English help!: Present Perfect

Hello again guys!

Today, we will be discussing the Present Perfect! DO NOT be fooled by the name!!!
This tense actually talks about the Past, but in a unique way! So let's get started!

Uses

The Present Perfect is used in many cases.. Today we will only be looking at some of them.

1. Unspecified time

This tense is used to talk about events or experiences that happened in the past, but we don't know the exact moment of the action.

Examples.

My cousins have gone to London. (In this case, I know that my cousins went to London in the past, but I don't know when).

Ricardo has bought a new car. (In this case, I know Ricardo bought a new car, but I don't know when he did it).

2. Actions that continue in the present

This tense is also used to talk about actions that began in the past, but that continue until the present.

I have lived in San Luis Potosi for 5 years. (This means that I moved to San Luis 5 years ago, but today, I still live there).

Ulises has felt sick since yesterday. (This means that Ulises started feeling sick yesterday, but today, he is still feeling sick).

Structure

Notice that in this case we have the auxiliary HAVE or HAS (he, she, it) plus the verb in the PAST PARTICIPLE!

Time expressions

We have some time expressions that are commonly used in this tense.

Ever / Never

These are used to talk about our experiences.

Ever is used in questions

Example; Have you ever taken a cooking class?

Never is used in affirmative sentences to say that the experience hasn't happened to us.

Example: I have never broken a bone.

Always / Never

These are used to talk about our feelings or beliefs that we've had for a long time.

Examples: I have always loved romantic movies.
My sister has never wanted to go camping.

For / Since

For is used to talk about a period that you have been doing an action

Example: I have lived in Colima for 5 years.

Since is used to talk about the first time the action happened.

Example: I have lived in Colima since 2010.

Video

This video can help you understand this topic a little better.

Practice

Exercise on Present Perfect Simple

Present Perfect 1

Present Perfect 2

For or Since 1

For or Since 2

Present perfect hangman game

Have you ever moonshot game

The SIMPLE PAST is used when we have a specific moment (TIME) when the event occured, and with PRESENT PERFECT we either don't know the time or the action continues now.