Present Perfect Tense
The Present Perfect tense is a rather important tense in English, but it gives speakers of some languages a difficult time. That is because it uses concepts or ideas that do not exist in those languages.
In fact, the structure of the Present Perfect is very simple. The problems come with the use of the tense. In addition, there are some differences in usage between British and American English.
In this lesson we look at the structure and use of the Present Perfect tense, as well as the use of for and since, followed by a quiz to check your understanding.
How do we make the Present Perfect tense?
The structure of the Present Perfect is:
subject | + | auxiliary have | + | main verb |
conjugated in Present Simple | ||||
have, has | past participle |
The auxiliary verb (have) is conjugated in the Present Simple: have, has
The main verb is invariable in past participle form: -ed (or irregular)
For negative sentences we insert not between the auxiliary verb and the main verb.
For question sentences, we exchange the subject and the auxiliary verb.
Look at these example sentences with the Present Perfect tense:
subject | auxiliary verb | main verb | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
+ | I | have | seen | ET. | |
+ | You | have | eaten | mine. | |
– | She | has | not | been | to Rome. |
– | We | have | not | played | football. |
? | Have | you | finished? | ||
? | Have | they | done | it? |
Contraction with Present Perfect
When we use the Present Perfect in speaking, we often contract the subject and auxiliary verb. We also sometimes do this in informal writing.
I have | I’ve |
You have | You’ve |
He has She has It has John has The car has |
He’s She’s It’s John’s The car’s |
We have | We’ve |
They have | They’ve |
- You’ve told me that before.
- John’s seen Harry Potter.
In negative sentences, we may contract the auxiliary verb and “not”:
- You haven’t won the contest.
- She hasn’t heard from him.
He’s or he’s??? Be careful! The ‘s contraction is used for the auxiliary verbs have and be. For example, “It’s eaten” can mean:
- It has eaten. (Present Perfect tense, active voice)
- It is eaten. (Present Simple tense, passive voice)
It is usually clear from the context.
How do we use the Present Perfect tense?
This tense is called the Present Perfect tense. There is always a connection with the past and with the present.
We use the Present Perfect to talk about:
- experience
- change
- continuing situation
Present Perfect for experience
We often use the Present Perfect to talk about experience from the past. We are not interested in when you did something. We only want to know if you did it:
I have seen an alien. He has lived in Bangkok. Have you been there? We have never eaten caviar. |
|||||
past | present | future | |||
|
|||||
The action or state was in the past. | In my head, I have a memory now. |
Connection with past: the event was in the past
Connection with present: in my head, now, I have a memory of the event; I know something about the event; I have experience of it
Present Perfect for change
We also use the Present Perfect to talk about a change, or new information:
I have bought a car. | ||
past | present | future |
– | + | |
Last week I didn’t have a car. | Now I have a car. |
John has broken his leg. | ||
past | present | future |
+ | – | |
Yesterday John had a good leg. | Now he has a bad leg. |
Has the price gone up? | ||
past | present | future |
+ | – | |
Was the price $1.50 yesterday? | Is the price $1.70 today? |
The police have arrested the killer. | ||
past | present | future |
– | + | |
Yesterday the killer was free. | Now he is in prison. |
Present Perfect for continuing situation
We often use the Present Perfect to talk about a continuing situation. This is a state that started in the past and continues in the present (and will probably continue into the future). This is a situation (not an action). We usually use for or since with this structure.
I have worked here since June. He has been ill for 2 days. How long have you known Tara (for)? |
|||||||
past | present | future | |||||
|
|||||||
The situation started in the past. | It continues up to now. | (It will probably continue into the future.) |
For and Since with Present Perfect tense
We often use for and since with perfect tenses:
- We use for to talk about a period of time: five minutes, two weeks, six years
- We use since to talk about a point in past time: 9 o’clock, 1st January, Monday
for | since |
a period of time | a point in past time |
– – – – – – – – – – – – | – • – – – – – – – – – – |
20 minutes | 6.15pm |
three days | Monday |
6 months | January |
4 years | 1994 |
2 centuries | 1800 |
a long time | I left school |
ever | the beginning of time |
etc | etc |
Look at these example sentences using for and since with the Present Perfect tense:
I have been here for twenty minutes.
I have been here since 9 o’clock.
John hasn’t called for six months.
John hasn’t called since February.
He has worked in New York for a long time.
He has worked in New York since he left school.
Present Perfect Quiz
You can do this grammar quiz. It tests what you learned on the Present Perfect page.
Great article. 0mniartist asmr
It’s in fact very complex in this full of activity life to listen news on TV, so I just use internet for that
purpose, and take the newest news. asmr 0mniartist
This paragraph presents clear idea in support of the
new viewers of blogging, that actually how to do blogging.
asmr 0mniartist
Appreciate this post. Let me try it out. asmr 0mniartist
Hi! Would you mind if I share your blog with my facebook group?
There’s a lot of people that I think would really enjoy your content.
Please let me know. Cheers 0mniartist asmr
Definitely consider that that you stated. Your favourite reason appeared to be at
the net the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to
you, I definitely get irked while other folks think about
issues that they plainly do not recognize about.
You controlled to hit the nail upon the top and also outlined out the entire thing with no need side-effects ,
other people could take a signal. Will likely be back to get more.
Thank you asmr 0mniartist
I’m really inspired with your writing talents and also with the structure in your weblog.
Is that this a paid subject or did you customize it yourself?
Anyway keep up the nice quality writing, it is rare to peer a nice weblog like this one
nowadays.. asmr 0mniartist
Hello, its fastidious post about media print, we all be familiar with media is
a great source of facts. asmr 0mniartist
We are a group of volunteers and opening a new scheme in our community.
Your website offered us with valuable information to work on. You’ve done an impressive job and our entire community will be
grateful to you. asmr 0mniartist
Fastidious replies in return of this issue with real arguments and explaining the whole thing about that.
asmr 0mniartist
Really appreciate you sharing this article post.Much thanks again. Much obliged.
Hey, thanks for the article post.Thanks Again. Really Great.
Great, thanks for sharing this post.Much thanks again. Keep writing.
Major thankies for the blog.Thanks Again. Awesome.
Hi there! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new iphone
4! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look
forward to all your posts! Carry on the fantastic work!
I value the blog.Really thank you! Great.
Major thanks for the blog.Thanks Again. Really Cool.
I really liked your post. Great.
Thanks so much for the article.Much thanks again. Awesome.
Really appreciate you sharing this blog article. Much obliged.
Appreciate you sharing, great article.Much thanks again. Really Cool.
wow, awesome blog.Really looking forward to read more. Great.
wow, awesome article post.Really thank you! Fantastic.
Looking forward to reading more. Great article.Really thank you! Great.
I appreciate you sharing this blog article. Awesome.
Say, you got a nice blog article. Want more.
Great blog article.Really looking forward to read more. Great.
Thanks for sharing, this is a fantastic article post.Really thank you! Fantastic.
Thanks a lot for the blog article. Keep writing.
Looking forward to reading more. Great article post.Really thank you! Will read on…
Thanks-a-mundo for the blog post.Really thank you! Really Cool.
Really enjoyed this article post.Really looking forward to read more. Much obliged.
Im thankful for the blog post.Thanks Again. Really Great.
Thank you for your blog post. Keep writing.
I appreciate you sharing this blog post.Really looking forward to read more. Great.
Appreciate the useful info I love sucking dick btw hmu
Thanks for sharing. I love sucking dick btw hmu
I cannot thank you enough for the blog post.Much thanks again. Fantastic.
Thank you ever so for you article post.Really looking forward to read more. Keep writing.