Present perfect simple

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

**for an action in the past with a result now

I've bought a new car. (= the car is new)

He's gone to Berlin. (= he is in Berlin or on the way to Berlin)


**when we talk about a time from the past until now

Have you ever been to Brazil? (- from the time you were born until now)

I have never seen him before. (- never in my life)

THE FORMS OF PRESENT PERFECT ARE

REGULAR

Many verbs can be put into the Present Perfect by using HAVE and adding "-ed”

- I have cleaned the room.

- She has never traveled by air.

IRREGULAR

Some verbs do NOT end with "-ed” in the Present Perfect.

! These forms (past participles) have to be MEMORIZED !

• Past participles of some common irregular verbs are:

begin begun   bring brought   buy bought
come come   do done   eat eaten
get got   give given   go gone
have had   know known   make made
say said   see seen   take taken

NEGATIVES AND QUESTIONS

USE HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE to make Questions and Negatives

• I have started  /  I haven't started  /  Have I started?

• He has answered  /  He hasn't answered  /  Has he answered?

• They have watched  /  They haven't watched  /  Have they watched?

There are some "signal words” that can help you to decide to use the Present Perfect

• EVER / NEVER

- Have you ever been to Paris?

- I have never eaten kangaroo meat.

• ALREADY

- I've already finished.

- He's already gone to bed.

• YET

Can be used in questions

- Have you done it yet?

- Has John sent the fax yet?

Or in negative sentences

- I haven't read it yet.

- She hasn't returned yet.

• JUST

- I've just had dinner. (= I'm not hungry.)

- They've just left. (= just a moment ago)

• SINCE

- I haven't been there since 1995.

- I haven't seen her since she got married.

• FOR

- I have known Susan for many years.

- They've been married for 25 years!