Page 155 - Workplace English

Present perfect simple
Positive form: I've [I have] worked here for ten years.
She's [She has] done secretarial work for ten years.
The manager has read your letter.
Negative form: I haven't [have not] worked in an office before.
She hasn't [has not] ordered a taxi.
Questions : Have you worked in London before?
Has my taxi been ordered?
Where have you put the brochures?
Long answers: Yes, I've worked in London for five years.
No, I haven't [have not] ordered a taxi.
Short answers : Yes, I have.
No, I haven't.
Yes, it has.
No, it hasn't.

This tense is used to describe a completed action in the past which is still relevant
to the present:
• Can you help me? I've Lost the key to my office. [= I don't have it.]
• We have to cancel our visit because she's broken her leg. [= Her leg is broken.]
• I've read some information about your company. [= I know about the company.]
• We've moved offices since your last visit. [=The offices are different.]

Note that we do not use the present perfect if we say when something
happened , for example, with finished time expressions such as yesterday,
last week, at 10 o'clock this morning, in 2010, last October.

• I'm sure we've met before!
• Have you ever stayed in the Anchor Hotel before?
• My boss has been to a conference here.
• The hotel has been in the Anchor Group for over 25 years.
It is also used to describe events with expressions of 'time elapsing up to now'.
Signal words are just, yet, already.
• Have you sent the report yet?
• She's just finished the email.
We've just received a phone call from Paul Rogers.
• I've already ordered Mrs Wilson 's coffee.

Workplace English 153