Present Perfect
The present perfect tense connects the past to the present, showing actions or experiences that happened at an unspecified time before now or that started in the past and continue to the present. It is often used with markers like already, yet, just, or since to emphasize relevance to the present.
Table of Contents
1.Structures
1.1Structures of Sentences / Regular Verbs
To form the present perfect tense, follow these basic rules:
S = Subject
3 p.s. = third person singular (he / she / it)
hasn't = has not
haven't = have not
QW = question word
| Structure | Examples | |
|---|---|---|
| + | S + have / has(3 p.s.) + Verb(+ed / d) + ... | I have visited John twice. He has visited John twice. |
| - | S + haven't / hasn't(3 p.s.) + Verb(+ed / d) +... | We haven't liked loud music since 1990. |
| ? | (QW) + have / has(3 p.s.) + S + Verb(+ed / d) +...? | Have you called him yet? Where has he worked for already 5 years? |
Practice Examples
They (play) _____ soccer today.
She (work) _____ at the company for five years.
He (finish) _____ his homework already.
1.2Structures of Sentences / Irregular Verbs
To form the present perfect tense, follow these basic rules:
S = Subject
(III) = the past participle form of the main verb → Irregular Verbs List (3d column)
hasn't = has not
haven't = have not
QW = question word
| Structure | Examples | |
|---|---|---|
| + | S + have / has(3 p.s.) + Verb(III) + ... | I have seen John twice. He has seen John twice. |
| - | S + haven't / hasn't(3 p.s.) + Verb(III) +... | We haven't seen John since 2015. |
| ? | (QW) + have / has(3 p.s.) + S + Verb(III) +...? | Have you seen him yet? Where has he been all this time? |
Practice Examples
I (be) _____ to the store.
We (take) _____ a trip to the mountains.
He (write) _____ a letter to his friend.
2.Use
2.1Action Finished by Now, Time not Known
Usually, news, but the details are in Past Simple.
| Example | Comment |
|---|---|
| 1. The Police have finally caught the murderer. | the news |
| They found him in a bar. | details |
| 2. I've bought a new car. | the news |
| It cost too much. | details |
| 3. He's read 2 new books! | the news |
| He read them in a library. | details |
Practice Examples
The athlete (not/break) _____ the world record yet.
A charity (donate) _____ thousands to disaster relief efforts this year.
The school (implement) _____ a new online system already. Now we can try it.
2.2The Period of Time We Talk about or Mean Isn’t Finished.
An incomplete period may be indicated by today or this morning/afternoon/evening/week/month/year/century etc.
The present perfect used with an incomplete period of time implies that the action happened or didn't happen at some undefined time during this period.
| Example | Comment |
|---|---|
| 1. Have you seen him today? | at any time today |
| 2. He has run 20 miles. | (so far) The focus is on the completion, result. |
| 3. Yes, I have/ Yes, I've seen him today. | at some time during the day |
| 4. Has he been here lately/recently? | at any time during the last week/month etc. |
| 5. He has been here recently. | at some undefined time during the last week/month etc. |
| He left recently*. | = He left a short time ago. |
- recently, used with a simple past tense, means 'a short time ago' The focus is on the completion, result.
Practice Examples
I (call) _____ him twice today.
She (visit) _____ the library this afternoon. (completed action. It is 2 PM now.)
We (travel) _____ to two countries this year. (completed action)
2.3Action Which Starts in the Past and Goes On in the Present
The action usually begins in the past and continues past the time of speaking in the present. Here we can often see so-called tense markers. Mind that they are not always reliable! ( lately, recently, for + period of time, all one's life, since + a point in time, all day/night/week etc ). However we focus on the result here, not on the process.
| Example | Comment |
|---|---|
| 1. I have lived here for 2 years. | I still live here. |
| 2. We have waited all day. | We are still waiting. |
| 3. He has always worked for us. | He still works for us. |
| 4. I haven't seen him since November. | Last time I saw him in November. Now it's January. |
| 5. I' ve lived here since I entered the University. | I entered the University in 2022 and came to live here. I still live here. |
| 6. I've made many new friends since I have lived here. | up to now, I still live here |
Practice Examples
I (live) _____ in this city for ten years.(NOT progressive. Focus on the completion)
They (study) _____ for their exams all week.(NOT progressive. Focus on the completion)
They (work) _____ on this project for over a year.(NOT progressive. Focus on the completion. They are still working on this project)
2.4Multiple Actions in the Past Which Are Likely to Repeat Again, Describing Experience.
The present perfect can be used here for habitual actions, repeated experiences or life experience up to the present moment, a unique and recent experience as well.
| Example | Comment |
|---|---|
| 1. They've always answered my letters. | It's usual for them. In the past and now as well. |
| 2. I've been to Paris twice. | Multiple action, my experience |
| 3. I've never been late for work. | It's habitual for me, not to be late. In the past and now as well. |
| 4. This is the best wine I have ever drunk. | used here to describe my life experience up to the present. |
| 5. It/This is the first time I have seen a mounted band. | to describe a unique and recent experience that has just occurred or is happening for the first time. |
| 6. It is only the second time he has been in a canoe. | to describe repeated experiences up to the present moment. |
Practice Examples
This is the third time we (have) _____ dinner at this restaurant.
This is the most challenging puzzle I (ever/solve) _____ .
I (eat) _____ sushi twice, and it was amazing.
3.Tricks
3.1to Be In / To
to be + in + place in perfect tenses focuses on the presence inside a location over a period of time. It means you are still in the place at the time of speaking.
| Example | Comment |
|---|---|
| She has been in the library all day long. | She is now in the library. |
| I've been in the room for 2 hours. | I am still here, in this room. |
| I've been in Paris for a week. | I arrived in Paris a week ago and I am now in Paris |
to be + to + place in perfect tenses means that the action (visiting or going to the place) is considered finished, and the focus is on the fact that you have been there at some point in the past. It does not indicate that you are currently in the place. You have already been there and have moved on.
| Example | Comment |
|---|---|
| She has been to the library twice. | past completed visit, experience. She is not in the library now. |
| I' ve been to the room many times. | I am not in the room now. |
| I've been to Paris three times. | I am not in Paris now. |
Practice Examples
They (be) _____ (in or to) _____ that house for over a decade. (They are still in that house)
She (be) _____ (in or to) _____ the same town her whole life. (She is alive)
She (be) _____ (in or to) _____ Paris three times.
3.2Already and Yet
| Type of Sentence | Example | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative + | I have already read the book. | something is done or achieved, often before the expected time |
| Gosh, he’s finished painting the kitchen already! | that’s more than was expected at this time | |
| Negative - | The bus hasn't come yet. | something has not happened up to now |
| I haven't decided on the topic yet, but I think I will speak about literature. | things which are expected but which have not happened | |
| Question ? | Has your brother finished school yet? | I expect that |
| Question ? | Has your brother already finished school? He’s only 17! | I’m surprised if your brother has finished school. I did not expect it to happen until later. |
As you can see, already in questions can suggest surprise on the part of the speaker, that something is unexpected.
3.3The Action Finishes At The Time Of Speaking
Sometimes, however, the action finishes at the time of speaking:
| Example | Comment |
|---|---|
| 1. (on meeting someone): I haven't seen you for ages! | but I see you now |
| 2. Where have you been all that time? | the "mentioned time" is over |
| 3. This room hasn't been cleaned for months. | but we are cleaning it now |
| 4. It has been very cold lately but it's just beginning to get warmer. | It's not that cold now |
Practice Examples
We (not be) _____ to this restaurant for ages! It's so cool here!
They (not speak) _____ to each other for so long! Let them enjoy the conversation.
He (not be) _____ to Europe for many years. He is so happy to be in Paris!
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