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Present perfect – Form

We form the present perfect tense with the verb have and the past participle of the verb. The past participle is the same as the past simple (-ed) for regular verbs. For irregular verbs, it’s the form in the 3rd column.

Present perfect – Use

We normally use the present perfect to talk about past events that have a connection with the present, for example, news or past experiences. We can also use the present perfect to talk about situations that started in the past but which are still true in the present. Check the grammar chart below:

Recent events and news

We use the present perfect to talk about recent events or news. We don’t say when these events happened.

• I’ve passed the test!
• She’s broken her arm.
• The president has travelled to Cuba. 

⇒ Just, yet, already

We often use the present perfect with the words just, yet, already.

We use just in (+) sentences to say that something happened very recently (like minutes ago).

• I’ve just seen Peter in the street. 
• He looks happy because he’s just got married. 

We use yet in (-) and (?) sentences. We put it at the end of the sentence.

• Have you washed the dishes yet?
• I haven’t called him yet.
• She hasn’t arrived yet. 

We use already in (+) sentences to say that something happened before now (usually earlier than we expected).

• I have already finished.
• We have already arrived. 

Life experiences

We often use the present perfect to talk about past experiences in our lives. We don’t say when these experiences happened.

• I’ve run the Boston Marathon twice.
• She’s never been on a cruise. 
• I’ve been here before. 

⇒ Never, ever, before

When we ask about someone’s life experiences, we often use the word ever.

• Have you ever read this book?
• Have you ever been to India?

When we talk about life experiences, we often use the words never or before.

• She has never been late. 
• I think I have seen this film before. 

Unfinished actions

⇒ How long, for, since

We use the present perfect with the words how long, for, since to talk about actions or situations that started in the past and still continue or are still true now.

• I’ve lived in Oslo since I was born. (=I was born in Oslo and I still live in Oslo)
• They have been married for 25 years. (=They got married 25 years ago and they are still married)

We use how long in questions to ask about the duration of an action or situation.

• How long has she been a teacher?
• How long has she had her car?

We use for + a period of time, e.g. for two weeks, for ten years, for ten days, for a few hours, etc.

• We’ve been here for a few hours. 
• They’ve been married for 10 years. 

We use since + a moment in the past (the beginning of a period of time), e.g. since I was born, since 10 o’clock, since last Wednesday, etc.

• We’ve been here since 4 o’clock. 
• They’ve been married since 2010. 

Be careful with these common mistakes!

We use the present perfect, and not the present simple for actions or situations that started in the past and are still true now.

• We are friends since first grade. 
• We’ve been friends since first grade. 

We use for… and NOT since…ago to introduce a period of time.

• They’ve been married since 10 years ago. 
• They’ve been married for 10 years. 

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Writing a postcard

City vocabulary

Here is some useful vocabulary for places to visit in cities:

river        bridge        monument        statue        art gallery        museum        palace        castle        zoo        cathedral        theatre        restaurant        market        tower

Holiday activities

Here are some verb + noun phrases that are useful when talking about city breaks. You can learn a few more in this vocabulary lesson.

• have dinner/a drink/a great time
• take photos
• buy souvenirs
• go out for a meal/a drink
• go on a river trip/a bus tour
• go to a museum/castle/etc.
• go for a walk
• see/watch a show
• spend (a lot of ) money

Language for Postcards

You can use these informal phrases to open your postcard:

• Hi (name)!
• Dear (name),

Close your email in an informal way too. These phrases are useful for ending your postcard:

• Can’t wait to… (see you! / show you my pictures / …)
• Wish you were here.
• Hope you are… (enjoying your summer / having a good holiday too / …).

You can use these phrases to sign off your postcard:

• Take care
• Love/Lots of love (from)
• See you soon

Talking about the present

When we write a postcard, we often write about what we are doing ‘now’ or ‘these days’. To do this, use the present continuous form.

• I‘m sitting at a table outside a café.
• I‘m watching the boats on the river.
• I‘m having a cup of coffee.

You can use these time phrases with the present continuous: right now, at the moment.

You can make a list of these activities. You don’t need to repeat I’m.

• I‘m sitting at a table outside a café and watching the boats.
• I‘m sitting at a table outside a café, watching the boats and having a cup of coffee.

Talking about the past

You can use the present perfect tense or the past simple tense to talk about past experiences.

Use the present perfect to talk about experiences you’ve had during your trip or things you’ve done so far, especially when you don’t mention when they happened.

• I‘ve seen Buckingham Palace and Tower Bridge.
• I‘ve taken loads of photos.
• I‘ve bought lots of clothes.

You can use time expressions such as since or for with the present perfect:

• Since I arrived, I‘ve seen Buckingham Palace and Tower Bridge.
• I‘ve taken loads of photos for the last few days.

Use the past simple to talk about finished events in the past. We often use the past simple with specific time phrases like yesterday, last night/week, on (Saturday/Sunday…).

• We arrived here on Saturday.
• I went to the Science Museum yesterday.
• I saw a show at the theatre last night. It was great! I loved the dancing.

Talking about plans

In a postcard, you can also write about your future plans.

If you have made a booking or definite arrangements, you can use the present continuous to talk about future plans. This is often combined with future time expressions like tomorrow, on Friday, etc. 

• We‘re seeing a show tomorrow night.
• We‘re going on a river cruise on Wednesday.
• I‘m flying home on Friday night.

Use be going to to talk about your intention to do something in the future. This is often used when you have decided to do something but haven’t made specific arrangements or bookings yet, or when no booking is needed.

• I‘m going to buy some souvenirs in the market.
• We‘re going to hire bikes tomorrow.

You can also use hope or plan to write about your plans. You can use the forms I’m hoping/planning to + infinitive because they are more informal than the present simple.

• I‘m hoping to go to the National History Museum.
• We‘re planning to visit Chinatown.