Present and past perfect tenses

Chapter four

The present perfect tense 1- it can describe actions or situations that

occurred in an unspecified time in the past. 2- it also refers to repeated actions in the past.

Have/has + past participle

1- I’ve been to Madrid. 2- My brother has visited Spain many times.Page: 141 for long and short forms

Adverbs with present perfect • Ever: at any time (have ever been to NY?) • Already: before now. (have you started work

already? ) (yes, I have already started work.) • Just: recent past (I’ve just started work) • Never: not at any time ( I’ve never worked

here before) • Yet: up to now (have you started work yet?)

( I haven’t started work yet) • Still : ( I still haven’t started work)

The present perfect continuous • This tense describes actions or situations that

began in the past and have continued to the present.

Have/has + been+ verb(ing) • Have you been working in the garden all day? • She has been working for the company since

1982 • My boss has been working here for ten years.

• Page: 153

- With non-action verbs use the present perfect.

- Live, work, and study can be used with both tenses with little difference in meaning.

I’ve worked in this company for five years. I’ve been working in this company for five

years.

The past perfect tense - It refers to an activity or situation completed

before another event or time in the past. - It is more common in written English than in

spoken English.

- Jack had arrived to work long before 8:30. - Had his boss arrived by 9:30?

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