Present Perfect

When to use the present perfect

We use the Present Perfect Tense to talk about experiences. It is important if we have done it in our lives or not. It is not important when we did it. Examples: I have been abroad two times. Anna has never broken a leg. ave !ou ever eaten sushi" We often use never and ever with the Present Perfect Tense to talk about experience.

When to use the present perfect

We use the Present Perfect Tense to talk about an action which started in the past and continues up to now. Examples: I have been a teacher for more than ten !ears. We haven#t seen $anine since %rida!. ow long have !ou been at this school" We often use since and for to say how long the action has lasted.

When to use the present perfect

We also use the Present Perfect Tense to talk about a past action that has the result in the present. &omething has changed. Examples: I have lost m! wallet. ' I don#t have it now. $imm! has gone to &outh America. ' e isn#t here now. ave !ou finished !our homework" ' Is !our homework read!" We often use just( already and yet with the Present Perfect Tense for an action in the past with the result in the present.

Examples

) ow man! times have !ou been married"* Present result" Experience" ow long an action has lasted"

Examples

)Angela has bought a new flat.* Present result" Experience" ow long an action has lasted"

Examples

) ow long have !ou been here"* Present result" Experience" ow long an action has lasted"

Past &imple
We use the Past Simple tense to talk about a definite finished time in the past. %or example: when( !esterda!( last week( when I was at school( then( after etc. Examples I finished universit! three !ears ago. Where did we first meet" I didn#t stud! %rench at school.

Present Perfect
We use the Present Perfect tense with time references that refer to the time up to now. %or example: toda!( this week( this month( ever( never( alread!( recentl!( !et etc. Examples I haven#t seen her toda!. ave !ou ever smoked a cigarette" I have never been abroad before.

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&hould we use the past simple or the present perfect with the following time expressions" A long time ago -et &ince we last met After I got married .atel! This month The da! before !esterda! .ast night &ince last weekend At the weekend

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&he has studied ver! well at school. or &he studied ver! well at school.

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ave !ou ever visited Ital!" /r 0id !ou ever visit Ital!"

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Thomas Edison has invented the light bulb. /r Thomas Edison invented the light bulb.

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ow long have !ou had this 1ob" /r ow long did !ou have this 1ob"

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I have never smoked a cigarette ever since. /r I didn#t smoke a cigarette ever since.

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2harlie 2haplin has made a lot of films. /r 2harlie 2haplin made a lot of films.

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When have !ou last been to the cinema" /r When did !ou last go to the cinema"

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It#s the best car I#ve ever had. /r It#s the best car I ever had.

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ow man! times have !ou been married" /r ow man! times were !ou married"

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We haven#t had lunch !et. /r We didn#t have lunch !et.