Present Perfect

How Do You Actually Use The Present Perfect?

FORM: Present Perfect

[HAS / HAVE] + [Past Participle]

• I have seen that movie many times.

• He has never seen that movie.

NOTE: When you are using a verb tense with more than one part such as Present Perfect (have
seen), adverbs usually come between the first part and the second part (have never seen).

USE 1: An Unspecified Time Before Now

We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The
exact time is not important. You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with 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" or "one day." We CAN, and usually, use the Present Perfect with
expressions like "ever," "never," "once," "many times," "several times," "before," "so far,"
"already," “ago” and "yet."

• I have seen that movie twenty times.

• I think I have met him once before.
• There have been many earthquakes in California.
• Has there ever been a war in the United States?
• People have traveled to the moon.

Whenever we use the word since, we have to use a perfect, as “since” tells us when the action
began. “Yet” tells us that the action has not happened yet, but we expect it to.

TOPIC 1: Experience

You can use the Present Perfect to describe your experience. It can be like saying, "I
have the experience of..." You can also use this tense to say that you have never had a
certain experience. The Present Perfect is NOT used to describe a specific event, just
an event that happened sometime in the past.

• I have been to France. (This sentence means that you have the experience of being to
France. Maybe you have been once, or several times or only once.)
• I have been to France three times. (You can add the number of times at the end of the
sentence, but it still does not specify when it had happened.)
• I have never been to France. (This sentence means that you have not had the experience
of going to France.)
• I think I have seen that movie before.
• He has never traveled by train.
• Joan has studied two foreign languages.

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 • Have you ever met him? No, I have never met him.

TOPIC 2: Change Over Time

We often use the Present Perfect to talk about change that has happened over a period of time.

• You have become taller since the last time I saw you.
• The government has become more interested in killing its own citizens.
• Japanese has become one of the most popular courses at the university since the Asian
studies program was established.
• My Serbian has not really improved since I moved to Serbia.

TOPIC 3: Accomplishments

We often use the Present Perfect to list the accomplishments. You cannot mention a specific
time.

• Man has walked on the moon.

• Our son has learned how to read.
• Doctors have cured many deadly diseases.
• Scientists have split the atom.

TOPIC 4: An Uncompleted Action You Are Expecting

We often use the Present Perfect to say that an action we expect to happen that has not happened
yet. Using the Present Perfect suggests that we are still waiting for the action.

• James has not finished his homework yet.

• Susan hasn't mastered Japanese, but she can communicate. (Yet)
• Bill has still not arrived. (But we expect him to arrive shortly.)
• The rain hasn't stopped. (But it will sometime and we are waiting for that time)
• Timothy still has not learned to speak Serbian well. (But we all expect him to, someday.)

TOPIC 5 Multiple Actions at Different Times

We also use the Present Perfect to talk about several different actions, which occurred in the past
at different times. Present Perfect suggests the process is not complete and more actions are
possible.

• The army has attacked that city five times. (And it will probably attack again.)
• I have had four quizzes and five tests so far this semester. (And, unfortunately, I will have
more.)
• We have had many major problems while working on this project.
• He has talked to several specialists about her death, but still nobody knows who killed
Laura Palmer. (This, was of course said before we found out her father killed her.)

IMPORTANT

When we use the Present Perfect it means that something happened at some point in our lives

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before now. Remember, the exact time the action happened is not important, just that it had a
starting time in the past. Sometimes we want to limit the time we are looking in for an
experience. Expressions such as "in the last week," "in the last year," "this week," "this
month," "so far" and "up to now" can be used to narrow the time we are looking in for an
experience

• Have you been to Mexico in the last year. (We are only asking if they have been there
within the past 365 days.)
• I have seen that movie six times in the last month. (Only in the last month.)
• They have had three tests in the last week. (Only in the last week.)
• She graduated from university less than three years ago, but she has worked for three
different companies so far. (That would average to one company per year.)
• This week my car has broken down three times. (Time to set the old car on fire.)

NOTICE:

"Last year," and "in the last year," are very different in meaning. "Last year," means the year
before now. "In the last year," means from 365 days ago until now.

• I went to Mexico last year. (I went to Mexico in 2006.)

• I have been to Mexico in the last year. (I have been to Mexico at least once at some point
between 365 days ago and now. We do not know exactly when.)

USE 2 Duration From Past Until Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)

With Non-continuous Verbs and some non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, we use the Present
Perfect to show that something started in the past and has continued up until now. "For five
minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Tuesday," are all durations that can be used with the
Present Perfect.

• 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.

ACTIVE / PASSIVE Present Perfect

Many tourists have visited that castle. ACTIVE

That castle has been visited by many tourists. PASSIVE

Present Perfect Continuous

FORM Present Perfect Continuous
[HAS / HAVE] + [BEEN] + [VERB+ing]

• I have been waiting here for two hours.

• She has only been studying English for two years.

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NOTE: When you are using a verb tense with more than one part such as Present Perfect
Continuous (has been studying), adverbs often come between the first part and the second part
(has only been studying).

USE 1: Duration From The Past Until Now

We use the Present Perfect Continuous to show that something started in the past and has
continued up until now. "For five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Tuesday," are all
durations, which can be used with the Present Perfect Continuous.

• They have been talking for the last hour.

• She has been working at that company for three years.
• James has been teaching at the University since June.
USE 2: Recently, Lately

You can use the Present Perfect Continuous WITHOUT a duration such as "for five minutes,”
"for two weeks," and "since Tuesday" Without the durations, the this tense gives a more general
meaning of, "lately." We often use the words "lately," or "recently," in the sentence to
strengthen this meaning.

• Recently, I have been feeling really tired.

• She has been watching too much television lately.
• Mary has been feeling a little depressed.
IMPORTANT:

Remember that the Present Perfect Continuous has the meaning of "lately" or "recently." If you
use the Present Perfect Continuous in a question such as "Have you been feeling alright?" it
suggests that the person looks sick or unhealthy. A question such as "Have you been smoking?"
suggests that you can smell the smoke on the person. Using this tense in a question suggests you
can see, smell, hear, or feel the results of the action. It is possible to insult someone by using
this tense incorrectly.
IMPORTANT: Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that Non-Continuous Verbs cannot be used in any continuous tenses.
Also, certain non-continuous meanings for Mixed Verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. To
express the idea of Present Perfect Continuous with these exception verbs, you must use Present
Perfect.

• Sam has been having his car for two years. Not Correct
• Sam has had his car for two years. Correct

ACTIVE / PASSIVE Present Perfect Continuous

• Recently, John has been doing the work. ACTIVE

• Recently, the work has been being done by John. PASSIVE
!NOTE: Present Perfect Continuous is rarely used in its passive form!

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 Verb Tense Exercises
Present Perfect / Present Perfect Continuous

Robin: I think the waiter (forget) us. We (wait) here for over
half an hour and nobody (take) our order yet.
Michele: I think you're right. He (walk) by us at least twenty times. He
probably thinks we (order, already) .
Robin: Look at that couple over there, they (be, only) here for five or ten
minutes and they already have their food.
Michele: He must realize we (order, not) yet! We (sit) here
for over half an hour staring at him.
Robin: I don't know if he (notice, even) us. He (run) from table to
table taking orders and serving food.
Michele: That's true, and he (look, not) in our direction once.

1. A: How long (be) in Canada?

B: I (study) here for more than three years.

2. I (have) the same car for more than ten years. I'm thinking about
buying a new one.

3. I (love) chocolate since I was a child. You might even call me a

"chocoholic".

4. Matt and Sarah (have) some difficulties in their relationship lately,

so they (go) to a marriage counselor. I hope they work everything
out.

5. John (work) for the government since he graduated from Harvard

University. Until recently, he (enjoy) his work, but now he is
talking about retiring.

6. Lately, I (think) about changing my career because I (become)

dissatisfied with the conditions at my company.

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7. I (see) Judy for more than five years and during that time I have
(see) many changes in her personality.