ex.I have been to the UK.

2) Something happened in an generic recent time.

ex.I have seen Mike recently/lately.

3)Something happened in your life(life experiences).

ew.Have you ever been to the USA?

"I have never been to the USA".

4)Something happened in a period of time which isn't finished.

ex.I have understood the "present perfect" up to now.

5)Something done once or more than once in the past.

KEY WORDS:

-TODAY

-THIS MORNING

-UP TO NOW

-SO FAR

-ONCE/TWICE

-IT'S THE FIRST/SECOND TIME

• actions with a relationship with the present;

• actions happened in an UNSPECIFIED time in the past;

  key words= recently, lately, today, this morning, it's the first time.., up to now, so far, ever/never, once/twice.

• talk about an GENERAL EVENT.

Past simple

• actions taken place in a SPECIF and FINISCHED time in the past;

  key words= yesterday, two days ago, last month, in 2015, on 25 November 2015.

• to give DETAILS about a past event.

1) To emphasise the continuous nature of an action, which has been uninterrupted.

ex. I've been reading all day = i haven't stopped.

2) Actions that have been in progress recently (unfinished or recently finished).

The emphasis is on the activity.

ex. You're exhausted.No wonder,you've been driving in the fog for hours.

3) Actions that started in the past and continue up to now with for and since.

ex. He's been browsing the Web since 9 a.m.

-KEY WORDS:

• FOR

• SINCE

• HOW LONG

• ALL DAY/MORNING

• THE WHOLE DAY

• actions finisched in an UNSPECIFIED time;

• emphasis on the RESULT.

Present perfect continuous

• UNFINISCHED actions started in the past wich are going on in the present;

• FINSCHED and UNFINISCHED actions. Emphasis is on the action itself.