LoginPresent Perfect
This lesson explores the Present Perfect with concise explanations and practical examples to help you grasp the concept better.
What Is Present Perfect Tense?
The present perfect tense refers to an action or state that has occurred at an indefinite time in the past or began in the past and continues to the present time.
Present Perfect: Structure
The present perfect is formed using the appropriate form of the auxiliary verb 'have' in the present tense, followed by the past participle form of the main verb. The past participle is typically formed by adding -ed to the base form of the verb (e.g. looked, ended, tutored) but there are also some irregular forms (e.g. broken, made, understood).
When using the present perfect tense in speech, the auxiliary verb can be contracted and attach to the subject. For example:
I have been to Paris. → I've been to Paris.
She has lost her purse. → She's lost her purse.
Present Perfect: Negation
To make a negative sentences in the present perfect tense, 'not' is added after the auxiliary verb. Check out the examples:
I have been to Paris. → I have not been to Paris.
She has lost her purse. → She has not lost he purse.
In negative sentences, the negative marker 'not' can be contracted by attaching to the auxiliary. See the examples:
I have not been to Paris. → I haven't been to Paris.
She has not lost he purse. → She hasn't lost her purse.
Present Perfect: Questions
In yes/no questions, the subject and the auxiliary are inverted. Look at these examples with the present perfect tense:
I have been to Paris. → Have I been to Paris?
She has lost her purse.→ Has she lost her purse?
In wh- question the proper question word comes at the beginning of the sentence and the subject and verb are inverted, just like yes/no questions. Look at the examples:
She has been to Paris. → Where has she been?
She has lost her purse. → What has she lost?
Present Perfect: Uses
The present perfect tense is used to talk about:
Actions That Happened at an Unspecified Time in the Past
Actions That Started in the Past and Continue to the Present
Recent Actions with Present Results
Repeated Actions at Different Times
Recently Finished Actions
Actions That Happened at an Unspecified Time in the Past
We use the present perfect tense to talk about an action that happened sometime in the past, but the exact time is not known or is not important. In this case, the exact time is not mentioned. Check out the following examples:
Someone has eaten my sandwich!
She has studied biology, math and physics.
Actions That Started in the Past and Continue to the Present
We use the 'present perfect tense' to talk about an action that started in the past and continues in the present. In other words, these are unfinished actions that are still happening at the moment of talking. For example:
We've been married for twenty years.
She has worked in the library for six years.
The 'present perfect tense' is used to talk about something that is not finished or at least you believe is not finished. Check out the examples.
It has rained a lot this year.
We haven't seen her today.
Past Actions with Present Results
We use the 'present perfect tense' to talk about an action that happened in the past but still has a consequence in the present. This means you can see the results even after the action is completed. For example:
I can't pay the cab driver. I've lost my purse.
Kelly's hurt her ankle, so she can't play football today.
Repeated Actions at Different Times
The 'present perfect tense' is used to talk about an action that has been repeated at unspecified intervals between the past and now. The action can take place at any time from the past to the present. In this case, the focus of the sentence is repetition of the action, not the time when it happened. Check out the examples:
It has happened several times already.
She has visited them frequently.
Recently Finished Actions
We use the 'present perfect tense' to talk about actions that ended recently. In this case, the time when the action happened is not mentioned. We normally use the adverb 'just' with this use. For example:
He has just seen the news.
I have broken the vase.
Common Markers
'Since' and 'For'
Both 'since' and 'for' show duration of the action. The preposition 'for' is used with a time period (e.g., 2 hours, three years, six months). We use 'since' with a specific time or date in the past (e.g., 2004, April 23rd, last year). We can also use it with another past action or event (e.g., since I was at school, since his arrival).
Since → refers to a point in time
For → refers to a period of time
I've known Peter since 1990.
I've known Amanda for five years.
'Yet' and 'Still'
'Yet' is used to refer to an action that we expect to happen soon; it is used in a negative or interrogative present perfect sentences to mean 'up to now' or 'so far'.
Note that 'yet' comes at the end of the sentence or question. for example:
I haven't received a letter from him yet.
Have you finished your homework yet?
'Still' is used to refer to an action that we expected to have happened by now but has not. It is only used in negative present perfect sentences.
Note that 'still' comes after the subject and before the auxiliary verb. For example:
She still hasn't finished the project.
'Ever' and 'Never'
The adverb 'ever' is often used in interrogative and sometimes negative sentences to talk about experience up to the present moment. 'Never' is a negative adverb with the same meaning, but it is only used with affirmative verbs.
- "Have you ever met John?" + "Yes, but I've never met his son."
We have never watched the movie 'Titanic.'
Has she ever tried sushi?
'Just'
The adverb 'just' is used with the 'present perfect tense' to talk about an action completed in the very recent past. It means the action was performed a very short time before now. Here are the examples:
Have you just finished work?
I have just eaten.
'Already' and 'Recently'
We often use 'already' and 'recently' with the present perfect tense to talk about something that happened at an unspecified time in the past.
I haven't seen them recently.
Jamie has already left the city.
Review
Present perfect tense is used to talk about completed actions. The structure of the tense is as follows:
structure | subject + have/ has + past participle |
|---|---|
affirmative | They have met Sara at the cinema. |
negative | They have not met Sara at the cinema |
contraction | They've not met Sara at the cinema./ They haven't met Sara at the cinema. |
yes/ no question | Have they met Sara at the cinema? |
-Wh question | Where have they met Sara? |
Present perfect tense is used in the following contexts:
to talk about things that happened sometime in the past.
to talk about things that started in past and continue up to now.
to talk about things that happened in the past but are still important.
to talk about an action that is repeated at unspecified intervals.
to talk about an action that has finished recently.
Quiz:
Choose the correct sentence in the present perfect tense:
She have eaten breakfast already.
She has eating breakfast already.
She has eaten breakfast already.
She have eating breakfast already.
Sort the words to make a negative sentence using present perfect tense.
Complete each sentence with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.
We
(finish) our tasks already.
They
(not visit) their grandparents since last summer.
It
(rain) all morning, so the streets are wet.
How long
(he/work) at that company?
(you/watch) this movie?
Match each sentence to the correct use of the Present Perfect tense.
Complete the table by choosing the correct marker. (There is one extra option.)
| Used with: | Marker |
|---|---|
specific point in time or another event | |
duration/period | |
negative verb only | |
affirmative verbs only | |
negative and interrogative sentences |
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