Present Perfect

Present Perfect
FORM
[has/have + past participle]
Examples:
You have seen that movie many times.
Have you seen that movie many times?
You have not seen that movie many times.
USE 1 Unspecified Time
Before Now
We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified
time before now. The exact time is not important. You CANNOT use the
Present Perfect with specific time expressions such as: yesterday, one year
ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that
day, one day, etc. We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific
expressions such as: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so
far, already, yet, etc.

Examples:
I have seen that movie twenty times.
I think I have met him once before.
There have been many earthquakes in California.
People have traveled to the Moon.
People have not traveled to Mars.
Have you read the book yet?
Nobody has ever climbed that mountain.
A: Has there ever been a war in the United States?
B: Yes, there has been a war in the United States.
 TOPIC 1 Experience
You can use the Present Perfect to describe your experience. It is
like saying, "I have the experience of..." You can also use this tense
to say that you have never had a certain experience. The Present
Perfect is NOT used to describe a specific event.
Examples:
I have been to France.
This sentence means that you have had the experience of being in
France. Maybe you have been there once, or several times.
I have been to France three times.
You can add the number of times at the end of the sentence.
I have never been to France.
This sentence means that you have not had the experience of going
to France.
I think I have seen that movie before.
He has never traveled by train.
Joan has studied two foreign languages.
A: Have you ever met him?
B: No, I have not met him.
TOPIC 2 Change Over Time
We often use the Present Perfect to talk
about change that has happened over a
period of time.
Examples:
You have grown since the last time I saw
you.
The government has become more
interested in arts education.
Japanese has become one of the most
popular courses at the university since the
Asian studies program was established.
My English has really improved since I
moved to Australia.
TOPIC 3 Accomplishments
We often use the Present Perfect to list the accomplishments
of individuals and humanity. You cannot mention a specific
time.
Examples:
Man has walked on the Moon.
Our son has learned how to read.
Doctors have cured many deadly diseases.
Scientists have split the atom.
TOPIC 4: An Uncompleted
Action You Are Expecting
We often use the Present Perfect to say that an action which
we expected has not happened. Using the Present Perfect
suggests that we are still waiting for the action to happen.
Examples:
James has not finished his homework yet.
Susan hasn't mastered Japanese, but she can
communicate.
Bill has still not arrived.
The rain hasn't stopped.
TOPIC 5 Multiple Actions at
Different Times
We also use the Present Perfect to talk about several
different actions which have occurred in the past at different
times. Present Perfect suggests the process is not complete
and more actions are possible.
Examples:
The army has attacked that city five times.
I have had four quizzes and five tests so far this semester.
We have had many major problems while working on this
project.
She has talked to several specialists about her problem, but
nobody knows why she is sick.
Time Expressions with Present
Perfect
When we use the Present Perfect it means
that something has happened at some point
in our lives before now. Remember, the exact
time the action happened is not important.
 Sometimes, we want to limit the time we are
looking in for an experience. We can do this
with expressions such as: in the last week, in
the last year, this week, this month, so far, up
to now, etc.

Examples:
Have you been to Mexico in the last year?
I have seen that movie six times in the last month.
They have had three tests in the last week.
She graduated from university less than three years ago. She
has worked for three different companies so far.
My car has broken down three times this week.
 "Last year" and "in the last year" are very different in
meaning. "Last year" means the year before now, and
it is considered a specific time which requires Simple
Past. "In the last year" means from 365 days ago until
now. It is not considered a specific time, so it requires
Present Perfect.
Examples:
I went to Mexico last year.
I went to Mexico in the calendar year before this one.
I have been to Mexico in the last year.
I have been to Mexico at least once at some point
between 365 days ago and now.
USE 2 Duration From the Past Until Now (Non-
Continuous Verbs)

With Non-Continuous Verbs and non-continuous uses of

Mixed Verbs, we use the Present Perfect 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.
Examples:
I have had a cold for two weeks.
She has been in England for six months.
Mary has loved chocolate since she was a little girl.

Although the above use of Present Perfect is normally limited

to Non-Continuous Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed
Verbs, the words "live," "work," "teach," and "study" are
sometimes used in this way even though they are NOT Non-
Continuous Verbs.
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar
adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
You have only seen that movie one time.
Have you only seen that movie one time?
 ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:
Many tourists have visited that castle. Active
That castle has been visited by many tourists.
Passive
 Present perfect with "for" and
"since"
• We can define a period of time before
now:
• by its duration, using for + a period of
time, or
• by its starting point, using since + a point
in time.
• FOR and SINCE can also both be used
with the past perfect. SINCE can only be
used with perfect tenses. FOR can also be
used with the simple past.
 Present perfect or past simple?
• 1) Last night I (lose) my keys - I had to call my flatmate to let
me in.
• 2) I (lose) my keys - can you help me look for them?
• 3) I (visit) Paris three times.
• 4) Last year I (visit) Paris.
• 5) I (know) my great grandmother for a few years - she died
when I was eight.
• 6) I (know) Julie for three years - we still meet once a month.
• 7) I (play) Hockey since I was a child - I'm pretty good!
• 8) She (play) hockey at school but she didn't like it.
• 9) Sorry, I (miss) the bus - I'm going to be late.
• 10) I (miss) the bus and then I (miss) the aeroplane as
well!
• 11) Last month I (go) to Scotland.
• 12) I'm sorry, John isn't here now. He (go) to the
shops.
• 13) We (finish) this room last week.
• 14) I (finish) my exams finally - I'm so happy!
• 15) Yesterday, I (see) all of my friends. It was
great.
• 16) I (see) Julie three times this week.
• 17) She (live) in London since 1994.
• 18) She (live) in London when she was a child.
• 19) I (drink) three cups of coffee today.
• 20) I (drink) three cups of coffee yesterday.