Again!

Simple Past

- Events happened at a particular time.

"I listened to track 1 last night. It's really good."

"I lived in NY from 2002 to 2005."

"I took a shower in the morning."

"I saw 3 movies last week."

Present Perfect

- Events have happened; events have started and finished (events are complete). You may mention a time frame as long as it is not finished. 

"We haven't listened to that track."

"I've lived in NY. Nowadays I live in San Francisco."

"I've taken a shower today."

"Ive seen 4 movies this month."

Present Perfect Continuous

- Events have started and are still happening (or they have just finished).

"I have been listening to tracks from that album."

"I've been studying really hard lately."

"I've been living in San Francisco."

"The grass is wet. It's been raining."

"I've been seeing a lot of movies this month."

Verb Tenses Review - Beginners and Talkers

1. Simple Present
- Use it to talk about regular events or permanent situations. (Routine, habits, free time activities)
Formula - verb (verb+s) - do/does subject verb - don't/doesn't verb
aff.: I work as a teacher. / He works as a teacher. / I live in NYC. / She studies English twice a week. / She finishes work at about 6pm.
int.: Do you work as a teacher? / Does he work as a teacher?
neg.: You don't work as a teacher. / She doesn't work as a teacher.

to be
aff.: You are a teacher. / She's happy.
int.: Are you a teacher? / Is she tired?
neg.: You aren't a teacher. / She isn't hungry now.

Note: "have/has got" looks like Present Perfect but it's used to talk about the present.
I have a car. = I've got a car.
I don't have a cat. = I haven't got a cat.
Do you have a dog? = Have you got a dog?
I have to study hard. = I've got to study hard.
Do you have to work in the morning? = Have you got to work in the morning?
I don't have to work on weekends. = I haven't got to work on weekends.

2. Present Continuous
- Use it to talk about events that are in progress or temporary situations.
Formula - to be verb+ing
aff.: I'm working at the moment. / I'm living in NYC. / She's thinking about her job.
int.: Are you working at the moment? / Is he having dinner now?
neg.: I'm not working at the moment. / He's not working here anymore.

3. Simple Past
- Use it to talk about regular events in the past, events that happened at a specific time in the past, permanent situations in the past.
Formula: verb (in the past) - did subject verb - didn't verb
aff.: I did my homework last night.
neg.: I didn't do my homework last week.
int.: Did you do your homework last night?

5. Present Perfect
- Use it to talk about an event that happened in the past with an important consequence in the present. The event and the consequence are important. When the event happened exactly is not relevant.
- Formula: have/has verb (3rd column) - have/has subject verb (3rd column) - haven't/hasn't verb (3rd column)
aff.: I've brushed my teeth, now I can go to bed.
int.: Have you started the book?
neg.: I haven't taken a shower so I can't go to bed.

5.1. Present Perfect - Just
- Use it to talk about an event that has just happened, an event that has happened a very short time ago.
Aff.: I've just arrived from the gym. I need a shower. / Jane's just called. She wanted to know if we're going to meet her at the pub. / He's just travelled abroad. You won't be able to contact him soon.

5.2 - Present Perfect - Already
- Use it to talk about an event that has happened before you expected.
Aff.: Renan's already taken classes with Lu. / The students have already learned the present perfect. / The fireman has already saved the cat so you don't need to worry about it.
Int.: Have you already seen the new Spider Man movie? / Has the kid already finished his homework? / Has Duda already cooked dinner?

5.3 - Present Perfect - Yet
- Use it to talk about events that haven't happened until now, but you expected them to.
Int.: Has Duda cooked dinner yet? I'm really hungry! / Have you learned the simple present yet?
Neg.: We haven't arrived at the party yet so you can't talk to the birthday boy. / They haven't presented the results yet, but when they do, you'll be very pleased.

5.4 - Present Perfect - Ever
- Use it to talk about an event that has happened in your life (life experience).
Int.: Have you ever been to Paris? / Have you ever tried Russian food? / Have you ever gone skydiving?
- It's very common to answer these questions using already, yet, and never. And you can talk about one particular experience using simple past.
Yes, I've already been to Paris. I loved it. / I've never tried Russian food. / I haven't gone skydiving yet. I'm thinking about doing it next year.
- Present Perfect talk about events that have happened inside a certain period of time. This period of time could be a short one or a long one. It's usually not over or it has just finished.
"I've taken a shower." (Depending on your culture, the period is the day or the week.)
"I've had a flu shot." (This year)
"I've already been to Paris." (In my life)

5.5 - Present Perfect - How long...?
- Use it to talk about how long an event has happened. For this particular instance, you can also use (and it's probably better) Present Perfect Continuous when you have dynamic verbs (not stative verbs).
Aff.: I've lived here for 5 years. / She's had her car for a couple of months. / They've played football for only one week, but the coach is already very pleased by their performance.
Int.: How long have you worked for this company?

From 9gag.com

Present Perfect - Talkers and Thinkers

Nunca seremos perfeitos! Faz parte da condição humana. Mas podemos aprender a usar o Present Perfect, se não for de maneira perfeita, pelo menos satisfatória. Vamos lá.

Present Perfect

- Quando usamos

Para falar de coisas que aconteceram, mas o "quando" não é importante. A ação ou o evento é que importam. As suas consequências para o presente também são geralmente importantes.

Para falar de algo que começou no passado, mas que continua até o presente (se bem, que nesse caso, em geral, a gente usa o present perfect continuous)

- Fórmula:

subject + have + verb(3rd column)

Para he, she it: subject + has + verb(3rd column)

Note:

- O verbo auxiliar (have/has) sempre está presente.

- 3rd column é o past perfect. Quando temos em nossas mãos uma tabela de verbos, eles são geralmente apresentados assim: go - went - gone. O que nos interessa é a 3a coluna, sacou?

- Advérbios podem ser usados. Mas nunca use algo que fale de um tempo determinado no passado. Nesse caso, você usaria o simple past (I went to the movies last night.).

- Os advérbios e time expressions usados no present perfect servem pra dar a idéia de que a ação ou evento ocorreu dentro de um período de tempo que ainda não acabou. Difícil de entender? Nem tanto. Por exemplo, hoje já acabou? Não. Se tivesse acabado, seria ontem. Então você pode falar de hoje usando present perfect. A sua vida já acabou? Não. Se tivesse acabado você não estaria aqui lendo esse texto. Então você pode falar da sua vida e das coisas que já aconteceram nesse período de tempo usando present perfect. Não deixe de analisar os exemplos lá embaixo.

- Alguns advérbios e time expressions: already ('já'), yet ('ainda' na negativa ou 'já' na pergunta), ever ('já' na pergunta sobre coisas que você já fez na vida), recently, lately (ambos 'ultimamente'), just (indica que acabou de acontecer), today, this week, last week...

- Sempre que permitido, contrair o auxiliar (I've, She's, They've...)

- Sobre a contração com he, she, it, as pessoas sempre confundem o has com o is (be). Mas se você prestar atenção no resto da frase conseguirá distinguir um do outro facilmente. Open your eyes!

Sample sentences:

- Affirmative:

I've taken a shower today.

She's just broken her leg.

My father has already been to Rio.

I've worked a lot recently.

They've visited many different cities lately.

- Negative:

I haven't done my homework yet.

She hasn't called me this week.

They haven't written their compositions yet.

My sister hasn't cleaned her bedroom this week.

- Interrogative:

A: Have you talked to your mother today?

B: No, I haven't. I haven't talked to her today. But I'll call her this evening.

---------

A: Who has broken that vase?

B: Tommy has. Tommy has broken the vase while he was playing soccer in the living room.

---------

A: Have you visited your father this month?

B: Yes, I have. I've visited him twice this month.

---------

A: Has Keira finished her homework yet?

B: No, she hasn't. She hasn't finished it yet.

---------

A: Have you ever drive a Ferrari?

B: No, I haven't. I've never driven a Ferrari.

Nobody's Perfect - Talkers and Thinkers

Ninguém é perfeito. Especialmente quando se trata dos perfect tenses. Então vamos sobrevoar seus usos mais comuns.

1. Present Perfect

Talk about something that has happened, something that has been completed.

Focus on the event. "When" is not important.

Talk about an event (or events) which has (or have) happened within a period of time which hasn't finished yet.

Talk about somebody's life experience.

(Note: Sometimes native speakers use simple past here. Especially Americans.)

A: Have you done your homework yet?

B: No, I haven't. But I've already started it.

A: My car is looking good now, isn't it?

B: It really is! Have you washed it?

A: Somebody has eaten the last slice of pizza.

B: It wasn't me. I promise.

A: Are you done with your test?

B: No, I haven't finished it yet.

A: Have you ever been to Europe?

B: No, I haven't been there yet. But I'd love to. Actually, I've been saving some money and I might be able to go there next year.

A: Have you ever owned a Japanese car?

B: No, but I've heard they're pretty reliable.

A: Have you ever tried Thai food?

B: No, I haven't. Is it any good?

A: Have you seen your mother this week?

B: No, I'm going to have dinner with her on Saturday, though.

A: I haven't had a break since I got here. I'm totally worn out!

B: Let's take 5, then. I need a cigarette anyway.

A: This is the first time I've driven out of town. I'm so excited.

B: And you're doing a great job. Now, will you please keep your eyes on the road?

2. Present Perfect Continuous

Talk about events that started in the past but continue up to the present, events that are not complete, events that are in progress.

Sometimes people use it to talk about an event which had been happening and just stopped.

A: Where have you been? I've been looking for you all over!

B: I was in the restroom. Chill out!

A: God! I need a break.

B: You certainly do! You've been working too much recently.

A: I've been having trouble with this new Windows Vista.

B: Who hasn't?! Get a jacket and join the club.

A: Is it wet outside?

B: I'm afraid so. It's been raining.

A: Gee! You're all sweaty! Have you been running?

B: Wait! (sigh) Let me catch my breath and I'll tell you.

(Note: some verbs are not to be used with the progressive form - ING. e.g.: be, know, like, hate, have indicating possession, understand)

A: You can trust him. I've known him since we were little kids.

A: I've always liked that girl.

B: Well, she's always been really nice to you. Why don't you ask her out?

A: How long have you had this shirt?

B: I don't really know. Does it look too old?

Practice Makes Perfect - Talkers and Thinkers

Let's take a quick look at the present perfect, shall we?

We tend to have trouble with that verb tense for two simple reasons: 1. we don't have anything like that in Portuguese; 2. we fear it! we dread it!

Yeah, admit it! You are too scared to use present perfect. And I'll tell you this, most of the times, so am I!

The good news is, it isn't as difficult as it seems, or as important. You'll see a lot of so-called fluent speakers avoiding it and yet communicanting effectively. Nevertheless, let's try to use it whenever possible. The more you use it, the more comfortable you'll feel by using it, the better you'll use it.

Present Perfect

You can use it to:

1. Talk about something that has happened. "When" is not important or you simply don't know, so you don't talk about it. You might, however, indicate a period of time. It's very common to use it to check preparations, tasks, and to talk about life experience. Check it out.

Mom: Have you done your homework (yet)?

Son: No, not yet. But I've already taken the trash out.

Husband: Have you packed everything you'll need?

Wife: I can't be sure. Let's see... I've packed my hair-straightener, my hairdryer, my make-up kit... oh, I haven't packed my Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus book!

Brazilian Exchange Student: Have you taken a shower today?

French Exchange Student: No, I haven't. But I've already taken a shower this week.

Bumper Stick (Adesivo de Pára-Choque): Have you hugged your child today?

John: Have you ever kissed a Lebanese girl?

Mark: No, I've never done that. Have you?

John: Yes, I have.

Mark: When did you do it?

John: Last night.

Perceba que no último diálogo o present perfect dá lugar pro simple past quando os caras entram em detalhes.

Voltarei a falar dos perfect tenses em breve.

Gotta go!