Present Perfect: I have done, about our life experience (2)

Present Perfect – I have done (2)

When we speak about our LIFE EXPERIENCE:

Present Perfect vs Preterit? Uses of the Present Perfect: 

Present Perfect (have + past participle) if you want to speak about your experiences!
Preterit tense if you want to speak about the past! 

-Have you been in many countries?
-Yes, I’ve been in 35 countries. I’ve visited many cities.
-Really? Where have you been?
-I’ve been to Canada, U.S.A., Mexico, Brasil, Paraguay, etc …
-Have you been to London?
-Yes, of course, I’ve been to London, but only with my family.

=> Here, we are talking about the past until …. tonight, NOW, recently, this moment, the present,
so we use the form HAVE BEEN / HAVE DONE

Present Perfect : Timescale:

past ————————-> now (time of speaking) ——–> future
past —I’ve been to …—–> now (time of speaking)

Present Perfect: Using

1/ when the period is not finished at the time of speaking:

Keywords: the last hours, the last days, the last month, recently, etc …
today, this afternoon, this morning, this month, this term, this year, etc …

Examples: I’ve seen Peter this afternoon. I haven’t worked a lot this term.

2/ This is the first time something is happening?

Keywords: this is the first time ….

This is the first time I have lost my keys.
This is the second time You have broken the car.
This is the third time He has met her.

Preterit: Using

If it’s about the past => we use the PRETERIT (not the present perfect !). 

Keyword: with yesterday, last year, when I was young, last night, in the 1990’s,

Examples: I heard that song for the first time when I was twenty.
(when I was fourteen = past = preterit).

I‘ve heard that song many times.
(until the moment of speaking = life experience = present perfect).

 

ENGLISH PRESENT PERFECT :