The three main areas of the Present Perfect in one presentation. See my other presentations on the Present Perfect for more detail on each area.

1. Present Perfect

2. form

3. I have done…

4. I have done…
‘to have’
auxiliary
in present:
have / has

5. I have done…
main verb
in past
participle

6. I have
done
taken
been
arrived
met
studied
etc.
he
she
it
has
we
you
they
have

7. have [aux]
is usually abbreviated

8. I’ve done… / I haven’t done…

9. I’ve done… / I haven’t done…
She’s done… / She hasn’t done…

10. I’ve done… / I haven’t done…
She’s done… / She hasn’t done…
has
NOT
is

11. I’ve done… / I haven’t done…
She’s done… / She hasn’t done…
We’ve done… / We haven’t done…

12. tense gymnastics
!

13. convert
past simple to present perfect
and
present perfect to past simple

14. past simple present perfect
She made a phone call.
They haven’t finished.
We didn’t do the homework.
Have you seen John?
Did you wear the jacket?
She has taken her exams.
I sang the words.
He has shown us how.
You didn’t drive to work.
We have met before.
Did they give you a present?

15. past simple present perfect
She made a phone call. She has made a phone call.
They didn’t finish. They haven’t finished.
We didn’t do the homework. We haven’t done the homework.
Did you see John? Have you seen John?
Did you wear the jacket? Have you worn the jacket?
She took her exams. She has taken her exams.
I sang the words. I’ve sung the words.
He showed us how. He has shown us how.
You didn’t drive to work. You haven’t driven to work.
We met before. We have met before.
Did they give you a present? Have they given you a present?

16. !be careful translating
passato prossimo
constructions with ‘essere’

17. Sono stato al bar.
Luisa è arrivata.
intransitive verbs

18. Sono stato al bar.
I’ve been to the bar.
Luisa è arrivata.
Luisa has arrived.
intransitive verbs

19. Sono stato al bar.
I’ve been to the bar.
Luisa è arrivata.
Luisa has arrived.
intransitive verbs

20. Sono stato al bar.
I’ve been to the bar.
Luisa è arrivata.
Luisa’s arrived.
intransitive verbs

21. Sono costati molto.
È piovuto.
impersonal verbs

22. Sono costati molto.
They’ve cost a lot.
È piovuto.
It has rained.
impersonal verbs

23. Sono costati molto.
They’ve cost a lot.
È piovuto.
It’s rained.
impersonal verbs

24. Mi sono lavato.
Lui si è visto.
reflexive verbs

25. Mi sono lavato.
I’ve washed myself.
Lui si è visto.
He’s seen himself.
reflexive verbs

26. exercise
translate
‘passato prossimo’ to ‘present perfect’
and
‘present perfect’ to ‘passato prossimo’

27. passato prossimo present perfect
Sono partiti. They’ve left.
(Lei) è stata a Parigi. She’s been to Paris.
È nevicato?
Has something happened?
Non sono andati via.
I’ve come to say hello!
È costato molto.
They haven’t called each other.
Sono nate due gemelle!
They’ve got off the bus.
È salito in macchina.

28. passato prossimo present perfect
Sono partiti. They’ve left.
(Lei) è stata a Parigi. She’s been to Paris.
È nevicato? Has it snowed?
È successo qualcosa? Has something happened?
Non sono andati via. They haven’t gone away.
Sono venuto per dire ciao! I’ve come to say hello!
È costato molto. It’s cost a lot.
Non si sono chiamati. They haven’t called each other.
Sono nate due gemelle! Twins have been born.
Sono scesi dal autobus. They’ve got off the bus.
È salito in macchina. He’s got into the car.

29. BUT

30. ‘present perfect’
=
‘passato prossimo’
?

31. only sometimes
!
‘present perfect’
=
‘passato prossimo’
?

32. meaning &
function

33. 1

34. experience

35. A: Have you ever been to Paris?

36. A: Have you ever been to Paris?
What does ‘A’ want to know?

37. A: Have you ever been to Paris?
B: Yes, I have.
A: When did you go?
Where did you stay?
What did you eat?

38. A: Have you ever been to Paris?
B: Yes, I have.
A: When did you go?
Where did you stay?
What did you eat?
Present Perfect
Past Simple

39. A: Have you ever been to Paris?
B: Yes, I have.
A: When did you go?
Where did you stay?
What did you eat?
indefinite time
definite time

40. When did you see John?
We saw him on Monday.
at 3 o’clock.
in March.
4 days ago.
yesterday.
while we were walking.
before he left.
prepositions
of time
adverbs
of time
conjunctions
of time
when and
what time

41. many time expressions
‘require’ the Past Simple

42. A: Have you ever been to Paris?
B: Yes, I have.
A: When did you go?
Where did you stay?
What did you eat?

43. A: Have you ever been to Paris?
B: Yes, I have.
A: When did you go?
Where did you stay?
What did you eat?
definite time
with no
time
expression

44. SO you can also use
the Past Simple for definite time
without a time expression
if it’s clear that you’re talking about a
finished period or activity.
In this case the finished period is
a trip to Paris.

45. Contrast this with ‘indefinite time’.
The time of the action isn’t
defined because it doesn’t
matter!
Instead, ‘indefinite time’ makes a
connection to the present.

46. 1st RULE
Use the Present Perfect for
‘indefinite time’.
Use the Past Simple for
‘definite time’.

47. 1st RULE – in translation
Italian uses the Passato Prossimo
both for ‘indefinite time’ and for
‘definite time’.

48. 2

49. recent past

50. A: I’ve lost my keys.

51. A: I’ve lost my keys.
‘A’ has some problems.
What are they?

52. A: I’ve lost my keys.
B: Oh! How did you lose them?
A: This morning, I tripped going
downstairs. I dropped my bag and
when I picked it up some things
fell out of my pocket. I think I lost
my keys then.

53. A: I’ve lost my keys.
B: Oh! How did you lose them?
A: This morning, I tripped going
downstairs. I dropped my bag and
when I picked it up some things
fell out of my pocket. I think I lost
my keys then.

54. A: I’ve lost my keys.
B: Oh! How did you lose them?
A: This morning, I tripped going
downstairs. I dropped my bag and
when I picked it up some things
fell out of my pocket. I think I lost
my keys then.
Present Perfect
Past Simple

55. A: I’ve lost my keys.
B: Oh! How did you lose them?
A: This morning, I tripped going
downstairs. I dropped my bag and
when I picked it up some things
fell out of my pocket. I think I lost
them then.
recent past
narrative time

56. Itrippedgoing
downstairs
Idroppedmybag
Ipickeditup
somethingsfell
outofmypocket
Ilostmykeysthen

57. A: I’ve lost my keys.
B: Oh! How did you lose them?
A: This morning, I tripped going
downstairs. I dropped my bag and
when I picked it up some things
fell out of my pocket. I think I lost
my keys then.

58. A: I’ve lost my keys.
B: Oh! How did you lose them?
A: This morning, I tripped going
downstairs. I dropped my bag and
when I picked it up some things
fell out of my pocket. I think I lost
my keys then.
same action
different tense:
why?

59. A: I lost my keys.
Do we know what
happened next?

60. A: I lost my keys.
I looked everywhere. In the end I
had to call the locksmith.

61. or

62. A: I lost my keys.
But I found them again after 5
minutes—they were in my pocket!

63. A: I lost my keys.
Do we know what
happened next?
No!
In a narrative we
must wait for the
next verb.

64. compare

65. A: I’ve lost my keys.
I don’t have my
keys. I can’t get
into my flat. I have
a big problem.
HELP!

66. A: I’ve lost my keys.
I don’t have my
keys. I can’t get
into my flat. I have
a big problem.
HELP!

67. A: I’ve lost my keys.
I don’t have my
keys. I can’t get
into my flat. I have
a big problem.
HELP!
There’s a
‘present
consequence’
to the Present
Perfect for the
recent past

68. 2nd RULE
Use the Present Perfect to
announce news.
Use the Past Simple to tell the
story of the news.

69. 2nd RULE – in translation
Italian uses the Passato Prossimo
both for announcing news and for
(recent)
‘narrative time’.

70. past simple or present perfect
She made / has made a phone call at 3pm.
She already made / has already made a phone call.
We didn’t do / haven’t done the homework for this lesson.
I never went / I’ve never been to New York.
Did you wear / have you worn the jacket yesterday?
He already did / has already done the exercise.
I went there / have been there in 2009.
He just went to the bar / has just gone to the bar.
You didn’t see / haven’t seen the match last night.
We didn’t do / haven’t done it yet.
Did you book / Have you booked your holiday yet?

71. past simple or present perfect
She made / has made a phone call at 3pm.
She already made / has already made a phone call.
We didn’t do / haven’t done the homework for this lesson.
I never went / have never been to New York.
Did you wear / have you worn the jacket yesterday?
He already did / has already done the exercise.
I went there / have been there in 2009.
He just went / has just gone to the bar.
You didn’t see / haven’t seen the match last night.
We didn’t do / haven’t done it yet.
Did you book / Have you booked your holiday yet?

72. 3

73. period to the
present

74. A: I’ve lived in Rome for 22 years.

75. A: I’ve lived in Rome for 22 years.
Where does ‘A’ live now?

76. A: I’ve lived in Rome for 22 years.
Before coming to Rome,
I lived in London.

77. A: I’ve lived in Rome for 22 years.
Before coming to Rome,
I lived in London.

78. A: I’ve lived in Rome for 22 years.
Before coming to Rome,
I lived in London.
Present Perfect
Past Simple

79. A: I’ve lived in Rome for 22 years.
Before coming to Rome,
I lived in London.
open period
closed period

80. this grammar is only about
defining the duration of periods

81. 1983 1993 now
10 years 22 years

82. I lived in London for 10 years.
between 1983 and 1993.
from 1983 to 1993.
until / till / ’til 1993.
until I came to Rome.

83. 1983 1993 now
10 years 22 years

84. I’ve lived in Rome for 22 years.
since 1993.
since I left London.

85. 1983 1993 now
10 years 22 years
London Rome
I came to
London
I came to
Rome
I left
London

86. 3rd RULE
Use the Present Perfect to define
the length of an open period.
Use the Past Simple to define the
length of a closed period.

87. ?ive: How long have you lived in
Rome?
?ive: How long did you live in
London?

88. -ive: I haven’t seen Gianni since
Thursday.
BUT: I last saw Gianni on Thursday.

89. 3rd RULE – in translation
Italian uses the Presente
for open periods.
And it uses the Passato Prossimo
for closed periods.
BE CAREFUL: this can cause
some confusion!

90. I’ve lived in Rome
for 22 years.
Presente for open
periods.
I lived in London
for 10 years.
Passato Prossimo for
closed periods.

91. I’ve lived in Rome
for 22 years.
=
Vivo a Roma
da 22 anni.
I lived in London
for 10 years.
=
Ho vissuto a Londra
per 10 anni.

92. I’ve lived in Rome
for 22 years.
=
Vivo a Roma
da 22 anni.
I lived in London
for 10 years.
=
Ho vissuto a Londra
per 10 anni.

93. present simple or present perfect or past simple
She works / has worked as a doctor since 2001.
She is / has been a doctor since she graduated / has graduated.
We know / have known the answer for a long time.
How long do you have / have you had that computer?
We live / have lived in Garbatella now.
We live / have lived in Garbatella for 7 months.
How long are you / have you been in your job?
How long were you / have you been in your last job?
They studied / have studied from 9:00pm.
They studied / have studied since 9:00pm.
They studied / have studied for 3 hours.

94. present simple or present perfect or past simple
She works / has worked as a doctor since 2001.
She is / has been a doctor since she graduated / has graduated.
We know / have known the answer for a long time.
How long do you have / have you had that computer?
We live / have lived in Garbatella now.
We live / have lived in Garbatella for 7 months.
How long are you / have you been in your job?
How long were you / have you been in your last job?
They studied / have studied from 9:00pm.
They studied / have studied since 9:00pm.
They studied / have studied for 3 hours.
both correct
with different meanings

95. summary

96. experience recent past period to the
present
present perfect indefinite time
I’ve been to Paris.
news
I’ve lost my keys!
open period
I’ve lived in Rome
for…
past simple definite time
I went to Paris.
narrative
I lost my keys.
closed period
I lived in London
for…
adverbs and
prepositions
ever
never
just
already
yet
for
since

97. English function Italian
Present Simple permanent truth Presente
Present Simple present fact Presente
Present Simple present habit Presente
Present Perfect period to the present Presente
Present Perfect recent past Passato Prossimo
Present Perfect experience Passato Prossimo
Past Simple definite time
Passato Prossimo /
Remoto
Past Simple narrative time
Passato Prossimo /
Remoto
Past Simple historical time Passato Remoto

98. homework

100. module 7, parts 1, 2, 4, 5

101. www.davidnicholson.it