THE PRESENT PERFECTBY

MARCO ASTUDILLO JARRIN

Have you ever eaten

insects?

Have you ever seen a ghost?

The Present Perfect is often used for an action which started at some time in the past and is still continuing now.

When do we use the Present Perfect?

The present perfect is used when the time period has not finished. I have seen four movies this week.

(This week has not finished yet.)

The present perfect is often used when the time is not mentioned.

Gerry has failed his exam again.

The present perfect is often used when the time is recent.

The Smiths have just arrived in Victoria.

The present perfect is often used with for and since.

Greg has lived here for 20 years.

Greg has lived here since 1978.

FOR and SINCE

We use for with a period of time. For a few days. For half an hour. For two years.

We use since with the time when the action started. Since last year. Since 1984. Since I met you.

How do we for the Present Perfect Tense?

Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb (past participle)

When we use the present perfect tense in speaking, we usually contract the subject and auxiliary verb. We also

sometimes do this when we write.  I’ve – You’ve – He’s – They’ve – etc…

Subject Auxiliary Verb

Main Verb

+ I Have Seen ET.

+ They Have Gone To Mexico.

- She Has Not Been To Rome

- We Have Not Played Football

? Have You Finished?

? Have They Done It?

Practice 1 (complete with the present perfect)

Jack (be)______________ my friend for over 20 years. We (know) _______________each other since we were children. Recently, he and his family (move) __________to a house on the same street as me, and now our children play together almost every day.For the last ten years, Jack and I (play)_____________ for the same hockey team every Saturday. Jack is a better player than I am, but in the last few months he (have)_____________ some trouble with his left knee, and he (find)______________ it hard to play a full game. He (see)_____________ the doctor several times about his knee, but the doctor doesn't know what is causing his pain. Jack (decide)______________ to take a break from hockey for a while, so that his knee can recover. It's going to be lonely on the team without him!

Practice 2 (decide if you need for or since with these time expresions.)

Last weekend

Ten seconds

Christmas Eve

A decade

I finished school

A couple of days

My birthday

A long time

Ten centuries

The 70’s

Practice 3 (watch the video and write down all the

sentences you hear in the present perfect. )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSv-lKwOQvE