It is used to express a finished action in a period that started in the past and continues until now:
I have cooked dinner today.
She has read 4 books this month.
They have visited 10 countries this year.
Have you done your homework yet?
In the past 10 years, I have moved 3 times.
It is used to express an unfinished action that started in the past and continues until the present. We use time adverbials for and since here:
I have worked at this company for 12 years.
They have known each other since 2015.
-
ATTENTION!
WE USE:
FOR WITH A PERIOD OF TIME:
FOR 16 HOURS
FOR 2 DAYS
FOR 10 MONTHS
FOR 6 YEARS
FOR 9 CENTURIES
FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS
SINCE WITH A FIXED POINT IN TIME:
SINCE MARCH 2ND
SINCE 2019
SINCE THE LAST YEAR
SINCE I RETURNED FROM WORK
SINCE HE LEFT
It is used to talk about your life experiences or the lack of them:
I have visited Paris 8 times in my life.
He has never seen a ghost.
It is used to describe an action that happened in the past but you can see its result in the present:
I have cleaned all the windows in my flat.
(I physically cleaned the windows in the recent past – today/this week/yesterday – and they are clean now)
she has painted her house.
(she physically painted her house in the recent past – today/this week/this month/this year/yesterday/last month – and now it is painted)
It is used to express an action that happened recently without a clearly specified result in the present:
I have just met with Martin.
My parents have given me pocket money.
The police have told us to stay at home due to severe winds.
-
ATTENTION!
IT IS THE FIRST TIME...
WHEN YOU SAY WHICH TIME SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED YOU USE PRESENT PERFECT
IT'S THE FIRST TIME I HAVE READ THIS BOOK
IT'S = IT IS
IT'S THE TENTH TIME I HAVE LOST MY KEYS
-
ATTENTION!
THIS MORNING/AFTERNOON/EVENING
WHEN THE MORNING, AFTERNOON, OR EVENING HAS NOT FINISHED YET WE PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE (PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS IS ALSO POSSIBLE)
I HAVE HAD A JOB INTERVIEW THIS AFTERNOON = THE AFTERNOON HAS NOT FINISHED YET
WHEN THE MORNING, AFTERNOON, OR EVENING HAS ALREADY FINISHED WE USE PAST SIMPLE TO DESCRIBE IT
I HAD A JOB INTERVIEW THIS MORNING = THE MORNING HAS FINISHED, IT'S EITHER THE AFTERNOON OR EVENING NOW
-
ATTENTION!
BEEN TO VS GONE TO
BEEN TO IS USED TO SAY THAT A PERSON HAS VISITED THE PLACE AND HAS RETURNED
I HAVE BEEN TO THE SUPERMARKET = I WENT TO THE SUPERMARKET AND I HAVE COME BACK, I AM NO LONGER IN THE SUPERMARKET
GONE TO IS USED TO SAY THAT A PERSON WENT TO THE PLACE AND IS STILL THERE.
MICHAEL HAS GONE TO THE DENTIST = HE IS STILL AT THE DENTIST