Neil on me, Sufi.

Hello.

In this programme we're going to show you how to use the words four on since with the present perfect tense.

That's right, Andi.

There'll be a quiz at the end of the show.

So listen carefully.

Yeah, let's get started.

Catherine here.

Hello.

Has got two sentences for us.

But which one uses present?

Perfect.

I've worked at the BBC for eight years.

I worked at the BBC for eight years.

Thank you, Catherine.

And the first sentence I've worked at the BBC for eight years is in the present.

Perfect tense.

It means that Katherine started work at the BBC eight years ago and still works at the BBC.

Now the second sentence is in the past simple and the meaning is different.

I worked at the BBC for eight years.

Means the speaker works for the BBC in the past, but they don't work there.

Now let's hear those again.

I've worked at the BBC for eight years.

I worked at the BBC for eight years, so the present perfect helps us talk about situations that started in the past and are still happening.

Now.

We make the present perfect tense with the subject, plus have who has or haven't or hasn't.

Yes subject plus half has.

Haven't or hasn't plus the past participle form off the verb.

Some more examples, please.

Katherine Alicia has lived in Paris since 1996.

I've known Alex for 20 years, so these situations are still happening.

Alicia still lives in Paris, and Catherine and Alex are still friends.

Both examples have a time expression.

Here's the 1st 1 again.

Alicia has lived in Paris since 1996.

The word since gives the exact point in the past when the situation started a particular year, for example, since 1996 and the point in the past that we use with since could be a day, a month, a season or a time of day.

Catherine, they've been married since March.

I've bean ill since last Friday.

Faruk has drunk three cups of coffee since two o'clock.

The point in the past can also be a situation or events.

I haven't eaten anything since I got up.

I've known Alex since primary school, so that's since to refer to a point in time when a situation started.

Now let's look at four.

We use four with the present perfect tense to say how long the situation has lasted.

I've known Alex for 20 years for 20 years.

Catherine met Alex 20 years ago, and they still know each other now, So it's present.

Perfect plus four plus a length of time.

I've known Alex for 20 years.

The length of time could be 46 months for a week for two minutes for 10 seconds for 50 years.

For 10,000 years.

BBC learning english dot com.

And we're talking about the present perfect tense with four.

And since Did you know Sophie?

I've worked at the BBC for 13 years.

Have you?

Really, Neil, it's 1/2 on.

I haven't had a day off sick since I started.

Really?

No.

Not ready.

How long have you worked at the BBC, Sophie?

Well, Neil, I've done bits and bobs for about a year.

You can also ask this question with the present perfect continuous tense like this.

How long have you bean working at the BBC?

It's very similar to the present perfect simple tents and is common when we're asking about temporary or unfinished situations and activities, and now it's quiz time.

Neil will give the answers.

Number one.

Which sentence is correct?

A.

I've lived here since two years or be I've lived here for two years.

It's be I've lived here for two years.

Number two.

A maker hasn't spoken to Jackie, for they went on a holiday.

Be Mika hasn't spoken to Jackie since they went on a holiday.

It's be Mika hasn't spoken to Jackie since they went on holiday and number three A.

You have been listening to six minute grammar for the last six minutes.

Be you're listening to six minute grammar for the last six minutes.

It's a You have been listening to six minute grammar for the last six minutes because you're still listening.

We hope there's lots more about this on our website.