Present Perfect
&
Present Perfect Continuous Tenses
Dr. Pauline Ghenghesh
English Department
British University in Egypt
Present Perfect Simple
FORM
Have or Has + Past Participle
Positive statements
I/You/We/They have finished.
She/He/It has finished.
Negative statements
I/You/We/They have not finished.
She/He/It has not finished.
Questions
Have I/you/we/they finished?
Has she/he/it finished?
USE 1
We use the Present Perfect Simple Tense:
To show an action in the past with a result now.
Examples:
I have lost my passport. (= I can’t find it now).
‘Where’s Sara?’ She has gone to bed.’ (= she is
in bed now).
I have cleaned my shoes. (= they are clean now).
For & Since
We use the Present Perfect with for and since to say how
long.
Example:
Khalid is in London. He has been there for three days.
since Monday.
for since
three days ten minutes Monday Wednesday
an hour two hours 9 o’clock 12:30
a week four weeks 24th July Christmas
a month six months January I was ten
five years a long time 1985 we arrived
Examples:
Mike has lived in Japan for three years.
I have been in love with my husband since 1976.
They have worked in Canada for six months.
She has played the piano since she was ten
years old.
Just, already, yet
We use the Present Perfect Simple Tense
with just, already and yet.
Examples:
just = a short time ago.
Are Tarek and Omar here?
Yes, they have just arrived.
already = before you expected.
What time are Ahmad and Mohamed coming?
They have already arrived.
Yet = until now.
Yet is usually put at the end of a statement
or question.
Yet in negative sentences:
Are Hani and Hesham here?
No, they haven’t arrived yet.
Yet in questions:
This is my new dress.
Oh, it’s nice. Have you worn it yet?
Present Perfect Continuous Tense
FORM
Positive statements
I/You/We/They have been running.
He/She/It has been running.
Negative statements
I/You/We/They have not been running.
He/She/It has not been running.
Questions
Have I/you/we/they been running?
Has he/she/it been running?
USE 1
We use the Present Perfect Continuous Tense
for an activity that has recently stopped or
just stopped.
There is a connection with now.
Example:
You’re out of breathe. Have you been running?
(You’re out of breathe now).
USE 2
We often use the Present Perfect Continuous
tense with how long, for and since.
The activity is still happening or just stopped.
Examples:
How long have you been studying English?
(You’re still studying English.)
Ali is still watching TV. He has been watching TV all
day.
It has been raining for two hours.
He has been sleeping since we arrived.
Compare I am doing and
I have been doing
Present Continuous: I am doing
Don’t bother me. I am working now.
Present Perfect Continuous: I have been doing
I have been working hard, so now I am going to take
a break.
Compare:
Hurry up! We’re waiting.
We’ve been waiting for an hour.
Present Perfect or
Past Simple
With a finished time use Past simple.
We arrived yesterday/last week/at 3 o’clock/in 1991.
Do not use Present Perfect with a finished time.
He has arrived at my parents house.
Compare
Past Simple Present Perfect
- I lost my key last week. - I have lost my key.
(=I can’t find it now)
- Bill went home ten minutes ago. - Bill has gone home.
(=he isn’t here now).
- Did you see Ann on Saturday? - Have you seen Ann?
(=where is she now?)
