# data[].attributes.body
DEFINITION OF THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

The present perfect is used to indicate a link between the present and the past. The time of the action is before now but not specified, and we are often more interested in the result than in the action itself.

BE CAREFUL! There may be a verb tense in your language with a similar form, but the meaning is probably NOT the same.

THE PRESENT PERFECT IS USED TO DESCRIBE

An action or situation that started in the past and continues in the present. I have lived in Bristol since 1984 (= and I still do.)

An action performed during a period that has not yet finished. She has been to the cinema twice this week (= and the week isn't over yet.)

A repeated action in an unspecified period between the past and now. We have visited Portugal several times.

An action that was completed in the very recent past, expressed by 'just'. I have just finished my work.

An action when the time is not important. He has read 'War and Peace'. (= the result of his reading is important)

Note: When we want to give or ask details about when, where, who, we use the simple past. Read more about choosing between the present perfect and the simple past tenses.

ACTIONS STARTED IN THE PAST AND CONTINUING IN THE PRESENT

They haven't lived here for years.

She has worked in the bank for five years.

We have had the same car for ten years.

Have you played the piano since you were a child?

WHEN THE TIME PERIOD REFERRED TO HAS NOT FINISHED

I have worked hard this week.

It has rained a lot this year.

We haven't seen her today.

ACTIONS REPEATED IN AN UNSPECIFIED PERIOD BETWEEN THE PAST AND NOW.

They have seen that film six times

It has happened several times already.

She has visited them frequently.

We have eaten at that restaurant many times.

ACTIONS COMPLETED IN THE VERY RECENT PAST (+JUST)

Have you just finished work?

I have just eaten.

We have just seen her.

Has he just left?

WHEN THE PRECISE TIME OF THE ACTION IS NOT IMPORTANT OR NOT KNOWN

Someone has eaten my soup!

Have you seen 'Gone with the Wind'?

She's studied Japanese, Russian, and English.

Read more about using the present perfect with the words "ever", "never", "already", and "yet", and about using the present perfect with the words "for" and "since".

# data[].attributes.headline
PRESENT PERFECT + EVER, NEVER, ALREADY, YETEVERThe adverbs ever and never express the idea of an unidentified time before now(Have you ever visited Berlin?)'Ever' and 'never' are always placed before the main verb (past participle). Ever is used:IN QUESTIONSEXAMPLESHave you ever been to England?Has she ever met the Prime Minister?IN NEGATIVE QUESTIONSEXAMPLESHaven't they ever been to Europe?Haven't you ever eaten Chinese food?IN NEGATIVE STATEMENTS USING THE PATTERN NOTHING+EVER OR NOBODY+EVEREXAMPLESNobody has ever said that to me before.Nothing like this has ever happened to us.WITH 'THE FIRST TIME'EXAMPLESIt's the first time that I've ever eaten snails.This is the first time I've ever been to England.NEVERNever means at no time before now, and is the same as not ..... ever: (I have never visited Berlin)BE CAREFUL!You must not use never and not togetherI haven't never been to Italy.I have never been to Italy.ALREADYAlready refers to an action that has happened at an unspecified time before now. It suggests that there is no need for repetition.EXAMPLESI've already drunk three coffees this morning. (= and you're offering me another one!)Don't write to John, I've already done it. It is also used in questions:Have you already written to John?Has she finished her homework already? Already can be placed before the main verb (past participle) or at the end of the sentence:I have already been to Tokyo.I have been to Tokyo already. YETYet is used in negative statements and questions, to mean (not) in the period of time between before now and now, (not) up to and including the present. Yet is usually placed at the end of the sentence.EXAMPLESHave you met Judy yet?I haven't visited the Tate Gallery yetHas he arrived yet?They haven't eaten yet

# data[].attributes.subject
PRESENT PERFECT + EVER, NEVER, ALREADY, YETEVERThe adverbs ever and never express the idea of an unidentified time before now(Have you ever visited Berlin?)'Ever' and 'never' are always placed before the main verb (past participle). Ever is used:IN QUESTIONSEXAMPLESHave you ever been to England?Has she ever met the Prime Minister?IN NEGATIVE QUESTIONSEXAMPLESHaven't they ever been to Europe?Haven't you ever eaten Chinese food?IN NEGATIVE STATEMENTS USING THE PATTERN NOTHING+EVER OR NOBODY+EVEREXAMPLESNobody has ever said that to me before.Nothing like this has ever happened to us.WITH 'THE FIRST TIME'EXAMPLESIt's the first time that I've ever eaten snails.This is the first time I've ever been to England.NEVERNever means at no time before now, and is the same as not ..... ever: (I have never visited Berlin)BE CAREFUL!You must not use never and not togetherI haven't never been to Italy.I have never been to Italy.ALREADYAlready refers to an action that has happened at an unspecified time before now. It suggests that there is no need for repetition.EXAMPLESI've already drunk three coffees this morning. (= and you're offering me another one!)Don't write to John, I've already done it. It is also used in questions:Have you already written to John?Has she finished her homework already? Already can be placed before the main verb (past participle) or at the end of the sentence:I have already been to Tokyo.I have been to Tokyo already. YETYet is used in negative statements and questions, to mean (not) in the period of time between before now and now, (not) up to and including the present. Yet is usually placed at the end of the sentence.EXAMPLESHave you met Judy yet?I haven't visited the Tate Gallery yetHas he arrived yet?They haven't eaten yet

# data[].attributes.headline
PRESENT PERFECT WITH FOR AND SINCEUsing the present perfect, we can define a period of time before now by considering its duration, with for + a period of time, or by considering its starting point, with since + a point in time. FOR and SINCE can also both be used with the past perfect. SINCE can only be used with perfect tenses. FOR can also be used with the simple past.FOR + A PERIOD OF TIMEfor six years, for a week, for a month, for hours, for two hoursI have worked here for five years.SINCE + A POINT IN TIMEsince this morning, since last week, since yesterdaysince I was a child, since Wednesday, since 2 o'clockI have worked here since 1990.PRESENT PERFECT WITH FORShe has lived here for twenty years.We have taught at this school for a long time.Alice has been married forthree months.They have been at the hotel for a week.PRESENT PERFECT WITH SINCEShe has lived here since 1980.We have taught at this school since 1965.Alice has been married since March 2nd.They have been at the hotel since last Tuesday. 

# data[].attributes.subject
PRESENT PERFECT WITH FOR AND SINCEUsing the present perfect, we can define a period of time before now by considering its duration, with for + a period of time, or by considering its starting point, with since + a point in time. FOR and SINCE can also both be used with the past perfect. SINCE can only be used with perfect tenses. FOR can also be used with the simple past.FOR + A PERIOD OF TIMEfor six years, for a week, for a month, for hours, for two hoursI have worked here for five years.SINCE + A POINT IN TIMEsince this morning, since last week, since yesterdaysince I was a child, since Wednesday, since 2 o'clockI have worked here since 1990.PRESENT PERFECT WITH FORShe has lived here for twenty years.We have taught at this school for a long time.Alice has been married forthree months.They have been at the hotel for a week.PRESENT PERFECT WITH SINCEShe has lived here since 1980.We have taught at this school since 1965.Alice has been married since March 2nd.They have been at the hotel since last Tuesday. 

# data[].attributes.headline
PRESENT PERFECT VS. SIMPLE PASTYou must always use the Present perfect when the time of an action is not important or not specified.You must always use the Simple past when details about the time or place that an action occured are given or requested.COMPARE :Present perfect	Simple pastI have lived in Lyon.	I lived in Lyon in 1989.They have eaten Thai food.	They ate Thai food last night.Have you seen 'Othello'?.	Where did you see 'Othello'?We have been to Ireland.	When did you go to Ireland?There is also a difference in attitude between the two tenses, which is often an important factor in choosing which tense to use."What did you do at school today?" I use the simple past tense because the question is about activities, and the school day is considered finished."What have you done at school today?" I use the present perfect because the question is about results : « show me ». The time at which the question is asked is considered as a continuation of the school day. 

# data[].attributes.subject
PRESENT PERFECT VS. SIMPLE PASTYou must always use the Present perfect when the time of an action is not important or not specified.You must always use the Simple past when details about the time or place that an action occured are given or requested.COMPARE :Present perfect	Simple pastI have lived in Lyon.	I lived in Lyon in 1989.They have eaten Thai food.	They ate Thai food last night.Have you seen 'Othello'?.	Where did you see 'Othello'?We have been to Ireland.	When did you go to Ireland?There is also a difference in attitude between the two tenses, which is often an important factor in choosing which tense to use."What did you do at school today?" I use the simple past tense because the question is about activities, and the school day is considered finished."What have you done at school today?" I use the present perfect because the question is about results : « show me ». The time at which the question is asked is considered as a continuation of the school day. 

# data[].attributes.headline
What’s the difference?Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Continuous  We use both of these tenses for finished and unfinished actions.The present perfect simple can be used (often with ‘since’ and ‘for’) to talk about unfinished actions that started in the past and are still true in the present. It’s often used with stative verbs:• I’ve known John for three years.The present perfect continuous can also be used (often with ‘since’ and ‘for’) to talk about unfinished actions that started in the past and are still true in the present. (Ofcourse, we don’t use the present perfect continuous with stative verbs):• She’s been living here for three years.Sometimes there’s really no difference in meaning between the two tenses. This isespecially the case with verbs such as ‘live’, ‘work’ and ‘study’:• They’ve lived in London since 2004.• They’ve been living in London since 2004.• I’ve studied French for ten years.• I’ve been studying French for ten years.• He’s worked at the company since 2009.• He’s been working at our company since 2009.Sometimes, there is a difference in meaning:1: The present perfect continuous can be used to emphasise the length of time that haspassed. The present perfect simple is generally neutral:• They’ve been waiting for hours! (This emphasises the length of time).• They’ve waited for hours. (This doesn’t emphasise the length of time).2: On the other hand, the present perfect simple is often used when we’re talkingabout how much or how many. This isn’t possible with the present perfect continuous:• She’s drunk three cups of coffee this morning.• She’s drunk at least a litre of coffee today.• (NOT: she’s been drinking three cups of coffee this morning.). © 2013 www.perfect-english-grammar.comMay be freely copied for personal or classroom use.3: The present perfect continuous often focuses on the action itself, while the presentperfect simple focuses on the fact that the action is completed:• I’ve been reading the book you recommended. (I’m enjoying it, but I’m notfinished).• I’ve read the book you recommended. (I’ve finished it, so we can talk about it).We use ‘yet’ and ‘already’ with the present perfect simple:• Have you read the book yet?• She’s finished her work already.This difference is often used to talk about different kinds of results in the present. Thepresent perfect simple is used when the action is finished, and the result comes fromthe action being finished:• I’ve eaten dinner, so let’s go out.• She’s done all her homework, so she can relax this evening.• I’ve made a cake. Would you like some?The present perfect continuous is used when the result comes from the action itself. Itdoesn’t matter if the whole action is finished or not. The result is often something wecan see, hear, smell, or feel:• I’ve been eating dinner, so there are plates all over the table.• She’s been doing her homework, so she’s tired.• I’ve been making a cake, that’s why the kitchen is such a mess.4: Finally. the present perfect continuous can be used to emphasise that something istemporary:• She’s been running a lot recently. (She doesn’t usually do this).• Usually I study at home, but I’ve been studying in the library for the last week. 

# data[].attributes.subject
What’s the difference?Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Continuous  We use both of these tenses for finished and unfinished actions.The present perfect simple can be used (often with ‘since’ and ‘for’) to talk about unfinished actions that started in the past and are still true in the present. It’s often used with stative verbs:• I’ve known John for three years.The present perfect continuous can also be used (often with ‘since’ and ‘for’) to talk about unfinished actions that started in the past and are still true in the present. (Ofcourse, we don’t use the present perfect continuous with stative verbs):• She’s been living here for three years.Sometimes there’s really no difference in meaning between the two tenses. This isespecially the case with verbs such as ‘live’, ‘work’ and ‘study’:• They’ve lived in London since 2004.• They’ve been living in London since 2004.• I’ve studied French for ten years.• I’ve been studying French for ten years.• He’s worked at the company since 2009.• He’s been working at our company since 2009.Sometimes, there is a difference in meaning:1: The present perfect continuous can be used to emphasise the length of time that haspassed. The present perfect simple is generally neutral:• They’ve been waiting for hours! (This emphasises the length of time).• They’ve waited for hours. (This doesn’t emphasise the length of time).2: On the other hand, the present perfect simple is often used when we’re talkingabout how much or how many. This isn’t possible with the present perfect continuous:• She’s drunk three cups of coffee this morning.• She’s drunk at least a litre of coffee today.• (NOT: she’s been drinking three cups of coffee this morning.). © 2013 www.perfect-english-grammar.comMay be freely copied for personal or classroom use.3: The present perfect continuous often focuses on the action itself, while the presentperfect simple focuses on the fact that the action is completed:• I’ve been reading the book you recommended. (I’m enjoying it, but I’m notfinished).• I’ve read the book you recommended. (I’ve finished it, so we can talk about it).We use ‘yet’ and ‘already’ with the present perfect simple:• Have you read the book yet?• She’s finished her work already.This difference is often used to talk about different kinds of results in the present. Thepresent perfect simple is used when the action is finished, and the result comes fromthe action being finished:• I’ve eaten dinner, so let’s go out.• She’s done all her homework, so she can relax this evening.• I’ve made a cake. Would you like some?The present perfect continuous is used when the result comes from the action itself. Itdoesn’t matter if the whole action is finished or not. The result is often something wecan see, hear, smell, or feel:• I’ve been eating dinner, so there are plates all over the table.• She’s been doing her homework, so she’s tired.• I’ve been making a cake, that’s why the kitchen is such a mess.4: Finally. the present perfect continuous can be used to emphasise that something istemporary:• She’s been running a lot recently. (She doesn’t usually do this).• Usually I study at home, but I’ve been studying in the library for the last week. 

# data[].attributes.headline
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUSThe present perfect continuous is used to refer to an unspecified time between 'before now' and 'now'. The speaker is thinking about something that started but perhaps did not finish in that period of time. He/she is interested in the process as well as the result, and this process may still be going on, or may have just finished.ACTIONS THAT STARTED IN THE PAST AND CONTINUE IN THE PRESENTShe has been waiting for you all day (= and she's still waiting now).I've been working on this report since eight o'clock this morning (= and I still haven't finished it).They have been travelling since last October (= and they're not home yet).ACTIONS THAT HAVE JUST FINISHED, BUT WE ARE INTERESTED IN THE RESULTSShe has been cooking since last night (= and the food on the table looks delicious).It's been raining (= and the streets are still wet).Someone's been eating my chips (= half of them have gone).FORMING THE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUSThe present perfect continuous is made up of two elements: the present perfect of the verb 'to be' (have/has been), and the present participle of the main verb (base+ing)VERBS WITHOUT CONTINUOUS FORMSWith verbs not normally used in the continuous form, use the simple present perfect instead (verbs such as: know, hate, hear, understand, want).I've wanted to visit China for years.She's known Robert since she was a child.I've hated that music since I first heard it.I've heard a lot about you recently.We've understood everything. 

# data[].attributes.subject
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUSThe present perfect continuous is used to refer to an unspecified time between 'before now' and 'now'. The speaker is thinking about something that started but perhaps did not finish in that period of time. He/she is interested in the process as well as the result, and this process may still be going on, or may have just finished.ACTIONS THAT STARTED IN THE PAST AND CONTINUE IN THE PRESENTShe has been waiting for you all day (= and she's still waiting now).I've been working on this report since eight o'clock this morning (= and I still haven't finished it).They have been travelling since last October (= and they're not home yet).ACTIONS THAT HAVE JUST FINISHED, BUT WE ARE INTERESTED IN THE RESULTSShe has been cooking since last night (= and the food on the table looks delicious).It's been raining (= and the streets are still wet).Someone's been eating my chips (= half of them have gone).FORMING THE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUSThe present perfect continuous is made up of two elements: the present perfect of the verb 'to be' (have/has been), and the present participle of the main verb (base+ing)VERBS WITHOUT CONTINUOUS FORMSWith verbs not normally used in the continuous form, use the simple present perfect instead (verbs such as: know, hate, hear, understand, want).I've wanted to visit China for years.She's known Robert since she was a child.I've hated that music since I first heard it.I've heard a lot about you recently.We've understood everything. 