In English we use the present perfect simple to talk about the following situations :
When we use the present perfect, there is a connection with now. The action in the past has a present result.
Notes for use of present perfect simple :
We can use the words 'just', 'yet' and 'already' with the present perfect simple. We use 'just' to mean a short time ago, 'yet' to mean until now, when the speaker is expecting something to happen, and 'already' when something happened sooner than expected. We use 'just' and 'already' between the auxiliary verb 'have' or 'has' and the main verb in positive sentences. We use 'yet' at the end of negative sentences and questions.
When we start a sentence with the phrase "It's the first time", "It's the second time", etc, we continue with the present perfect simple tense.
The verb 'go' has two past participles : Been / Gone
In English we use 'been' when we talk about going somewhere and coming back and we use 'gone' to indicate the person is still there.
The table below shows the different forms of present perfect simple :
Example verb : Go | I / You / We / they | He / She / It |
Positive | ...'ve gone ... | ...'s gone ... |
Negative | ... haven't gone ... | ... hasn't gone ... |
Questions | Have ... gone ...? | Has ... gone? |
Short answers | Yes, ... have. / No, ... haven't. | Yes, ... has. / No, ... hasn't. |
Present Perfect Simple Example Sentences :
Positive Examples of Present Perfect Simple :
Negative Examples of Present Perfect Simple :
Question Examples of Present Perfect Simple :
In English we often use the present perfect simple with 'ever' and 'never'. 'Ever' means at any time in your life until now. It is often used in questions for emphasis.
Examples Sentences :
'Ever' is also used with nothing and nobody to talk about things that haven't happened.
Example Sentences :
'Ever' is also used with 'the first time' for first experiences.
Example Sentences :
'Never' is originally the contraction of 'not ever'. Never means the subject hasn't had a certain experience before.
Example Sentences :
In English 'Never' can be used in negative questions to show surprise that someone hasn't had a particular experience before.
Example Questions :
In English we use the present perfect simple with superlatives.
Example Sentence :
In English we also use the present perfect simple to describe change.
Example Sentence :
In English we often use the present perfect simple tense to talk about a continuing situation. This is a state that started in the past and continues in the present (and will probably continue into the future). This is a state (not an action). We usually use 'for' or 'since' with this structure.
Example Sentences :
We use 'for' to talk about a period of time - 5 minutes, 2 weeks, 6 years.
We use 'since' to talk about a point in past time - 9 o'clock, 1st January, Monday.
Example Sentences :
In English, 'For' can be used with all tenses. 'Since' is usually used with perfect tenses only.
Although the above use of present perfect simple is normally limited to non-continuous verbs and non-continuous uses of mixed verbs, the words "live," "work," "teach," and "study" are sometimes used in this way even though they are NOT non-continuous verbs.
In English we don't usually use the present perfect continuous with verbs that talk about short actions such as start, find, lose, break, buy, stop, etc. Then we use present perfect simple.
Present perfect simple example sentences | |
---|---|
I haven’t seen you here before. | 我之前没有在这里看到过你。 |
Oh, Mike! Is that you? It's been a very long time, where have you been? | 哦,迈克!是你吗?好久不见了,你现在在哪里? |
Yes sir... Have you finished unpacking your luggage? | 是的长官... 你的行李都拆完了吗? |
Yeah, kind of, the landlords have decided to sell the house. | 是的,有点,房东决定把房子卖掉。 |
Don't exaggerate mate, it's just been a couple of months. | 不要那么夸张,哥们,这才几个月的时间。 |
I haven't finished my breakfast yet. | 我还没吃完早饭。 |
I haven't had that problem before. | 我之前从未碰到这种问题。 |
Erm, I don't know really... I haven't thought about that before... | 额,我真的不知道... 我之前没有想过这个... |
Have you had breakfast? | 你吃过早饭了吗? |
Where is the lucky girl, has she left already? | 那个幸运女孩在哪里,她已经走了吗? |
Yes, I have heard that before. | 是的,我之前听说过。 |
Thank you, have you seen my bag? | 谢谢你,你看到我的包了吗? |
I'm not sure yet, we haven't had any time to talk about it. | 我还不确定,我们还没有时间讨论这事儿。 |
I've had food poisoning from chicken before. | 我之前吃鸡肉食物中毒过。 |
One of my friends has opened a small pub around here. | 我的一个朋友在这附近开了一间小酒吧。 |
Let me see... Yes, it's already gone! | 让我看下... 是的,那个已经被租了! |
Diego took him out, it has been about 45 minutes. | 迪亚哥带它出去了,已经走了45分钟了。 |
Where have you been? It's been half an hour! | 你去哪里了,去了半个小时! |
Have you seen Diego around? | 你在附近见过迪亚哥了吗? |
I can't believe how it has turned into my fault now! | 我不敢相信现在这就变成了我的错了! |