Everything you have always wanted to know about the Perfect tenses… …and you probably did, but you forgot

The Present Perfect is basically used to: 1. Talk about some life experience without sayng WHEN it happened. Examples: Have you ever been to Asia? I have never seen this place before.

Also: - Well, I have seen this film a couple of times. The last time I saw it was in October. In this case the Present Perfect Simple introduces the subcject of the conversation. To give any details about the experience, we use the Past Simple.

2. We also use the Present Perfect Simple to talk about events or actions, which are over but we can still feel or see their consequences. Examples: No, you can’t talk to Mr Johnson. He has just left. I am really sorry for your loss. Have you talked to the police yet? Wait for me! I haven’t packed my stuff yet! I have already painted the room twice and it feels completaly different now

3. We use it also to describe states which started in the past and continue up to the present moment. Example: They have been married for two years. I have lived here since 1989.

For activities, not states, we usually use the Present Perfect Continuous. Examples: I have been working on the project for two years. My mother has been driving this car for all her life. I have been trying to sell this painting since yesterday, but without any results.

Of course it doesn’t mean we can’t talk about activities in Present Perfect. Examples: I have cooked dinner. We hace read that book. But the main difference is that Present Perfect tells us about the result, not about the activity itself.

Here are other examples. Using the Present Perfect Continuous whe we focus on the activity, not on its result. Examples: I have been tidying my flat since the morning, but I haven’t finished it yet. I have been collecting stamps all my life. I have collected about 4000 so far.

It is also important to remember that the Present Perfect Continuous often tells us about duration and that’s why it answers the question: How long? I have been writing a book for two months. How long have you been writing it? We have been waiting since 9 o’clock. How long have you been waiting?

Now, popular mistakes… I live in this place for ten years. The proper version : I have lived in this place for ten years.

It is the first time I see such a great show! The proper version : It is the first time I have seen such a great show!

I lived here since I have come to this town. The proper version : I have lived here since I came to this town.

I have been married for ten years, but then I got divorced. The proper version : I was married for ten years, but then I got divorced.

Feeling a bit stronger now?