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.
The Present Perfect tense is really a very interesting tense, and a very useful one. Try
not to translate the Present Perfect into your language. Just try to accept the concepts
of this tense and learn to "think" Present Perfect! You will soon learn to like the
Present Perfect tense!
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?
subject auxiliary verb main verb
? 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 He's
She has She's
It has It's
John has John's
The car has 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 In my head, I have a
past. 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.
Connection with past: the past is the opposite of the present
Connection with present: the present is the opposite of the past
Americans do use the Present Perfect but less than British speakers. Americans often
use the Past Simple tense instead. An American might say "Did you have lunch?",
where a British person would say "Have you had lunch?"
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 It continues up to now. (It will probably
past. continue into the
future.)
Connection with past: the situation started in the past.
Connection with present: the situation continues in the present.
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.
- experience:
+ I've never seen avatar?
+ I've seen Star Wars more times than I can count ?
+ how many girlfriends or boyfriends have you had?
- Changes over time:
+ my videos have gotten better since I started
+ the Dalek River has gotten worse over the last few years
+ my singing has improved recently so
- Success:
+ he's made a lot of money
+ they've won a lot of awards over 5 million people have subscribed to my
youtube channel
Present Perfect Quiz
You can do this grammar quiz online or print it on paper. It tests what you learned on
the Present Perfect page.
1. Lindsay _____ not been to France.
has
is
have
2. _____ you finished your homework?
Have
Has
Is
3. They___ gone to a rock concert.
's
'es
've
4. _____ you been to Japan?
Is
Have
Has
5. We _____ never eaten Mexican food.
have
has
are
6. Andrea has _____ her umbrella.
forget
forgetting
forgotten
7. _____ the sun come up?
Was
Have
Has
8. The children ________ the lost puppy.
have find
is finding
have found
9. Wiwi's been a vegetarian _____ three years.
since
for
after
10. I haven't worked _____ last December.
since
for
by
1. has
2. Have
3. 've
4. Have
5. have
6. forgotten
7. Has
8. have found
9. for
10. since
