SCOOTER - the story of the song "How Much Is The Fish?" (1998). Difference between many and much

Perfect – here means “completed, complete.”

The present perfect tense in English connects the past with the present and is one of the most frequently used. You can use this tense to emphasize the result of a past action, especially when the exact timing of the action is not important. The present perfect tense is formed using the Auxiliary verb to have and the Past Participle of main verb semantic verb). And also in this article you will learn about conjugating regular and irregular verbs in Present Perfect and master the use of this tricky English tense.

Having looked at the rules and examples with the Present Perfect tense (Present Perfect Simple), you can easily do the exercises, thereby testing your grammatical skills.
In Russian it is pronounced [Present Perfect], in English it will be Present Perfect -.

A short text that will introduce you to Present Perfect Tense will show you how verbs are used in this tense.

Recently, it has rained. In the last week, it has rained four times.
I have always loved the rain. I have walked in the rain many times.
My friend has just called me. He asked me to help him with the project. And for that, he will invite me to dinner. It's a good idea because I have never tasted Chinese food.
I' ve just taken a shower and ready for bed.

Now let's look at the cases of using the Present Perfect

Cases of using the Present Perfect may seem difficult to you, because in Russian there is no such thing as the present perfect tense, since the action cannot end in the present. By looking at example sentences with the Present Perfect, you will understand when this tense is used.

1. Recently completed actions, without mentioning the exact time

Example:

- No has tidied the kitchen - He cleaned up the kitchen (He finished washing the kitchen - And you see the result, it’s clean).
- No has just cleared out the garage – He just cleaned out the garage (And when this happened is not important, we do not say the exact time).
-I' ve just taken a shower - I just took a shower.

2. Actions that happened at an unspecified time in the past and are related to the present

Example:

— They have sold their house and gone on a tour of the world - They sold their house and went on a trip around the world (They are still traveling).
— Lilly is sad because she has missed the train - Lily is sad because she was late for the train (The action is connected to the present, she is sad now).
-I' ve eaten too much and now I feel sick - I overate and now I feel bad (the action is related to the present).

3. Actions that began in the past and continue to the present

Example:

— Clare and James have known each other since they were in kindergarten – Clara and James have known each other since kindergarten (They still know each other).
— We have lived here for twenty years - We have been living here for 20 years (we still live here).

• What if we put the sentence in Past Simple ?

— They knew each other when they were in kindergarten – They knew each other when they went to kindergarten(Now they don't know each other anymore).

4. Use the Present Perfect tense when talking about a period of time that has not yet ended

Words indicating time that are used (the same day, month, week etc.):

Example:

-I' ve eaten six tomatoes today - Today I ate six tomatoes (Think, is today already over? No, today is still today. If today ended, it would have been yesterday).
-I have had several tests this week – I had several tests this week (The week is not over yet).

5. Personal experiences or changes that have happened

Example:

— You won’t believe! I' ve lost five kilos – You won’t believe it! I lost five kilograms.
-I' ve learned a lot in this class – I learned a lot in this lesson.
- No has gained a lot of weight recently - He recently gained excess weight.

6. Emphasis on numbers

Example:

-I have written ten projects since this afternoon – Since today I have written ten projects.
- No has telephoned her three times this morning – He called her three times this morning.
—We' we've been to Saint Petersburg four times this month – We were in St. Petersburg four times this month.

7. When we talk about our past experiences

We do not specify the exact time, WHEN it happened, it is important to us that this event happened. And the words are often used ever and never.

Example:

— Have you ever played cricket? – Have you ever played cricket?

8. The present perfect tense is also used in the news.

In the media, the present perfect is often used at the beginning of a report to give a brief overview or new information. The past simple tense is used to give specific information when something happened.

Example:

— The Prime Minister has promised to create more jobs for people – The Prime Minister promised to create more jobs for people.
— During yesterday’s conference in Paris, the Prime Minister promised to create new jobs for people - During yesterday's conference in Paris, the Prime Minister promised to create new jobs for people.

Companion words in the Present Perfect (signal words)

Time marker words, also called helper words or time indicators, will help you recognize time in a sentence. And it doesn’t matter what they are called, the main thing is that you will begin to navigate and use these words in English on your own.

Signal words in the Present Perfect:

All day long, all my life, how long, for ages, ever, never, just, this week/month/year, for, already, yet, recently, lately, before, since, always, so far, at last, till now, up to now, today etc.

Present Perfect Tense Rules of Education

The Present Perfect is formed using the following structure:

Subject+ Auxiliary verb (auxiliary verb) to have/has + V.3 (past participle) those. verb in 3rd form.

For - I/We/They/You – verb to have.
For – He/She/It – verb to has.

Remember, if the verb is correct, then the ending is added to it -ed
If the verb is irregular, then (Regular and irregular verbs) will show how the verb changes in the Past Participle.

Let's look at some irregular verbs:

Come – came – come
Be-was-been
Go – went – ​​gone
See – saw – seen
Bite-bit-bitten

Such verbs require attention. They don't follow rules, they need to be learned.

Regular verbs do not change:

Look – looked
Want – wanted
Ask – asked

Present Perfect sentence forms

In this section, you will become familiar with the three sentence forms and learn how to differentiate between them.

Affirmative sentences Present Perfect (Positive sentences)

The formula for an affirmative sentence in the present perfect tense is very simple. Consider the table of affirmative sentences below:

Short affirmative form:

IN negative form, particle (particle) not comes after the Auxiliary verb (auxiliary verb). Let's look at the table:

Short form negative sentences:

- I have not - I haven’t lived here.
— He has not — He hasn’t taken the money.

Interrogative sentences Present Perfect (Interrogative sentences)

In the interrogative form, the Auxiliary verb is placed before the subject. Consider the table below:

Shortened negative-interrogative sentences:

— Have you not — Haven’t you washed the dishes?
— Has he not — Hasn’t he left the office yet?

Comparison of Present Perfect and Past Simple

In the table below we will look at the difference between Present Perfect and. After studying this information, you will learn to distinguish between these two times and understand that the difference is obvious.

Description of words that are used in the Present perfect tense

• We often use never, ever, not...ever when talking about experience:

— Have you ever tried to sing a song backwards? – Have you ever tried to sing a song backwards?

• We often use the Present Perfect Simple when we talk about a unique experience and use superlatives:

- It was the best performance I have ever seen- It was best performance that I've ever seen.
- It was the worst decision he has ever made- It was worst solution, which he has ever taken.

• Phrase the first time used with the Simple Present Perfect when we talk about an immediate, ongoing or recent event:

—That's the first time they have seen the city – This is the first time they saw the city.

Prepositions Since and For

We use the Present Perfect Simple with since and for when we talk about a present situation that began at a certain moment in the past and continues in the present:

• For– refers to a period of time three years, five hours, ages, months, years etc.
• I have been a doctor for 20 years – I have been working as a doctor for 20 years.
• Since– refers to the previous point in time Last Tuesday, last year, yesterday, 1889.
• I have been a doctor since 1995 – I have been working as a doctor since 1995.

The phrase How long..?

Expressions with since/for are often used to answer the question How long... + present perfect.

• How long have you lived there? – How long have you lived there?
• Since 4 December. So for three months – From the fourth of December. Within three months.

The adverbs ALREADY, JUST, YET are used with the Present Perfect Simple

Yet is mainly used in interrogative and negative statements (Things that we intend to do in the future, but have not yet been done).

• Haven't you done your assignments yet? -Have you completed your assignments yet? (You intend to do this).

Used when we want to emphasize that something has been done or achieved, often within the expected time:

• I've already cooked dinner – I have already prepared dinner.

Short time ago:

• I’ve just taken a shower - I just took a shower.

Emphasizes duration. Used with real forms ().

• I've already told you, He still hasn't said sorry to me – I already told you, she still hasn’t apologized.

+Bonus

American English or British English (American vs. British English)?

Already can be placed at the end of an affirmative sentence. If you prefer American English, feel free to place already at the end of the sentence:

• The lesson has finished already.
• The lesson has already finished. (British English)

Another point when in the American version it is used instead of the Present Perfect, often with the words already and yet:

Compare:

American English – Did you sleep(yet)? British English – Have you slept(yet)?

++Bonus rule

Difference between Have gone to/have been to/have been in

• She has gone to China. (She’s there or on her way to China/She is in China or on the way to China).
• She has been in China for six months. (She’s in China now/She’s in China now).
• She has been to China once. (She’s visited China and she’s back now/She visited China and she returned).

Take note: Present simple and Present continuous

For Example:

-WRONG: I know her for eight years.
— CORRECT: I' we know her for eight years.
- WRONG: I' m living here since 2003.
— CORRECT: I' we lived here since 2003.

Take note: Present Perfect/Past Simple

If the situation is completed, Past S. + for is used, not Present P.

Example:

— My half-sister worked as a sales manager for 3 years and then she got the sack – My stepsister worked as a sales manager for 3 years and then she was fired.

* When you listen to someone using a sentence with for = period of time, listen carefully to the verb. Sometimes it's hard to hear the difference between I’ve lived in Hawaii for several years And I lived in Hawaii for several years, but there is a big difference between these proposals. This tells us whether the speaker still lives there or no longer lives there.

General table of formation of the Present Perfect Tense - Present Perfect Tense

Present Perfect Tense - Present perfect tense: exercises and answers

To consolidate the material you have covered, we recommend that you take tests on the Present Perfect.

Exercise 1. Open the brackets and put the verb in the Present Perfect.

1. They (clean) the house.

2. I (print) the document.

3. He (ask) a question.

4. You (dial) the wrong number.

5. She (not speak) to me yet.

6. How long did you (know) him?

7. You (hear) from Sam recently?

8. I’m so hungry I could eat a horse! I (not eat) anything since this morning.

9. It’s the most amazing city I ever (see).

10. She (drink) too much coffee.

Answers. Answers to the exercise:

1. Have cleaned
2.Have printed
3.Has asked
4.Have dialed
5. Has not been spoken
6.Have you known
7. Have you heard
8. Haven't eaten
9. Have ever seen
10. Has drunk.

Exercise 2. Put 5 sentences into interrogative form using the Present Perfect.

1. (you/be/to Dublin/yet).

2. (How often/he/call/you).

3. (the children/clean/their room).

4. (you/be/on holiday/this year).

5. (he/write/to the Prime Minister).

Answers. Answers to the exercise:

1. Have you been to Dublin yet?
2. How often has he called you?
3. Have the children cleaned their room?
4. Have you been on holiday this year?
5. Has he written to the Prime Minister?

Exercise 3. Insert yet or already.

A: Haven’t you cooked the dinner...?

B: You have…asked me that!

A: You know I’m busy with the project. And I have… told you that our friends are coming to stay with us.

B: Keep calm. They haven’t come…. And why are you always asking me to cook?

A: Always? You have been living here for 3 years and I haven’t tasted your dinner…

Answers. Answers to the exercise:

1. Yet
2. Already
3.Already
4. Yet
5. Yet

Exercise 4. Insert For or Since.

1. He has been in Chile… 10 years.

2. My grandparents have lived in Los Angeles … 1993.

3. I haven’t seen her … ages.

4. They haven’t been to Manchester… their last birthday.

5. We haven’t met… you left for Washington.

Answers. Answers to the exercise:

1.for
2.since
3.for
4.since
5.since

Exercise 5. A task to compare Past Simple and Present Perfect. Decide what time to set.

1. Ever (be) to Liverpool?

2. How long have you (learn) Italian?

3. I (start) learning Italian when I (be) eleven.

4. I(give) you the money last week.

5. We (just/get) home.

6. You (see) the Jackie Chan film on TV last night?

Answers. Answers to the exercise:

1.Have ever been
2.Have learned
3. Have started, was
4. Gave
5. have just got
6. Have seen

When we learn something new, some topics are difficult for us at first. For some people learning English is like a walk in the park but for others, it’s really hard. For some people, learning English comes quite easily. Others need to put in a lot of effort.
At the same time, let's learn a new expression - A walk in the park- means that something is very easy to do.

Make up a few sentences using the Present Perfect and share them in the comments.

Video on Present Perfect. In it you will see how actors from films use the present perfect tense. Enjoy watching.

I was constantly confused about English tenses, and it was very difficult for me to understand in what cases to use this unfortunate Present Perfect. Today I will try to explain as clearly and simply as possible in what cases it is necessary to use the Present Perfect, and not some other English tenses.

Uncertain time in the past

We use the Present Perfect to say that an event happened at an unspecified point in the past. That is, we do not say when exactly this happened. We only say that it happened in the past. It is not necessary to name a specific time. You cannot use the Present Perfect with expressions such as yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, and so on. And with expressions that do not name a specific moment in time, the Present Perfect should be used. These are expressions ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, and so on.

Let's look at a few examples:

I have seen that movie twenty times.(I've seen this movie 20 times).

I think I have met him once before.(I think I met him once).

There have been many earthquakes in California.(There have been many earthquakes in California).

People have traveled to the Moon.(People have flown to the moon).

People have not traveled to Mars.(People didn't go to Mars).

Have you read the book yet?(Haven't you read this book yet?)

Nobody has ever climbed that mountain.(No one has ever climbed that mountain.)

A: Has there ever been a war in Russia?(Has Russia ever had a war?)

B: Yes, there has been a war in Russia.(Yes, there was a war in Russia).

Note that none of the examples specified a specific point in time.

Still, such a formulation as “uncertain point in time” may not be clear to you. Let's then divide the use of the Present Perfect by topic.

1. Mentioning someone's experience

You can use the present perfect tense when talking about your experience. This is the same as the phrase " I have the experience of…“Accordingly, if you have not had a similar experience to this day, you can say so using the same tense. However, you cannot mention a specific event using the Present Perfect.

I have been to France.(This means that you have had experience in France. You may have been there once, or perhaps several times).
I have been to France three times.(You can put “times” at the end of the sentence as many times as you like).
I have never been to France.(This states that you have no experience of traveling to France.)
I think I have seen that movie before. I've seen this movie before (You've already had this experience).
He has never traveled by train. He has never traveled by train (no such experience)
Joan has studied two foreign languages. Joan learned two foreign languages. (She knows them now).
A: Have did you ever meet him?(Have you met him?)
B: No, I have not met him.(No, I haven’t.)

2. Changes that have occurred over a certain period of time

You have grown since the last time I saw you.(You have grown since the last time I saw you.)
The government has become more interested in arts education.(The state has become more interested in arts education.)
Japanese has become one of the most popular courses at the university since the Asian studies program was established.(Japanese has become a popular language in universities since the advent of Asian studies programs.)
My English has really improved since I moved to Australia.(I have improved my English noticeably since moving to Australia.)

3. Achievements

The Present Perfect is used when we mention the achievements of a person or humanity. But we don’t name a specific moment.

Man has walked on the Moon.(Man landed on the moon.)

Our son has learned how to read.(Our son learned to read.)

Doctors have cured many deadly diseases.(Doctors have cured many deadly diseases.)

Scientists have split the atom.(Scientists split the atom.)

4. An event that we are waiting for has not yet occurred

By using the present incomplete tense we mean that we are waiting for some event to happen.

James has not finished his homework yet.(James didn't finish his homework.)

Susan hasn't mastered Japanese, but she can communicate.(Susan has not yet become an expert on Japanese language, but can communicate.)

Bill has still not arrived. (Bill hasn't arrived yet.)

The train hasn't stopped.(The train did not stop.)

5. Multiple actions at different times

We use the Present Perfect to talk about events that happened several times at different times in the past. The use of this particular time indicates that the process has not yet ended and may happen again.

For example:

The army has attacked that city five times.(The army attacked the city several times.)

I have had four quizzes and five tests so far this semester.(I had four quizzes and five tests this semester.)

We have had many major problems while working on this project.(We had a lot of big problems while working on the project.)

She has talked to several specialists about her problem, but nobody knows why she is sick.(She has talked to several specialists about her problem, but no one knows what is wrong with her.)

Expressing time with the Present Perfect

Let me remind you once again that the use of the Present Perfect characterizes some time in the past. It is not so important to name any exact moment in time. Sometimes we want to limit the period of time in the past when talking about our own or other people's experiences.

For example:

Have were you to Mexico in the last year? Have you been to Mexico at least once in the past year?

I have seen that movie six times in the last year. I've watched this movie 6 times over the past year.

They have had three tests in the last week. They had 3 tests last week.

She graduated from university less than three years ago. She has worked for three different companies so far. She graduated from university less than three years ago. During this time she worked for three different companies.

My car has broken down three times this week. This week my car broke down 3 times.

IMPORTANT NOTICE. "Last year" And "in the last year" have different meanings. "Last year" means "last year", which is a specific point in time, so the Past Simple is used. “in the last year” is 365 days ago, that is, on any of these days. This does not imply a specific point in time, which is why the Present Perfect is used.

I went to Mexico last year. I went to Mexico last year (a year ago).

I have been to Mexico in the last year. I have been to Mexico on at least one of the 365 days between now and last.

Duration from past to present

Relevant for verbs that do not form an ing form (non-continuous verbs), as well as for mixed verbs. In this case, we use the Present Perfect to denote events that began in the past and are still ongoing. “For five minutes,” “for two weeks,” and “since Tuesday” are all expressions that can be used with the present perfect tense.

I have had a cold for two weeks. I've been sick with a cold for two weeks. Got sick in the past, but still continues to get sick.

She has been in England for six months. She has been in England for 6 months. She arrived last year and hasn't left yet.
Mary has loved chocolate since she was a little girl. Mary has loved chocolate since childhood.

Sometimes verbs that form ing forms can be used with the Present Perfect: For example, the verbs “live,” “work,” “teach,” and “study.”

Present perfect in translation is the present completed tense. Used in English to describe actions that began in the past, without a precise start time, and whose completion is closely related to the present. They have ended by the current moment or in a period that can be called the present. Problems often arise with understanding this tense, at least due to the fact that sentences in the Present perfect are translated into Russian in the past tense, and in English it is Present - present tense. And you also don’t immediately understand how a completed action can be in the present tense.

2. Education Present perfect

2.1. Affirmative form

Verb conjugation table in an affirmative sentence

More more examples can be found in the article.

Rules for forming statements

The affirmative form of the present completed tense is formed as follows: after the subject there is an auxiliary verb have (has), plus the main verb in the 3rd form (past participle).

Both pronouns (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) and nouns (boy, cars, snow) can be used as subjects.

The auxiliary verb have is almost always used, but in the 3rd person singular, that is, for pronouns he, she, it and singular nouns (boy, snow), has is used (see the conjugation table above).

Shortened forms of the auxiliary verbs have and has: ‘ve and ‘s respectively. For example, I have worked = I’ve worked, He has worked = He’s worked. Please note that 's is also used to shorten the verb is. Which word is abbreviated in such an entry will have to be understood from the context.

The third form of the verb is the verb with ending -ed, if the verb is correct. If the verb is irregular, then its third form must be remembered.

You can see the list of irregular verbs. You are now only interested in column 3, but we recommend learning all three forms at once. The second part of that article provides a life hack for more convenient memorization of irregular verbs.

The ending -ed is also not as simple as it seems at first glance; the rules for writing it are described in the article.

General scheme

S + have (has) + V3

Where S (subject) is the subject (pronoun or noun)

V3 (verb) – verb in 3rd form

2.2. Interrogative sentences

2.2.1. General questions

Example of verb conjugation in interrogative form

Rules for constructing a question

To form an interrogative sentence, it is enough to move the auxiliary verb have (has) to the beginning of the sentence, before the subject.

The main verb remains in the 3rd form.

Has is used in the same cases as in an affirmative sentence, that is, it depends on the subject.

Question formula in the present completed tense

Have (Has) + S + V3?

Where Have (Has) is an auxiliary verb

S – subject

V3 – verb in 3rd form

2.2.2. Answer to a common question

2.2.3. Special questions

Construction rules

A special question is formed from a general question by adding question word(who, what, when, where) before the auxiliary verb have (has).

Formula for creating a special question

Wh + have (has) + S + V3?

Where Wh is a question word

have (has) – auxiliary verb

S – subject

V3 – verb in 3rd form

Table with examples of special questions

Rules for writing negatives

To form a negation from an affirmative sentence, you need to write the negation particle not after the auxiliary verb. The auxiliary verb remains the same, the main verb remains in 3rd form.

The abbreviations for have not and has not are haven’t and hasn’t, respectively.

Reinforce the mastered rules for forming questions and negatives by completing.

General scheme of negation in the Present perfect

S + have (has) + not + V3

Where S is the subject

have (has) – auxiliary verb

not – particle of negation

V3 – verb in 3rd form

3. Use of the Present perfect and examples with translation

The present completed tense is used in the following cases:

3.1. When the fact that the action completed with a certain result is important, but the exact time when it was not important

I have bought a new skirt - I bought a new skirt. Now I have it, no matter when I bought it.

If you want to focus on the fact that you bought it at a sale on the weekend, that is, indicate the time, then you should use: I bought a new skirt last weekend.

3.2. If the action has recently completed and now its result affects the present

I'm not hungry. I have just eaten. I'm not hungry, I just ate.

Note that just is used in these cases.

3.3. When we talk about personal experience

I have been to London, but I haven’t been to Moscow - I was in London, but I wasn’t in Moscow. Some time in the past, it doesn’t matter exactly when, I was in London, this is a complete fact, but I was not in Moscow, although I can visit there.

Again, as soon as you want to indicate the exact time of your visit, you will need to use Past simple: I was in London 2 years ago.

When you talk about your experience, you can also focus on the fact that this happened more than once.

Present Perfect– present perfect tense.

The main problem for understanding Present Perfect- that it is often confused with Past Indefinite (Past Simple). After all, we are talking about an action that happened, i.e. from the point of view of the Russian language, it refers to the past. What is the difference with Past Indefinite? After all, this is also the past tense?

The fact of the matter is that not too. In English Present Perfect- this is not the past, but present time. With its help, some information about the present is always given, there is a connection with the present.

If we are talking about the present, about the result for the present, and not about the past, then we need to use Present Perfect. What if we're talking about It is about the past, about what has already passed, what ended in the past and has no connection with the present, then Past Indefinite must be used.

There are two keys to understanding time Present Perfect. First - connection with the present, and the second - importance of the result of the action for the present, and not for the time of the action in the past.

This is it difference Present Perfect from Past Indefinite.

Present Perfect used if the action has been completed by now or has just ended. And although the action relates to the past, the main thing is that it has a connection with the present. The action belongs to the past, and the result belongs to the present.

Signs Present Perfect are the words: never(never), ever(ever) often(often), just(just now), already(already), yet(more), always(Always), rarely(rarely), etc.

Example

I've just finished my work. - I just finished work.
Those. I finished the work, the action was completed, it is in the past, but I finished the work just now, the action has completed by now, so there is a connection with the present.

Education Present Perfect

Present Perfect formed using an auxiliary verb to have/has and the third form of the semantic verb (Past Participle). The third form of regular verbs is formed using the ending - ed, and for incorrect ones see Irregular verbs.

Abbreviated forms
I have = I've
He has = He's
I have not = I haven’t
He has not = He hasn’t

Using the Present Perfect

1. The action occurred at an unspecified time in the past (it is not the time that is important, but the result)

Expiration time is not specified. We do not know exactly when the action took place, or time does not matter. The action happened in the past at all, no matter when. It is not the time of the action that is important, but its result.

We think not about a past action, but about its result for the present.

Examples

I've seen this movie. - I saw this film.
Those. I have seen this film at all, no matter when. Only the result for the present is important.

Mike has traveled a lot. - Mike traveled a lot.
Mike traveled a lot in general, no one knows when.

I saw this movie when I was a child. - I saw this film when I was a child. The action refers to a period that ended in the past, because now I am no longer a child. Therefore, Past Indefinite is used here.

Mike traveled a lot from 1990 to 1995. - Mike traveled a lot from 1990 to 1995. And here the period of action ended in the past. Therefore, Past Indefinite is also used here.

IN interrogative sentences type When..? What time...? Past Indefinite is used rather than Present Perfect because time is important here (When? What time?), and not the result.

Examples
When did she come? - When did she come?
What time did they leave? - What time did they leave?

But if the result is important (Did she come? Did they leave?), then it is used Present Perfect.

Examples
Has she come? - Has she come?
Have they left? -Have they left?

2. The action began in the past, continues in the present and can continue in the future.

The words can be used since(since) and for(for).

Examples

We have lived in Kiev since 1985. - We have lived in Kyiv since 1985.
Those. we started living in Kyiv in 1985, we continue to live and, perhaps, we will continue to live.

She has been my teacher of music for many years. - She was my music teacher for many years.
Those. she was, is and will probably continue to be my music teacher!

Difference between Present Perfect and Past Indefinite (Past Simple)

Past Indefinite is used to describe an action that ended in the past and has no connection with the present.

We lived in Kiev until 1985. - We lived in Kyiv until 1985.
Those. we lived until 1985, and we don’t live anymore. The action belongs entirely to the past.

3. The time for completing a completed action is determined by the words just (just), already (already), yet (yet)

There is a clear connection with the present: just now, already, yet!

Examples

I've just written a letter. - I just wrote a letter.
He has already arrived. - He has already arrived.
The show has not begun yet. - The show hasn't started yet.

4. The action took place during a period that has not yet ended

A period that has not yet ended could be: today(Today), this morning(this morning) this week(this week), this month(this month) this year(this year), etc., and even the whole life!

Period that ended: yesterday(yesterday), last week(last week) last month(last month) last year(last year), etc. And even, for example, this morning, if the morning has already ended and the day has come!

Examples

Mary has called her son this morning. - Mary called her son in the morning.
The morning is not over yet, which means the period of action continues. Therefore there is a connection with the present.

I have never been to China. - I have never been to China.
Have you ever been to Australia? -Have you ever been to Australia?

Here one could add - never (or ever) in my life! I've never been to China in my life. Validity period (in in this example- life) is not over yet.

Difference between Present Perfect and Past Indefinite

Past Indefinite: The action took place in a time period that has ended. For example, yesterday(yesterday), last week(last week) last month(last month) last year(last year).

Examples

I’ve had a cup of tea this morning. - I drank a cup of tea in the morning.
Those. the morning is not over yet, it continues, so we use the Present Perfect.

But if the morning has already ended (after 12:00), and the day has come, then the situation has changed dramatically:

I had a cup of tea this morning. - I drank a cup of tea in the morning.
That's it, the morning is over, and I had to use Past Indefinite!
And this despite the fact that both the morning and the cup of tea remained the same.

5. Description of events of the recent past

Usually the words used are recently(recently), lately(recently, recently).

Examples

He has come back recently. - He returned recently.
I've worked hard lately. - I've been working a lot lately.

The recent past is recent because it has a connection with the present. Essentially, this means that the time period has not yet ended (see point 4).

6. The action occurs for the first (second, third, etc.) time

Examples

It’s the first time I’ve been here. - This is my first time here.
It’s the first time I’ve done it. - I'm doing this for the first time.
It’s the first time I’ve driven a car. - I'm driving a car for the first time.
It’s the third time she’s called him this morning. - She calls him this morning for the third time.

Attention! Not I do, but I've done!

Note

Pay attention to the difference in the use of verbs gone And been.

Once upon a time there lived Jack. And so he decided to go to France.

Jack has gone to France. - Jack went to France.
Those. Jack is now traveling to France or is there.

But then Jack returned, and now he is back in his homeland.
This means:

Jack has been to France. - Jack was in France.
He was there, now he is no longer there.