The Present Perfect

•Form

•Uses

•Particles

•Have been vs. Have gone

•Present perfect vs. Past simple

Form

• Present simple TO HAVE + past participle (main verb)

– Ex:

• I have been to Ireland a couple of times

• I’ve never spoken to him

• I haven’t got any money

• Have you ever eaten snails?

Uses Describes past events which are connected to the present • Experiences: to talk about an event in the past but without a definite

time: Have you visited any other countries? Yes, I’ve been to Italy and France • Completion: when we describe how many things are completed so far, an

exact time is not mentioned: I’ve read a hundred pages of this book • Explaining a present situation, an exact time is not mentioned: What’s the matter? Why are you walking like that? I’ve hurt my foot. • An action/event lasting until the present and still happening. There is a

time expression, describing how long or how often something has happened: I’ve lived here for ten years.

I’ve had this jacket since last October She’s known her best friend for 20 years

Particles Ever, never, yet, already, just, so far, for, since, frequency

adverbs • Have you ever eaten Japanese food? No, I’ve never eaten it • Have you finished this book yet? No, I haven’t finished it

yet/ Yes, I’ve already finished it. • How many pages have you read so far? I’ve read 56 pages So far, so good • Anna has just phoned from the airport. • For + a period of time = for three months, for 2 hours, for a

moment • Since + when the period of time started = since 2009,

since I was 22 • He has always loved you. • We have often visited France

Have been vs. Have gone to

• He’s gone to the bank = he isn’t here. He’s at the bank

• He’s been to the bank = he went to the bank and now’s he’s come back

• Gone to lunch. Back in 30’

• Gone with the wind!

Present Perfect vs. Past Simple vs. Present Simple

• I’ve lived in Barcelona for ten years • I lived in Barcelona for ten years/ten years ago. • I live in Barcelona

Conversations often begin with the present perfect, then change to the past simple:

• Have you ever been to South America? Yes, I have. • When did you go to South America? I went to Venezuela

in 1995.

• Have you ever broken your leg? Yes, I have. • When did you break your leg? I broke it last July.

• Have you been to the UK? Yes, I have. • When did you go there? I went in 2010.