The Present Perfect tense How and when to use it

Present Perfect • Verb Tense we use to describe: 1) Experiences in the past 2) Completed events 3) Actions that began in the past and continue now, with consequences in the present time

Main Uses of the Present Perfect • Use 1 • Something that started in the past and still true now

Example:

Spain has been a member of the EU since 1986

Main uses of the Present Perfect • Use 2 • Indefinite past action (the time is unspecified or unknown)

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Example:

I have seen that person somewhere

Main uses of the Present Perfect • Use 3 • Repeated action in the past

Example:

I have been to England lots of times

Main uses of the Present Perfect • Use 4 • An action that began in the past and has recently finished (we can add “just”) • Example:

My sister has just arrived from holidays, she told me the flight was very nice

How to form the Present Perfect I

Subject + have / has + past participle

spoken You He begun shown She come It gone We cut They become People swum Everyone won …..

Past Participles What is a past participle?

• For regular past tense verbs, the –ed form:

liked, walked, worked, talked

• For irregular past verbs,

memorize:

been, seen, had, eaten, shown, written

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Key words for present perfect •

Already = (adv.) before now

I have already finished my homework .

•

Not yet = (adv.) not before now Scientists have not discovered a cure yet

Key words for present perfect •

Never = (adv.) not at any time in the past, including now

I have never seen such a beautiful sunset!

•

Ever = (adv.) at any time, including the present ** Used only in questions

Have you ever ridden a horse?

Reminder about Adverb Placement • With two verbs (auxiliary and main verb), place the adverb between them I

have never eaten

raw fish.

Key words for present perfect •

Before = at some time in the past behind the present time

I have been to Las Vegas before.

•

Several times, many times, a few times,

a couple of times, a lot of times = for indefinite or repeated past actions

Key words for present perfect • •

Since

and

for Since + specific point in the past when the action started I have lived here since 1987 ( /s I ns/ )

• •

For + duration, length of time I have lived here for 34 years

Practice:

since or for?

_______ January _______ 10 years _______ Monday _______ 12 noon _______ I got up _______ 5 minutes _______ a long time ago _______ four days _______ 6:00 _______ Wednesday _______ a month _______ two days ago _______ November 1 _______ 2004 _______ an hour _______ I was young

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Online Practice • • • • • Simple Practice Forming Questions in Present Perfect Change to Present Perfect More Practice Still More Practice

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