Practice

Present Perfect

Have/ has + Viii (ed)

(The action took place in the past but has a result in the present. It obligatory has a connection with the present)

Adverbs of frequency: ever, never, just, already, yet, recently, lately, today, this …(week….), so far, always (if the action still continuous)

USE

1. The action happened in the past is connected with the present, it isn’t finished yet or has some visible results

e.g. I’ve never seen my grandpa, tomorrow I’m seeing him at last.

I never saw my grandpa, he died when I was a year.

2. To describe an action which started in the past and continues up to the present, especially with such as have, like, know, be, etc. In this case we often use for and since

e.g. They have been friends for twenty years (they met each other twenty years ago and they are still friends).

3. to present some new information

e.g. The road is closed. There has been an accident.

Ow! I’ve cut my finger!

4. For an action which has recently finished and whose result is visible in the present

e.g. She has picked a lot of apples. (you can see the apples in the basket. The action is finished and you see the result.)

5. for an action which happened at an unstated time in the past. The exact time is not important, so it is not mentioned. The emphasis is placed on the action.

e.g. He has broken his arm. (The exact time is not mentioned. What is important is the fact that his arm is broken).

6. For actions which have already been completed but as the person is still alive there is a possibility that they will do it again.

e.g. Peter has been to Paris four times. (What is important is the fact that he has visited it four times and there is a possibility that he will go there again).

7. In complex sentences with the conjunction since we use Present Perfect in the general sentence and Past Simple in the subordinate clause

e.g. I haven’t seen him since I left school.

Since I read this book, I’ve never taken anything by Dickens.

8. For an action which has happened within a specific period, which is not over at the moment of speaking, such as today, this morning/ afternoon/ week/ month/ year, etc.

e.g. I have seen Peter today.

But: I saw Peter today at the tram stop ( The exact place is mentioned, and the speaker isn’t at the place any more, so the action was completed before the time of their speaking and has no connection with the present moment ).

9. In three constructions:

It’s the first (second, last...) time...

e.g. It’s the second time I’ve told you about it (Я говорю тебе об этом уже второй раз!)

Is it the first time you’ve been to London? (Ты в первый раз в Лондоне?)

Cf: Have you been to London for the first time? (Ты в первый раз побывал в Лондоне?)

It’s the most interesting….I’ve ever …

e.g. He says it’s the tastiest cake he’s ever tried.

It’s ages (two years, five months...) since I did......

e.g. It’s ages since I last saw Joe. (= I haven’t seen him for ages)

How long is it since you last saw him?

10. In questions beginning with How much…? How many….? How many times….?

e.g. How many pages have you read by now?

11.In subordinate clauses instead of Present Simple we can use Present Perfect to show that one action was completed before the other action began

e.g. As soon as you have finished your tea, we’ll go for a walk.

Buy it before you have run out of money.

Practice

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