Lesson 23. Present Perfect Simple

 Present Perfect Simple

 

They have been on holiday for two weeks.

They have visited a lot of tropical beaches and they have swum in the blue sea.

Have they bought any souvenirs yet? -Yes, they have. 

We use the present perfect simple:

• for actions which happened at an unstarted time in the past. The exact time is not mentioned because it is not important. We put more emphasis on the action.
  

 

Ann has bought a new mobile phone. 

(When did she buy it? We don't mention the exact time because it is not important. What is important is the fact that she's got a new mobile phone.)

• for actions which started in the past and are still continuing in the present.

 

She has been a dentist since 1992. 

(She started working as a dentist in 1992 and she still is a dentist.)

• for actions which have recently finished and their results are visible in the present.

 

They have done their shopping.

(We can see that they have finished their shopping because they're leaving the supermarket and there are  bags in their trolley.)

• with today, this morning/afternoon, etc. when these periods of time are not finished at the time of speaking

 

She has written ten letters this morning.

(It is still morning so this period of time is not finished.)

( + )

We form the present perfect simple with the auxiliary verb have/has and the past participle. We form the past participle of regular verbs by adding -ed to the verb.

clean   -   cleaned          play   -   played

We form the past participle of irregular verbs differently.

do   -   done     go    -    gone      see   -   seen

 ( - ) / ( ? )

We form negations by putting not between have/has and the past participle. 

He has not/hasn't read a newspaper yet. 

 

We form questions by putting have/has before the subject.

Has he read  a newspaper yet?

Time expressions used with the present perfect simple include:

for, since, already, just, recently, ever, how long, yet, lately, never, so far, today, 

this morning/afternoon/ week/month/year, etc

(+)

for      I have known her for five years.  

since     He has been ill since Friday.

already   I have already done my homework.

just    They have just played football

recently    He has recently published his book. 

(-)
for    I haven't talked to him for days.
since     They haven't been in London since 1997.
yet   He hasn't answered my letter yet.
lately   I haven't seen Ann lately.
never    I have never been in Moscow. 

(?)
ever   Have you ever met anybody famous?
How long     How long have you worked here? 
yet         Has Bob left yet?
lately    Have you seen any good films lately?

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