But: How long is it since you last saw her?–It is ages since I last saw her.

7) with the verb ‘to be’ in the sense of ‘to go’, ‘to visit’ even though the adverbials of place are used: Have you been to London? She says she has been to Paris three times.

8) to denote recent actions which were fulfilled in the past but often have results in the present: Tom has had a bad car crash. (He’s probably still in hospital.) The lift has broken down. (We have to use the stairs.) I’ve washed the car. (It looks lovely.)

The Present Perfect is not used

a) in special questions beginning with when as in this case the speaker is also interested in the time of the action, though the answer can be either in the simple past or in the present perfect depending on the actual state of affairs: When did you change your mind? – I changed my mind yesterday. / I have just changed my mind.

b) in special questions beginning with where if the speaker is focusing on the past action, not the present result: Where did you meet him? Where did you buy this hat?

c) in special questions beginning with what, why and what for both forms can be used, depending on the meaning to be conveyed: Why didn’t you speak to my father yourself on the boat? (the speaker is interested in the circumstances)

Looking up at her he said, “Dorothy’s gone to a garden party.” “I know. Why haven’t you gone too?”(the speaker is interested in the occurrence)

d) in special questions beginning with interrogative words other than those mentioned above, the past simple is normally used.

The present perfect is not common here because the attention in such sentences is drawn to the circumstances of the action rather than to the occurrence itself, which means that the speaker has a definite action in mind: ‘How did he get in?’ I asked, and Evans said, ‘Oh, he has a key’.

e) with verbs of knowing, believing and understanding except as in the following sentences: I have known him for a long time. I have never believed their theories.

Note!

for and since

We use for with a length of time: She’s worked here for ten years.

We use since with a point of time to describe when the period of time began: They’ve lived here since 2001.

been and gone

A number of astronauts have been to the Moon. (and have returned)

The space probe Voyager has gone past the planet Neptune. (it hasn’t returned)

Present Perfect – Past Simple

Present Perfect is used	Past Simple is used
1. for actions which happened at an unstated moment of time in the past: He has sold his car (we don’t know when).	1. for actions which happened at a stated moment in the past: He sold his car two weeks ago.
2. to express actions which have finished so recently that there is some evidence in the present: He has just painted the room (the walls are still wet).	2. to express past state or habit: When she was young she lived in a small flat.
3. for actions that started in the past and continue up to the present: She has lived in the house for two years (She still lives in this house).	3. for actions which started and finished in the past: She lived in the house for two years (She doesn’t live there now). for actions in the past that happened one after another: She came home, turned on her TV and started to cook supper.
4. for actions whose time is not mentioned but it is connected with the present moment: I’ve seen Madonna (I may meet her again. She’s alive).	4. for actions whose time is not mentioned and is not connected with the present moment: I saw Elvis Presley (I won’t see him anymore. He’s dead).

The Present Perfect Continuous

Meaning. The present perfect continuous falls within the sphere of the present. Hence, it is not used in narration where reference is made to past events. It is found in the present-time contexts, i.e. conversations, newspaper and radio reports, lectures and letters.

Formation. The present perfect continuous is formed by means of the auxiliary verb ‘to be’ in the present perfect (have/has been) and participle I of the notional verb.

Main Uses

The Present Perfect Continuous is used with actional verbs to denote:

1) actions in progress which began at a certain moment in the past and continue into the present. In this case either the starting point of the action or the period of time during which it has been in progress is mentioned: I have been writing since morning, and so I‘ll soon stop. They have been living here since 1987.

2) actions in progress, which began in the past and continue up to the moment of speaking or till just before it: You look so sad. Have you been crying? Oh, here you are at last! I’ve been waiting for you all day!

3) actions, which were in progress quite recently but their beginning and their end are not mentioned, though they are connected with the moment of speaking through its importance for the present: My brother has been using my bicycle and has got the tire punctured.

4) future actions in progress before a certain moment in the future (in subordinate adverbial clauses of time and condition): He will get accustomed to the surroundings after he has been staying here for a week or two.

5) in negative sentences the present perfect continuous is not common. The present perfect is preferred in this case because the attention is paid rather to the negation of the action than to its progress: I haven’t discussed it with Arabella.

The Present Perfect – the Present Perfect Continuous

Present Perfect	Present Perfect Continuous
1. focus on the effect of the activity or event, or the fact that something has been achieved: Mark and Helena have arrived − they’re in the sitting room.	1. focus on the activity or event which may or may not be finished: The guests have been arriving since about 6 o’clock.
2. If we mention the number of times the activity or event was repeated, we use the present perfect rather than the present perfect continuous: I’ve bumped into Susan 3 times this week.	2. We can use either the present perfect continuous or the present perfect to talk about activities or events that are repeated again and again until now: Joseph has been kicking a football against the wall all afternoon, (or has kicked)
3. We use the present perfect when we talk about long-lasting or permanent situations, or when we want to emphasise that we are talking about the whole of a period of time until the present: I have always admired Chester’s work.	3. When we talk about more temporary situations we can often use either the present perfect continuous or the present perfect: ‘Where’s Dr Owen’s office?’ ‘Sorry, I don’t know. I’ve only worked / I’ve only been working here for a couple of days’.
4. If we talk about a specific change over a period of time which ends now, particularly to focus on the result of this change, we use the present perfect: The population has grown from 35 million in 1950 to 42 million today.	4. When we want to emphasize that a situation has changed over a period of time up to now, and may continue to change, we prefer the present perfect continuous: The pollution problem has been getting worse over the last decade.

The Present Perfect – the Past Simple

Present Perfect	Past Simple
1. the period of time talked about is not finished: I’ve made fourteen phone calls this morning (It is still morning now).	1. the period of time talked about is finished: I made fourteen telephone calls this morning (It is afternoon now).
2. the time something happened is unimportant (you are interested in the thing that happened): I’ve been to Paris (So I can talk about it now).	2. to talk about some specific moment: I went to Paris last year.
3. to emphasize that something happened recently (it is used to introduce the news): The Boeing 707 has crashed …	3. to give more details in the news report: The accident happened