haven't done my homework yet. (Negative)
Has the postman been yet? (Question)
I've already done my homework.
She's just had some good news.
! Be careful with been and gone.
He's been to the United States. (experience – he isn't there now)
She's gone to the United States. (present result - she's there now)

Present Perfect - Diagram

We use the Present Perfect for actions in the past which have a connection
to the present. The time when these actions happened is not important.

6
 We use the Present Perfect for recently completed actions.

We use the Present Perfect for actions beginning in the past and still
continuing.

4.2. Present Perfect Continuous

We use the Present Perfect Continuous to express:

1.an activity that began in the past and is continuing now.

I've been studying English for three years.
How long have you been working here?
Sometimes there is no difference between the simple and the
continuous.
I've played
the piano since I was a
I've been
boy.
playing

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 If the continuous is possible, English has a preference for using it.
The continuous can sometimes express a temporary activity, and the
simple a permanent state.
I've been living in this house for the past few months. (temporary)
I've lived here all my life. (permanent)
Remember that state verbs rarely take the continuous form.
I've had this book for ages.
I've always loved sunny days.

2.a past activity that has caused a present result.

I've been working all day. (I'm tired now.)
Have you been crying? (Your eyes are red.)
Roger's been cutting the grass. (I can smell it.)
The past activity might be finished or it might not. The context usually
makes this clear.
Look out of the window! It's been snowing! (It has stopped snowing
now.)
I've been writing this book for two years. (It still isn't finished.)

4.3. Changing between the Present Perfect and Past Simple

Students often have problems knowing when to switch from using the
present perfect to the past simple in conversation. Usually, after starting a
conversation with a question in the present perfect, we switch to the past
simple to develop the exchange. However, this is not always the case, and we

8
can follow the original question with more questions in the present perfect.
Which tense to use depends on the exact situation you are talking about.
Consider the following exchange:

Jane Alan
Have you read any good books Well, yes I have, as a matter of fact.
recently?
Oh, well, which books have you I've read 'Wonderful Life' and 'The
read? Language Instinct'.
Really? And what did you think They were very good. I'd recommend
of them? them.

In this conversation, Jane's second question is about books, and, as she is

not referring to a particular point in time, and it is still possible for Alan to read
more books, it is natural to use the present perfect. For her final question she
changes to the past simple, as the time she is referring to (which is not actually
stated) is 'when you read them'.
Now compare the above with:

Jane Alan
Have you been to the cinema Well, yes I have, as a matter of
recently? fact.
Oh, what film did you go to see? I went to see Seven.
Really? What did you think of it? I thought it was OK.

In Jane's second question she uses the singular, 'film', presumably because
she's only interested in the film Alan saw most recently. She then uses the past
simple, as she is referring to the time 'when you went to the cinema', and she
doesn't imagine that the action will be repeated - that is, that Alan will go to
see the film again.

4.4. Simple or Continuous?

With some verbs it is possible to use both the simple and continuous forms
of the present perfect:
I've worked here for five years.
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 I've been working here for five years.
The first form here can be considered the 'neutral', or normal, form. In this
sentence the verb work has the meaning 'have a job', and as such refers to a
state and not the activity you actually do when you are working. The sentence
simply says how long this (your having the job) has been the case.
The second sentence, in the continuous form, would be used in slightly
different situations. For example:
Jane Alan
You put those papers in the green You don't have to tell me that -
filing cabinet.
I've been working here for five years,
you know!

Here the continuous is used to give not just the duration of the state, but
also imply a result of the fact that Alan has worked there for five years - he
knows where to put the papers.
A common situation where the continuous form is used is to imply that the
situation is about to change:
I've been living here for ten years. I think it's time I moved on.

But note that the normal restrictions apply to verbs that don't take
continuous forms:
I've had this car since 1987. It's time I changed it.
NOT I've been having this car since 1987. It's time I changed it.

4.5. Just
'Just' is commonly used with the present perfect simple to show that an action happened very
recently. When 'just' is used the result referred to is often indirect, and this form can be used if you
want to make it clear that the action is complete while at the same time explaining an indirect result
of the action:
I've just washed the car, which is why I'm wet.

4.6. Been vs. Gone?

Both been and gone can be used as the participle of the verb to go.
Compare the following two sentences:
He's gone to the shops. (He's at the shops now.)
He's been to the shops. (There's food in the fridge.)
In the first sentence, we understand that he is at the shops now; in the
second we understand that he is not at the shops now but that there is some
other result of his going to the shops.

5. Present Perfect Simple vs. Past Simple

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 In British English, the use of Simple Past and Present Perfect is quite strict.
The present perfect tense links the past and the present. It can be
contrasted with the past simple tense. As soon as a time expression in the past
is given, you have to use Simple Past. If there are no signal words, you must
decide if we just talk about an action in the past or if it's consequence in the
present is important.

The past simple tense The present perfect tense

The present perfect tense may
The past simple tense may
describe activities or situations which
describe completed activities
began in the past and are still
and past situations
continuing
• In 1976, 60% of families • The number of one person households
were couples with children. has grown.
• In 1981, 34% of children • Over the past twenty years, the
aged 20-24 lived with their average size of households has
parents. fallen.
The past simple may The present perfect may describe
describe activities without completed activities whose impact is
linking them to the present felt in the present
• They have completed the research.
• They completed the
(meaning: a short time ago; here it is).
research in 1972.
• They have arrived. (meaning: a short
• They arrived yesterday.
time ago; here they are).
With past simple verbs, the With present perfect verbs, indefinite
time may be specified time expressions may be used
• •
They completed the research They have just completed the
in 1972. research.
• They arrived yesterday.• They have already arrived.
• •
The number of one person The number of one person households
households grew last year. has grown recently.

Compare these sentences:

 I've broken my leg last year.
 I broke my leg last year.
He works as a musician all his
 life.
 He has worked as a musician all
his life.
 When have you been to Greece?
 When did you go to Greece?
 How long do you have your car?
 How long have you had your
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 car?

5.1. Form

Past Simple Present Perfect Simple

regular verbs: form of 'have' +
regular verbs: infinitive + ed infinitive + ed
Example: Example:
I worked I / you / we / they have worked
he / she / it has worked
irregular verbs: form of 'have' + 3rd
irregular verbs: see 2nd
column of irregular verbs
column of irregular verbs
Example:
Example:
I / you / we / they have spoken
I spoke
he / she / it has spoken

Exceptions when adding 'ed':

1. when the final letter is e, only add d
Example:
love - loved
save – saved
2. after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled
Example:
admit – admitted
stop – stopped
3. final l is always doubled in British English (not in American
English)
Example:
travel - travelled
4. after a consonant, final y becomes i (but: not after a vowel)
Example:
worry - worried
but: play - played

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5.2. Certain time in the past or just / already / yet?
Do you want to express that an action happened at a certain time in the
past (even if it was just a few seconds ago) or that an action has just / already /
not yet happened?

Past Simple Present Perfect Simple

certain time in the past
just / already / not yet
Example:
Example:
I phoned Mary 2 minutes
I have just phoned Mary.
ago.
Martin has just crashed his
Martin crashed his car last
car .
year. (This is new information.)
(This is old information.)

5.3. Certain event in the past or how often so far?

Do you want to express when a certain action took place or whether / how
often an action has happened till now?

Past Simple Present Perfect Simple

certain event in the past
whether / how often till now
Example:
Example:
He went to Canada last
Have you ever been to Canada? / I
summer.
have been to Canada twice.
I saw three movies last
I have seen three movies this week.
week.
(This week has not finished yet.)
(Last week has finished.)

5.4. Emphasis on action or result?

Do you just want to express what happened in the past? Or do you want to
emphasise the result (a past action's consequence in the present)?
Past Simple Present Perfect Simple

13
 Emphasis on action
Example:
I bought a new bike.
(Just telling what I did in
the past.)
Emphasis on result
Example:
I have bought a new bike.
(With this sentence I actually want to
express that I have a new bike now.)

5.5. Signal Words

Present Perfect
Past Simple
Simple
• just
• already
• up to now
• yesterday
• until now / till now
• ... ago
• (n)ever
• in 1990
• (not) yet
• the other day
• so far
• last ...
• lately / recently
• since
• for
! Note: It is always for a length of time and since a point in
time

6. Present Perfect Simple passive

Form
has (singular) or have (plural) + been + past participle
It has been
sold.
They have

Use
The uses are the same in the passive as in the active.

Examples:

14
 • The report has been reviewed.
• Prices have been increased.
• He has been kissed.
• A house has been built by Peter.
• I have been driven.
• It has been sold.
• They have been sold.
• Two million cars have been produced so far this year.
• Has she ever been made redundant?

7. Conclusion
The present perfect simple expresses an action that is still going on or that
stopped recently, but has an influence on the present. The present perfect
continuous tense refers to an action that started in the past, but has continued
to the present or has just finished.
The Present Perfect tenses relate past actions and activities to the present.
Both tenses are used to express that an action began in the past and is still
going on or has just finished. In many cases, both forms are correct, but there
is often a difference in meaning: we use the Present Perfect Simple mainly to
express that an action is completed or to emphasise the result. We use the
Present Perfect Continuous to emphasise the duration or continuous course of
an action.

7. 1. Form

7.1.1. Present Perfect Simple

We form the Present Perfect Simple with have and the past participle
(regular verbs: infinitive + -ed; irregular verbs: 3rd column of the table of the
irregular verbs).
have/has + -ed (past participle)
has: 3rd person singular (he, she, it)
have: all other forms

Positive and negative:

I worked in a
We 've factory.
You (have)
They haven't

15
He 's (has)
She hasn't

Question:
I
How long
we
have
you known
Peter?
How long he
has she

Short anwer:
Yes, I have.
Have you always lived in
No, I
Budapest?
haven't.

7.1.2. Present Perfect Continuous

The Present Perfect Continuous is formed with the auxiliary verb have
in the corresponding form for the subject of the sentence, followed by the
participle 'been' of the auxilary verb be, followed by the -ING form of the
main verb.
have/has + been + -ing (present participle)

Positive and negative:

I
've
We
(have)
You
haven't been
They
working.
He
's (has)
She
hasn't
It

Question:
I
we
have
you been
How they working
long
he ?
has she
it

16
 Short anwer:
Have you been Yes, I have. / No, I
running? haven't.
Has he been Yes, he has. / No, he
shopping? hasn't.

7.2. Use
They are used:
1. to express unfinished past.
He's worked here for ten years.
Have you been waiting long?
The verb action began in the past and still continues.
In this use there is little difference between the simple and the
continuous.
If the continuous is possible in English, it tends to be used. However,
remember that state verbs rarely take the continuous form.

2. to express the present result of a past event. (The past event is usually
recent.)
A You've changed. What have you done to yourself?
B I've lost a lot of weight. I've been taking exercise, and I've been
watching my diet.
I've just finished reading an excellent book.
In this use, the simple emphasizes the completed action, and the
continuous emphasizes the repeated activity.

3. to express a past experience, the time of which is not specified.

Have you ever been in a plane crash? I have.
I've heard this story before.
(The experience happened sometime in my life, but exactly when is not
important.)
The continuous is unusual in this use.

7.3. Present Perfect Simple vs. Continuous

1. The simple expresses a completed action.

I've painted the kitchen, and now I'm doing the bathroom.

17
 The continuos expresses an activity over a period and things that
happened during the activity.
I've got paint in my hair because I've been decorating.
Because the simple expresses a completed action, we use it if the
sentence gives a number or quantity. Here, the continuous isn't
possible.
I've been reading all day. I've read ten chapters.
She's been eating ever since she arrived. She's eaten ten biscuits
already.

2. Some verbs don't have the idea of a long time, for example, find, start, buy,
die, lose, break, stop. These verbs are more usually found in the simple.
Some verbs have the idea of a long time, for example, wait, work, play,
try, learn, rain. These verbs are often found in the continuous.
I've cut my finger. (One short action.)
I've been cuting firewood. (Perhaps over several hours.)

7.4. Present Perfect Simple vs. Past Simple

1. The Present Perfect is for unfinished actions. The Past Simple is for
completed actions. Compare:

Present Perfect Past Simple

I've lived in Texas for six years. I lived in Texas for six years.
(I still live there.) (Now I live somewhere else.)
I've written several books. Shakespeare wrote 30 plays.
(I can still write some more.) (He can't write any more.)
2. We can see that the Present Perfect refers to indefinite time and the
Past Simple refers to definite time by looking at the time expressions used with
the different tenses.

Present Perfect – Past Simple – definite

indefinite
yesterday.
last week.
for a long
two days ago.
time.
I've done at 8 o'clock.
since July. I did it
it in 1987.
before.
when I was
recently.
young.
for a long time.

! Be careful with this morning/afternoon, etc.

18
Have you seen Amy this morning? (It's still morning.)
Did you see Amy this morning? (It's the afternoon or evening.)

7.5. Present Perfect Simple passive

Form
has (singular) or have (plural) + been + past participle
It has been
sold.
They have

Use
The uses are the same in the passive as in the active.

Examples:
Two million cars have been produced so far this year. (unfinished past)
Has she ever been made redundant? (past experience)
'Have you heard? Two hundred homes have been washed away by a
tidal wave!' (present importance)
Coca-Cola has been produced for over 100 years.
That castle has been visited by many tourists.
A Picasso painting has been stolen from the Prado Museum.
The bill has been paid by Kerrie.
A letter has been written by Rita.
The postcard has been sent.
The door has been closed.
The money has been spent.
Trees have been planted in the street.

8. LITERATURE
1. John and Liz Soars, New Headway, English Course, Pre-
Intermediate, Student's Book, (p136, 142)

2. John and Liz Soars, New Headway, the THIRD edition,

Intermediate, Student's Book, (p143,144,148)

3. John and Liz Soars, Headway, Upper-Intermediate, Student's

Book, p111

19
4. Mustafa Tanović, Gramatika engleskog jezika, Mostar 2002.
(p20-26)

5. Dr. Branko Ostojić, Englesko-bosanski i Bosansko-engleski

riječnik, «Svjetlost», 1998.

6. Vlastimir Kalman, Antonija Šober-Alkalaj, «Engleski 1 sa

rješenjima vježbanja», XIII izdanje, «Svjetlost» Sarajevo, 1998.
(p78-80)

7. Vlastimir Kalman, Antonija Šober-Alkalaj, «Engleski 2 sa

rješenjima vježbanja», VIII izdanje, «Svjetlost» Sarajevo, 2000.
(p56-59)

8. Antonija Duić, Zvonka Filipović, Maja Šenoa, «English Course»,

stage 2, fourth edition, Centar za učenje stranih jezika u
Zagrebu, 1980. (p130,151,152)

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