PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

What is Present Perfect Tense?

 The present perfect is used to describe actions or states that have recently happened or
that started in the past and continue to the present.
 Present perfect talks about past actions that recently finished, and we are still seeing their
results and consequences.
 Use the verbs in Participle forms with Present Perfect
 Use the auxiliaries HAVE and HAS
Have (I-You-We-They)
Has (He-She-It)
 Present Perfect Negative form:
Haven´t (I-You-We-They)
Hasn´t (He-She-It)

Verbs in Participle
Eat Eaten Run Run

Drink Drunk Wash Washed

Swim Swum Live Lived

Call Called Bark Barked

Write Written Be Been

STRUCTURE
Aff: S + Have/Has + V(participle) + C.
Neg: S + haven´t/hasn+t + V(participle) + C.
Int: Have/has + S + V(participle) + C. + ?
Wh: Wh + have/has + S + V(participle) + C. + ?
EXAMPLE:
1.Aff: We have been in Italy many times.
Neg: We haven´t been in Italy many times.
Int: Have we been in Italy many times?
Wh: Where have you been many times?
2.Aff: She has bought pizza for tonight.
Neg: She hasn´t bought pizza for tonight.
Int: Has she bought pizza for tonight?
Wh: What has she bought for tonight?
EXAMPLES:

PRESENT PERFECT WITH: EVER – NEVER – YET – ALREADY - JUST

Ever
The adverbs ever and never express the idea of an unidentified time before now (Have
you ever visited Berlin?)'Ever' and 'never' are always placed before the main verb (past
participle). Ever is used:
In questions
Examples
Have you ever been to England?
Has she ever met the Prime Minister?

Never
Never means at no time before now, and is the same as not ..... ever: (I have never visited Berlin)
BE CAREFUL! You must not use never and not together
YET
Yet (in this context) is only used in negative sentences and questions.
Yet is used in negative statements and questions, to mean (not) in the period of time between
before now and now, (not) up to and including the present. Yet is usually placed at the end of the
sentence.
Examples
Have you met Judy yet?
I haven't visited the Tate Gallery yet
Has he arrived yet?
They haven't eaten yet

ALREADY
Already refers to an action that has happened at an unspecified time before now. It suggests that
there is no need for repetition.
Examples
I've already drunk three coffees this morning. (= and you're offering me another one!)

JUST

It is used with the present perfect means 'a short time before'.

I've just seen Susan coming out of the cinema.

Mike's just called. Can you ring him back, please?
Have you just taken my pen?!

Just comes between the auxiliary verb (have/has) and the past participle.

FOR and SINCE

Use Since and For with specific and unspecific time with Present Perfect.

Do we use for or since with the following time references?

1. I haven't phoned home________Christmas.

2. We've been here_________nine o'clock.

3. I have worked for International House__________more than eight years.

4. I haven't visited my home town_________I left school.

5. I haven't been to the cinema________ages.

6. I have studied non-stop _________9.15.

7. I have had a driving licence______________I was eighteen.

8. She hasn't had a day off___________1999.

9. Johan has been in England_______________more than two weeks now.

10. Peter has been my best friend________________we were nine.

Complete the following exercises using: (ALREADY – JUST – YET)