Present Perfect Tense When and how to use it.

Example (1) We use the Present Perfect tense when we don’t know (or care) exactly when a past action happened. e.g. yesterday, two weeks ago.  I have done my homework yesterday.  I did my homework yesterday. (simple past)

Simple Past vs. Present Perfect  We know when it happened.  We do not know (or care) when it happened. e.g. I drew a picture last night. e.g. I’ve drawn a picture already.

Example (2) We use the Present Perfect tense to show the result of an action, when the result matters now. ex. (a) Ben is eating dinner. (b) Ben has eaten dinner.

Past tense & Present Perfect Simple Past Present Perfect  verb - 1 word  verb - 2 words e.g. I started playing the violin in 2000. e.g. I’ve played the violin since 2000.  Hint words: yesterday, last night, last Sunday, last year, ago, in 2000  Hint words: since, for, already, just, yet, ever

The Present Perfect Tense She has hurt her arm (The exact time is not mentioned. What is important is the fact that her arm is hurt and she's got a plaster on it)

The Present Perfect Tense Jill has bought a new horse. (The exact time is unknown or unimportant. What is important is the fact that she now owns a new horse.)

The Present Perfect Tense We use the present perfect tense: for actions which started in the past and are still continuing in the present. I have known Sue for five years. (We met five years ago and we still know each other) My father has worked here for seven years. (He started working here seven years ago and he still works here)

The Present Perfect Tense They have been friends for twenty years (They met each other twenty years ago and they are still friends) now twenty years ago

The Present Perfect Tense Susan and Harry have had their dog for two years

The Present Perfect Tense We use the present perfect tense: for actions which have recently finished and their results are visible in the present. They have just painted the walls. (They have just finished painting. The paint on the walls is still wet) . He has passed the exams. (Look at him. He is happy)

The Present Perfect Tense She has picked a lot of flowers. (she has got some flowers in her hand, so the action is finished)

The Present Perfect Tense She has eaten all the candy. (the box is empty, there is wrapping paper on the floor)

Present Perfect tense We form the present perfect tense with have / has + past participle. I You We They have visited New York. He She It John has eaten an apple.

Present Perfect tense Regular verbs Present Simple Past paint move visit painted have / has painted moved have / has moved visited have / has visited

Present Perfect tense Irregular verbs Present Simple Past do be write eat draw break speak have / has done did was/were have / has been wrote have / has written ate have / has eaten drew have / has drawn broke have / has broken spoke have / has spoken

Present perfect tense Irregular verbs Present Simple Past take ride make swim throw see go have / has taken took rode have / has ridden have / has made made swam have / has swum threw have / has thrown saw have / has seen went have / has gone

‘Yet’ goes at the END of the sentence or question. Already / yet In the Present Perfect tense, we use yet with questions or negative (no) sentences. Have you eaten lunch yet? (question) ‘Yet’ goes at the END of the sentence or question. No, I haven’t eaten lunch yet. (negative)

Already / yet In the Present Perfect tense, we use already with affirmative (yes) sentences. Have you eaten lunch yet? (question) Yes, I’ve already eaten lunch. (affirmative) ‘Already’ goes in the MIDDLE or at the END of the sentence. or Yes, I’ve eaten lunch already. (affirmative)

ever / never In the Present Perfect tense, we use ever (question) and never (answer) to express frequency. Have you ever celebrated American Thanksgiving ? (question) No,I’ve never celebrated American Thanksgiving . (answer)

Already / yet e.g. ______ Mary _______ her homework _____? do ______ Mary _______ her homework _____? Yes, she __________her homework _______ . Has done yet has done already or Yes, she _________________her homework. has already done

Already / yet e.g. Has eaten yet ______ Ben _______ his hamburger_____ ? No, he ___________________ his hamburger _______ . hasn’t / has not eaten yet

Practice 1 (do) ________ Mum ________ the washing _______ ? Yes, she _______________ the washing. Has done yet has already done 2 (sweep) ________ Sally and Joe ________ the floor _______ ? No, they____________ the floor _____ . Have swept yet haven’t swept yet

Practice 3 (throw) ________ you ________ away the trash _______ ? Yes, I ______________ away the trash _______ . Have thrown yet ’ve / have thrown already 4 (write) ________ Mark ________ the letter _______ ? No, he ____________ the letter _____ . Has written yet hasn’t written yet

More Uses for the Present Perfect Tense

Present perfect tense We use the present perfect tense to talk about actions that started in the past and continue to the present. e.g. I’ve grown flowers for two years. 2003-now Now is 2005.

Present perfect tense We use the present perfect tense with since and for to say how long an action has lasted. I have played the piano since 2000. I have played the piano for 17 years.

Present perfect tense Since We use since with the present perfect tense to refer to the starting point of an action. I have studied at this school since 2013. starting time 2013 Now 2016 (2013 is a point of time, not a period of time.)

period of time (for three years) Present perfect tense For We use for with the present perfect tense to refer to a period of time. I have studied at this school for three years. Now 2016 starting time since 2013 period of time (for three years) ( ‘Three years’ is a period of time, not a point of time.)

How long …? How long have done ballet? collected stickers? played the piano? has you he she done ballet collected stickers played piano since for 2015. one year. I He She have has

How long have these children done their hobbies? paint pictures, 2013 A: How long have you painted pictures? B: I have painted pictures since 2013.

grow flowers, six months A: How long have you grown flowers? B: I have grown flowers for six months.

play the violin, five years A: How long have you played the violin? B: I have played the violin for five years.

Practice (1) 1 I have had piano lessons _____ ten years. Use since or for. 1 I have had piano lessons _____ ten years. 2 Peter has collected stamps _____ 2013. 3 Amy has grown flowers _____ last month. 4 My brother has played football _____ two years. 5 John and Jenny have been friends _____ eight months. 6 They have done ballet _____ 2000. 7 My father has driven his car _____ 1996. for since since for for since since

A: How long ___________________ ? Kate do karate, last month A: How long ___________________ ? B: She _____________________________ . has Kate done karate has done karate since last month

collect coins, two years James collect coins, two years A: How long _____________________ ? B: He _______________________________ . has James collected coins has collected coins for two years

collect seashells, last summer Shirley collect seashells, last summer A: How long ____________________________? B: She ________________________________ . has Shirley collected seashells has collected seashells since last summer

Past tense & Present perfect tense  actions that happened in the past  actions that started in the past and continue to the present e.g. I sang yesterday. e.g. I’ve sung for two hours.  actions that have just finished e.g. I’ve just sung a famous song.

Practice (2) e.g. I _______ a dress two weeks ago. (make) made 1 I ______________ in Hong Kong since 1990. (live) 2 My parents _______ our house in 2000. (buy) 3 Miss Lee ___________ at my school for two years. (work) 4 Tom _______ his uncle one month ago. (visit) 5 Polly and Dolly __________ friends since last year. (be) 6 The baby __________ for four hours. (sleep) have lived bought has work visited have been has slept