INTERMEDIATE LEVEL
GRAMMAR UNIT 2. EOI REUS 2009/2010
PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE
The present perfect tense is used for many different situations in English and it should not
be confused with the past simple tense.
It is formed by the auxiliary have (has for third person singular) and the past participle of
the main verb. For negative sentences we use the negative forms of the auxiliary and
questions are also introduced with have or has. Whenever we have to use an adverb
(already, ever, just, lately, never, recently, still, etc) it will be placed right before the main
verb, except the adverb yet which normally appears at the end of negative and
interrogative sentences.
e.g. My parents have worked for this company for thirty years
The children have just gone out to play in the garden
Julia hasn’t come back from the office yet.
Have they phoned to say they are fine yet?
PRESENT PERFECT + EVER, NEVER, ALREADY, YET, JUST
The adverbs ever and never are used to ask or to talk about past experiences. EVER is
used in questions and negative statements using the pattern Nothing...ever,
Nobody...ever, etc.
e.g. Have you ever been to England?
Haven't you ever eaten Chinese food?
Nobody has ever said that to me before.
Nothing like this has ever happened to us.
NEVER means at no time before now, and is the same as not ..... ever. But be careful,
you must not use never and not together.
e.g. I have never visited Berlin
I haven't never been to Italy. I have never been to Italy.
We use ALREADY to say that something happened sooner than expected. It suggests that
there is no need for repetition.
e.g. I've already drunk three cups of coffee this morning. (and you're offering
me another one!)
Don't write to John, I've already done it.
YET is used in negative statements and questions, to ask if something that you think is
going to happen has happened or to say that it hasn’t happened. It is usually placed at
the end of the sentence.
e.g. Have you met Judy yet?
I haven't visited the Tate Gallery yet.
Has he arrived to the office yet?
They haven't eaten yet, they are waiting for us.
JUST is used in affirmative sentences with the present perfect to express the idea that an
action has recently been finished.
e.g. Would you like some ice cream?
No, thanks. I’ve just had lunch.
GENERAL USES OF THE PRESENT PERFECT
It is generally used to indicate a link between the past and the present. It usually refers
back to actions beginning in an undetermined past with a direct relation to the present.
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INTERMEDIATE LEVEL
GRAMMAR UNIT 2. EOI REUS 2009/2010
The following is a list of the most common uses of the present perfect:
 An action or situation that started in the past and continues in the present.
I have lived in Bristol since 1984 (and I still do.)
Have you played the piano since you were a child?
We have had the same car for ten years.
 An action happening during a period of time that has not finished yet.
She has been to the cinema twice this week (the week isn't over yet.)
I have worked hard this week.
It has rained a lot this year.
 A repeated action in an unspecified or undefined period between the past and
now.
We have visited Portugal several times in the last ten years.
They’ve been to Europe and America, but they’ve never been to Africa.
It has already happened several times.
 An action when the time is not important.
He has read 'War and Peace'. (The result of his reading is important.)
Someone has eaten my soup!
Have you seen 'Gone with the Wind'?
 A description of recent events.
I’ve eaten two packets of crisps and a coke so far today.
They’ve recently spent a lot of money on lottery.
 We commonly use the Present Perfect with the prepositions since and for. For is
used before periods of time, whereas since introduces a concrete moment in the
past when an action started.
I have lived in Manchester for 10 years.
We have studied English since 1997.
 With state verbs (be, believe, have, know, think, like, etc.)
They’ve known each other for seven years.
She’s always believed in the supernatural.
 When we talk about our first, second, etc. experience of something.
This is the first time I’ve tried rock climbing.
That’s the first time she’s driven a motorbike.
 When we use the superlative of an adjective
She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
PRESENT PERFECT VS. PAST SIMPLE
In order to decide whether to use past simple or present perfect, we have to pay
attention to the action and the time when it happened. If the time is determined and we
know when (or ask about when) we use past simple. If the time is undefined, we tend to
use present perfect.
I have read the instructions but I don’t understand them.
I read the instructions last night.
She has worked here for the last three months.  we do not know if she still does
She worked here for three years.  she does not work here anymore, finished action
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