Present Perfect Simple

present perfect

TENSES TIMELINE

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

USES

• An action that began in the past and continues until the present.

• Past actions that are connected to the present (e.g. their consequences are visible now).

• Express an action that has just happened. We add "just" between the auxiliar verb and the main verb.

present perfect simple

AFFIRMATIVE

Subject + have / has + past participle

NEGATIVE

Subject + have / has + not (n't) + past participle

INTERROGATIVE

Have / Has + subject + past participle + ?

present perfect simple

AFFIRMATIVE

The plane has already taken off from the airport.

NEGATIVE

We have not lived in this street since 2009.

INTERROGATIVE

Have they arrived to the party yet?

never, ever, already, just, yet

• They are placed between the auxiliar verb and the past participle, except "yet": it always goes at the end of the sentence.

never, ever, already, just, yet

AFFIRMATIVE

• I have just had lunch.
• She has never been to Greece.
• I have already eaten, thank you.

NEGATIVE

• He hasn't hiked alone yet.

never, ever, already, just, yet

INTERROGATIVE

• Have you just spoken in front of 1000 people?
• Have you ever been trapped in a lift?
• Has the countdown already started?
• Have I done my homework yet? I don't remember.

HOW LONG...?

We use it to ask for how much time has passed since an action (that still continues) started.

• How long have you been a firefighter?

FOR & SINCE

For: indicates how long did an action last.

• I have worked at the airport for two years.

Since: indicates when did the action start.

• I have worked at the airport since 2015.