Grammar Reference

5.1 ■ Present perfect

We form the present perfect with the auxiliary verb have and the past participle of the main verb.

Affirmative and negative
I We You They	have haven't (= have not)		seen this film.
He She It	has hasn't (= has not)
Questions and short answers
Have	I we you they	seen this film?	Yes, I have. No, I haven't.
Has	he she it		Yes, he has. No, he hasn't.

Use

We use the present perfect:

• to talk about something that happened before now, at an indefinite time in the past.
I've met a lot of famous people in my life.
He's written six books.
They've travelled a lot in Africa and Asia.

• to talk about an action or event that started or happened in the past, but has got a connection with the present. The action or event might be finished or unfinished.
The rain has stopped. We can go out now.
I've made a cake. Would you like some?
She's lost her keys and can't open the door now.
He's lived in this town all his life.(He was born here and he still lives here now.)

• to talk about experiences, especially with ever and never.
• to talk about recent events.

been and gone

The verb go has two past participle forms: been and gone.

• We use been when we know that someone has returned from a journey.
  Josh has been to India. (He is back now.)
• We use gone when the person has not returned.
  Josh has gone to India. (He is still in India.)

ever and never

In present perfect questions, we often use ever (= at any time in the past).

Have you ever tried a risky sport?

To express a negative, we can use never (= at no time in the past) + affirmative verb.

I've never tried a risky sport.

Present perfect and past simple

Present perfect	Past simple
For experiences and actions that happened at an indefinite time in the past, often with ever and never. Have you ever been to Spain? I've never been to Spain. Carrie has stayed at that hotel twice.	For actions that happened at a specific point in the past, usually with time expressions such as ago, yesterday, last week / year, in 2009, etc. and in questions with when. When did Lee go to Spain? Lee went to Spain last year.
For finished or unfinished actions and situations that have a connection with the present. I've lived in Germany all my life.	For finished actions and situations that happened in a period of time that has ended. I lived in Germany from 2002 to 2006.

5.2 ■ Present perfect with already, just and yet

We use just before the past participle in affirmative sentences and questions to talk about something that happened immediately before the moment of speaking.

I've just finished making the dinner.

We use already before the past participle in affirmative sentences and questions to talk about something that happened sooner than expected.

Mr Smith has already arrived. He's an hour early.

We use yet at the end of the sentence in negative sentences and questions to talk about something that was expected to happen, but which hasn't happened.

Robert hasn't called yet. We're still waiting.

Have you met Billy yet?

5.3 ■ Present perfect with for and since

We use the present perfect + for or since to say how long a situation has existed.

• We use for with a period of time: for a few seconds, for a day, for two weeks, for several years.
  She's had this house for many years.
• We use since with a specific time: since ten o'clock, since Friday, since yesterday, since May, since 2007.
  She's had this house since 2011.
• >We can use the question How long … ? with the present perfect to ask about the length of time that a present situation has existed.
  How long has Jo lived here?(Jo still lives here.)