Present perfect simple (I have worked)

We use the present perfect simple to talk about our experiences up to now. The time of the experiences is not important:

[talking about musical theatre productions]

And I’veseen‘Buddy’ and I’veseen‘Starlight Express’ in London. And I want to see ‘Phantom of the Opera’ next.

We’re going to Wagamama’s for dinner tonight. I’vebeenthere a couple of times before.

Although we do not give a specific time, we often use general time expressions likeever, never, before, in my life, so far, up until nowwith this use of the present perfect simple:

Wehaven’t metbefore, have we?

They’vesold110so far.(so far= from a point in the past up until now)

We often useever, not … everandneverwhen we talk about experiences:

It was the worst performance wehaveeverseen.

Haveyouevertriedto write your name and address with your left hand?

She’sneversaidsorry for what she did.

We often use the present perfect simple for a unique experience when we are using a superlative:

I feltthe happiestIhaveeverfelt. My first Olympic final; the bronze medal; European record of 9.97 seconds.

The dome of the Blue Mosque at Isfahan isthe most beautiful buildingIhaveeverseen.

It wasthe best decisionIhaveevermadein my life.

It’sthe worstsports programmeIhaveeverseenand the first Ihaveeverturnedoff.

We usually use the present perfect simple withthe first timewhen we’re talking about an immediate, continuing or recent event:

That’sthe first timeI’veseenyou get angry.

We use the present perfect simple to talk about a finished event or state in the very recent past. We do not give a specific time. We often use words likejustorrecentlyfor events taking place a very short time before now:

What’s this? What’sjusthappened?

The company employs around 400 staff andhasrecentlyopenedan office in the UK.

Niki and Johnhavejustcomeback from a week in Spain.

We use the present perfect simple when a single past action has a connection with the present:

She’sbrokenher arm in two places.(Her arm is still broken now.)

Whyhaven’tyoudressedin something warmer?(You got dressed in the past but the clothes are not warm enough for now.)

A firehas broken outat a disused hotel on the seafront.(The fire is burning now; it’s a recent event too.)

Your flowershaven’t arrived.(Your flowers are not here; they were supposed to arrive in the past.)

We use the present perfect simple withforandsinceto talk about a present situation that began at a specific point in the past and is still going on in the present. We are looking back from the present to a point in the past.

We often use expressions withforandsinceto answer the questionHow long …+present perfect simple. We use theHow long …?question to ask about the duration of a state or activity:

A:

How long haveyouworkedthere?

B:

Since21 August. Soforabout four months.

We useyet+ the present perfect simple, mainly in questions and negative statements, to refer to things we intend to do in the future but which are not done:

Don’t wash up that cup. Ihaven’tfinishedmy coffeeyet.(I intend to finish it.)

Haven’tyoudoneyour homeworkyet?(You intend to do it.)

We usealready+ the present perfect simple when we want to emphasise that something is done or achieved, often before the expected time:

I’vealreadybookedmy flight home.

A:

Will you go and clean your teeth!

B:

I’vealreadycleanedthem.

We usestill+ the present perfect simple when we want to emphasise that something we expected to happen continues not to happen:

Shestillhasn’t saidsorry to me.

I feel really tired. Istillhaven’t recoveredfrom the jet lag.

The present perfect simple is often used in newspaper headlines or TV news programmes to report a recent past event. It is then followed by a series of verbs in the past simple (underlined):

Charlton Hestonhas diedaged 84, a spokesman for his familyhas said. Hestondiedon Saturday at his home in Beverly Hills. His wife Lydia, whom hemarriedin 1944, was at his side. Hestonwona best actor Oscar for his starring role in the epic ‘Ben Hur’.

We can also use the present perfect simple to introduce an ‘open’ general point about something. We can then use the past simple (underlined) to give more detailed specific information:

Haveyouseenany Arthur Miller plays? Isawa fantastic production of ‘The Crucible’.

In American Englishthe past simple is often used instead of the present perfect simple, often withalreadyandyet.