PRESENT PERFECT

This verb tense connects the present with the past. It shows us that an action in the past
has a result in the present, this is the connection between the past and the present.

Past Simple → I lost my book. (It means it was true in the past but you could have found
the book on the next day)

Present perfect → I have lost my book. (It means that what happened in the past is still
true now, you lost the book in the past but what matters is that this action affects the present
- you don't have your book now.)

When do we use Present Perfect?

1. Past actions that have an effect in the present:

We have bought new clothes. (Now, in the present, we have them)

2. Actions that took place in a long time in the past, without specifying when.

Mary has helped many people. (Throughout her whole life? In one year? Anyway, it took
some time)

3. Actions that started in the past and they still continue (in this case, you use for
and since)

I haven't done exercise for four years. (You still haven't done exercise in the present).

4. Actions that have just happened. You need to add just between the auxiliary
and the participle.

I have just arrived at the bus stop. (It's like saying: Acabo de llegar...)

5. Something that has been happening in the past repetitively (again and again)
and continues in the present.

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I have shopped here for many years.

When NOT to use Present Perfect!

With any kind of finished time expressions. For example, last week, yesterday, last
month...

I spoke to him three times last week. → With these we use the past simple.

We can use Present Perfect with unfinished time expressions like today, this year, this
month, my life... (because it is not over).
Also, we can use Present Perfect when there is no time expression because we are
focusing on the result of the action and not the time.

I’ve spoken to him three times this week.

PRESENT PERFECT STRUCTURE

SUBJECT + AUXILIARY VERB (HAVE / HAS) + PAST PARTICIPLE (3rd column* irregular
verbs / -ed regular verbs) + (...)
*https://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/grammar/unreg_verben1.htm

Translation: pretérito perfecto compuesto (Yo he comido, Tú has comido, Él/Ella ha comido,
Nosotros hemos comido, Vosotros habéis comido, Ellos/Ellas han comido).

EXAMPLES:

My parents have bought food for a whole year.

She has done all her homework on time.

The contracted form of HAVE is 'VE

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 They've come to the wedding -> They have come to the wedding.

The contracted form of HAS is 'S (DON'T confuse it with the contracted form of IS)

She's arrived. → She has arrived. VS. She's playing. → She is playing.

NEGATIVE FORM:
SUBJECT + HAVE NOT / HAVEN'T + PARTICIPLE + (...)

They haven't arrived yet.

SUBJECT + HAS NOT / HASN'T + PARTICIPLE + (...)

She still hasn't come.

¿? QUESTIONS:
The present perfect has an auxiliary (HAVE/HAS). So, you just need to move the auxiliary
from its place to the beginning (unless you have a QUESTION WORD, which always goes
in the first place). The past participle form remains in the main verb.

She has gone to the party → Has she gone to the party? → Why has she gone to the party?

YES/NO answers to these questions:

Yes, (subject) has/have.

Have they learnt English? Yes, they have. (no contraction)

Has my father come to the match? Yes, he has/ Yes, he’s. (no contraction)

No, (subject) hasn't/haven't.

Have they learnt English? No, they haven't.

Has my father come to the match? No, he hasn't.

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Activities. Correct this sentences:

He has won the prize.

She has been to Paris.

They have sawn the movie.

Have you ever flown in first class?

Have you ever eaten there?

Have you started your new job?

When did you ….

We have visited them this week.

unfinished time expression

Have you checked your lottery ticket?

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Yes, I have.

Fill in have or has and complete the answer:

1. ____have_______ you ever been here? Yes,I have _____.

2. ___has________Kate called you this morning? No, ____she

hasn't______________.

3. _____have_________Kevin and Lilly parked their car next to my house?

Yes, _____they have_____.

4. _____have_________we booked a table in a restaurant? Yes, ___we

have______.

5. ____has__________your sister arrived? No, ____she hasn't_________.

6. ______has________Josh thrown out the rubbish? No, _____he hasn't________.

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TIME EXPRESSIONS

Already (ya)

- Affirmative sentences.
- It goes between the auxiliary and the participle.

She has already bought the book.

I can't believe you've already finished!

Always (siempre) / never (nunca)

- Affirmative sentences.
- It goes between the auxiliary and the participle.

I have always wanted a baby brother.

They have never thought about adopting.

Ever (alguna vez)

- Questions.
- It goes between the subject and the participle.

Has she ever gone rock climbing? → ¿Alguna vez ha hecho escalada?

Yet (aún, todavía, ya)

- Negative sentences or questions.

- It goes at the end of the sentence.

He hasn't come to my house yet. (No ha venido a mi casa aún/todavía)

Have they visited their grandma yet? (¿Han visitado a su abuela ya?)

Just (equivalent of "acabar de" in the present + infinitivo")

- Affirmative sentences and questions.

- It goes between the auxiliary and the participle (except in questions, where it goes
between the subject and the participle).

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I have just bought the new Pokemon video game.
Have you just gone to the supermarket?

FOR - (DURANTE) - I have known her for 10 years.

- It goes before saying a PERIOD of time: for three years, for the whole summer, for
two months, for five weeks

SINCE - (DESDE) - They haven't talked since their fight.

- It goes before saying the specific moment in which the action STARTED: since
last year, since before going to college, since my mother changed jobs

- It can be very specific (since my mother changed her job and moved to California)
or general (since last month).

- In any case, you are saying WHEN something started, not the amount of time or
period of time

You have visited the Big Ben.

Never:

already:

yet:

still: