Present Perfect Tense 
The autumn has 
already arrived 
RVA
Present Perfect Tense 
FORM: have / has + past participle 
Affirmative: I have seen the film before. 
She has seen the film before. 
Interrogative: Have you seen the film before? 
Has she seen the film before? 
Negative: They haven’t seen the film before. 
He hasn’t seen the film before.
Present Perfect Tense 
We may say that this verbal tense is a mixture of 
present and past. 
USES OF THE PRESENT PERFECT 
1. To talk about a completed past action at a non-specific 
time. The action is finished. You don't know, 
care or remember when it happened. 
– I have read that book before. 
– She has already done her homework.
Present Perfect Tense 
2. With words such as FOR and SINCE, to 
talk about something that began in the 
past and continues to now. 
I've studied at this school since last June. 
She‘s lived in West Palm Beach for 2 years. 
“Llevo + periodo de tiempo”
Present Perfect Tense 
When we use the Present Perfect with FOR or 
SINCE it gives the idea that something began in 
the past and continues into the present (and may 
continue into the future) 
FOR + LENGTH OF TIME 
We use the Present perfect with “for” + length of 
time (for ten minutes, for two weeks, for years, 
for a long time) to show how long a present 
condition has lasted.
Present Perfect Tense 
Examples: 
I have worked at this job for two years. 
He has lived in Florida for five months. 
They've been married for a long time.
Present Perfect Tense 
SINCE + POINT IN TIME 
Use the present perfect with “since” + point in 
time (since 5:00, since Monday, since 1994) 
to show when something started. 
- I've worked here since last year. 
- They've been married since November.
SINCE can also introduce a time clause. 
OK….. What’s a time clause? 
Take a look at the following examples: 
I’ve lived in Lake Worth since I moved to Florida. 
When the action in the time clause ended in the 
past, we use the simple past tense in the time 
clause. 
(“moved to Florida” is over…It happened…It is 
finished.) 
I’ve studied at the AEC since I’ve lived in Florida. 
When the action in the time clause began in the 
past but continues into the present, use the 
present perfect. (I still live in Florida.)
So…… 
How do we ask questions using this tense? 
When we want to know the length of 
time something has taken place we use 
the question words “HOW LONG.” 
How long have you lived in Campillo de Arenas? 
I’ve lived here for 2 years. 
How long has she studied English at the AEC? 
She’s studied at the AEC since 2005.
Wake up! Back to Use #1 
(completed past action at a non-specific time) 
We often use the Present Perfect with already to 
talk about things that have happened before now. 
I’ve already eaten breakfast. 
She’s already read that book. 
You’re too late.He’s already left for school. 
Already usually comes between have and 
the past participle. However, it can also 
come at the end of the clause.
We may use the present perfect with not yet to talk 
about things that have not happened before now. 
We’re hungry. We haven’t eaten lunch yet. 
Sure I’ll go with you. I haven’t seen that movie yet. 
We’ve waited for an hour, but they haven’t arrived yet. 
Notice that yet usually comes at the end of the clause.
We usually use yet in questions to find out if 
something has happened before now. 
Have you bought your mother a present yet? 
Has she seen that movie yet? 
Sometimes we use already in a question to 
express surprise that something happened 
sooner than expected. 
Have you already bought your mother a present? 
I didn’t know you had a chance to go shopping. 
Have they already left for school? It’s so early.
We may use the present perfect with just (acabar 
de) to mean something happened a short time ago. 
I have just lost my umbrella. 
Oh... I have just forgotten her address. 
Notice that just usually have mid-position in the 
sentence.
We can sometimes use the present perfect with ever 
and never to talk about general experiences. 
Have you ever been to Italy? 
George has never driven a car.
Contrast between Present 
Perfect and Past Simple 
We use definite expressions with the Past simple 
tense: yesterday, last week, … ago etc, while we 
don’t use definite time expressions with the Present 
perfect tense. 
I have been to France three times 
When did you go there last? 
I went there last Summer
Contrast between Present 
Perfect and Past Simple 
 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?
Contrast between Present Perfect and Past Simple 
We use the present perfect to talk 
about general experiences in the 
past without any reference to when 
they happened: 
I’ve travelled to Italy several times. 
We use the past simple to tak about 
past experiences with reference to a 
specific time in the past: 
I spent last summer in Italy.
Contrast between Present 
Perfect and Past Simple 
We normally use the Present Perfect to ask 
about a general experience and Past 
Simple to talk about the details of that 
experience. 
- Have you seen Torrente 5? 
- Yes, I saw it last Friday. 
- Did you like it? 
- Well, not really.
Please note the difference 
• He has been to London.  
Now he is here. He can 
tell you wonderful stories 
about London. 
• He has been in London 
for two weeks.  He is still 
in London. 
• Where’s Peter? He has 
gone to London.  He is in 
Italy or on his way to 
London.
BEEN VS GONE 
GONE: indicates that someone 
is not present. 
BEEN: refers to the experience 
of having visited a place. 
-She’s gone to Victor’s. 
-I’ve never been to Victor’s.
Any Questions? 
No? 
OK. Let’s Practice!

Present perfect Simple

  • 1.
    Present Perfect Tense The autumn has already arrived RVA
  • 2.
    Present Perfect Tense FORM: have / has + past participle Affirmative: I have seen the film before. She has seen the film before. Interrogative: Have you seen the film before? Has she seen the film before? Negative: They haven’t seen the film before. He hasn’t seen the film before.
  • 3.
    Present Perfect Tense We may say that this verbal tense is a mixture of present and past. USES OF THE PRESENT PERFECT 1. To talk about a completed past action at a non-specific time. The action is finished. You don't know, care or remember when it happened. – I have read that book before. – She has already done her homework.
  • 4.
    Present Perfect Tense 2. With words such as FOR and SINCE, to talk about something that began in the past and continues to now. I've studied at this school since last June. She‘s lived in West Palm Beach for 2 years. “Llevo + periodo de tiempo”
  • 5.
    Present Perfect Tense When we use the Present Perfect with FOR or SINCE it gives the idea that something began in the past and continues into the present (and may continue into the future) FOR + LENGTH OF TIME We use the Present perfect with “for” + length of time (for ten minutes, for two weeks, for years, for a long time) to show how long a present condition has lasted.
  • 6.
    Present Perfect Tense Examples: I have worked at this job for two years. He has lived in Florida for five months. They've been married for a long time.
  • 7.
    Present Perfect Tense SINCE + POINT IN TIME Use the present perfect with “since” + point in time (since 5:00, since Monday, since 1994) to show when something started. - I've worked here since last year. - They've been married since November.
  • 8.
    SINCE can alsointroduce a time clause. OK….. What’s a time clause? Take a look at the following examples: I’ve lived in Lake Worth since I moved to Florida. When the action in the time clause ended in the past, we use the simple past tense in the time clause. (“moved to Florida” is over…It happened…It is finished.) I’ve studied at the AEC since I’ve lived in Florida. When the action in the time clause began in the past but continues into the present, use the present perfect. (I still live in Florida.)
  • 9.
    So…… How dowe ask questions using this tense? When we want to know the length of time something has taken place we use the question words “HOW LONG.” How long have you lived in Campillo de Arenas? I’ve lived here for 2 years. How long has she studied English at the AEC? She’s studied at the AEC since 2005.
  • 10.
    Wake up! Backto Use #1 (completed past action at a non-specific time) We often use the Present Perfect with already to talk about things that have happened before now. I’ve already eaten breakfast. She’s already read that book. You’re too late.He’s already left for school. Already usually comes between have and the past participle. However, it can also come at the end of the clause.
  • 11.
    We may usethe present perfect with not yet to talk about things that have not happened before now. We’re hungry. We haven’t eaten lunch yet. Sure I’ll go with you. I haven’t seen that movie yet. We’ve waited for an hour, but they haven’t arrived yet. Notice that yet usually comes at the end of the clause.
  • 12.
    We usually useyet in questions to find out if something has happened before now. Have you bought your mother a present yet? Has she seen that movie yet? Sometimes we use already in a question to express surprise that something happened sooner than expected. Have you already bought your mother a present? I didn’t know you had a chance to go shopping. Have they already left for school? It’s so early.
  • 13.
    We may usethe present perfect with just (acabar de) to mean something happened a short time ago. I have just lost my umbrella. Oh... I have just forgotten her address. Notice that just usually have mid-position in the sentence.
  • 14.
    We can sometimesuse the present perfect with ever and never to talk about general experiences. Have you ever been to Italy? George has never driven a car.
  • 15.
    Contrast between Present Perfect and Past Simple We use definite expressions with the Past simple tense: yesterday, last week, … ago etc, while we don’t use definite time expressions with the Present perfect tense. I have been to France three times When did you go there last? I went there last Summer
  • 16.
    Contrast between Present Perfect and Past Simple  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?
  • 17.
    Contrast between PresentPerfect and Past Simple We use the present perfect to talk about general experiences in the past without any reference to when they happened: I’ve travelled to Italy several times. We use the past simple to tak about past experiences with reference to a specific time in the past: I spent last summer in Italy.
  • 18.
    Contrast between Present Perfect and Past Simple We normally use the Present Perfect to ask about a general experience and Past Simple to talk about the details of that experience. - Have you seen Torrente 5? - Yes, I saw it last Friday. - Did you like it? - Well, not really.
  • 19.
    Please note thedifference • He has been to London.  Now he is here. He can tell you wonderful stories about London. • He has been in London for two weeks.  He is still in London. • Where’s Peter? He has gone to London.  He is in Italy or on his way to London.
  • 20.
    BEEN VS GONE GONE: indicates that someone is not present. BEEN: refers to the experience of having visited a place. -She’s gone to Victor’s. -I’ve never been to Victor’s.
  • 21.
    Any Questions? No? OK. Let’s Practice!