THE PERFECT

PRESENT
TENSE

PERFECT PRESENT TENSE

The present perfect expresses the idea that something happened (or
never happened) before now, at an unspecified time in the past.
The exact time it happened is not important.

Examples
They have moved into a new apartament
Have you ever visited mexico
2

PERFECT PRESENT
TENSE
The present perfect also expresses the repetition of an
activity before now .The exact time of each repetition is not
important.

Examples
We have had four tests so far this semester
I Have written my wife a letter every other day for the las
two weeks
I have flown on an airplane many times
3

PERFECT PRESENT TENSE

The present perfect also, when used with for or since, expresses a
situation taht began en the past and continues to the present .
Since + a particular time
For + a duration of time

In the examples notice the difference

Between since and for:
Examples
I have been here since seven oclock
I Have had this same pair of shoes for three years
I have liked cwboy movies ever since I was a child
She has known him for many years

What do you need

the Present Perfect for ?
to tell what you have done recently/
lately.
to tell what you have just or already done.
to tell what you have never/ ever done.
to tell what you have done so far/ up to
now.
to tell what you have done today/ this
week/ this month/ this year.
5

How can you form

the Present Perfect?
Positive I, you, we , they,
have done
sentence he, she, it,
has worked
Negative I, you, we , they, havent done
sentence he, she, it,
hasnt worked
Question Have I, you,we, they, done?
Has he, she, it
worked?

Why dont you try some

exercises?

Choose the correct answer.

Peter ........never
watched Maja
bee.
A) had
B) have
C) has
D) none of these

Peter ........ has

never watched
Maja Bee.
Congratulations!

How about this?

Lidka hasnt
........to Majorka
yet.
A) had
B) seen
C) drove
D) none of these

None of these
Lidka hasnt
been to
Majorka .
Precisely!

Try the next question.

....you ever
smoked?
A) has
B) do
C) have
D) none of these

Have you ever

smoked?
Good!

10

Choose the correct answer

again.
She hasnt
..........the dinner
already.
A) cooks
B) cooked
C) make
D) none of these

She hasnt
cooked the
dinner already
Very well!

11

Can you do this one ?

He hasnt ........ a
shower today.
A) taken
B) took
C) taked
D) none of these

None of these
He hasnt
taken a
shower today.
Well done!

12

Try this one !

...........Joan
ever...........a
shark?
A) has J. eat
B) does J. eaten
C) has J. eaten
D) none of these

Has Joan ever

eaten a shark?

Not bad! Keep

on trying
13

Choose the correct answer one

more time.

She has ........ a

man.
A) never kiss
B) never kissed
C) just kisses
D) none of these

None of these
She has
never kissed
a man.

Of course, you
are right !
14

Choose the correct answer.

..........you ever .........

your head ?
A) have..........lost
B) do............lose
C) did...........lose
D) none of these

Have you ever

lost your head ?
Right again!

15

Choose the best answer

again !
Tom and
Arthur ..................
......a dog so far.
A) dont buy
B) hasnt bought
C) havent bought
D) didnt buy

Tom and Arthur

havent bought
a dog so far.

Excellent!
16

Whats the right answer now?

.................Peter and
Mat ...............
abroad before?

Has..............been
Have............seen
Have............been
None of these

Have Peter and

Mat been abroad
before ?
You are
absolutely right !

17

Why dont you

test yourself again?
What action can you describe
with the Present Perfect?
How do you form it ?
What time expressions can you
use with the Present Perfect?
Whats the difference between
the Present Perfect and the
Simple Past ?
18

Solets talk about the FORM of the

PRESENT PERFECT TENSE firstOK?
The Present Perfect Tense is formed by 2 things:

the auxiliary verb HAVE and HAS

(in all form: Affirmative, Negative and Interrogative)

the PAST PARTICIPLE

For Example
She has worked in that office for six years.

auxiliary

past participle

Here are some more examples!

I have already eaten breakfast.
She has seen that movie before.
We have dealt with customers for
many years.

She has used a cash register before.

He has worked for that company since
May.
We have already served their food.

In these examples the

past participle has an
irregular form. Just
like the lists youve
been studying

In these examples
the past participle
has a regular form
and looks just the
the simple past
tense, but its not.

We often use CONTRACTIONS with this tense.

I have

Ive

I havent

You have

Youve

you havent

We have

Weve

We havent

They have Theyve They havent

He has

Hes

He hasnt

She has

Shes

She hasnt

It has

Its

It hasnt

I have lived in Florida for two years.

Ive lived in Florida for two years

So now that weve talked about the

form (words) of the PRESENT
PERFECT, we can now look at the
reasons (function) we use it and see
in what situations we need it.
There are 2 main reasons we
use the PRESENT PERFECT
TENSE. They are completely
different and have no
connection to one another.

Do you want to guess?

Are you Ready?

Reason #1

We use the PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

to talk about a completed past action
at an unspecified time in the past.
The only thing that is important is
that it happened sometime before
now. But not any specific time.
Ive already eaten breakfast.
Shes seen that movie before.

When did it happen?

When we want to ask a question about

something that happened at any time before
now, we say:

Have you ever.?

Have you ever worked at a job you really loved?

Has she ever worked at a job she really hated?
Have they ever used a cash register?
Have you ever supervised other employees?

The short answer is

Yes, I have.

Yes, she has.

No, I havent

No, she hasnt.

Ever or never?
EVER

(alguna vez)

USED WITH THE PRESENT PERFECT

NEVER

Never is originally a contraction of 'not

Ever means 'at any time', the specific time is
unknown or unnecessary, and is used in questions. ever'.
Example

Have you ever met a famous person ?

(Did you meet a famous person at any time in the
past.)is also used with nothing, nobody for things
Ever
that haven't happened before.
Example
- Nobody has ever travelled through time.

Ever is also used with 'the first time' for first

experiences.
Example- This is the first time I've ever eaten
snake soup.

Never means the subject hasn't had a

certain experience before.
Ex ample
Have you ever been abroad? No, I've
never been abroad.
(I've never had that experience before.)
Never can be used in negative questions
to show the surprise that you've never
had a certain experience before.
ExampleHave you never played soccer?

Already or yet?
ALREADY

(ya)

YET

(an, todava no)

USED WITH THE PRESENT PERFECT

Already means that something happened

earlier than we expected. With Present
Perfect already usually goes after have
or has and before the main verb.

Yet means that something that we

expected has happened or hasn't
happened. We usually put it at the
end of a sentence.

Examples

Examples

- We've already had our breakfast.

- Has the post arrived yet?

- When are you going to do your

homework?
- But I've already done it!

- Have you done your homework?

- Not yet.

- Do you want a cup of coffee?

- No, thanks. I've already had one."

- Haven't you got ready yet? Look

at the time!

If we want to ask a question about something that

happened at a specific time in the past, we
wouldnt use the present perfect tense. We need
to use a different tense. Can you guess which one?
Youre right! The simple past tense.
When did they use a cash register?
They used a cash register last year.
When did you supervise other people?
I supervised other people two years ago.
Last year, yesterday,
two years ago, last week
are all words we use with
the simple past tense

We often use the Present Perfect with already to

talk about things that have happened before now.
Ive already eaten breakfast. Shes already read that book.
Youre too late. Hes already left for school.

We usually use yet in questions to find out if

something has happened before now.
Have you bought your mother a present yet?
Has she seen that movie yet?
Have they left for school yet?

Reason #2

for

since

With the words

and
to talk about something
that began in the past and continues to now.
For example:

Ive studied at this school since last June.

Shes lived in West Palm Beach for 2 months.

1. SINCE + POINT IN TIME

Use the present perfect with since + point in time (since 5:00, since
Monday, since 1994) to show when something started.
Ive worked at this job since last year.
Hes lived in Florida since March.
Theyve been married since 1985.

2. SINCE

can also introduce a time clause.

Ive lived in Lake Worth since I moved to

Florida.

FOR + LENGTH OF TIME

Use the Present perfect with for + length of time (for ten
minutes, for two weeks, for years, for a long time) to show how
long a present condition has lasted.
Ive worked at this job for one year.
Hes lived in Florida for 9 months.
Theyve been married for a long time.

So
How do we ask questions using this tense?
When we want to know the length of time
something has taken place we use the
question words HOW LONG?
How long has she studied English at the AEC?

Write affirmative and negative

sentences using the Present
Perfect tense using the words
given.
a. He / lose / his passport. Hes lost his passport.
b. We / not / finish / our work.
c. They / buy / a new house.
d. I / visit / New York / five times.
e. They / go / to the cinema.
f. You / eat / four bananas!
g. She / not / travel / far.
h. I / not / do / any homework / this week.
i. We / not / study / French.

Write questions and answer

them. Make the answers true
for YOU
a. She / see / her sister? Has she seen her sister?
b. They / phone / the doctor?
c. You / take / any photographs?
d. He / make / any mistakes?
e. We / watch / any television today?
3. Complete the following sentences with since

Complete the following

sentences with since or for.
for
a. She has worked as a secretary since 1991.
b. They have been married ________ a few years.
c. They have lived in Manchester ________ a long time.
d. Hes written 5 books ________ I met him.
e. We havent seen them ________ several weeks.
f. I havent been to the beach ________ last summer.
g. Have you used the phone ________ you arrived?
h. We havent heard any noise ________ many hours.
i. Has she studied hard ________ yesterday?

Write sentences using the

Present Perfect form and since
or for.
a. I / not / play / tennis / last summer. I havent played tennis since
last summer.
b. I / know / her / more than ten years.
c. I / not / eat / anything / lunchtime.
d. You / live / in this town / a long time?
e. Jill / be / a good friend / we were at school together.
f. You / see / Jack / the party last week?

Complete the text using the

Past Simple or the Present
Perfect
tense
London has had (have)
an underground train system since the
19th century. The London Underground ________ (start) in
1863, when engineers and workers ________ (build) the
Metropolitan railway. This railway line ________ (go) from
Paddington Station to Farringdon Street Station. It ________
(be) a very short line. Eight more lines ________ (open) since
then. The worlds first electric railway ________ (open) in
1890. This line ________ (go) from the city centre to South
London. The most modern line is the Jubilee line. It ________
(open) in 1977. Since the London Underground ________
(begin), many other cities, like New York and Moscow,
________ (build) their own systems.

Correct the following

sentences:
sentences
a. I have played tennis last week. I played tennis last
week.
b. They have finished work yet.
c. When you bought that umbrella?
d. Look! I have buy a new umbrella.
e. I have bought three CDs last week.
f. She didnt saw that film.
g. She hasnt never seen that film.

PRESENT PERFECT
PROGRESSIVE

Present Perfect Progressive Tense

This tense is used to indicate the duration of an activity that
began in the past and continues to the present.
When the tense has this meaning, it is used with time words such
as for, since, all morning, all day, all week.
Ex.
That is the situation. Right now I am sitting at my desk
1.I have been sitting here since seven oclock
2.I have been sitting here for two hours
Another situations
You have been studying for five straight hours.
It has been raining all day

Present Perfect Progressive Tense

When the tense is used without any specific mention of time.
It expresses a general activity in progress recently,
Ex.
1.I have been thinking about changing my boss
2.All of the students have been studying hard. Final exams start
next week.
3.My back hurts, so I have been sleeping on the floor lately. The
bed is too soft .

Present Perfect Progressive Tense

With certain verbs (most notably live, work, teach), there is little
or no difference in meaning between the two tenses when since
or for is used.
Ex.
1.I have lived here since 1985
I have been living here since 1985
2.He has worked at the same store for ten years.
He has been working at the same store for ten years

42

Present Perfect Progressive Tense

AFIRMATIVE FORM:
I, You, He,.+(have/has)+been+verb with ing+ .
Ex. They have been studying for exactly three hours
NEGATIVE FORM:
I, You, He,.+(havent /hasnt)+been+verb with ing+ .
Ex. She hasnt been working since she came home
INTERROGATIVE FORM:
(Have/has)+I,You,He,.+been+verb with ing+
Ex. Has he been learning English since his childhood

Is it an experience or a situation?
Present Perfect
For experience:
1. The students have
learned how to use
their computers.
2. They already have
memorized their
log-ins.

Present Progressive
For temporary
events:
1. However, the
students are learning
vocabulary.
2. Therefore, they still
are memorizing lots
of new words.

Can you see the difference between

experience and temporary events?

 Present perfect is for

experience:
It is about how many
times someone has
done something:
1. She has cooked and
cleaned all day.
2. We have met twice a
week for two months.
3. The students have
learned a lot this
semester.

Present progressive is
on going:
It is about what is
happening currently
and temporarily:
1. How long have you
been online?

2. I have been reading

online for an hour.
3. The student has been
reading a lot.

USE 1 Duration from the Past Until

Now
We use the Present Perfect Continuous to show
that something started in the past and has
continued up until now. "For five minutes,"
"for two weeks," and "since Tuesday" are all
durations which can be used with the Present
Perfect Continuous.

Examples:

They have been talking for the last hour.

She has been working at that company for three
years.
What have you been doing for the last 30 minutes?
James has been teaching at the university since
June.
We have been waiting here for over two hours!
Why has Nancy not been taking her medicine for
the last three days?

USE 2 Recently, Lately

You can also use the Present Perfect
Continuous WITHOUT a duration such as "for
two weeks." Without the duration, the tense
has a more general meaning of "lately." We
often use the words "lately" or "recently" to
emphasize this meaning.

Examples
Recently, I have been feeling really tired.
She has been watching too much
television lately.
Have you been exercising lately?
Mary has been feeling a little depressed.
Lisa has not been practicing her English.
What have you been doing?

REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed

Verbs

It is important to remember that

Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any
continuous tenses. Also, certain noncontinuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot
be used in continuous tenses. Instead of using
Present Perfect Continuous with these verbs,
you must use Present Perfect.

 Examples:
Sam has been having his car for two
years. Not Correct
Sam has had his car for two years.
Correct

PRESENT PERFECT
simple and continuous
We use the present perfect simple:
a) To state a completed action
I have written a long letter to my friend.
or
b) To state quantity (how many)
I have written six letters this evening.

PRESENT PERFECT
simple and continuous
We use the present perfect continuous:
a) To state an action that is still happening
I have been writing letters all evening.

or
b) To state the length of time (how long)
I have been writing letters for three hours.

PRESENT PERFECT
simple
To form the present perfect simple we use:
S + have / has + Verb3
eg:
They have eaten breakfast. (completed)
I have studied 2 English books. (how many)

PRESENT PERFECT
continuous
For the present perfect continuous we use:
S + have / has + been + Verb + ing
eg:
I have been eating breakfast for 10 minutes.
(not
completed)
I have been studying 2 English books for 4 weeks. (how
many)

PRESENT PERFECT
continuous
Subject + have/has + been + verb + ing
Ive
Youve
Hes
Shes
Its
Weve
Theyve

(have)
(has)

(have)

been

sleeping
eating
walking
jumping
working

PRESENT PERFECT
continuous
Present perfect continuous:
We say:
I have been waiting for five hours.
We dont say:
Im waiting for five hours.

PRESENT PERFECT
continuous
1) She has been spending all her money.
2) They have been working really hard this term.
3) I have been finishing my homework.
4) They have been playing CDs all day.
5) Hes been doing all of the jobs.
6) Weve been driving for 3 hours.
7) Shes been losing her money in the casino.

PRESENT PERFECT
continuous
1) She / cook / this morning / .
She has been cooking this morning.
2) We / play / not / football / today / .
We have not been playing football today.
3) I / finish / just / my homework.
I have been finishing my homework.
4) rain / today / it / ? /
Has it been raining today?