Present Perfect and Past Simple
Present Perfect Simple
Past Simple
Unfinished actions that started in the Finished actions: past and continue to the present: • I knew Julie for ten years (but then she • I've known Julie for ten moved away and we lost touch). years (and I still know her). A finished action in someone's life (when the person is still alive: life experience): •
My brother has been to Mexico three times.
A finished action with a result in the present: •
I've lost my keys! (The result is that I can't get into my house now).
With an unfinished time word (this week, this month, today): •
I've seen John this week.
A finished action in someone's life (when the person is dead): •
My great-grandmother went to Mexico three times.
A finished action with no result in the present: •
I lost my keys yesterday. It was terrible! (Now there is no result. I got new keys yesterday).
With a finished time word (last week, last month, yesterday): •
I saw John last week.
The present perfect is formed with the verb + past participle. Use present perfect: 1) To talk about unspecific time in past.
People have bought his painting for millions of dollars. 2) To talk about experiences up to the present.
He has lived in France or years. (He still lives there now.) 3) To talk about finished actions that are relevant now.
I’ve forgotten her name. (I don’t remember it now.)
OBS: We often use present perfect with EVER and NEVER.
Have you ever been to Arizona? (At any time in your life) I’ve never seen a desert. (Up to now) Be careful not to confuse BE and GO in the present perfect.
They’ve been to France. (They went to France and came back). They’ve gone to France. (They are still in France). The Present Perfect is not used with a specific time reference.
The two artists have met in 1906. The two artists met in 1906.
Present Perfect with YET and ALREADY
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The Present Perfect is often used with (not) yet and already. We use yet at de and of a clause. It is used in questions to ask if something we expected has happened.
Example: Have you done the washing up yet?
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We use not yet to talk about something that hasn’t happened, but that we expect to happen in the future.
Example: The letter hasn’t arrived yet.
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We use already to say something has happened earlier than expected. It is usually use in the middle of a clause, but can also be used at the end of a clause for emphasis.
Example: I’ve already had lunch. Have you finished already?