BCN LANGUAGES GRAMMAR FILE

New Inside Out/Elementary/Unit 15/Present Perfect Simple

Present Perfect Simple

FORMATION:
The present perfect simple tense is formed with has/have + past participle
(third column).
USE:
1. When you use the present perfect its usually to express new
information.

Look! Ive bought a new dress!

2. We use the present perfect when the action is connected to the

present.

Wheres your book? Ive lost it. (I dont have it now)

3. When we want to express experiences weve had in our life.

Ive eaten snake. (In all my life, from the time I was born
until now, this is one of the experiences Ive had.)

4. We use the present perfect with today/this evening/this year: when

periods of time are not finished.

Ive had five classes today

PRESENT PERFECT AND PAST SIMPLE

The present perfect will always tell us something that is connected

to the now. The past simple tense will tell is something that is only
related to the past.

You can use the present perfect for things that are recent.

Ive just painted the walls. Do you like them?

We use the past simple for things that are not recent or new and are
only related to the past.
I walked to school alone yesterday.

We use the present perfect to give the new information:

Ive just met the man of my dreams!
But we use the past simple when we talk further about the new
information:
Where did you meet him?
What did he say to you?
Was he good-looking?