Present Perfect Tense

1. Present Perfect
Tense
TSL 042
UiTM Dengkil
By:
Fatimah Azzahra bt Md Raus

2. When to use present perfect tense?
• Actions that began in the past and continues into the
present ( & may continue in the future).

3. Eg: I have lived in London since 1999.
= (and I still do).
• An action performed during a period that has not yet
finished.
Eg: She has been to cinema twice this week
= ( and this week is not over yet).
• A repeated action in an unspecific period between past
and now.
Eg: We have visited Italy several times.

4. • An action that was completed in the very recent past;
expressed by “just”.
Eg: I have just finished my work.
• An action when the time is not important or not
specifically mentioned (indefinite).
Eg: He has read “The Fault in Our Stars”.

6. Time Expressions:
Since and For

7. Since and For
• We use Present Perfect with since and for for to talk
about something that began in the past and continues
into the present ( & may continue in the future).
Eg: Rita has been a singer since 2000.
= She became a singer since 2000, and she is still a singer.
She has been a singer for many years.
= She became a singer many years ago, and she is still a
singer.

8. Since
• Use since + point in time to
show when something
started.
Eg:
- Since then he has become
famous.
• Since can also introduce
time clause . Use a comma
after a clause with since
when it comes first.
Eg:
- He has loved sports, since
he was a child.
- Since he turned pro, he
hasn’t taken a vacation.
For
• Use for + length of time
to show how long
something has lasted.
Eg:
- Rita has owned a cat for
years.
- He hasn’t been there for
a long time.
• Expressions with since or
for can go at the
beginning or end of the
sentence.

9. Time Expressions:
Already, Yet and Still

10. Already, Yet and Still
• Use present perfect with already, yet or still to talk about
things that happened or did not happened at an
indefinite time in the past (no specific time).
a) Use already in affirmative statement to talk about
something that has happened before now.
Eg: - I’ve already told her about the meeting.
- Rita has already met Calvin.

11. b) Use yet in negative statements to talk about something
that has not happened before now (in the near past).
Eg: A: Lea hasn’t came yet.
B: Oh, I’m sure she’ll be her in a minute.
c) Still can also be used in negative statements. Still has a
similar meaning to not yet, but it shows that the speaker
is surprised or unhappy with the situation.
Eg: I still haven’t mailed the invitations!
(I haven’t mailed the invitations yet, and I really
need to do it!)

12. d) Use yet in questions to ask if something has happened
before now. Notice the different possible ways of giving
negative answers.
A: Have you bought the ticket yet?
B: No, I haven’t.
No, not yet.
Not yet.
• We sometimes use already in questions to express
surprise that something has happened sooner than
expected.
Eg: Has Rita arrived already? The party doesn’t start
until 8!

13. • In American English, we sometimes use the simple past
with already and yet.
Eg: Rita has already left.
Rita already left.
When we use already, yet or still + present perfect,
we do NOT use past time expressions.
Eg: We’ve already met her.
We’ve already met her yesterday.
* Notice the word order of already, yet and still in the
sentence (p.124 no.3)

14. Present Perfect:
Indefinite Past

15. • Use the present perfect to talk about things that
happened at an indefinite time in the past.
Eg: They’ve traveled to Italy.
(no exact time)
We’ve been to Rome.
(exact time isn’t important)
• Use the present perfect to show that the result of the
action / state is important in the present. The present
perfect always has some connection to the past.
Eg: The Krays have moved.
(They are no longer there, you can’t find them
here)

16. *For many speakers, been to and gone to have different
meanings.
• Rita has been to England.
(at some point in the past, she visited England but she’s
not there now)
• She has gone to England.
(She is in England now)

17. • We can also use the present perfect with adverbs to talk
about the indefinite past.
Adverbs Examples
Twice, often
• To talk about repeated actions
at some indefinite time in the
past.
• They’ve seen The Boy twice.
• We often stayed at that hotel.
Always, never
• For actions or states that
continue to the present.
• I’ve always wanted to go to
Rome, but I’ve never gone.
Ever
• To ask question. It means at any
time before now.
Never
• For negative answers.
A: Have you ever been to Rome?
B: No, I’ve never been there.
No, never.

18. Adverbs Examples
Just, lately & recently
• To stress that something
happened in the very recent
(but still indefinite) past.
Just = a very short time before now
Lately and recently = in the near
past
• I’ve just gotten back from
Rome.
• They’ve been there lately.
• He’s recently flown a lot
• Do not use lately with simple
past.
• Do not use present perfect with
adverbs that refer to a definite
past time.
• Notice the word order in
sentences with present perfect
and adverbs.
* Refer to textbook p. 136.

19. The end 