S + Have/Has + past Participle
Present => some kind of link to the present time
Perfect => some link to the past time
1. Recent events => recently, lately, in the last few
years
• There have been a lot of protests among teachers recently
• The economic crisis has hit almost everybody lately
• Technology has transformed learning methods in the last few years
2. Indefinite past(recent)
=> just, already, yet• I have come to repair my car
• The train has already left.
• Have you read this book yet?
• They have just had lunch: they can’t be hungry again!
• Where have you been? – I’ve been away for some days
3. Result
• It hasn’t stopped raining. We can’t go for a picnic!
• They have painted their house grey. It looks awful.
4. Experiences=> in my life, ever, never, before, up
to now, up till now, so far
• Have you ever been to London?
• Yes, I’ve been there a few times
• (When did you go?)
5. Period of time including past and present
=>today, this week, this month…
• She has bought a lot of new clothes this month
• I have had three cups of coffee this morning
• You have worked hard today. Let’s have a break.
6. Duration of state(be, have, know,
opinion, perception, feeling…)=> how long, for, since
• How long have you been here?
• We have known each other for a few years
• They have had that car since last December.
Compare…
• Simple past
I met Susan two minutes ago
I went to London last week
They got married in 2010
• Present Perfect
I have just met Susan
I have been to London twice
They have been married for two years
Talking about duration
Duration of state => Present perfect simple
• I have been here for two hours
• I have wanted to move to this country all my life.
Duration of action => Present Perfect Continuous
• I have been waiting for two hours
NB He hasn’t worked here for a long time, as he retired in 2001.
Present Perfect Continuous
S + Have/has BEEN +V-ing (Gerund)
• Duration of action He’s been talking for hours
• Result of prolonged recent activity You’re sweating! - I’ve been playing tennis.
• Long recent actionsHe’s been playing on the Playstation all afternoon.
NB No continuous in negative sentences: I haven’t played tennis for three years.
“da molto”+ He has been working here for a long time /for long
? Has he been working here for long?
- He hasn’t worked here for a long time: he retired in 2001. (false duration )
He hasn’t been working here for long: He started three months ago. (False negative)
Personal/ Impersonal forms
• Aspetto da due ore= I’ve been waiting for two
hours
• Ha la moto nuova da due giorni
= He has had a new motorbike for two days
• Non ci vediamo da tre mesi= We haven’t met for 3
months
• Sono due ore che aspetto = ****
• Sono due giorni che ha la moto nuova…
= It’s two days since he bought his new motorbike
• Sono tre mesi che non ci vediamo
= It’s three months since we last met
Compare…
• Italian
E’ arrivato da dieci minuti
E’ morto da due anni
• English
• He arrived ten minutes ago
• He died two years ago
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