Scribd
Upload
3 views11 pages

Present Perfect Simple

The document provides an overview of the present perfect simple tense, explaining its use for actions connected to the present, new information, and ongoing time periods. It contrasts the present perfect with the simple past tense, highlighting that the former relates to current situations while the latter focuses solely on past events. Examples illustrate the usage of 'just', 'already', and 'yet' in the present perfect context.

Uploaded by

mstortonesi
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
3 views11 pages

Present Perfect Simple

The document provides an overview of the present perfect simple tense, explaining its use for actions connected to the present, new information, and ongoing time periods. It contrasts the present perfect with the simple past tense, highlighting that the former relates to current situations while the latter focuses solely on past events. Examples illustrate the usage of 'just', 'already', and 'yet' in the present perfect context.

Uploaded by

mstortonesi
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

AN INTRODUCTION TO

Present Perfect
Simple
We use the present perfect simple...

to talk about past actions or states which are still


connected to the present.
The action in the past has a result now.

example: Thomas has lost his keys (=he doesn't have


them now)
We use the present perfect simple...

when we say ‘something has happened’, this is usually


new information.

example: The road is closed. There has been an


accident.
We use the present perfect simple...

when we talk about a period of time that continues


from the past until now

example: We’ve never had a car. (= we didn't have a


car in the past and we still don't have a car)
We use the present perfect simple with
JUS, ALREADY and YET

Just = a short time ago:


example: Are you hungry?’ ‘No, I’ve just had lunch.’

Already = sooner than expected:


example: ‘What time is Mark leaving?’ ‘He’s already left.’

Yet = until now. We use yet to show that we are expecting something to
happen. We use yet in questions and negative sentences.
example: I’ve written the email, but I haven’t sent it yet.
I have gone to...
James is on holiday. He has gone to Italy.
I have been to... (= he is there now or on his way there)

Amy is back home now. She has been to


Italy. (= she has now come back)
Present Perfect Simple and Past
Simple
Present Perfect vs. Simple Past

The present perfect (something has happened) is


a present tense. It tells us about the situation
now. ‘Tom has lost his key’ = he doesn’t have his
key now.
The past simple (something happened) tells us
only about the past. If somebody says ‘Tom lost
his key’, we don’t know whether he has the key
now or not. We know only that he lost it at some
time in the past.
Compare the examples

Present perfect simple Past Simple


They’ve gone away. They’ll be back They went away, but I think they are
on Friday. (they are away now) back at home now. (not They’ve gone
away).
It has stopped raining now, so we
don’t need the umbrella. (it isn’t It stopped raining for a while, but now
raining now) it’s raining again. (not It has stopped).
Present Perfect vs. Simple Past

We use the present perfect to give new


information. But if we continue to talk about it, we
normally use the past simple.
Look at the example

a: Ow! I’ve burnt myself.


b: How did you do that? (not have you done)
a: I picked up a hot dish. (not have picked)

You might also like