Present Perfect Simple

Present Perfect Progressive

irregular verbs: form of 'have' + 3rd column of

form of 'have' + been + verb + ing

irregular verbs
Example:
I / you / we / they have spoken
he / she / it has spoken

Example:
I / you / we / they have been speaking
he / she / it has been speaking

regular verbs: form of 'have' + infinitive + ed

Example:
I / you / we / they have worked
he / she / it has worked
Exceptions
Exceptions when adding 'ed' :
when the final letter is e, only add d

Exceptions when adding 'ing' :

silent e is dropped. (but: does not apply for -ee)

Example:
love - loved

Example: come - coming

aber: agree - agreeing

after a short, stressed vowel, the final

consonant is doubled

doubled

Example:
admit - admitted
final l is always doubled in British

English (not in American English)

Example: sit - sitting

after a consonant,
final y becomes i (but: not after a vowel)
Example:
worry - worried

after a vowel, the final consonant l is doubled in British

English (but not in American English).

Example:
travel - travelled

after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is

Example: travel - travelling

final ie becomes y.

Example: lie - lying

but: play - played

See also explanations on Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Progressive

Use
Both tenses are used to express that an action began in the past and is still going on or has just finished. In
many cases, both forms are correct, but there is often a difference in meaning: We use the Present Perfect
Simple mainly to express that an action is completed or to emphasise the result. We use the Present
Perfect Progressive to emphasise the duration or continuous course of an action.

Result or duration?
Do you want to express what has happened so far or how long an action has been going on yet?
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Present Perfect Simple

Present Perfect Progressive

Duration (how long)

Result (what / how much / how often)

I have been writing for an hour.
I have written 5 letters. / I have been to London twice.

Certain verbs
The following verbs are usually only used in Present Perfect Simple (not in the progressive form).

state: be, have (for possession only)

Example: We have been on holiday for two weeks.

senses: feel, hear, see, smell, taste, touch

Example: He has touched the painting.

brain work: believe, know, think, understand

Example: I have known him for 3 years.

Emphasis on completion or duration?

Do you want to emphasise the completion of an action or its continuous course (how has somebody spent
his time)?

Present Perfect Simple

Present Perfect Progressive

Emphasis on duration

Emphasis on completion
I have been doing my homework. (Meaning: That's how I have
I have done my homework. (Meaning:

spent my time. It does not matter whether the homework is

My homework is completed now.)

completed now.)

Result or side effect?

Do you want to express that a completed action led to a desired result or that the action had an unwanted
side effect?

Present Perfect Simple

Present Perfect Progressive

unwanted side effect

desired result
Why are you so wet? - I have been washing the car. (side effect: I became
I have washed the

wet when I was washing the car. It does not matter whether the car is clean

car. (Result: The car is clean

now.)
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now.)

Time + negation: last time or beginning of an action?

In negative sentences: Do you want to express how much time has past since the last time the action took
place or since the beginning of the action?

Present Perfect Simple

since the last time

Present Perfect Progressive

since the beginning

I haven't played that game for

I haven't been playing that game for an hour, only for 10

years. (Meaning: It's years ago that I last

minutes. (Meaning: It's not even an hour ago that I started to

played that game.)

play that game.)

Permanent or temporary?
If an action is still going on and we want to express that it is a permanent situation, we would usually use the
Present Perfect Simple. For temporary situations, we would prefer the Present Perfect Progressive. This is
not a rule, however, only a tendency.

Present Perfect Simple

permanent

Present Perfect Progressive

temporary

James has lived in this town for 10

James has been living here for a year. (Meaning: This situation

years. (Meaning: He is a permanent

is only temporary. Maybe he is an exchange student and only

resident of this town.)

here for one or two years.)

Signal words
Present Perfect Simple

Present Perfect Progressive

how often

how long

... times

since

for

Present Perfect Simple

The present perfect simple expresses an action that is still going on or that stopped recently, but has an
influence on the present. It puts emphasis on the result.

Form of Present Perfect

Positive
I / you / we / they I have spoken.

he / she / it

Negative
I have not spoken.

Question
Have I spoken?

He has spoken. He has not spoken. Has he spoken?

For irregular verbs, use the participle form (see list of irregular verbs, 3rd column). For regular verbs, just
add ed.

Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ed

Exceptions in spelling when adding ed
after a final e only add d

Example
love loved

final consonant after a short, stressed vowel

admit admitted
or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled travel travelled

final y after a consonant becomes i

hurry hurried

Use of Present Perfect

puts emphasis on the result

Example: She has written five letters.

action that is still going on

Example: School has not started yet.

action that stopped recently

Example: She has cooked dinner.

finished action that has an influence on the present

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Example: I have lost my key.

action that has taken place once, never or several times before the moment of speaking

Example: I have never been to Australia.

Signal Words of Present Perfect: already, ever, just, never, not yet, so far, till now, up to now
Form
Simple Past

Present Perfect Simple

irregular verbs: see 2nd column of irregular verbs

irregular verbs: form of 'have' + 3rd column of irregular

Example:
I spoke

verbs

regular verbs: infinitive + ed

regular verbs: form of 'have' + infinitive + ed

Example:
I worked

Example:
I / you / we / they have worked
he / she / it has worked

Example:
I / you / we / they have spoken
he / she / it has spoken

Exceptions
Exceptions when adding 'ed':
when the final letter is e, only add d

Example:
love - loved
after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled

Example:
admit - admitted
final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English)

Example:
travel - travelled
after a consonant, final y becomes i (but: not after a vowel)

Example:
worry - worried
but: play - played

Use

In British English, the use of Simple Past and Present Perfect is quite strict. As soon as a time expression in
the past is given, you have to use Simple Past. If there are no signal words, you must decide if we just talk
about an action in the past or if its consequence in the present is important.
Note that the following explanations and exercises refer to British English only. In American English, you
can normally use Simple Past instead of Present Perfect. We cannot accept this in our exercises, however,
as this would lead to confusions amongst those who have to learn the differences.

Certain time in the past or just / already / yet?

Do you want to express that an action happened at a certain time in the past (even if it was just a few
seconds ago) or that an action has just / already / not yet happened?

Simple Past

Present Perfect Simple

certain time in the past

just / already / not yet

Example:
I phoned Mary 2 minutes ago.

Example:
I have just phoned Mary.

Certain event in the past or how often so far?

Do you want to express when a certain action took place or whether / how often an action has happened till
now?

Simple Past

Present Perfect Simple

certain event in the past

whether / how often till now

Example:
He went to Canada last summer.

Example:
Have you ever been to Canada? / I have been to
Canada twice.

Emphasis on action or result?

Do you just want to express what happened in the past? Or do you want to emphasise the result (a past
action's consequence in the present)?

Simple Past

Present Perfect Simple

Emphasis on action

Emphasis on result

Example:
I bought a new bike. (just telling
what I did in the past.)

Example:
I have bought a new bike. (With this sentence I actually want
to express that I have a new bike now.)

Signal Words
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Simple Past

Present Perfect Simple

yesterday

just

... ago

already

in 1990

up to now

the other day

until now / till now

last ...

ever

(not) yet

so far

lately / recently

Highlight Tenses used in the Text

Highlight all tenses

Simple Past (Aktive) - action or situation in the past (emphasises who did something)

Simple Past (Passive) - action or situation in the past (emphasises what was done)

Present Perfect - action or situation over a period of time (from the past to the present)

Simple Present - situation now

Present Progressive - changing situation in the present

A Look at the Intriguing History of Snowboarding

By Keith Kingston

To say who actually invented the sport of snowboarding would be

impossible because people have always loved to slide down a snow-covered hill. Soaring through the snow
on some kind of seat or board is nothing new. The ways to enjoy the snow are numerous, and people have
devised ways to turn garbage can lids and cardboard into snow boards to enjoy an afternoon frolic
outdoors. The various ways to glide through snow have become more sophisticated and have evolved into
using polished boards or skis in much the same manner as a surfboarder would ride a wave.
There have been many attempts at developing a modern snowboard. In 1965, the Snurfer (a word play
on snow and surfer) was developed as a childs toy. Two skis were bound together and a rope was
placed at the front end to afford control and stability. Over 500,000 Snurfers were sold in 1966 but they
were never seen as more than a child's plaything even though organized competitions began to take place.

The year 1969 brought a slightly more sophisticated snowboard based on the principles of skiing combined
with surfboard styling.
The Flying Yellow Banana was developed in 1977. This was nothing more than a plastic shell covered with
a top surface like that of a skateboard, but at the time it was considered a major advance in the little known
sport of snowboarding. The first national snowboard race was held in the area outside Woodstock and was
known as The Suicide Six. The race consisted of a steep downhill run called The Face in which the main
goal was probably mere survival.

Snowboarding continued to increase in popularity over the next several years. In

1985 the first magazine dedicated specifically to snowboarding hit the news stands with huge success and
furthered the popularity of this exciting sport. Hoards of fans began to organize regional events and pretty
soon snowboarding events were held in all parts of the world. In the year 1994 snowboarding was finally
declared an Olympic event, much to the delight of fans. The not-so-new sport of snowboarding was finally
recognized and meant a huge victory for serious snowboarders across the globe.
A collection of snowboarding tricks and stunts was released on video in 1996. Filmed in Alaska, the
breathtaking beauty and captivating snowboarding techniques featured in the video exposed snowboarding
to a new generation, and by 1998 snowboarding constituted almost 50% of all winter activity. Today, nearly
all ski resorts accept snowboarders. There are still a few holding on to the past but this is unlikely to
continue as the number of snowboarders continually increases.
From the first crudely built snowboards to the advanced and specialized models available today,
snowboarders have carried a bad boy image. This rebel reputation is still common today in spite of the fact
that snowboarding appeals to men, women, and children of all nationalities and social groups. At most major
ski resorts you can find snowboarding gear, information, and lessons. Olympic and world wide
snowboarding events are among the most popular of winter sports and the competition to be the best is
fierce.
Retailers nation wide and around the world carry many types of snowboards, and the choice in specially
made snowboarding gear is immense. Snowboarders have participated in the X Games and even charity
events such as Boarding for Breast Cancer. From its early meager beginnings snowboarding has
progressed into a fully recognized sport, and large numbers of people are turning to snowboarding for
adventure, fun, and professional recognition.
8

Keith Kingston is a professional web publisher offering information on snowboards, skiing, ski vacations,
snow removal and snowmobiles at all-4-snow.com