Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect is a verb tense used to show that an action has taken place once or many times before now. When we use the present perfect it means that something has happened at some point in our lives before now. You CANNOT use the present perfect with specific time expressions such as: yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc. We CAN use the present perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.

Present Perfect Forms

The present perfect is formed using has/have + past participle. Questions are indicated by inverting the subject and has/have. Negatives are made with not.

 

(+) S + Have/has + past participle (Verb 3)

    You have seen that movie many times.

(?) Have/has + past participle (Verb 3)

    Have you seen that movie many times?

 

(-) S + Have/has + not + past participle (Verb 3)

   You have not seen that movie many times.

 

How do you actually use the present perfect?

We use the present perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The concept of "unspecified time" can be very confusing to English learners. It is best to associate present perfect with the following topics:

1.    Accomplishment

We often use the present perfect to say that an action which we expected has or has not happened.

It is used to list the accomplishments of individuals and humanity in which uou cannot mention a specific time.

 

Examples:

Scientists have split the atom.

James has not finished his homework yet.

The army has attacked that city five times.

I have had four quizzes and five tests so far this semester.

We have had many major problems while working on this project.

 

2.    Experience

You can use the present perfect to describe your experience. It is like saying, "I have the experience of..." You can also use this tense to say that you have never had a certain experience.

 

Examples:

I have never been to France.

Nobody has ever climbed that mountain.

Has there ever been a war in the United States?

He has never traveled by train.

Have you ever met him?

 

3.    Duration

We often use the present perfect to talk about an action that has happened over a period of time.

 

Examples:

I have had a cold for two weeks.

She has been in England for six months.

Mary has loved chocolate since she was a little girl.

You have grown since the last time I saw you.

My English has really improved since I moved to Australia.

 

4.    Checking

We often use the present perfect to say that an action which we expected has not happened. Using the present perfect suggests that we are still waiting for the action to happen.

 

Examples:

Have you read the book yet?

Has he arrived?

Have you done your homwork?

Has she packed the suitcase?

Have you had breakfast?