Uses of present perfect

1. 
Present Perfect
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2. Uses of Present Perfect
 The use of the Present Perfect tense in English may
be a bit complex for foreign students of English,
because it is not always used as its equivalent forms
in other languages like French, Spanish or Italian.
 In the following slides you will find a few simplified,
general grammar rules.
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3. 4 main uses of Present Perfect
Experiences
News / time not mentioned
Repetition and continuation
This is the first time…
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4. 1. Experiences
 We use Present Perfect when we talk about
personal experiences or completed actions, usually
with time adverbs that mean ‘at some / any time up
to now’.
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e.g. Have you ever been to Paris?
I’ve never seen a film like this. It’s terrifying!
She has already finished her homework.

5. 2. News / time not mentioned
 Present Perfect is the most normal tense for giving
news of recent events or when we talk about a past
event and we do not mention exactly when it
happened. We change to past simple when we give
the details.
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e.g. Anna has bought a new laptop.
There has been an plane crash near London.

6. 3. Repetition and continuation
 We often use Present Perfect to say that something
has happened several times up to the present, or
to talk about how long present situations have
lasted in a time period that the speaker considers
unfinished. Present tenses are not used in this way.
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e.g. I have read three books this month vs.
I read three books last month.
We’ve been friends since 1985.
(NOT We are friends since 1985).

7. 4.This is the first time…
 We use Present Perfect in sentences constructed
with ‘This / It / That is the first / second / third /
only / best / worst...’
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e.g. This is the first time I have skied.
That is the third time you have asked me
the same question.

8. Time expressions
 Time expressions used with Present Perfect include:
for / since / how long
already / yet / just
lately / recently
always / ever / never
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9. Time expressions
 e.g. I’ve known him for five years.
She’s been ill since Monday.
How long have you lived in Liverpool?
I’ve already finished my homework.
Have you told her yet?
I’ve just received a phone call.
Have you read any good books lately?
She has recently published a book.
She has always loved you.
They have never worked abroad.
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10. Present Perfect or Past Simple?
 Compare:
He has baked three cakes this morning vs.
(it is still morning  period of time not finished)
He baked three cakes this morning.
(now it is evening  period of time finished)
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11. Present Perfect or Past Simple?
 Compare:
I have lived in London for two years vs.
(I still live there  period of time not finished)
I lived in London for two years.
(I no longer live there  period of time finished)
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12. Been or gone?
 Compare:
He has gone to London vs.
(He’s still there. He hasn’t come back yet)
He has been to London.
(He’s visited London, but he is not there now. He’s
come back)
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