GrammarВВВВВ The Present Perfect Tense

The present perfecttense has a number of uses.

1. We use it to talk about experience.

· I’ve worked in 6 different countries.

В· Have you ever been to Australia?

· She’s won many awards for her books.

 

When these things happened is not important – the focus is on the action/state, not when it happened.
NBIf we say when we had the experience, we must use the past simple.

· I’ve visited Russia several times.

В· BUTI visited Russia for the first time in 1992.

We can never use the present perfect with a time in the past.

В· I have been to Spain in 2002.

2. We also use the present perfect to talk about things that are unfinished – unfinished states and unfinished time periods.

· I’ve known him since I was 11. (unfinishedstate)

I met him when I was 11. I still know him now. The present perfect is acting as a bridge between the past and the present.

· I’ve had this watch for almost thirty years.

· We’ve lived here since I was a boy.

· She’s been to the cinema three times this week. (unfinishedtimeperiod)

This week isn’t finished yet – she may go to the cinema again.

· We’ve already had two holidays this year.

· I’ve eaten too much today.

3. A third use of the present perfect is to show the present result of a past action

· I’velostmykeys.

He lost his keys sometime in the past but the result – he can’t get into his house – is in the present.

· John’s broken his leg and he can’t go on holiday.

· A storm has blown down the telephone lines. We’restuckhere!

Just, yet, still, already

These words are often used with the present perfect tense although yet, stilland alreadycan all be used with other tenses.

Just
‘Just’ is usually used only with the present perfect tense and it means ‘a short time ago’.

· I’ve just seen Susan coming out of the cinema.

· Mike’s just called. Can you ring him back please?

В· Have you just taken my pen? Wherehasitgone?

In the present perfect, ‘just’ comes between the auxiliary verb (‘have’) and the past participle.

Yet
‘Yet’ is used to talk about something which is expected to happen. It means ‘at any time up to now’. It is used in questions and negatives.

В· Have you finished your homework yet? The speaker expects that the homework will be finished.

· I haven’t finished it yet. I’ll do it after dinner.

‘Yet’ usually comes at the end of the sentence.
Still
‘Still’ is used to talk about something that hasn’t finished – especially when we expected it to finish earlier.

· I’ve been waiting for over an hour and the bus still hasn’t come.

· You promised to give me that report yesterday and you still haven’t finished it.

‘Still’ usually comes in ‘mid-position’
Stillis often used with other tenses as well as the present perfect.

· I’ve still got all those letters you sent me.

В· Are you still working in the bookshop?

Already
‘Already’ is used to say that something has happened early – or earlier than it might have happened.

· I’ve already spent my salary and it’s two weeks before pay day.

· The train’s already left! What are we going to do?

‘Already’ usually comes in mid-position.

Exercises

Just, yet, still, already

a) Complete the sentences with the appropriate word.

1. Have they finished redecorating your house… 2.He's… bought a new car. I'm going to go round and have a look at it. 3. I've …seen this film. Let's watch something else. 4. I haven't found a flat ….5.They say they posted it two weeks ago but it…hasn't arrived.6. Have you completed your homework…? 7. It is 2016 but she… likes to dance to disco music. 8. If there is a lot of traffic, she won’t be home …. 9. You are very late! I have…been waiting for two hours. 10. I have only known her for two minutes and I am …in love.

b)Complete the sentences with present perfect. Use the verb in brackets + just / already / yet

1. A: Would you like something to eat?

B: No, thanks. I ---- lunch. (just / have)

2. A: Do you know where Julia is?

B: Yes, I ---- her. (just / see)

3. A: What time is David leaving?

B: He ----. (already / leave)

4. A: What's in the newspaper today?

B: I don't know. I ----.(not / read / yet)

5. A: Is Ann coming to the cinema with us?

B: No, she ---- the film. (already / see)

6. A: Are your friends here yet?

B: Yes, they ---- (just / arrive)

7. A: What does Tim think about your plan?

B: I ---- (not / tell / yet)

8. Joe goes out. Five minutes later, the phone rings and the caller says 'Can I speak to Joe?'

You say: I'm afraid he ---- (go out).

9. You are eating in a restaurant. The waiter thinks you have finished and wants to take your plate away.

You say: Wait a minute! I ----. (not / finish)

10. You are going to a restaurant this evening. You phone to reserve a table. Later your friend says 'Shall I phone to reserve a table?'

You say: No I ----. (do / it)

Listening