Present Perfect

We use the Present Perfect to:

- describe actions which started in the past and continue to the present, with results in the
present.(
)
Ex: I have eaten eggs for breakfast since I was a child. Wheres the key? I dont know. Ive lost it. (I havent got it
now.)

talk about a recent action.( )

Expressions used:

Ex: The road is closed. There has been an accident.

ever ()

Still () - negative sentences

(between the subject and the auxiliary verb)

just ()

Yet () - negative and interrogative sentences

(at the end of the sentence)

already ()

Already () - affirmative and interrogative sentences

yet ()

since ()
this

(between the auxiliary verb and the main verb)

For - + a period of time ()

never

Since - + a point in time ()

still

for( )

To form the affirmative, negative and interrogative forms we use the auxiliary To have, in the
Simple Present, and the past participle (3rd column (irregular verbs) or ed (regular verbs)):
Affirmative

Negative

Interrogative

subject + auxiliary + main verb subject + auxiliary (neg) + main verb auxiliary verb + subj. + main verb ?
(has/have) (p.p.)
(has/have not) (p.p.)
(has/have)
(p.p.)
I have worked
You have worked
He / She / It has worked
We have worked
You have worked
They have worked

I haven't worked
You haven't worked
He / She / It hasn't worked
We haven't worked
You haven't worked
They haven't worked

Have I worked?
Have you worked?
Has he / she / it worked?
Have we worked?
Have you worked?
Have they worked?

Present Perfect Continuous

We use the Present Perfect Continuous to:
- describe an action which ended recently, with a close relation to the present time;(
)
Ex: Youre out of breath. Have you been running? (you are out of breath now)
- Is it raining? - No, but the ground is wet. It has been raining.

describe actions which started in the past and are still happening.(
)
Ex: Where have you been? I have been looking for you for an hour.
It is raining now. It began raining two hours ago and it is still raining. It has been raining for two hours.

The Present Perfect Continuous is usually used with for and since to describe repeated actions, expressing anger or
criticism.
Since()
For ()
two hours
a week
8 oclock
1977
20 minutes
50 years
Monday
Christmas
five days
a long time
12 May
lunchtime
six months
ages
April
he was at school

To form the affirmative, negative and interrogative forms we use the auxiliary To have, in the
Simple Present, plus the past participle of the verb To be (been) and the main verb in the gerund (ing):
Affirmative

Negative

Interrogative

subject + auxiliary + been + main verb

(has/have) (p.p. to be) (ing)

Subj. + auxiliary in the neg.+ been + main

verb
(hasnt/havent) (p.p. to be) (ing)

auxiliary verb + subj.+ been + main verb?

(has/have)
(p.p. to be) (ing)

I have been working

You have been working
He / She / It has been working
We have been working
You have been working
They have been working

I haven't been working

You haven't been working
He / She / It hasn't been working
We haven't been working
You haven't been working
They haven't been working

Have I been working?

Have you been working?
Has he / she / it been working?
Have we been working?
Have you been working?
Have they been working?

Has Painted is the present perfect simple.

The action is finished. We are interested in the result of the action, not in the action itself.
Ex: The ceiling was white. Now it is blue. Ann has painted the ceiling.
Has been painting is the present perfect continuous.
We are interested in the action. It doesnt matter if the action was finished or not, but it is usually unfinished.
Ex: Anns clothes are covered in paint. She has been painting the ceiling.