PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE AND CONTINUOUS

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE AND CONTINUOUS

English Grammar

present perfect simple

What is it used for?

1. Talk about past experiences whose starting point is unknown. Often used with EVER and NEVER, which go BEFORE the main verb. 2. With superlatives and the first, second, third time. etc. 3. Talk about recent past actions Often used with JUST, which goes before the main verb.

4. With YET and ALREADY: -YET: -and ? sentences/goes at the end of the phrase. -ALREADY: + sentences/goes before the main verb. 5. With non-action verbs to say that something started in the past but it is still true nowadays. Often used wtih HOW LONG...?, FOR, SINCE, ... -FOR: there is no specific date related to it (ES: "durante/desde hace"). -SINCE: there is a specific date ("desde").

FORMATION:

examples:

A verb is conjugated in present perfect simple by means of: HAVE/HAS + PAST PARTICIPLE (3rd column)

1. Have you ever been to Italy? 2. Mary has never tried sushi before. 3. Friends is the best series I have ever seen. 4. I have just cut my finger! 5. Has Elizabeth finished her exam yet? 6. We have already finished our Geography exam. 7. I have known Jude since I was 19. 8. I have known Jude for two years ago.

syntactic structure and examples:

-AFFIRMATIVE: Subject + Have/has + Past Participle EX: Laura has read twelve books this summer. -NEGATIVE: Subject + Have/has + Not + Past Participle EX: I haven't ordered pizza; I have ordered hamburgers instead. -INTERROGATIVE: Have/has + Subject + Past Participle EX: Have you had any problems with your new computer?

present perfect continuous

present perfect continuous

what is it used for?

1. With action verbs to talk about actions that started in the past and are still happening now. 2. For repeated actions, especially with time expressions such as all day, recently, ... 3. For continuous actions that have just finished but have present results.

EXAMPLES:

1. Paul has been messaging his friend all evening. 2. I have been cleaning the house all morning. 3. My shoes are dirty. I have been working in the garden.

formation:

A verb is conjugated in present perfect continuous by means of: HAVE/HAS + BEEN + VERB -ING

SYNTACTIC STRUCTURE:

-AFFIRMATIVE: Subject + Have/has + Been + Verb-ing EX: I have been feeling terrible for days.-NEGATIVE: Subject + Have/has + Not + Been + Verb -ing EX: Sophie has not been feeling well recently-INTERROGATIVE: Have/has + Subject + Been + Verb -ing EX: Have you been working on your final project these days?

HAVE BEEN OR HAVE GONE?

Have Gone

Have Been

Used when we know that someone has gone somewhere but has NOT returned (yet) E.g. My mother has gone to the supermarket (she is still there)

Used when we know that someone has returned from a place E.g. My mother has been to the supermarket (she has gone there but has already come back)