PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE TENSE

2014

How do we use it?

• We use the Present Perfect Simple to talk about experiences. It is important if we have done it in our lives or not. It is not important when we did it.

Examples: I have been abroad two times.Anna has never broken a leg.

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• We use the Present Perfect Simple to talk about an action which started in the past and continuous up to now.

Examples:

I have been a teacher for more than ten years.

We haven't seen Janine since Friday.

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• We also use the Present Perfect Simple to talk about a past action that has the result in the present.

ExamplesI have lost my wallet.(I don't have it now)

Jimmy has gone to South America.(He isn't here now)

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What about its formulas?

In the affirmative sentence we'll use the auxiliaries have and has according to the personal pronouns they use with.

For example:

I / We / You / They + have + past participle verb + complement

I have eaten octupus.

He / She / It + has + past participle verb + complement

She has heard about you.

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In the negative sentence we are going to use the negative auxiliaries haven't and hasn't.

For example:

I / We / You / They + haven't + past participle verb + compl.

We haven't done our jobs.

He / She / It + hasn't + past participle verb+ complement

It hasn't eaten its bone.

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Finally, in the interrogative sentences the auxiliaries go before the person or subject.

For example:

(Wh)+ Have + person + past participle verb+ C + ?

Has

Have you learnt English? Yes, I have. No, I haven't.

What has she done? She has done her homework. (This answer is an affirmative sentence)

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The Present Perfect Simple with For and Since

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We use For with a period of time. Some of the most common words to identify it are,• A few days• Half an hour• Two years.

Example:

I have had this computer for about a year.

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We use Since with a definined point in time.Some of the most common time expressions are,• Last year• June 8• I met you.

Example:

I haven't seen Julia since September.

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Let's Practice!!!

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Complete with For or Since.

1. I haven't phoned home ______ Christmas.2. We've been here______ nine o'clock.3. I have worked for International House____

more than eight years.4. I haven't visited my home town _____ I left

school.5. I haven't been to the cinema_____ ages.

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1. I haven't phoned home since Christmas.2. We've been here since nine o'clock.3. I have worked for International House for

more than eight years.4. I haven't visited my home town since I left

school.5. I haven't been to the cinema for ages.

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6. I have studied non-stop ______ 9.15.7. I have had a driving licence ______ I was eighteen.8. She hasn't had a day off ______1999.9. Johan has been in England _____ more than two weeks now.10. Peter has been my best friend ______ we were nine.

Complete with For or Since.

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6. I have studied non-stop since 9.15.7. I have had a driving licence since I was eighteen.8. She hasn't had a day off since 1999.9. Johan has been in England for more than two weeks now.10. Peter has been my best friend since we were nine.

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For or Since?

1. ________ last weekend

2. ________ ten seconds

3. ________ Christmas Eve

4. ________ a decade

5. ________ I finished school

6. ________ couple of days

7. ________ my birthday

8. ________ a long time

9. ________ ten centuries

10. ________ the 70s

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1. Since last weekend

2. For ten seconds

3. Since Christmas Eve

4. For a decade

5. Since I finished school

6. For couple of days

7. Since my birthday

8. For a long time

9. For ten centuries

10. Since the 70s

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11. ________ I was a boy

12. ________ August

13. ________ the last month

14. ________ fifteen years

15. ________ the accident

16. ________ then

17. ________ we bought this house

18. ________ last month

19. ________ a millennium

20. ________ I met you

For or Since?

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11. Since I was a boy

12. Since August

13. Since the last month

14. For fifteen years

15. Since the accident

16. Since then

17. Since we bought this house

18. Since last month

19. For a millennium

20. Since I met you

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The Present Perfect Simple with Already and Yet

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We use Already when we say that something has happened early or earlier than expected. Already goes before the main verb. In Spanish,It means “YA”.

Example:

We have already learnt this tense.

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We use Yet when we say that something is expected. Yet goes at the end of the sentence. In Spanish,It means “TODAVÍA / AÚN”. It can be used in negative and interrogative statements,

Example:

Have you studied for the test yet? I haven't had time yet.

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The Present Perfect Simple v/s

The Past Simple

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We use the Past Simple when we talk about a completed action in the past, or when we know the time period is complete.

I wrote two letters yesterday.

The Present Perfect Simple is used for actions in the past when the period of time is not finished.

I've written two letters this morning.

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Ago and Last are often used in the Past Simple. Ago goes at the end of the sentence and Last before the main verb.

I last went to Brazil two years ago.

The Present Perfect Simple use: Already, Yet, Since, For, Just, Ever, So far, and so on.

She's just finished her homework.

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Let's Practice, Again!!!

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1. Mother: I want to prepare dinner. _____________________ (you / wash) the dishes yet?

2. Daughter: I _______________ (wash) the dishes yesterday, but I _______________ (have / not) the time yet to do it today.

3. Mother: ______________ (you / do / already) your homework?

4. Daughter: No, I _______________ (come / just) home from school.

5. Mother: You __________ (come) home from school two hours ago!

6. Daughter: Well, but my friend Lucy __________ (call) when I __________ (arrive) and I ___________ (finish / just) the phone call.

7. Mother: ______________ (you / see / not) Lucy at school in the morning?

8. Daughter: Yes, but we ____________ (have / not) time to talk then.

Fill in the sentences with the correct tense form.

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1. Mother: I want to prepare dinner. Have you washed (you / wash) the dishes yet?

2. Daughter: I washed (wash) the dishes yesterday, but I haven't had (have / not) the time yet to do it today.

3. Mother: Have you already done (you / do / already) your homework?

4. Daughter: No, I have just come (come / just) home from school.

5. Mother: You came (come) home from school two hours ago!

6. Daughter: Well, but my friend Lucy called (call) when I arrived (arrive) and I have just finished (finish / just) the phone call.

7. Mother: Didn't you see (you / see / not) Lucy at school in the morning?

8. Daughter: Yes, but we didn't have (have / not) time to talk then.

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Material created and selected

by

Danitza Lazcano Flores

Teacher of English

Master in Education

and

Educational Counselor