Present Perfect

Present Perfect

Advanced

1) We use the Present Perfect with time expressions such as this morning/week/month/today if we think of it as a time period which includes the present moment.

a) I haven’t shaved this morning. (= it is still the morning and I might shave later)

2) We use the Present Perfect in a time clause with since if the two situations described in the main clause and the time clause extend until the present. As a rule, it refers to the verbs meaning process, not single action.

a) Have you ever met any of your neighbors since you’ve lived here?

3) We use the Present Perfect after the pattern It/This/That is/will be the first time……in the next clause.

a) That’s the first time I’ve seen Jan look embarrassed.

b) It won’t be the first time she has voted against the government in her long career.

4) With time clauses introduces by after, when, until, as soon as, once, by the time, and the time expressions the minute/the second/the moment we use the Present Perfect to refer to future events.

a) After Dominic has left school (future), he will be spending six month in India.

b) I’ll contact you the minute I’ve got my exam results (future)

5) We use the Present Perfect in news reports in a sentence representing the event e.g. headlines. For details, we use the Past Simple.

a) A teacher from Oslo has become the first woman to cross the Antarctic alone. It took her 42 days to make the crossing with her dog team.

6) We use the Present Perfect with such phrases as recently, in the last few days, so far, since breakfast.

a) I’ve met a lot of people in the last few days.

b) We haven’t had any problems so far.

7) We say ‘I haven’t done something since/for’

a) I haven’t seen Tom since Monday

8) We use the Present Perfect with always.

a) I’ve always lived in the country.