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Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense indicates a link between the past and present. It is used to describe actions that began in the past and continue in the present, actions that occurred in a period not yet finished, and repeated actions in an unspecified time between the past and now. The present perfect is formed using the present tense of have (has/have) plus the past participle of the main verb. It can be made affirmative, negative, or interrogative.

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194 views2 pages

Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense indicates a link between the past and present. It is used to describe actions that began in the past and continue in the present, actions that occurred in a period not yet finished, and repeated actions in an unspecified time between the past and now. The present perfect is formed using the present tense of have (has/have) plus the past participle of the main verb. It can be made affirmative, negative, or interrogative.

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priyonoz Darmantoz
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Present Perfect Tense

Definition of the present perfect tense

The present perfect is used to indicate a link between the present and the past. The
time of the action is before now but not specified, and we are often more interested
in the result than in the action itself.

The present perfect is used to describe

 An action or situation that started in the past and continues in the present. I
have lived in Bristol since 1984 (= and I still do.)
 An action performed during a period that has not yet finished. She has been to
the cinema twice this week (= and the week isn't over yet.)
 A repeated action in an unspecified period between the past and now. We have
visited Portugal several times.
 An action that was completed in the very recent past, expressed by 'just'. I
have just finished my work.
 An action when the time is not important. He has read 'War and Peace'. (=
the result of his reading is important)

Actions started in the past and continuing in the present

 They haven't lived here for years.


 She has worked in the bank for five years.
 We have had the same car for ten years.
 Have you played the piano since you were a child?

When the time period referred to has not finished

 I have worked hard this week.


 It has rained a lot this year.
 We haven't seen her today.

Actions repeated in an unspecified period between the past and now.

 They have seen that film six times


 It has happened several times already.
 She has visited them frequently.
 We have eaten at that restaurant many times.

Actions completed in the very recent past (+just)

 Have you just finished work?


 I have just eaten.
 We have just seen her.
 Has he just left?

When the precise time of the action is not important or not known
 Someone has eaten my soup!
 Have you seen 'Gone with the Wind'?
 She's studied Japanese, Russian, and English.

Forming the present perfect

The present perfect of any verb is composed of two elements : the appropriate form of
the auxiliary verb to have (present tense), plus the past participle of the main verb.
The past participle of a regular verb is base+ed, e.g. played, arrived, looked. For
irregular verbs, see the Table of irregular verbs in the section called 'Verbs'.

Affirmative
Subject +to have +past participle
She has visited.
Negative
Subject +to have + not +past participle
She has not (hasn't) visited.
Interrogative
to have +subject +past participle
Has she visited?
Negative interrogative
to have + not +subject +past participle
Hasn't she visited?

To Walk, present perfect

Affirmative Negative Interrogative


I have walked I haven't walked Have I walked?
You have walked You haven't walked. Have you walked?
He, she, it has walked He, she, hasn't walked Has he, she, it walked?
We have walked We haven't walked Have we walked?
You have walked You haven't walked Have you walked?
They have walked They haven't walked Have they walked?

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