Present Perfect 3 – Giving news

We use the present perfect when we give news. Something happened recently and for the person who is listening it is new and so there is the connection between the past and the present, which there must always be when we use the present perfect.

Examples

I‘ve bought a new car.
We have decided to get married.
They‘ve moved house.

On the news on the radio or on television, the headlines are given using the present perfect and then the details are given using the past simple.

Example

The American Congress has passed a law to reduce carbon omissions.
At 3 o’clock this afternoon Congress voted to reduce emissions.