Present perfect
General principles
The present perfect describes an action or emotion which began in the past and which continues in the present. It is formed by using the auxilary "to have" with the participle:
- I have always wanted to visit Israel.
- Money has always been the problem and not the solution.
- I have discovered the answer.
After such expressions as "since", "for", "howlong", etc., one generally uses the present perfect or even the present perfect progressive:
- I have been in Paris for three weeks
- He has been telling that story for years!
- How long have you lived in Quebec?
In the negative, the present perfect expresses and action which has not yet occurred:
- I haven't finished yet.
- She said she would call, but she hasn't called.
Recent past
In conjunction with the word "just", the present perfect or the preterit can be used to express the recent past:
- I (have) just arrived.
- The film has just come out [or: The film just came out].
Note: do not confuse this use of "just" (which indicates the recent past) with "just about", which indicates, to the contrary, something which will happen in the near future:
- I have just about finished. (= I have almost finished; I will finish soon.)