Past simple Present perfect Talks about the past NEVER connects with the present Talks about the present The events may have happened in the past, or started in the past, but it ALWAYS connects with the present

I lost my keys yesterday. I have lost my keys. Past simple Present perfect I lost my keys yesterday. I have lost my keys. now now

I often played football in high school. Past simple Present perfect I often played football in high school. I have played football since high school. now now

I lived in Santos for 10 years. I have lived in SP for 10 years. Past simple Present perfect I lived in Santos for 10 years. I have lived in SP for 10 years. now now

In what situations should I use the present perfect?

To talk about past experiences when you don’t say when something happened I’ve been to Australia. Have you ever broken your leg?

The golden rule: If you mention WHEN things happened, it is ALWAYS a past simple action, NEVER a present perfect action

When...? (past simple time references) yesterday, last week/month/year, in March, in 2009, on April 7th, 10 minutes ago, between 2002 and 2004, at 3 p.m., last night, yesterday morning

Present perfect time references Recently, lately, since January, so far, just, already, yet (usually, but not always) ever, never For is possible with both the past simple and the present perfect tenses The bottom line is, present perfect time references are always* indeterminate.

 With yet and already Have you finished that report yet? Yes, I have already finished it. No, I haven’t finished it yet. Have you done the exercises in workbook 1B yet? Have you watched the speed dating video yet? Have you started studying for your test yet?

 With superlatives, and the first second, third... time This is the best book I’ve ever read. It’s the first time I’ve done this.

 For finished actions which are connected in some way with the present AND very recent or new information I’ve cut my finger! It’s bleeding! I’ve just finished this report. [it happened a very short while ago] I’ve got a new job. [even if it happened a month ago, the first time I mention it to you I should use the present perfect]

 With how long, for and since, with stative verbs, to say that something started in the past and is still true now I’ve liked the Beatles since I was a child. I’ve known her for a long time. How long have you had this car? I’ve always wanted to be a rock star.

Stative verbs Verbs of the senses: see*, hear, smell, taste Verbs of possession: have*, own, possess Verbs of emotion: like, love, hate  Verbs of mental processes: want, need, remember, understand

 When we say how much, how many or how often we have done something so far How many books by Tolkien have you read? How many Harry Potter films have you watched? She’s been out twice this week. We’ve met for a beer several times this year.

Have you got everything so far? Unfortunately, present perfect has an evil brother... ...you’ve been expecting this, right?

Present perfect continuous I’ve lost my keys. I’ve played football since high school. I’ve lived in SP for 10 years. I’ve been losing my keys. (impossible, except with a different meaning) I’ve been playing football since high school. I’ve been living in SP for 10 years.

In what situations should I use the present perfect continuous?

I have been living in SP for 10 years.  With how long?, since, for, to talk about actions (action verbs) that started in the past and are still happening I have been living in SP for 10 years. How long have you been watching TV? I’ve been studying for this test for weeks. He’s been working in that project since last week.

Information that answers how much. and how many Information that answers how much..? and how many...? questions is NEVER presented using present perfect continuous.

 For repeated actions, especially with a time expression (all day, recently...) I have been playing football since high school. I haven’t been sleeping well recently It’s been raining all day.

 To talk about continuous actions which have just finished, with present results It started raining this morning and it rained for the whole afternoon. It stopped raining 10 minutes ago, but the ground is still wet. ↓ It has been raining.

Or, in other words, to explain an effect I can see now: I’m hot because I’ve been running. He’s wet because he’s been walking in the rain. The children are dirty because they’ve been playing in the garden.

Subtle differences We’ve lived in this city since 1980. We’ve been staying in this hostel for the last three days. Both the PPS and the PPC are adequate to use with how long, for and since. However, if you’re talking about temporary actions, the PPC sounds better.

Subtle differences We’ve painted the kitchen. We’ve been painting the kitchen. I’ve read two books about Italian painters. I’ve been reading about Italian painters. The PPS emphasizes the completion of the action; the PPC emphasizes the continuation of the action.