12. THE PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE
| POSITIVE | NEGATIVE | QUESTION |
| I have started | I haven’t started | Have you started? |
| You/we/they have started | You/we/they haven’t started | Have you/we/they started? |
| He/she has started | He/she hasn’t started | Has he/she started? |
USAGE :
The present perfect simple is used to
(a) Announce news, ie describe situations which have happened recently, or at a non-specified time in the past.
(b) Talk about actions or situations which are finished, but in a time period which is not finished (e.g. today, this week, this year).
EXAMPLES :
I’ve got a new job!
Have you heard? The markets have fallen 12%.
We’ve nearly finished the presentation.
I haven’t had a cup of coffee all morning.
We’ve been to Normandy at least ten times. We love it.
NOTE : HAVE BEEN / HAVE GONE
If you say someone has been to a place, that means they have travelled to that place in the past. If you say he has gone to a place, that means he’s still there today.
I’ve been to the Munich office. It’s lovely! / Tom is away all week. He’s gone to Munich.