Present Perfect

Indefinite Past

They’ve been to Rome.

What verb tense is this?

Is the action past, present, or future?

Do we know exactly when this action happened?

present perfect

past

no

Present Perfect

Now

FuturePast?

•Use the present perfect when you do not know when something happened or when the specific time is not important.

•The present perfect always has a connection to the present. Use the present perfect to show that the result of the action or state is important in the present.

We’ve traveled to Egypt.

Crystal has been to Rome.

The hotel has closed.(So we can’t stay there now.)The flight has been cancelled.(So we can’t take our flight.)

Present Perfect

Practice: Use the verbs in the list to complete the sentences talking about the indefinite past. Don’t forget to change the verb into the past participle form.

Base Form Verbsmakehearflyswimridesee

1. Julie _____________ several trips this year.

2. You _______________ on a camel. Did you enjoy it?

3. I’d like to go to Costa Rica. I _____________ that it’s

beautiful.

4. They _____________ the ancient Egyptian pyramids

before.

5. He ______________ Air France many times. It’s his

favorite airline.

has made have ridden

have heard

have seen

has flown

Present Perfect

•For many speakers been to and gone to have different meanings.

Omran has been to the mall.

Omran has gone to the mall.

But he is back now. And he is

still there.

Practice: Use the form have + been + to + a place to tell your partner where you have been.

I’ve been to Canada.

I’ve been to Jones Hall.

I’ve been to that restaurant.

Present Perfect with Adverbs

•We can use the present perfect with adverbs to talk about the indefinite past.

I’veoftenalwaysnever

traveled by train.

I’ve traveled by train twice.many times.

BE CAREFUL! Do not use the present perfect with adverbs that refer to the definite past. I’ve traveled by train yesterday.

WPresent Perfect with Adverbs

Have you ever ridden an elephant?Yes, I have.Yes, I have ridden an elephant in India.No, never.No, I’ve never ridden an elephant.

•To answer positively, we normally add more information. To answer negatively, we normally use never.

Present Perfect with Adverbs

I haven’t been to the beach lately.I’ve been to the beach recently.I’ve recently been to the beach.I’ve just been to the beach.

REMEMBER: In American English, we often use just and recently with the simple past. You can’t use lately with the simple past.

Present Perfect with Adverbs

Repeated Actions in the Past

Actions that continue to the

present

Action happened anytime before

now

Action happened very recently (but

still indefinite)

twicemany times

hardly everrarely

sometimesoften

usually

alwaysnever

ever never

justlately

recently•Use ever to ask questions.

•Use never in negative answers.

•Just and recently can be used with the simple past.

Present Perfect Word Order

Kanna has often traveled by train.

Olga has traveled by train many times.

Adham hasn’t been to the beach lately.

Nawaf has recently been to the beach.

Zhen has just been to the beach.

Present Perfect

Practice: These two people are talking about where they have been while traveling for work. Work with a partner to write 2 sentences and 2 answers that they might say.

example: Q: Have you ever visited New York City?A: Yes, I have been there twice.

Q: How many times have you been to Guam?A: I have never been to Guam.