We can use the present perfect to discuss our experience up to the present.
Examples:
I have been to Paris.
I have never eaten peaches.
Have you seen this film?
The present perfect can also be used to discuss an activity that started in the past, continues to the present, and may continue into the future.
Examples:
I have lived in Athens for two years.
I have studied Medicine since 2012.
Have you been here since the party started?
We don’t use the present perfect tense with specific time expressions. The present perfect tense is used when it’s important IF the action happened or not, but not (or we don’t know) WHEN exactly.
For example, we DON’T say:
I have eaten a pizza yesterday.
I have been to Spain last year.
If we want to include a specific time expression, we would instead use the simple past tense.
For example:
I ate a pizza yesterday.
I went to Spain last year.
Sometimes we use time indicators for emphasis. Such as:
- Since
- For
- Already
- Yet
- Still
- Never
- Ever
- Before
Examples:
I haven’t climbed Mount Everest yet.
I still haven’t seen the new Star Wars film.
I have already been here.
Have you been to Spain before?