Present Perfect

&
Present Perfect Continuous Tenses

Dr. Pauline Ghenghesh

English Department
British University in Egypt
 Present Perfect Simple
FORM
 Have or Has + Past Participle

 Positive statements
 I/You/We/They have finished.
 She/He/It has finished.

 Negative statements
 I/You/We/They have not finished.
 She/He/It has not finished.

 Questions
 Have I/you/we/they finished?
 Has she/he/it finished?
 USE 1
 We use the Present Perfect Simple Tense:

 To show an action in the past with a result now.

 Examples:
 I have lost my passport. (= I can’t find it now).

 ‘Where’s Sara?’ She has gone to bed.’ (= she is

in bed now).

 I have cleaned my shoes. (= they are clean now).

 For & Since
 We use the Present Perfect with for and since to say how
long.

 Example:
 Khalid is in London. He has been there for three days.

since Monday.

for since
three days ten minutes Monday Wednesday
an hour two hours 9 o’clock 12:30
a week four weeks 24th July Christmas
a month six months January I was ten
five years a long time 1985 we arrived
 Examples:
 Mike has lived in Japan for three years.

 I have been in love with my husband since 1976.

 They have worked in Canada for six months.

 She has played the piano since she was ten

years old.
 Just, already, yet
 We use the Present Perfect Simple Tense
with just, already and yet.
 Examples:
 just = a short time ago.
 Are Tarek and Omar here?
 Yes, they have just arrived.

 already = before you expected.

 What time are Ahmad and Mohamed coming?
 They have already arrived.
 Yet = until now.
 Yet is usually put at the end of a statement
or question.

 Yet in negative sentences:

 Are Hani and Hesham here?
 No, they haven’t arrived yet.

 Yet in questions:
 This is my new dress.
 Oh, it’s nice. Have you worn it yet?
Present Perfect Continuous Tense
FORM
 Positive statements
 I/You/We/They have been running.
 He/She/It has been running.

 Negative statements
 I/You/We/They have not been running.
 He/She/It has not been running.

 Questions
 Have I/you/we/they been running?
 Has he/she/it been running?
 USE 1
 We use the Present Perfect Continuous Tense
for an activity that has recently stopped or
just stopped.
 There is a connection with now.

 Example:
 You’re out of breathe. Have you been running?
(You’re out of breathe now).
 USE 2
 We often use the Present Perfect Continuous
tense with how long, for and since.
 The activity is still happening or just stopped.
 Examples:
 How long have you been studying English?
(You’re still studying English.)

 Ali is still watching TV. He has been watching TV all

day.

 It has been raining for two hours.

 He has been sleeping since we arrived.

 Compare I am doing and
I have been doing
 Present Continuous: I am doing
 Don’t bother me. I am working now.

 Present Perfect Continuous: I have been doing

 I have been working hard, so now I am going to take
a break.

 Compare:
 Hurry up! We’re waiting.
 We’ve been waiting for an hour.
 Present Perfect or
Past Simple
 With a finished time use Past simple.
 We arrived yesterday/last week/at 3 o’clock/in 1991.

 Do not use Present Perfect with a finished time.

 He has arrived at my parents house.
 Compare
Past Simple Present Perfect
- I lost my key last week. - I have lost my key.
(=I can’t find it now)

- Bill went home ten minutes ago. - Bill has gone home.
(=he isn’t here now).

- Did you see Ann on Saturday? - Have you seen Ann?

(=where is she now?)