Presentation on the use of verbal tenses

1. Present Perfect simple and
Present Perfect continuous

2. Present Perfect simple
•We use the present perfect to talk about
experiences, for example:
Have you ever been to Rome?
No, I have never been to Rome
Yes, I’ve been to Rome twice
Note that we say been not gone. If we said He’s
gone to the USA, that would mean that he hasn’t
come back yet

3. •We also use the present perfect to talk about
things we have done in an unfinished period
of time, for example:
This year I’ve been to the doctor twice
This week I have visited my grandma only
once
Note that we often use this ( this week, this year, this month)
to refer to the unfinished period of time

4. •We also use the present perfect for recent
actions or even when there is still evidence
of something that may have happened in
the past.
He has just arrived
Oh, you’ve broken your leg. Yes, I broke it
last week

5. •We use the Present Perfect with for and since
to express that an action has taken place
during an unfinished period of time.
How long have you worked in this company?
I have worked here for seven years
How long have you lived in Madrid?
I’ve lived in Madrid since 1992
Note that contrary to Spanish, here the action
still takes place.

6. •We use the Present perfect with yet and
already. We use yet in questions and negatives
and already in affirmatives.
Has he arrived yet?
No, he hasn’t arrived yet
Yes, he has already arrived
Note the position of yet and already

7. Present Perfect Continuous
We said that we use the present perfect
simple to express duration, but in fact we
can’t only use this tense with non-action
verbs ( except work and live, which can be
used in the simple and continuous form).
When we want to express duration or talk
about something which has happened
recently and we have an action verb, we
have to use the continuous form.

8. •Duration:
How long have you been watching TV?
I have been training for two hours
•Recent actions:
You look tired, what have you been doing?
I have been touring the city