We use the Present Perfect for an action that happened in the past and may happen again. We can show that something will not happen again by using the past simple.

In English we usually use the Present Perfect to talk about actions in the past when we are not thinking or talking about the exact time that they took place. The time is not important. However there may be results or effects now.

Have you met Peter?

(We are not interested in when you met him, only if you have or not.)

Vicky has already eaten her lunch.

(We are not interested in when.)

I’ve broken the window.

(It doesn’t matter when I broke the window. What matters is that now I’m in trouble!)

We can use the Present Perfect for longer actions which started in the past and are still happening.

I have lived in Vienna for two years.

(I was in Vienna two years ago. I am still in Vienna now.)

I have worked for this company for over two years.

We use the present perfect to show that an action happened during a period of time up to now.

I’ve only seen six tigers.

(In my life up to now.)

Have you been to Denmark?

(In your life up to now.)

This means that we can use the present perfect for actions where the time has not yet finished.

Thursday: I’ve seen two films this week.

(The week has not finished yet.)

We use the Present Perfect for an action that happened in the past and may happen again. We can show that something will not happen again by using the past simple.

I have been to the Moscow State Circus.

(And may go again.)

Compare:

I went to the circus last year.

(Now it has left and I can’t go again.)

◆BEEN and GONE

He has gone to Spain. (He has left and is still there.)

He has been to Spain. (He has visited and come back.)

He has been in Spain for a week. (He left a week ago and is still there.)

5. We can use the Present Perfect with the following “time guides”: just, already, yet, always, ever, never, often, lately, of late, recently, so far, up to now, repeatedly.

Hello, have you just arrived?

I have already started my new job.

We haven’t seen George recently.

They haven’t had any problems so far.

6. We use the Present Perfect after a superlative.

What a boring film! It’s the most boring film I’ve ever seen.

7. We use the Present Perfect with This is the first time…, It’s the first time….

Ron is driving a car. It’s his first time behind the wheel of a car. This is the first time he has driven a car.

Is this the first time you’ve been in hospital?

8. We use the Present Perfect with for + length of time and since + a time in the past. We use the Present Perfect to ask or say how long something has been happening up to now. We use the Past Indefinite to say when something happened.

How long have you been here? - I have been here for two weeks.

I have been here since Monday.

We do not use for in expressions with all (all day / all morning / all week / all my life etc.)

I’ve lived here all my life.

◆ In the clause introduced by since the Past Indefinite is used to indicate the starting point of an action.

Your daughter has become a real beauty since I saw her last.

◆ Note the structure How long is it since…?

-How long is it since you had a holiday?

-It’s two hours since I had a holiday. (I haven’t had a holiday for two years.)

It’s ages since Tom visited us. (He hasn’t visited us for ages.)

THE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS TENSE

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14