PRESENT PERFECT

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE STRUCTURE

+ Subj + have(has) + Vppart* + Obj - Subj + have (has) + not + Vppart + Obj ? Have (has) + subj + Vppart + Obj?

Examples He has bought a lot of new clothes Jonathan has climbed Mount Everest

*Remember: -ed reg.vbs/3rd column irreg. vbs

Uses

To talk about a situation which started in the past and has and effect in the present I've lost my keys, so I can't leave the house. He has started again the gym, that's why he's so tired.

To talk about a present situation that started in the past. They have owned different restaurants for several

years. She has lived in Tokyo since 1998

To talk about life experiences I've visited New York three times They have done bungee jumping on several occasions.

To talk about experiences in the past, when we are not interested or don’t know the specific point in the past I’ve visited Brazil.

REMEMBER: When we talk about a specific point in the past we use the past

simple I went to Japan in 2003

QUESTIONS AND SHORT ANSWERS

Remember how we make Questions ? Have (has) + subj + Vppart + Obj?

In order to make short answers, we use the adverb (Yes or No), the subject in its pronoun form and the auxiliary in the correct form.

Has he won many Grand Prix? Yes, he has/ No, he hasn’t.

PRESENT PERFECT WITH EVER AND NEVER

We use ever in questions with the present perfect. It means ‘at any time in your life’. Have you ever spoken to him? Has he ever had a serious accident?

We use never in sentences with negative sense in the present perfect. It means ‘ at no time in your life’. He’s never driven a F1 car.

Ever and never come before the past participle.

PRESENT PERFECT WITH FOR AND SINCE

We use since with specific points in time, e.g. Wednesday, January, 2002, five o’clock. Mary has lived in Dublin since 2003 They have worked in the project since September

We use for with periods of time, e.g. two days, 24 hours, three years, one week. Mary has lived in Dublin for 6 years They have worked in the project for 4 months.

We use How long…? to ask a question about the duration of an activity or situation How long have they worked in the project? How long has she lived in Dublin?

PRESENT PERFECT WITH JUST

We use the present perfect with just to talk about things that happened very recently I’ve just got an e-mail They have just given me a present.