Present Perfect Simple Forms ( has/have + past participle) AffirmativeNegativesQuestions I have worked. You have worked. I haven ’ t worked. You haven ’ t worked Have I worked? Have you worked? He/She/It has worked He/She/It hasn ’ t worked Has he/she/it worked? They/We have worked They/We haven ’ t worked Have they/we worked?

Meaning: We use the present perfect simple to say that something in the past is connected with the present in some way. If we say that something has happened, we are thinking about the past and present at the same time. past Present future

We could often change a present perfect sentence into a present sentence with the same meaning. e.g. I have broken my arm. = My arm is broken now. We do not use the present perfect simple if we are not thinking about the present. e.g. I saw Harold yesterday. (NOT I have seen Harold yesterday.)

Uses: (a)To describe experience and knowledge acquired in the past. [ ever, never ] e.g. How long have you been in your present job? e.g. Have you ever seen a ghost? e.g. I have never seen a ghost before. e.g. I ’ ve been to Australia. I went there five years ago. e.g. “ Have you ever lived in France? ”” Yes, I have. I lived there from 1993 to ”

(b)To describe actions and events which have just finished. [ just, already ] e.g. During this fiscal year, profits have risen to 90%. (c)To describe actions or events which began or occurred in the past, but which have not yet finished. [ unfinished past ] e.g. I ’ ve lived here for five years. (I started living here five years ago and I still live here) e.g. He ’ s been a teacher since he was twenty-one. (NOT He is a teacher since … )

(d)To describe recent events or actions finished in the past but with present significance. (Usually a recent event. It ’ s often used when giving news) e.g. I ’ ve lost my credit card. Have you seen it? e.g. The police have warned the public that the man is dangerous.

Be careful with BEEN and GONE. He ’ s been to Australia. (= experience - he isn ’ t there now.) He ’ s gone to Australia. (= present result – he is there now.)

Quiz: Which one is correct? When did you go to New Zealand? When have you been in New Zealand? I saw him yesterday. I have seen him yesterday. I ’ ve studied English for ten years. I study English for ten yeas. Where did you buy your computer? Where have you bought your computer? I haven ’ t brought my dictionary to class. I didn ’ t bring my dictionary to class.