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Presentperfectsimp 01

This document discusses the differences between using the present perfect simple and past simple tenses. It provides examples of when to use each tense, including with time expressions like "since", "for", and "ago". It also compares using the present perfect simple versus continuous forms. In general, the present perfect simple is used for unfinished or ongoing actions starting in the past and continuing to the present, while the past simple is used for finished actions entirely in the past.

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14 views

Presentperfectsimp 01

This document discusses the differences between using the present perfect simple and past simple tenses. It provides examples of when to use each tense, including with time expressions like "since", "for", and "ago". It also compares using the present perfect simple versus continuous forms. In general, the present perfect simple is used for unfinished or ongoing actions starting in the past and continuing to the present, while the past simple is used for finished actions entirely in the past.

Uploaded by

nataliagr2019
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE OR PAST SIMPLE?

FORM
✓ Has/have + past participle I’ve finished
X Hasn’t/haven’t + past participle She hasn’t finished
? Has/have + subject + past participle? Have you finished?
Some verbs are irregular: break → broken; go → gone.

USE

We use the present perfect simple We use the past simple


With for, about a period of time which is
With since or for, about a period of time finished:
which is still continuing: I lived there for four years (but I don’t live there
I’ve lived next door since June (and I still live now
next door now)
I’ve lived there for four years (and I still live
there)

With questions asking how long With questions asking when


How long have you lived here? (I know you still When did you move here? (the move is in the
live here) past)

For unfinished actions and events, often For completed actions and events in the
with still or yet past, often with ago
I still haven’t finished it I finished it half an hour ago
I haven’t finished it yet

Still and yet are always used with a


negative in the present perfect. (Still goes
before the verb and yet goes after it)

For events repeated over a period of time For events repeated over a period of time
until the present (they may continue) in the past (they are now finished)
You’ve played the saxophone every night You played the saxophone every night (but you
(until now, and you will probably continue to play don’t any more)
every night)

For events which happened in the past at a


time which is unknown and/or irrelevant
I’ve started my essay (we don’t know when) I’ve
lost my new camera (it’s not important when or
where)
For events that happened in the recent For events that happened at a particular
past (often with just) time in the past
Flight 206 has landed (in the last few minutes) Flight 206 landed at one o’clock
She’s just gone to the cinema (and she’s Or within a period of time in the past
there now) She was at the cinema between midday and
two o’clock (but she’s not there now)

When the time stated is not finished When the time stated is finished
I’ve spent this morning writing an essay (it’s I spent this morning writing and essay (it’s not
still this morning) this morning anymore)
The builders have started working on the I started my essay last week (last week is in the
kitchen this week (it’s still this week) past)
I lost my new camera in London (the place fixes
it at a time in the past)

When we talk about a period of time up to When we talk about past events which are
the present not connected to the present
I’ve been to Los Angeles but not to New York I went to Los Angeles but not to New York (on
(I may go in the future) a particular trip which is in the past)
The team has won several matches (and may The Chinese invented printing
win more)

When we talk about how many times


something has happened
This is the first time anyone has
complained

With adverbs like already, before, ever


and never:
Nobody’s ever complained before
I’ve never tried Japanese food
I’ve already rung the restaurant
I’ve met her before somewhere

Never, ever and already go between


the auxiliary and the main verb. Before
goes after the verb
After a superlative
It’s the best cup of coffee I’ve had here
PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE OR CONTINUOUS?
FORM
✓ Has/have + been + -ing I’ve been working hard
X Hasn’t/haven’t + been + -ing She hasn’t been working hard
? Has/have + subject + been + -ing? Have you been working hard?

The present perfect simple and continuous are both used to describe events or activities
which started in the past and have continued up to the present, or activities which stopped
recently. Some verbs can be used in either the present perfect simple or continuous with
little difference in meaning. These are verbs which describe activities which normally
happen over a period of time.

We use the present perfect continuous We use the present perfect simple
To talk about how often or how many times
To talk about how long something has been something has happened:
happening: I‘ve driven there several times before
I’ve been driving since 5 o’clock this morning. The children have played four games of tennis
The children have been playing happily all this morning
morning I’ve worried about her every day since she
We’ve been worrying about her all weekend left
How long have you been watching TV? I’ve watched three programmes

To focus on the activity or event itself With questions asking when


(whether it is complete or not is I’ve read the newspapers (I’ve finished reading
unimportant) them)
He’s been reading the newspaper while he I’ve mended the car
was waiting for her (we’re interested in how he
passed the time, not if he read every page)
I’ve been mending the car

We never use the present tense to talk about how long we have been doing
something

I’ve been learning the piano for a long time NOT I’m learning the piano for a long time

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