2. Can you guess the difference
in meaning between these two
sentences?
I have lived in Boston for two years.
I lived in Boston for two years.
I still live in Boston.
I don’t live in Boston anymore.
3. Past SimplePast Simple
I lived in Boston for
two years.
• Actions that are
finished
• Time reference is
finished.
Present PerfectPresent Perfect
I have lived in Boston
for two years.
• Actions that started in
the past and continue to
the present.
• Even if a past-time
adverbial isn’t explicit,
the situation in the
past may be defined
by the context or
simply implied e.g.
Einstein was a genius.
(His life is over)
• Actions complete at an
unspecified time when
the general time
reference is still valid
e.g. Steven Spielberg has
directed some great
films. (His life isn’t over)
4. Present Perfect Tense
Made up of
“ have /has” + past participle form
of verb
“has/have
”
+ eaten √
“has/have
”
+ ate
/eat/eating
×
5. Present Perfect with “for”Present Perfect with “for”
• She has lived there for twenty years.
• I’ve had this car for five months.
• We haven’t seen Mark for ages.
It is used to express…
THE LENGTH OF AN ACTION
NOTE: We can also use “for” with the past
simple e.g. I lived in Boston for two years.
6. Present Perfect with “since”Present Perfect with “since”
• She has worked there since September.
• I’ve been ill since January 28th.
• We haven’t eaten out since Monday.
It is used to express…
THE MOMENT IN WHICH AN
ACTION STARTED
7. Present Perfect with “just”Present Perfect with “just”
• I’ve just made tea. Would you like a cup?
• Martha isn’t here. She’s just left.
• My sister-in-law has just had a baby. She’s still
in hospital.
It is used to refer to…
SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN
THE (VERY) RECENT PAST OR A
SHORT TIME AGO
NOTE: Be careful with the position of “just”
8. Present Perfect with “already”Present Perfect with “already”
A: Remember to send the letter.
B: I have already sent it.
A: Don’t forget to wash your hair.
B: I have already washed it.
It is used to express…
SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED
BEFORE NOW OR BEFORE
ANOTHER POINT IN TIME
NOTE: Be careful with the position of “already”
9. Present Perfect with “yet”Present Perfect with “yet”
• I haven't seen that movie yet, but I am going to
soon.
• I’ve crashed my parents’ car but I haven't told
them anything yet.
It is used to express…
SOMETHING THAT HASN’T
HAPPENED BUT WE THINK IS
GOING TO HAPPENED
10. ““yet” vs. “still”yet” vs. “still”
We can use “yet” and “still” with other verb tenses. Let’s have a
look at the difference between these 2 time markers.
• It’s 11 am and Tom is still
in bed.
• I’m hungry. Is dinner
ready yet?
• Have you given up
smoking? No, I still smoke.
• It’s 11am and Tom
hasn’t got up yet.
• Are you still living in the
same house, or have you
moved?
• Where are you going
on holidays? We don’t
know yet.
YET STILL
1. To express or ask about a situation or action that
continues.
2. To ask whether something has happened.
3. To say something hasn’t happened.
11. ““yet” vs. “still”yet” vs. “still”
We can use “yet” and “still” with other verb tenses. Let’s have a
look at the difference between these 2 time markers.
• It’s 11 am and Tom is still
in bed.
• I’m hungry. Is dinner
ready yet?
• Have you given up
smoking? No, I still smoke.
• It’s 11am and Tom
hasn’t got up yet.
• Are you still living in the
same house, or have you
moved?
• Where are you going
on holidays? We don’t
know yet.
YET STILL
1. To express or ask about a situation or action that
continues.
X
2. To ask whether something has happened. X
3. To say something hasn’t happened. X
12. ““yet” vs. “still”: word orderyet” vs. “still”: word order
• It’s 11 am and Tom is still
in bed.
• I’m hungry. Is dinner
ready yet?
• Have you given up
smoking? No, I still smoke.
• It’s 11am and Tom
hasn’t got up yet.
• Are you still living in the
same house, or have you
moved?
• Where are you going
on holidays? We don’t
know yet.
YET STILL
1. With “to be”: after “to be”
With other verbs: before the main verb
2. At the end of the sentence
13. ““yet” vs. “still”: word orderyet” vs. “still”: word order
• It’s 11 am and Tom is still
in bed.
• I’m hungry. Is dinner
ready yet?
• Have you given up
smoking? No, I still smoke.
• It’s 11am and Tom
hasn’t got up yet.
• Are you still living in the
same house, or have you
moved?
• Where are you going
on holidays? We don’t
know yet.
YET STILL
1. With “to be”: after “to be”
With other verbs: before the main verb
X
2. At the end of the sentence X
15. ACTIVITY
Pretend that you are a detective investigating a
crime that just took place.
You are to come up with a crime scene report
using 15 Present Perfect Tenses in your report.
e.g.
1. When we arrived at the scene of the crime, it
seemed that the suspect has just left the building.