Present Perfect (3)

 

Study this example.

 

Tom: Have you heard from George?

Ann:  No, he hasn't written to me lately.

 

We use the present perfect when we talk about a period of time that continues up to the present. Tom and Ann are talking about the period between a short time ago and now. So they say "have you heard" and "he hasn't written."

 

Here are some more examples.

• Have you seen my umbrella? I can't find it anywhere.
• Everything is going fine. We haven't has any problems so far.
• We've met a lot of interesting people in this last few days.
• Fred has been sick a lot in the past few years, hasn't he?
• I haven't seen Maria recently. Have you?

We often use the present perfect with yet. yet shows that the speaker is expecting something to happen. Use yet questions and negatives sentences.

• has it stopped raining yet?
• I haven't told them about the accident yet.

You can also use yet with the simple past.

• Did it stop raining yet?
• I didn't tell them yet.

We use the present perfect with this morning / this evening / today / this week / this semester, etc. (When these periods are not finished at the time of speaking)

• I've had five cups of coffee today. (Perhaps I'll have more before the day is over.)
• Has Ann had a vacation this year?
• I haven't seen Tom this morning. Have you?
• Liz hasn't studied very much this semester.
• Bill is calling his girlfriend again. That's the third time he's called her this evening.

We also use the present perfect continuous (I have been doing) when we talk about a period of time continuing up to the present.

• I haven't been feeling very well lately.