This document provides an overview of the present perfect tense in English. It discusses the uses of the present perfect simple and present perfect continuous tenses to describe recent or ongoing events. Examples are given to illustrate the key uses of each form, including describing experiences, unfinished events, repeated events, and the differences between the present perfect and past simple tenses. Practice questions with answers are also included to help learners identify the appropriate tense.

1. Present Perfect
Dragana Filipovic

2. Present Perfect Simple
have / has + past participle
I have seen the film before.
She has seen the film before.
Have you seen the film before?
Has she seen the film before?
They haven’t seen the film before.
He hasn’t seen the film before.

3. Present Perfect Continuous
have / has + been + present participle
I have been working all the time .
She has been working all the time.
Have you been working all the time?
Has he been working all the time?
We haven’t been working all the
time.
He hasn’t been working all the time.

4. Recent events
• Present Perfect Simple is used to describe
recent events without a definite time. The
idea of time or place in the speaker’s mind
makes the event recent. A time expression
may emphasise recentness (just, recently,
lately).
I’ve left my shopping bag behind.
I’ve just broken my watch.

5. • We can also describe events that have not
happened.
I haven’t found her phone number yet.
• The event may be connected with the
present, because the result of the event is
present. No definite time is given for the
event.
I’ve broken my arm, as you can see.
I think I’ve eaten something bad. I don’t
feel well.

6. Indefinite events
• Present Perfect Simple – No definite time
is given for the event.
I’ve been to France three times.
• Compared with Past Simple – Events
described using the Past Simple have
definite time (yesterday, last week ...)
I went to France last year.

7. • The tense used can depend on the time
expression.
This is the first time I have eaten
Japanese food.
• If we think of a definite place for an event,
this may suggest a definite time.
I left my shopping bag on the train.

8. The difference between the Present
Perfect and the Past Simple
• The Present Perfect is used when the
present result is important.
• The Past Simple is used for something
that happened in the past and that has no
direct link to the present.

9.  We have finished the house. Now we
need a vacation.
BUT
 We finished the house and left for a
vacation.
 I have met Ray a few times but I don’t
like him.
BUT
 I met Ray a few times but I didn’t like
him.

10. • The Present Perfect cannot be used for
something that happened at a specific
time in the past. It cannot be used with
words and phrases of past time which say
(or ask) when something happened, e.g.
yesterday, last week / month / year, …ago,
at five o’clock, on Sunday, When …? …
These words refer to events that
happened and were completed in the past.
Therefore we use them with the Past
Simple.

11.  Gerald has bought a new car. He bought
it last week.
 Have you met Ray? – Yes, I met him
when we were students.
 My parents have been to India. In fact,
they went there twice last year.
 Has anybody phoned me? – Yes, Joyce
phoned an hour ago.
 I’ve seen that man before. – Really?
When did you see him?

12. • Some words or phrases of time, e.g.
today, this morning / week / month / year,
can be used with either the Present
Perfect or the Past Simple. If the period
is not finished at the time of speaking /
writing, the Present Perfect is used.
 I haven’t seen Rachel this morning. Have
you? – No, she hasn’t come yet. (It’s still
morning.)
 I didn’t see Rachel this morning. Did you?
– No, she didn’t come in at all. (It’s
afternoon or evening.)

13. • The Present Perfect can be used only for
events or actions that are connected with
the present. With events, people or actions
that are known to be connected with the
past (e.g. historical events, people who
are dead), the Past Simple is used.
 Stephen King has written many books.
 Agatha Christie wrote detective stories.
 Madonna has appeared all over the world.
 How many songs did the Beatles write?

14. Circle the correct tense
1. I looked up at the sky and saw / have
seen a very bright light.
2. I lost / have lost the keys to my car. I
don’t know what to do.
3. I felt /have felt much better when I got to
the mountains.
4. It rained / has rained for two days before
we could leave the hotel for the first time.

15. Answers
1. I looked up at the sky and saw a very
bright light.
2. I have lost the keys to my car. I don’t
know what to do.
3. I felt much better when I got to the
mountains.
4. It rained for two days before we could
leave the hotel for the first time.

16. 5. I told / have told you the same thing over
and over again. Why don’t you listen? I’ll
tell you again, but please pay attention
this time.
6. It became /has become very hot in here
suddenly. Is there something wrong with
the air-conditioning?
7. Haven’t you finished your homework yet?
I finished / have finished mine hours ago.
8. I waited /have waited for hours but
nobody came.

17. Answers
5. I have told you the same thing over and
over again. Why don’t you listen? I’ll tell
you again, but please pay attention this
time.
6. It has become very hot in here suddenly.
Is there something wrong with the air-
conditioning?
7. Haven’t you finished your homework yet?
I finished mine hours ago.
8. I waited for hours but nobody came.

18. 9. I met / have met many interesting people
since I came here last May.
10.You smoked / have smoked ten
cigarettes so far today. Don’t you think
you should stop?
11.Last week I invited / have invited a few
friends over for dinner.
12.After less than 10 minutes they realised /
have realised that they were lost.

19. Answers
9. I have met many interesting people since
I came here last May.
10.You have smoked ten cigarettes so far
today. Don’t you think you should stop?
11.Last week I invited a few friends over for
dinner.
12.After less than 10 minutes they realised
that they were lost.

20. Extended or repeated events
• With verbs that describe states, the
Present Perfect Simple describes a state
which lasts up to the present.
I’ve lived in this house for five years.
• The Present Perfect Continuous can
also describe a state which lasts up to
the present moment.
I’ve been living in this house for five years.

21. • There is little difference in meaning
between simple and continuous in this
case, or with How long questions. The
verbs sit, lie, wait, stay prefer the Present
Perfect Continuous.
How long have you been waiting?
• The Present Perfect Simple can describe
a habitual action in a period of time up to
the present moment.
I’ve never worn a tie to work, and I refuse
to start now!
He’s always been frank with his friends.

22. • We use the Present Perfect Continuous
for a continuous or repeated activity that
began in the past and continues into the
present. It emphasises the activity itself
and its duration.
Jack has been waiting for over an hour.
PAST one hour + NOW
I’ve been studying since 5 o’clock.
5 o’clock NOW

23. Contrasts between simple and
continuous
• Not completed – Use of the Present
Perfect Continuous can suggest that an
action is not completed, or has recently
finished.
We’ve been walking for hours! Let’s have
a rest.
I’ve been digging the garden. That’s why
I’m so dirty.

24. • Completed – Use of the Present Perfect
Simple can show that an action is
complete. Given the number of actions
suggests completion.
I’ve written ten pages of my homework
assignment!
She’s already phoned us.

25. Circle the correct tense
1. We have been driving /drove / drive
around for an hour and we are still
lost. Let’s stop and ask somebody.
2. I am / have been /was here since
Tuesday and I still can’t find my way
around.
3. I have been reading / read /have read
that book. Do you have another one to
lend me?

26. Answers
1. We have been driving around for an
hour and we are still lost. Let’s stop
and ask somebody.
2. I have been here since Tuesday and I
still can’t find my way around.
3. I have read that book. Do you have
another one to lend me?

27. 4. I just came / have just come / have
just been coming in. I’d like to rest for
a while.
5. How long have you been /were you
/did you in Rome last year?
6. I read / have read / have been reading
this book for over a month. I’ll finish it
soon.
7. Who ate / has eaten / has been eating
my chips? There are none left.

28. Answers
4. I have just come in. I’d like to rest for
a while.
5. How long were you in Rome last year?
6. I have been reading this book for over
a month. I’ll finish it soon.
7. Who has eaten my chips? There are
none left.

29. 8. Who ate /has eaten /has been eating
my chips? Soon I’ll have none left.
9. It rained / has rained /has been raining
all day! Why can’t it stop!
10.Have you been / Have you gone / Did
you go to the concert of Simple Minds
last week?
11.I watched / have watched / have been
watching this video ten times so far.

30. Answers
8. Who has been eating my chips?
Soon I’ll have none left.
9. It has been raining all day! Why
can’t it stop!
10.Did you go to the concert of Simple
Minds last week?
11.I have watched this video ten times
so far.

31. Note the difference
• He has been to Italy.  Now he is here.
He can tell you wonderful stories about
Italy.
• He has been in Italy for two weeks. 
He is still in Italy.
• Where’s Peter? – He has gone to Italy.
 He is in Italy or on his way to Italy.

32. Fill in “has/have been to/in”,
“has/have gone to”.
1. Betty’s not here. She _____ the library.
2. _________ Madrid, but I only spent a few days
there.
3. “How long ______ you _________ Bristol?”
“For nearly two years.”
4. Tom is alone because his parents ________
the seaside for the weekend.
5. Julia ________ the supermarket – she’ll be
back in about an hour.

33. 1. Betty’s not here. She has gone to the library.
2. I have been to Madrid, but I only spent a few
days there.
3. “How long have you been in Bristol?” “For
nearly two years.”
4. Tom is alone because his parents have gone to
the seaside for the weekend.
5. Julia has gone to the supermarket – she’ll be
back in about an hour.

34. The End