- Present Perfect Simple:
– Construction: have/has + past participle (-ed or irregular)
I´m not hungry. I have just eaten a burger.
Have you visited your grandmother lately?
– Uses:
1. Things that happened or not in the past which are connected to the present:
I haven’t had any coffee yet, so I can’t stop yawning!
I know the city very well. This is the third time I’ve visited it this year.
2. Events that started in the past and are still true now:
I have lived in Spain since I was 8. It’s a lovely country, isn’t it?
It’s funny how kids nowadays have learnt how to use a smartphone so soon.
– Considerations:
1. In many cases, the Present Perfect is used for recent events.
2. We can’t specify exactly when an event took place.
- Present Perfect Continuous:
– Construction: have/has + been + gerund (-ing)
You’re sweating! Have you been doing exercise?
I have been studying English since I was a kid.
– Uses: the uses are similar, but there is a focus on the fact that an action has been happening over a period of time.
1. Things that happened or not in the past which are connected to the present:
I haven’t been studying much lately, so I’ll probably fail the exam.
2. Events that started in the past and are still true now:
I have been living in Spain for years now, and I still think it’s great.
- Simple or Continuous?
– In many cases, both the Present Perfect Simple and Continuous can be used with hardly any change in meaning:
I have lived in England since 2010.
I have been living in England since 2010.
– If we focus on the result of an action, we should use the Present Perfect Simple:
I’ve cooked your favourite meal. I hope you like it!
– If we focus on the progress of an action, we should use the Present Perfect Continuous:
I’ve been cooking all morning, without a break.
– If we want to emphasise that an action is finished, we should use the Present Perfect Simple:
I´m good to go! I’ve already finished all my homework.
– If we want to emphasise that an action is not finished, we should use the Present Perfect Continuous:
You should stop now. You’ve been playing that game non-stop since this morning.
- Typical adverbs & prepositions:
– Adverbs: just, already, yet
I have just been to the shop. (very recent action)
She has already finished her degree. (sooner than expected)
We haven’t decided yet. (until now – negative sentence)
Have you read that book yet? (until now – interrogative sentence)
– Prepositions: since, for
I’ve known him for a decade. (for + period of time)
I’ve known him since we met at that party. (since + moment in time)
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