Page 472 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

present perfect (2): perfect or past? 456
5 time words: ever, before, recently etc
When we talk about finished events with words that mean 'at some/any time up to now' (like ever, before, never, yet, recently, lately, already), we normally use the present perfect.
Have you ever seen a ghost? She's never said 'sorry' in her life. I'm sure we've met before. Has the postman come yet?
We haven't seen Beth recently.
Could you clean the car?,., I've already done it.
6 repetition up to now: I've written six letters ...
We can use the present perfect to say that something has happened several times up to the present.
I've written six letters since lunchtime.
Adverbs of frequency like often, sometimes, occasionally are common with the
present perfect.
How often have you been in love in your life? I've sometimes thought ofmoving to Australia.
7 continuation up to now: I've known her for years
To talk about actions and situations that have continued up to the present, both the simple present perfect and the present perfect progressive are possible (depending on the kind of verb and the exact meaning - for details, see 459).
I've known her for years. (NOT 1 know ."ler!6ryefJ;rs. - see 460.1) I've been thinking about you all day.
For present perfect tenses in clauses referring to the future (e.g. 1'1/ take a rest when J've jillished cleaning the kitchen), see 580.
456 present perfect (2): perfect or past? 1 thinking about past and present together
We use the present perfect if we are thinking about the past and present together. We do not use the present perfect if we are not thinking about the present. Compare:
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-
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My sister has learnt French. (She can speak French now.)
Shakespeare probably learnt Italian. (NOT Shakespeare :ttdian.)
We've studil!d enough to pass the exam. (The exam is still to come.) We studil!d enough to pass the exam. (The exam is over.)
Ann and Peter have got ma"ied! (news) My parents got married in Canada.
We do not use the present perfect in story-telling.
Once upon a time a beautiful princess fell in love with a poor farmer. (NOT ••••w fallen in love ...)
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f'f'Bbtlbly learnt
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