What started and is still going on?

Welcome to the course where we will talk about things that started in the past and are continuing in the present! As a warm-up, we will go through some irregular verbs that you might already know. They are usually shown in a list of three forms: the infinitive, the past simple, and the past participle.

Let's take a look at these examples:
to see - saw - seen
to meet - met - met
to say - said - said

The present perfect is formed from the present tense of the verb HAVE and the past participle of a verb.

We use the present perfect:

1. For something that started in the past and continues in the present:
She has lived in Liverpool all her life.

2. 2hen we are talking about our experience up to the present:
I have seen that movie before.

3. For something that happened in the past but is important in the present:
I can't get in the house. I have lost my keys.

Irregular verbs you'll learn in this section:
to know - knew - known
to lose - lost - lost

When asking a question in the present perfect tense, the auxiliary verb comes first, followed by the subject, and then the past participle of the main verb.

Have you eaten dinner yet?
Has the party started?

You can also make open questions with the present perfect:

Where have you been?

Irregular verbs you'll learn in this section:
to hear - heard - heard
to do - did - done

To use the present perfect tense in the negative, simply add the negative word (like not or never) after the auxiliary verb but before the past participle.

I have not slept well since exams started.

Irregular verbs you'll learn in this section:
to sleep - slept - slept
to speak - spoke - spoken

We often use the adverb ever to talk about experience up to the present:
It was the worst day I have ever had.

and we use never for the negative form:
I have never met his wife.

Have been and have gone

We use have/has been when someone has gone to a place and returned:
A: Where have you been?
B: I have just been out to the supermarket.

But when someone has not returned, we use have/has gone:
A: Where's Maria? I haven't seen her for weeks.
B: She's gone to Paris for a week. She'll be back tomorrow.

Notice:
I have = I've
She has = she's

The simple past and the past participle of the verbs to be and to go:
to be - was / were - been
to go - went - gone

Already or yet ?

Already used with the present perfect means before now. We use it to emphasise that something happened before something else or earlier than expected.
The train has left already!

Yet used with the present perfect means at any time up to now. We use it to emphasise that we expect something to happen soon. Yet (in this context) is only used in negative sentences and questions.
I haven't finished it yet. I'll do it after dinner.

Irregular verbs you'll learn in this section:
to leave - left - left
to win - won - won
to sell - sold - sold

The present perfect continuous is formed with have/has been and the -ing form of the verb.

We normally use this tense to emphasise that something is still continuing in the present:
It's been raining for hours.
I've been working all day.

Notice:
it has = it's
I have= I've

We use the Present Perfect Continuous tense to talk about action that started in the past and stopped recently. There is usually a result now.

I'm tired because I've been running.

Irregular verbs you'll learn in this section:
to understand - understood - understood
to run - ran - run
to think - thought - thought

For and since

We often use FOR and SINCE with perfect tenses:

We use for to talk about a period of time:
for three hours
for two months

We use since to talk about a point in past time:
since yesterday
since 9 o'clock

We use both the present perfect simple ( have or has + past participle) and the present perfect continuous ( have or has + been + -ing form) to talk about past actions or states that are still connected to the present.

The present perfect simple usually focuses on the result of the activity.
You've cleaned the bathroom! It looks lovely!

The present perfect continuous usually focuses on the activity itself.
I've been gardening. It's so nice out there.

Irregular verbs you'll learn in this section:
to write - wrote - written
to read - read - read
to have - had - had
to grow - grew - grown

Do not use the present perfect tense with a specific time. This might be confusing, however, because you can use the present perfect tense with a broad time period.

The present perfect tense is only incorrect if used with one specific time. Using the present perfect tense with a general time range is perfectly acceptable.

I went for a walk on Tuesday.
I have gone for a walk every Tuesday this year.