Notes:

1)The present perfect tense is normally used for an action which lasts throughout an incomplete period, but with the past simple tense, we use time expressions which a fixed point in the past.

c.f.

We haven't seen Justin for a week.(He is still missing.)

Justin disappeared last week.(It may mean that this week Justin is here.)

He has smoked since he left school.(He still smokes.)

He smoked for six months.(It means that he stopped smoking then.

2) Sometimes, however, the action finishes at the time of speaking.

It has been very cold lately but it's just beginning to get warmer.

3)On meeting someone, you may say: I haven't seen you for ages.(But I see you now.)

4) For a past action whose time is not definite and often has a result in the present.

Tom has had a bad car crash.(He's probably still in hospital now.)

Tom had a bad car crash.(But he's probably out of hospital now.)

The lift has broken down.(We have to use the stairs.)

The lift broke down.( But it's probably working again now.)

5 Read the diary entry and then complete it using the correct forms of the verbs in brackets.

Answers:

(2) saw (3) has visited (4) loves (5) hasn't visited (6) has swum (7) has never met (8) has dived (9) has found (10) hasn't found (11) Has, been

6 Assignment