PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE AFFIRMATIVE (+)

Subject + have/has + past participle of the verb + complements.

e.g.: We have met our favourite movie star.

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE NEGATIVE (-)

Subject + haven’t/hasn’t + past participle of the verb + complements.

e.g.: We haven’t met our favourite movie star.

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE INTERROGATIVE (?)

Have/has + subject + past participle of the verb + complements?

e.g.: Have we met our favourite movie star?

We use PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE for:

1. Actions and situations that happened at un unspecified time before the moment of speaking.

e.g.: I have seen that film loads of times. (before now).

e.g.: I’ve never heard of that pop group before.

e.g.: She’s just turned off the TV. (not long before now).

2. Actions and situations that started in the past and still happen, or are still true, at the moment of speaking:

e.g.: She has written short stories since she was a child. (She still writes short stories).

e.g.: I have believed in ghosts ever since that night. (I still believe in ghosts).
 PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

TIME EXPRESSIONS OFTEN SED WITH PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

FOR (+ period of time)  I have lived in Austria for 3 years.

SINCE (+ time when it started)  I have lived in Austria since 2003.

JUST  He has just woken up.

ALREADY  I’ve got that CD already / I have already got that CD.

YET (with negatives and questions)  I haven’t seen that film yet / Have you seen the new Brad Pitt fil yet?

STILL (with negatives)  I still haven’t found my sunglasses.

RECENTLY/LATELY  I’ve bought a lot of magazines recently.

SO FAR  I’ve read 100 pages of this book so far.

BEFORE  Have you eaten Chinese food before?

EVER/NEVER  Have you ever been to Germany? / I’ve never been to China.

BE CAREFUL!

We often use present perfect simple with the superlative and with ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.).

e.g.: It’s the best film I’ve ever seen.

e.g.: It’s the first time I’ve been to South America.

e.g.: Carl has been to Mexico (= Carl is not in Mexico now).

e.g.: Carl has gone to Mexico (= Carl is in Mexico or on his way to Mexico now).
 PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS AFFIRMATIVE (+)

Subject + have/has + past participle of verb TO BE + verb (-ing) + complements.

e.g.: We have been meeting our favourite movie star.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS NEGATIVE (-)

Subject + haven’t/hasn’t + past participle of verb TO BE + verb (-ing) + complements.

e.g.: We haven’t been meeting our favourite movie star.

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS INTERROGATIVE (?)

Have/has + subject + past participle of verb TO BE + verb (-ing) + complements?

e.g.: Have we been meeting our favourite movie star?

We use PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS for:

1. Actions and situations that started in the past and still continue at the moment of speaking:

e.g.: She has been working as a journalist for 3 years.

2. Temporary actions and situations in the recent past:

e.g.: I’ve just been reading an interesting article about celebrities.

 PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

TIME EXPRESSIONS OFTEN SED WITH PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

FOR (+ period of time)  I have been living in Austria for 3 years.

SINCE (+ time when it started)  I have been living in Austria since 2003.

JUST  He has just been playing football.

RECENTLY/LATELY  I’ve been seeing a lot of Karen recently.

ALL DAY, ALL MORNING, ETC.  I’ve been doing my homework all evening. I need a break now.

BE CAREFUL!

Sometimes there is very little difference in meaning between present perfect simple and present perfect continuous:

e.g.: I have lived here for 2 years now. (= I moved here two years ago).

e.g.: I have been living here for 2 years now. (= I moved here two years ago).

Sometimes there is a big difference in meaning:

e.g.: I’ve lived in Paris, London and Rome. (= I don’t live in Paris now).

e.g.: I’ve been living in Paris for 2 years now. (= I live in Paris).