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Present perfect (2): ever, never, already, yet. A Ever and never + present perfect or simple past to talk about general life experience:. Have you ever worked abroad? (i.e. In all your life up to now?) I have never been to América, (i.e. Not in all my life up to now.)
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AEver andnever + present perfect or simple past to talk about general life experience: • Have you everworked abroad? (i.e. In all your life up to now?) • I have never been to América, (i.e. Not in all my life up to now.) • The present perfect with ever is often followed by the simple past. We use the simple past to give more information about a completed action, when referring to a specific time or context: • Have you ever been to Hong Kong? • Yes, I have. I worked there when I was with Coopers and Lybrand
B Already and yet • They have already modernized the warehouse, but they haven't decorated the reception area yet. • Already is used in positive sentences. • It often indicates that something has taken • place slightly earlier than expected. • Notice its position in the sentence: • She hasalready shown me the figures. • (not: She has shown already ...)
B Already and yet • Have you talked to Peter yet? • (not: Have you talked yet to Peter?) • Yet is used in questions and negatives. • It shows that we expect an action willtake place if ithas nothappened up to now. • Notice the position of yet, and not yet: • Ihave not talked to himyet. • (not: I have not talked yet to him.)
CFinished and unfinishedperiods of time Common examples are: over the last few weeks, up to now, so far, to date, this month, this morning, thisyear, today,etc: The present perfect is often used with prepositions or prepositional phrasesindicating periods of time that have not finished yet.
CFinished and unfinishedperiods of time This month we have received a lot of complaints about late deliveries. (The month has not finished, and there may be more complaints.)
CFinished and unfinishedperiods of time If we are speaking after one of these time periods, we use the simple past because we are referring to a period of time that has finished. Did you see John this morning? (It is now 2.30 in the afternoon; the morning has finished.) Compare: Have you seen John this morning? (It is now 11.15 in the morning; the morning has not finished.)
Present perfect (3): for and since The present perfect simple is often used withforand sinceandstative verbs to talk about things that began in the past and have continued up to now. I have known about the takeover bid forseveral weeks. (and I know now) Shehas owned shares in ICIsince she started work there (She owns them now.)