REPHRASING PRESENT PERFECT

PRESENT PERFECT

1. FORM: present of have+ past participle

Examples:

You have seen that film many times / She has seen that film many times

Have you seen that film many times?/ Has she seen that film many times?

You have not seen that film many times. / She has not seen that film many times

1. b. USE: We use the present perfect to express

1. 1. Recent past with present result – the action is finished but it has an influence on the
present, it puts emphasis on the result, and it always suggests a relationship between present time
and past time.

Examples:

I’ve had breakfast( implies that I did so very recently)

She has just arrived from London

She has already arrived from London

Has she arrived from London yet? / She hasn’t arrived from London yet

She has recently arrived from London

She has arrived from London today/this week/ this morning

Time expressions:

Just ð before the main verb in affirmative sentences

Already ð before the main verb in affirmative sentences

Yet ð at the end in interrogative and negative sentences

recently, lately ð before the main verb or at the end in affirmative sentences

today/these days

this morning/ week/month/year…

1. 2. Actions or situations that started in the past and continue up to the present– The action or
the period of time has not finished.
Examples:

I have studied at this school for five years (I came five years ago and I’m still studying here)

I have studied at this school since 2003 (I came in 2003 and I’m still studying here)

She has written 18 e-mails so far this morning (She may have finished writing e-mails but we are still in this
morning)

He hasn’t appeared on TV before now /up till now/ up to the present

Time expressions:

For + period of time ð I have lived here for eight years

Since+ point of timeð I have lived here since 2000 / I have lived here since I was seven

So far/before now/ up till now / up to now/ up to the present

1. 3. Past experiences without a specific time reference to the past -actions that have taken place
once, never or several times before the moment of speaking

Examples:

Have you ever been to Australia? I have never been to Australia

She has always worked hard She has attended classes regularly

I have been to Australia twice/several times He has often visited his grandparents

Time expressions:

Everð questions

Neverð affirmative

Frequency adverbs: always/regularly/often / frequently…

Once, twice, three times…, several times/ It’s the first time

REPHRASING

Present Perfect and Past Simple:

1. I haven’t seen Alice for ages = It’s ages since I last saw Alice ( SINCE + PAST SIMPLE)
2. 2. She started to teach 13 years ago = She has taught for 13 years
3. 3. We last visited Rome three years ago = We haven’t visited Rome for three years
4. It’s 3 months since she last phoned me = The last time she phoned me was three months ago ( LAST
TIME + PAST SIMPLE)
5. Peter has never heard classical music before = It’s the first time Peter has heard classical music
(FIRST TIME + PRESENT PERFECT)
6. 6. This is the silliest joke I have ever heard = I have never heard such a silly joke before
 7. 7. I arrived in London last week and I’m still here = I have been in London for a week.
8. 8. When did you meet Antonio? = How long have you known Antonio?

Practice:

1. When did you meet Antonio? = How long…

2. I arrived in London last week and I’m still here = I have…

3. This is the most ridiculous idea I’ve heard = I haven

4. Rocío has dinner at eight o’clock, and it’s 9 o’clock now = Rocío…

5. I started teaching twenty years ago = I have…

6. Virginia was at the party two minutes ago, but she is no longer here = Virginia has…

7. My baby hasn’t learnt to tell the time, and he is already six = My baby, six, hasn’t…

8. My baby has learnt to tell the time, and he is only four = My baby, four, has…

9. I haven’t seen a worst film before = This is…

10. Gasol’s romance with basketball began at the age of five = Gasol has loved basketball …

11. Frank lost his job three months ago = Frank has been…

12. The man who murdered JFK is still free = The Police haven’t..

13. This is my second visit to Hungary = This is the second time…

14. Mary started learning French five years ago = Mary has…
15. After I arrived here, I started to feel better = I have…

16. It’s over twenty years since we got married = We have…

17. The last time they saw each other was in 1994 = They haven’t …

18. The last time I ice-skated was ten years ago = I haven’t …

19. I haven’t seen a worst film before = This is …

20. It’s a long time since I last went to a football match = I haven’t …

21. She started writing this book two years ago = She has …

22. They last wrote me 20 years ago = They haven’t …

23. She bought this car 2 months ago = She has …

24. She hasn’t worked for 3 years = It’s …

25. Mary hasn’t swum for years = It’s …

26. Peter hasn’t shown me his house for 15 years = It’s …

27. They haven’t visited us for ages = It’s …

28. It’s three years since I last ran a marathon = I haven’t …

29. It’s ages since she last won an Oscar = She hasn’t …
30. It’s years since they swept the house for the last time = They haven’t …

31. It’s 15 years since he lit his last cigarette = He hasn’t …

32. It’s 14 years since she lent me her car for the last time = She hasn’t …

33. It’s years since I last took a holiday = The last time …

34. I haven’t seen Peter for a long time = The last time …

35. He has never behaved like this before = It’s the first time …

36. I haven’t talked to George for 4 days = It’s …

37. I have never seen a more beautiful girl = She is …