Present Perfect
We use Present Perfect to talk about actions that happened in the past and continue in the
present.
1. Unspecified point in the past
● I have been to Spain three times.
(At some unspecified time in the past, I went to Spain).
Compare with the simple past:
● I went to Spain three times in 2005.
(specified time in the past - the year 2005)
2. An action that happened in the past, but has a result in the present (now)
● We can't find our baggage. Have you seen it?
(The baggage was lost in the past, do you know where it is now?)
3. Talking about general experiences (ever, never)
It usually refers to an event happening at some moment in your life.
● Has she ever tried Chilean wine before? (in her life)
● I've never eaten pizza before. (in my life)
● Have you ever visited the Eiffel Tower? I’ve never visited the Eiffel tower
4. Events that recently happened (just)
● Do you want to go to a restaurant with me?
No, thanks. I've just eaten lunch. (I recently ate lunch.)
Subject + HAVE/HAS + JUST+ VERB PARTICIPLE + complement
have/has + subject + JUST + verb P + complement +?
5. Events that have not occurred up to now (yet)
● Have Carlos and Rodrigo arrived yet? No, they haven't arrived yet. (they're still not
here now
Subject + have/has + NOT + verb in participle + complement + YET
have /has + subject + verb P + complement + Yet + ?
6. Events that happened before you expected (already)
● I've already graduated from University. (I expected to graduate at a later date.)
Subject + HAVE/HAS + ALREADY + VERB PARTICIPLE + complement
Have/has + subject + already + verb P. + complement + ?
7. Events that began in the past and haven't changed (for, since)
● Mike has worked at Woodward for 3 years.
(Mike started working at Woodward 3 years ago and he still works there now.)
● Julie has worked at Woodward since September last year.
(Julie began working at Woodward in September of last year, and that hasn't
changed - she still works here now.)
Mike has worked at woodward for three years, he started since 2019
Structure:
Positive: Subject + auxiliary have + Verb in participle + complement /time expression
I have seen Friends a lot of times in my life / I’ve seen Friends a lot of times
She has never seen Friends /She’s never seen Friends
I’ve / he’s/ she’s/ it’s
I never sleep late
I’ve never slept late
Negative: Subject + auxiliary Have + NOT + Verb in participle + complement / time
expression
I haven’t seen Friends in my life
He has not (hasn’t ) seen friends
Interrogative: Auxiliary have + subject + verb in participle + complement/ time expression?
Have you seen Friends this year? Yes, I have seen friends / Yes’ I have / No, I haven’t
Has she seen friends this year? Yes, she has. No she hasn’t
have + subject + EVER + verb in participle + complement’
Have you ever seen friends in your life?
Wh + Auxiliary have + subject + verb in participle + complement/time expression?
Why have you never seen friends? Because I don’t like it / I’ ve never seen friends because i
don’t like it
Subject + Auxiliary Have + verb participle + For + Time expression
I’ve lived in Mexico for ten years
SUbject + Auxiliary Have + verb participle + Since + time expression
I’ve lived in Mexico since i was child
How long + auxiliary Have + subject + verb participle + complement ?
How long have you lived in Mexico? I have lived in Mexico since I was younger. I lived here
for ten years
I’ve live there for ten years, since 2009 when I was child and my family and I moved to
Spain. I went to the school in Spain since I moved here until 2011
I haven’t had a tv
Do you have your payment?
yes, I´ve already spent all my money
