Present perfect

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Unfinished actions or situations

I have known Julie for ten years.

They have lived here since 2010.

We use 'since' with a fixed time in the past (2004, April 23rd, last year, two hours ago). The fixed time can be another action, indicated with the past simple (since I was at school, since I arrived):

I've known Sam since 1992.

I've liked chocolate since I was a child.

She's been here since 2pm.

We use 'for' with a period of time (2 hours, three years, six months):

I've known Julie for ten years.

I've been hungry for hours.

She's had a cold for a week.

since one o´clock for one hour

Finished actions or situations

Experience

(we don't say when the experience happened, just sometime in the past)

I have been to Tokyo.

She has lived in Germany.

They have visited Paris three times.

We have never seen that film.

Have you ever read 'War and Peace'?

Present result

I've lost my keys (so I can't get into my house).

She's hurt her leg (so she can't play tennis today).

They've missed the bus (so they will be late).

I've cooked dinner (so you should come and eat).

Unfinished time

(this month, this week, today, this year)

I haven't seen her this month.

She's drunk three cups of coffee today.

This week they've been shopping four times.

Indicators

since

for

already

just

recently

never

ever

yet

unfinished Actions or situations

finished actions or situations

indicators