See Explanation

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE:

STATEMENTS, Q and A
USE:
To talk about actions or states which began in the past and are still relevant in the present. The Present Perfect is
often used with expressions starting with FOR and SINCE, to talk about actions or states which began in the past and
are true up until the present time. It is also used with the adverbs JUST, ALREADY, and YET to talk about actions or
events which took place at an indefinite time in the past. The Present Perfect is also used to talk about recent actions
or events ("news").
FORM:
The Present Perfect is made up of HAVE/HAS and the Past Participle (the third form of the verb [V3]).
AFFIRMATIVE
[SUBJECT + HAVE/HAS + (just/already) + PAST PARTICIPLE [V3]... (for/since...)]
EXAMPLES:
"I've lived here for two years."
"You've already lost one key. I can't believe you can't find the second."
"Whose package is this? It's been here since 4 p.m."
"We've already met them."
"They're not hungry. They've just eaten their dinner."
NOTE: In positive sentences, JUST and ALREADY usually go immediately before the past participle. Phrases with
FOR and SINCE go at the end of the sentence.
NEGATIVE
[SUBJECT + HAVE NOT/HAVEN'T + PAST PARTICIPLE [V3]..] HAS NOT/HASN'T
EXAMPLES:
"I haven't met her yet."
"It hasn't begun to rain yet."
"We haven't had lunch yet."
"You haven't said a word for 2 hours."
"They haven't finished their breakfast."
NOTE: In negative sentences, YET and phrases with FOR and SINCE usually go at the end of the sentence.
YES/NO QUESTIONS
[HAVE/HAS + SUBJECT +...PAST PARTICIPLE [V3]]
EXAMPLES:
"Have you already finished your work?"
"Has she finished painting the room?"
WH-QUESTIONS
WH-QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SUBJECT
[WH-WORD + HAVE/HAS +...PAST PARTICIPLE [V3]]
EXAMPLE:
"Who has just eaten the candy?"

WH-QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REST OF THE SENTENCE

[WH-WORD + HAVE/HAS + SUBJECT +...PAST PARTICIPLE (V3)]
EXAMPLES:
"Where has he put my coat?"
"What have you done with the money?"
NOTE: In questions, JUST and ALREADY usually go before the Past Participle [V3]; YET and phrases with FOR and
SINCE usually go at the end of the sentence.
CONTRAST WITH OTHER TENSES
USE:
We use the Present Perfect to talk about actions or events that happened during a period which in some way
includes or is connected to the present, when the exact time is not given.
EXAMPLE:
"Peter Parker has written five books."
The "period" in this sentence is Parker's life. By using the Present Perfect, we show that he is still alive and still
writing books.
BUT "John Craig wrote five books."
In this case, the Past Simple is used, showing that the "period" is finished, probably because Craig is dead.
We also use the Present Perfect to talk about recent actions or events which are "news" to the listener, often with the
adverbs JUST and ALREADY and YET in negative sentences and questions.
EXAMPLES:
"The results have just come in; and here they are..."
"I don't want to go to that movie: I've already seen it."
"Have you typed that letter yet?"
NOTE: In American English, the simple past form is often used:
"The election results just came in: here they are..."
"I don't want to go to that movie; I already saw it."
"Did you type that letter yet?"
We often use the Present Perfect with certain expressions:
FOR or SINCE
We can use FOR or SINCE at the beginning of the time expression. If we say how long the action or state lasted, we
use FOR:
"...for ten minutes."
"...for twenty years."
"...for two centuries."
"...for a very long time." etc.
If we say when the action or state began, we use SINCE, followed by the time or another expression which indicates
the time:
"...since 2 o'clock."
"...since last Monday."
"...since 1975."
"...since the end of the war."
"...since I was a baby." etc.

HOW LONG
We start a question to ask about the duration of an activity or state with HOW LONG:
EXAMPLES:
"How long have you had that sweater?"
"About six months."
"How long have you been an actor?"
"Since I left school."
EVER
If we want to know if something has happened, but not when, we often put the adverb EVER before the verb in the
question.
EXAMPLES:
"Have you ever eaten octopus?"
"Yes, I have."
"Have you ever been in an accident?"
"No, I haven't."
JUST, ALREADY or YET
JUST (=a short time ago), ALREADY (=before now) and YET (=before/until now) are used in Present Perfect
sentences that talk about recent actions or events ("news"). JUST and ALREADY usually go immediately before the
third form of the verb and YET is often used at the end of a negative sentence or question.
EXAMPLES:
"I have already seen that movie. Let's stay home!"
"But I haven't seen it yet!"
"Here we are at the Indy 500 with Mike Rhodes. Mike, have you ever driven in an Indy race?"
"No, I haven't. But I've been a race driver in Europe for ten years."
"Well, Good Luck to you!"
Eric:
Salut!
Rene:
Cheers.
Eric:
So what brought you to the States?
Rene:
I was working in the Paris office. I had been there five years, and I felt I needed a change.
I had learned there everything I could. So, I asked
for a transfer to the international department, and
here I am.
Eric:
What kind of work have you been doing?
Rene:
Lately, I've been practicing my English and trying to get used to this life in the United States. That's what I've

been doing.
Eric:
So, how do you and your wife like living here?
Rene:
Very nice, but we've only been here a short while, really. My wife misses her family.
Eric:
She gets homesick?
Rene:
Yes, she gets homesick. She's alone all day, you know. I work, I keep busy. But she's here by herself. I think
she has too much free time. She's been calling her family almost every day in France. And calling long
distance can be very expensive, and I'm not sure it helps very much ...
Eric:
I know what you mean.

Craighouse School in Glasgow has been sending childrenoverseas to France on an exchange program since
1971. The students' French improves a lot, and when they come back they usually no longer need a French tutor to
help them outside of school. The children who take part in the exchange program have to be over the age of thirteen.
Mrs. Bankes, whose daughter is participating in this year's exchange group, says,
"I think it's a wonderful opportunity for Kim.Although she has only been away for a month, I have already started
to miss her. I've been making long-distance calls to Paris about once a week since she left."
Anyone who has seen Kim in Paris knows that she hasn't been missing anyone. Kim is very happy with the
program. She says that her French has really improved, and hearing her Frenchaccent, it was easy to believe her.
"I haven't been homesick even once," Kim says. "I have madeseveral new friends and I have a great roommate,
Chantal, who I will keep in touch with when I leave. I don't even feel like going home at all."
The exchange program also helps these young people meetagain after the program has ended, and friends like
Chantal andKim will probably meet at Kim's home in Scotland next year. Of course, that's if Kim hasn't already
decided to stay in France andbecome a French citizen!
Parents who are interested in sending their children abroad onthis program should contact the Craighouse School in
Pollock, Glasgow.
PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
USE:

To talk about a continuous or repeated action which began in the past and continues up to the present, or which
finished very recently and still has an effect. We do not normally use the Present Perfect Progressive with stative
verbs (TO HAVE RED HAIR, TO BE HAPPY/ILL/TIRED, TO KNOW THE ANSWER, etc.).
EXAMPLES:
"Betty and Joe have been working all night: they're exhausted!"
"Ted, I've been telling you to make your bed for two hours!"
FORM:
AFFIRMATIVE
[SUBJECT + HAVE/HAS + BEEN + VERB+ing ]
EXAMPLES:
"I've been sitting here for an hour."
"She's been hiding in the garage."
NEGATIVE
[SUBJECT

HAS/HAVE
HASN'T/HAVEN'T

NOT

BEEN

VERB+ing...]

EXAMPLES:
"You have not (haven't) been working all week."
"He has not (hasn't) been living here very long."
NOTE: The expressions FOR and SINCE are used with the Present Perfect Progressive in the same way as with
the Present Perfect Simple.
EXAMPLES:
"They have been studying French for three years."
"She has been living here since 1987."

Close Window
-

Who's that man? He has been standing there for an hour!

I don't know. I've been watching him, too.

I think he's strange.

Host:

Welcome, listeners, to today's "Call-In Line." I'm your host, Doug, and on today's show I'd like to hear
about your favorite celebration. Good morning, Caller Number One. You're on the air.

Stella:

Hi, Doug! This is Stella. My favorite celebration has always been Independence Day. Last year we had a
fireworks display and our annual bake sale. I baked old-fashioned apple pie.

Host:

I can almost taste that apple pie. Thank you, Stella.Now we go to Gertrude, who's been waiting on the
line.

Gertrude: Hello. This might sound unusual, but in England, where I was born, there is a Bank Holiday festival. It has
always been a tradition to celebrate it with a fair in a park. There is usually a parade, as well.
Host:

That sounds very English, Gertrude. Now, are there any men out there celebrating anything?

Mike:

Hi, Doug. My name is Mike, and my favorite celebration is Thanksgiving. I am a descendant of one of the
first Englishmen who came to America. I was born here, and I consider it an honor to be an American.

Host:

Well, it's been an honor for us to have you on our program, Mike! And now, our last caller is ...

Penelope: Penelope. My favorite celebration was my 97th birthday. My whole family gathered for the event.
Host:

Penelope, your favorite celebration really is unique.Well, that's all we have time for today. Have a
spectacular day, listeners, and let's keep talking to each other.

The First Thanksgiving

Andrew and Kenji were sitting outside Kenji's house with nothing to do. Suddenly Andrew stood up. "Let's
go inside andwatch the Thanksgiving Day Parade on TV," he said.
"What's Thanksgiving Day?" asked Kenji.
"You don't know what Thanksgiving Day is!" Andrew asked,
surprised. "It's a holiday that Americans celebrate in honor ofeverything that this country offered
to our ancestors, who were among the first immigrants to the U.S. When they first came to America, they
saw that there was enough food and opportunityfor everyone. They were even helped by the Indians,
who taughtthem how to grow all kinds of new vegetables, such as corn and yams, or sweet
potatoes. So every year we celebrate Thanksgiving Day."
"What do you do on Thanksgiving Day?" asked Kenji.
"Well, it's traditional to eat a big meal together. We eat food thatsymbolizes the new food that was found
here by our ancestors.At our house we usually eat turkey with sweet potatoes andIndian corn
bread. We usually have pumpkin pie for dessert, too," said Andrew.
"I've never had sweet potatoes or pumpkin pie. They sound interesting," Kenji said. "But what is
this parade that you want to see?"
"Oh, it's an annual event. Every Thanksgiving a giant parade is held by one of the most famous
department stores in New York," Andrew explained. "And at the end of the parade, children can even
see Santa Claus, who is visiting from the North Pole. Santa Claus is invited to remind children andparents
that Christmas is not far away.Well, now that I've toldyou all about Thanksgiving, do you want to come
to my house for dinner and watch the parade?" asked Andrew.
"Sure. I'd love to," said Kenji.
THE PASSIVE: FORM - WITH OR WITHOUT AGENT
USE:
To talk about actions or events in which the agent, or the "doer" of the action, is obvious, unknown or unimportant, or
to emphasize the action, the results of the action, or the receiver of the action. The Passive is also used to stress a
process or event.
FORM:
["BE" + Past Participle [V3]]
NOTE: The verb "BE" varies according to the tense of the sentence. It can take any form, including progressives.
EXAMPLES:
"The castle was built in 1543."
"It has been rebuilt twice since then."
(Agent unknown/unimportant)

"English is spoken here."

(Agent is obvious or understood)
"The game is played until there are no more players on the field."
(Process is stressed)
NOTE: We can include the agent after the verb in a Passive sentence, using the preposition BY.
EXAMPLES:
"My lunch was stolen by a gorilla from the circus!"
"The new hospital is going to be opened by the Queen herself."
AFFIRMATIVE/NEGATIVE

PRESENT/PAST SIMPLE
[OBJECT + Present/Past Form of BE (NOT) + PAST PARTICIPLE [V3] (by SUBJECT)...]
EXAMPLES:
"English is spoken here."
"These socks weren't made in Japan."
PRESENT/PAST PROGRESSIVE
[OBJECT + Present/Past Form of BE (NOT) + BEING + PAST PARTICIPLE [V3] (by SUBJECT)]
EXAMPLES:
"The house is being painted (by John)."
"Our car wasn't being used yesterday."
PRESENT PERFECT
[OBJECT + HAVE (NOT)/HAS (NOT) + BEEN + PAST PARTICIPLE [V3] (by SUBJECT)]
EXAMPLES:
"The house has been rented (by Bob Tell)."
"We haven't been invited to the party."
YES/NO QUESTIONS
[BE/HAVE + SUBJECT (BE) + PAST PARTICIPLE [V3]]
EXAMPLES:
"Was the letter sent?" (SIMPLE)
"Is it being ordered?" (PROGRESSIVE)
"Have they been asked?" (PERFECT)
WH-QUESTIONS
[WH-WORD + BE/HAVE + (SUBJECT) (BE) + PAST PARTICIPLE [V3]...]
EXAMPLES:
"Who was told about this?"
"When was John invited to the wedding?"
"Where was it being shown?"
"Why has Bill been fired?

OTHER EXAMPLES:
"The car wasn't being repaired when we arrived."
"The election results have just been announced."
"George has been caught by the police."
"Are we going to be invited to Joe's party?"
"Why has Betty been arrested?"
"Who was that movie made by?
"It was made by DeMille, I think."