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BE CAREFUL! There may be a verb tense in your language with a similar form, but the meaning is
probably NOT the same.
An action or situation that started in the past and continues in the present. I have lived in Bristol since
1984 (= and I still do.)
An action performed during a period that has not yet finished. She has been to the cinema twice this
week (= and the week isn't over yet.)
A repeated action in an unspecified period between the past and now. We have visited Portugal
several times.
An action that was completed in the very recent past, expressed by 'just'. I have just finished my
work.
An action when the time is not important. He has read 'War and Peace'. (= the result of his reading is
important)
Note: When we want to give or ask details about when, where, who, we use the simple past. Read more
about choosing between the present perfect and the simple past tenses.
WHEN THE PRECISE TIME OF THE ACTION IS NOT IMPORTANT OR NOT KNOWN
Read more about using the present perfect with the words "ever", "never", "already", and "yet", and about
using the present perfect with the words "for" and "since".
Affirmative
Negative
Interrogative
Negative interrogative
to have + not subject past participle
He, she, it has walked He, she, hasn't walked Has he, she, it walked?
VERBS
Selecting the correct verb tense and conjugating verbs correctly is tricky in English. Click on the verb tense
to read more about how to form this tense and how it is used, or select a time to see the full list of tenses
and references on that time.
Past perfect We had been to see her several times before she visited us.
Past perfect continuous He had been watching her for some time when she turned and
smiled.
Future perfect We will have arrived in the States by the time you get this letter.
Future perfect continuous By the end of your course, you will have been studying for five
years.
Conditional Tenses in
English
Type 3 conditional She would have visited me if she had had time.
Infinitives
Passive voice
You have been living You haven't been living Have you been living?
He, she, it has been living He hasn't been living Has she been living?
You have been living You haven't been living Have you been living?
They have been living They haven't been living Have they been living?
Acciones que acaban de concluir y de las que nos interesan sus resultados
She has been cooking since last night (= y la comida preparada tiene un aspecto delicioso).
It's been raining (= y las calles aún están mojadas).
Someone's been eating my chips (= quedan la mitad).