Present Perfect (simple & continuous)

Laura Galindo. Adapted from New English File Upper-Intermediate. Oxford.

Present Perfect Simple

Form: HAVE / HAS + PAST PARTICIPLE. Ive been to Australia. Shes been out twice this week. Have you ever broken your leg? Has he met you?

Present Perfect Simple

Use: Use the present perfect simple: 1. To talk about past experiences when you dont say when something happened. Ive been to Australia. Have you ever broken your leg?

Present Perfect Simple

Use: Use the present perfect simple: 2. With already, just and yet. Weve just phoned the doctor. Ive already nished my lunch.

Present Perfect Simple

Use: Use the present perfect simple: 3. With superlaMves and the rst, second, last Bme, etc. Its the best book Ive ever read. Its the rst Bme shes been here.

Present Perfect Simple

Use: Use the present perfect simple: 4. For nished acMons (no Mme is specied) which are connected in some way with the present. My sisters had a baby! Look! Ive cut my nger.

Present Perfect Simple

Use: Use the present perfect simple: 5. With How long? and for / since with non- ac&on verbs (be, have, know, like, etc.) to say that something started in the past and is sMll true now. Ive known her since I was a child. Shes had the job for six months.

Present Perfect Simple

Use: Use the present perfect simple: 6. When we say / ask how much / many we have done or how oIen we have done something up to now. How many of his books have you read? Shes been out twice this week.

Present Perfect Continuous

Form: HAVE / HAS + BEEN + -ING FORM. Ive been working here for two months. How long have you been feeling like this? Its been raining on and o all day. Has she been shopping all morning?

Present Perfect Continuous

Use: Use the present perfect conMnuous: 1. With How long? and for / since with ac&on verbs to say that an acMons started in the past and is sMll happening now. How long have you been feeling like this? Ive been working here for two months.

Present Perfect Continuous

Use: Use the present perfect conMnuous: 2. For repeated acMons, especially with a Mme expression, e.g. all day, recently. I havent been sleeping well recently. Its been raining on and o all day.

Present Perfect Continuous

Use: Use the present perfect conMnuous: 3. For conMnuous acMons which have just nished I havent been sleeping well recently. Its been raining on and o all day.

Present Perfect Simple OR Continuous?

1. With How long? and for / since with you can o^en use the present perfect conMnuous for shorter, more temporary acMons. Weve lived / Weve been living in this town since 1980. Weve been living in a rented house for the last two months.

Present Perfect Simple OR Continuous?

2. The present perfect simple emphasises the compleMon of an acMon. Weve painted the kitchen. The present perfect conMnuous emphasises the conMnuaMon of an acMon. Weve been painBng the kitchen.