The Present Perfect Simple

Sample sentences
Our sales have increased. She has worked for our company for 15 years. We haven't seen him since November. Our profit has remained constant all this year. We have just signed the contract. We havent had many orders lately. Have you ever been to America?

The present perfect simple tense is formed: HAS/HAVE + past participle

I have worked here for 12 years. She has left the company.

Interrogative form: Has she finished the report?

Negative form: She hasnt finished the report.

We use the Present Perfect Tense:

1. to show an activity at some non-specific time in the past with an impact or results in the present:
The government has increased taxes. ( present results = taxes are now higher)

We have employed two new workers. (present results = two more employees)

NO time markers are used!!!

We use the Present Perfect Tense:

2. to show an activity within a period of time which is not yet finished at the time of speaking:

The quality of the product has improved this year. (The year is not yet finished.) John has changed three jobs this month. (The month is not yet finished.)

Time expressions used here include:

this morning this evening this year this season today, etc..

We use the Present Perfect Tense:

3. to indicate an activity which started in the past and continues up to the present:

Mr Davidson has worked for our company for 14 years. (He started working 14 years ago and is still working here today.) I have lived in Belgrade since 1998. (I started living here in 1998 and I am still living here today.) So far/Up to now we have sold 2000 items. (in the period between then and now)

Time markers:

FOR - to indicate the period (for 14 years)

SINCE - to indicate the starting point (since 1998) so far, up to now, until now, in the last three years, during the last 10 days

We use the Present Perfect Tense:

4. to give new information:

Did you hear the news? Jim has found a new job! Do you know about Susan? She has got married!

We use the Present Perfect Tense:

5. to announce a recent happening:

We have just signed a new contract. I have just finished work.

JUST

We use the Present Perfect Tense:

6. with a superlative:

This is the largest order we have ever received. This is the most boring book I have ever read!

We use the Present Perfect Tense:

7. with the expressions such as This is the first time or It's the first time:

This is the first time we have done business with you so the payment should be in cash. It's the first time I have had a job interview so I'm a bit nervous.

We use the Present Perfect Tense:

8. to talk about an activity between a short time ago and now: I haven't seen John lately. Have you? We have recently changed over to Microsoft XP. LATELY RECENTLY

We use the Present Perfect Tense:

9. with ever and never:

Have you ever been to America? We have never made such a profit!

EVER? NEVER.

We use the Present Perfect Tense:

Already is typically used in positive sentences: I have already made an appointment.
Yet is used in negative and interrogative sentences: I haven't made an appointment yet. Have you made an appointment yet?

Ford: the road to recovery. Complete the text about the performance of the Ford car company with the present perfect tense:

Although Ford (MAKE) ________ operating profits of in its American market this year, the story in Europe (BE) ________ very different. Its market share (FALL) ________ from 12% six years ago to only 9% now. The truth is that rivals like Volkswagen and Renault (PERFORM) ________ much better over recent years. They (CUT) ________ costs and (LAUNCH) _______ exciting and highly successful models. In contrast, Ford (WITHDRAW) ________ its large saloon, the Scorpio, which was not selling well.

Ford: the road to recovery. Complete the text about the performance of the Ford car company with the present perfect tense:

But Ford (HAVE) ________ a lot more success at the higher end of the market. Over the last few years it (SPEND) ________ a lot of money buying brands such as Jaguar, Aston Martin and Land Rover, and these models have much higher profit margins. It (TAKE) ________ some time to sort out the problems at Jaguar in particular, but its now a successful part of the business.

Present Simple vs. Present Perfect

ivim u Beogradu 20 godina. = I have lived in Belgrade for 20 years. (NOT: I live in Belgrade for 20 years.)
Moji roditelji oduvek ive u Beogradu. = My parents have always lived in Belgrade. (NOT: My parents always live in Belgrade.

Present Simple vs. Present Perfect

Ne puim ve tri godine. = I haven't smoked for three years. NOT: I don't smoke for three years.
Ne puim od septembra. = I haven't smoked since September. NOT: I don't smoke since September. Koliko dugo poznaje Toma? = How long have you known Tom? NOT: How long do you know Tom?

Correct the following sentences:

How long do you work here? How long have you worked here?

I live in Belgrade for ten years. I have lived in Belgrade for ten years.
I don't smoke since last year. I havent smoked since last year. How long do you know your best friend? How long have you known your best friend? I work here since four years. I have worked here since 2003/for four years.

Correct the following sentences:

She doesn't work for two years. She hasnt worked for two years.
I don't see John lately. I havent seen John lately. This is the first time we do business so the payment should be in cash. This is the first time we have done business so the payment should be in cash. It's the first time I have a job interview so I'm a bit nervous. It's the first time I have had a job interview so I'm a bit nervous.

PAST SIMPLE vs PRESENT PERFECT

Past Simple vs Present Perfect

1. We use the past simple tense when we know exactly when an activity happened in the past. The government reduced interest rates last week.
We use the present perfect tense for an activity that happened at a non-specific time in the past: The government has reduced interest rates.

Past Simple vs Present Perfect 2. We use the present perfect tense to give new
information or to announce a recent happening.

A: Did you know? I've changed my job!

But, if we continue to talk about it, we normally use the past simple tense:

B: Really? When did you change it? A: Well, actually, my previous employer called me yesterday and asked me to work for him again.

Past Simple vs Present Perfect 3. The present perfect always tells us something
about the present. The sentence Prices have fallen. tells us that the prices are now lower. The past simple tense tells us only about the past:

The prices fell last year.

We do not know what the prices are like now. We only now that they fell last year.

Past Simple vs Present Perfect 4. We DO NOT use the present perfect when we are talking about a finished time in the past, e. g. yesterday, two years ago, in 1980, when I was a child, etc. We use the past simple tense here: I played tennis very well when I was young. Mr Jones retired from his job two years ago. I lost my key yesterday.

Past Simple vs Present Perfect 5. We DO NOT use the present perfect tense to ask when something happened. We use the past simple instead: When did you change your job?

Sort these words into two categories: 1. used with present perfect and 2. used with the past simple. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. ago yet so far lately since last year since last year over the last 2 years for the last 3 weeks yesterday at 3 oclock during the 1990s. 1. present perfect yet so far lately since since last year over the last 2 years for the last 3 weeks 2. past simple ago last year yesterday at 3 oclock during the 1990s

9.
10. 11. 12.