Welcome to 5 minute grammar
Most learners find the concept of the Present Perfect difficult to grasp. It is a particularly of the English language which takes a bit of time to get used to.
It is formed by the the auxiliary “have” plus the past participle of the verb you want to use.
Listen as we explain the main principles of how to use this tense and the examples we cite.
Before listening, take the time to think about these examples which you’ll hear in the podcast:
I have lived in Toulouse for 30 years (I still live here). Write your own example……………..
I have worked for the company for 30 years (I still work for the same company ). Write your own example…………
For a question: Have you ever been to China? (We are asking about your life experiences up to the present time). Write your own example…..
A possible answer: I have never been to China (I’m talking about my experiences up to the present time). Write your own example …………
The weather has been warm recently (this is a recent action). Write your own example of a recent action……..
Now take a moment to think about this example before listening:
I have learned a lot (present perfect simple) since I started (past simple) studying Spanish. Why is this ?
Go one step further and check your understanding with this quick quiz
Present Perfect Simple Quiz