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.
Before this, learn: Past SimpleIrregular Verbs Part I
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 | |
|---|---|---|
| + Affirmative | S + have / has(3 p.s.) + Verb(+ed / d) + ... | I have visited John twice. He has visited John twice. |
| - Negative | S + haven't / hasn't(3 p.s.) + Verb(+ed / d) +... | We haven't liked loud music since 1990. |
| ? Question | (QW) + have / has(3 p.s.) + S + Verb(+ed / d) +...? | Have you called him yet? Where has he worked for already 5 years? |
Test yourself
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 | |
|---|---|---|
| + Affirmative | S + have / has(3 p.s.) + Verb(III) + ... | I have seen John twice. He has seen John twice. |
| - Negative | S + haven't / hasn't(3 p.s.) + Verb(III) +... | We haven't seen John since 2015. |
| ? Question | (QW) + have / has(3 p.s.) + S + Verb(III) +...? | Have you seen him yet? Where has he been all this time? |
Test yourself
2.Use
2.1Action Finished by Now, Time not Known
Usually, news, but the details are in Past Simple.
| Example | Comment |
|---|---|
| The Police have finally caught the murderer. | the news |
| They found him in a bar. | details |
| I've bought a new car. | the news |
| It cost too much. | details |
| He's read 2 new books! | the news |
| He read them in a library. | details |
Test yourself
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 |
|---|---|
| Have you seen him today? | at any time today |
| He has run 20 miles. | (so far) The focus is on the completion, result. |
| Yes, I have/ Yes, I've seen him today. | at some time during the day |
| Has he been here lately/recently? | at any time during the last week/month etc. |
| 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.
Test yourself
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 |
|---|---|
| I have lived here for 2 years. | I still live here. |
| We have waited all day. | We are still waiting. |
| He has always worked for us. | He still works for us. |
| I haven't seen him since November. | Last time I saw him in November. Now it's January. |
| I' ve lived here since I entered the University. | I entered the University in 2022 and came to live here. I still live here. |
| I've made many new friends since I have lived here. | up to now, I still live here |
Test yourself
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 |
|---|---|
| They've always answered my letters. | It's usual for them. In the past and now as well. |
| I've been to Paris twice. | Multiple action, my experience |
| I've never been late for work. | It's habitual for me, not to be late. In the past and now as well. |
| This is the best wine I have ever drunk. | used here to describe my life experience up to the present. |
| 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. |
| It is only the second time he has been in a canoe. | to describe repeated experiences up to the present moment. |
Test yourself
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. |
Test yourself
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.
Test yourself
3.3The Action Finishes At The Time Of Speaking
Sometimes, however, the action finishes at the time of speaking:
| Example | Comment |
|---|---|
| (on meeting someone): I haven't seen you for ages! | but I see you now |
| Where have you been all that time? | the "mentioned time" is over |
| This room hasn't been cleaned for months. | but we are cleaning it now |
| It has been very cold lately but it's just beginning to get warmer. | It's not that cold now |
Test yourself
4.Frequently asked questions
When do you use the present perfect?
You use the present perfect for past actions that matter now: experiences, news and results, unfinished time periods, and situations that are still true. For example: "I've been to Paris twice" (experience), "I've bought a new car" (news), "Have you seen him today?" (today isn't over) and "I have lived here for two years" (I still live here). When you add the details of when and how, switch to the past simple: "I've bought a new car. I bought it on Monday."
Have went or have gone: which verb form do you use in the present perfect?
Use have or has plus the past participle, the third form of the verb: "I have gone", not "I have went". Has goes with he, she and it, and have with I, you, we and they. Regular verbs add -ed ("She has worked"), but irregular verbs have their own third form: say "I have seen it", not "I have saw it", and "She has eaten", not "She has ate". Negatives use haven't or hasn't ("He hasn't called"), and questions put have or has first: "Have you finished?"
For or since with the present perfect: which is correct?
Use for with a length of time ("for five years") and since with the starting point ("since 2020"). So say "I have lived here for five years", not "I have lived here since five years" or "I live here for five years". For answers "How long?" (for two hours, for ages), and since answers "From when?" (since Monday, since November). Since can also start a clause in the past simple: "I've made many friends since I moved here."
Been to or been in: what's the difference in the present perfect?
"Been to" a place means you visited it and came back; "been in" a place means you stayed there for a time, often until now. Compare "She has been to Paris three times" (she isn't there now) with "She has been in Paris for a week" (she is still there). With been in, you usually say how long: "They've been in the office all day." Gone to is different again: "He has gone to Paris" means he went there and hasn't come back yet.
How do you use already, just and yet with the present perfect?
Already and just usually go between have and the main verb in positive sentences, while yet usually goes at the end of negatives and questions. For example: "I have already read the book", "She's just arrived" and "The bus hasn't come yet." Already means sooner than expected, just means a very short time ago, and yet means up to now, when you expect it to happen: "Has your brother finished school yet?" Already in a question can show surprise: "Has he already finished school? He's only 17!"
