PRESENT PERFECT (SIMPLE)

FORM:

Subject + have/has(n’t)+ Past Participle

I have discovered the source of your problem.

He has never read a Harry Potter book.

He hasn't cleaned the car

Have you seen Sally this morning?

They haven’t done their washing-up.

USE

We use it:

1.-to talk about things that have happened recently with no time mentioned:

“Have you finished?”

“They have bought a new house”

(When did they buy it? We don’t know when; the time is not mentioned.)

The exact time is unimportant or unknown. What it's important is the fact that they now own a house.

2.-With the expression “Yet”in ? and – sentences. Put “yet” at the end of the sentence:

“Have you done your yet?”(¿ya has hecho los deberes?)

“The film hasn't started yet”(la película no ha empezado todavía)

“he hasn't done the ironing yet”

USE

We use it:

3.-With the expression “Just ”in + sentences to say that something happened very recently. Put “just”before the main verb:

“They've just arrived”

(Acaban de llegar)

4.-With “already” in+ sentences to say that sth happened very recently. Put “already” before the main verb.

“I have already finished my exams” (Ya he terminado mis exámenes)

DIFFERENCES:

PRESENT PERFECT vs. SIMPLE PAST

Present Perfect Simple:

-There’s a connection with the present:Paul has broken his left arm (it is still broken)-Actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past:I have been abroad many times.

Simple Past:

- Actions finished in the past:Paul broke his arm when he was 12. (His arm is no longer broken)

-Actions that happened at a specific time in the past:Mary went abroad last Summer.

PAST SIMPLE

- Acción que se desarrolló y finalizó en el pasado, sin que se de ninguna información sobre cual ha sido su repercusión en el tiempo presente.

“When I was young I played tennis” (no nos da ninguna infomación sobre si en la actualidad sigo jugando al tenis o no)

- Acción que se desarrolló y completó en un periodo de tiempo ya finalizado.

“This morning I had a very tense meeting with my boss” (ya es por la tarde, la mañana ha finalizado)”Yesterday I went to the cinema with my friends”

PRESENT PERFECT

-Acción que se inició en el pasado y que aún continúa desarrollándose.

“I have worked in this bank for ten years” (todavía continúo en el banco)

- Acción que acaba de finalizar.

“I have missed my train” (lo acabo de perder)

- Acción que se ha desarrollado en un periodo de tiempo que aún no ha terminado.

“This morning I have had a very tense meeting with my boss” (aún es por la mañana)”Today I have visited my parents” (el día todavía no ha finalizado)

- Acción desarrollada en el pasado pero cuya repercusión aún se manifiesta en el tiempo presente.

“My brother has broken his glasses” (las gafas se han roto recientemente y siguen rotas)

My brother broke his glasses (probablemente estén arregladas)

PRESENT PERFECT vs SIMPLE PAST

Conversations often begin in the present perfect (with a general question: have you ever or how long..?) and then change to the past simple to ask for or give specific details eg. When ,what, where,who with etc

A.-Have you ever been to London?

B.-yes, I have.

A.-when did you go there?

B.-I went last year

A.-what did you do?

I visited the British museum, I saw The London Eye and Buckingham Palace.

A.-Did you have a good time?

B.-yes, I did. London is wonderful!

EVER/NEVER+PRESENT PERFECT

-Ever is used in questions and goes between the verb have and the past participle.

Have you Have you everever played squash? played squash?

Have you Have you everever travelled abroad? travelled abroad?

Never is used to make a negative statement and goes between the verb have and the past partciple

I have I have nevernever played squash played squash

I have I have nevernever travelled abroad. travelled abroad.

TIME EXPRESSIONS

PRESENT PERFECT:

How long?JustAlreadyYetSo farIn agesEverNeverRecentlyLatelyIt is the 1st. time that….

SIMPLE PAST:

When… AgoLast wek/ month/…In 1999/ 2012, …Yesterday

COMPARE BEEN AND GONE

Sally has been to London (=she went to London and came back)

Sally has gone to London (=she's in London now)

Peter isn't here. He has gone shopping.

I've just been to the supermarket. Look at all the food I've bought!

I've already been to the post office so you don't need to go.