PRESENT PERFECT

The present perfect simple expresses an action that is still going on or that stopped recently, but has
an influence on the present. It puts emphasis on the result.

Form of Present Perfect

To make the positive present perfect tense, use:

 'have' / 'has' + the past participle V3

 Make the past participle by adding 'ed' to regular verbs (for example, 'play' becomes
'played')
 There are a few verbs that change their spelling when you add 'ed' (for example, 'study'
becomes 'studied')
 We also have some completely irregular verbs

Positive Positive Short Form

I have played I've played
you have worked you've worked
he has written he's written
she has walked she's walked
it has rained it's rained
we have travelled we've travelled
they have studied they've studied
The negative is really simple too. Just put 'not' after 'have' or 'has':

Negative Negative Short Form

I have not eaten breakfast today I haven't eaten
you have not been to Asia you haven't been
he has not seen the new film he hasn't seen
she has not played tennis she hasn't played
it has not snowed this winter it hasn't snowed
we have not slept all night we haven't slept
they have not tried the food they haven't tried

To make a question, put 'have' or 'has' in front of the subject:

'Yes / No' Questions

have I missed the bus?
have you visited London?
has he worked as a waiter before?
has she met John?
has it been cold this week?
have we arrived too early?
have they studied English grammar before?
As you can imagine, for 'wh' questions, we just put the question word before 'have' or 'has':

'Wh' Questions
where have I left my umbrella?
what have you done today?
why has he gone already?
where has she been in the UK?
why has it rained so much this summer?
what have we done?
where have they learned English before?

  Positive Negative Question

I / you / we / the I have spoken. I have not spoken. Have I spoken?

y

he / she / it He has spoken. He has not spoken. Has he spoken?

Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ‘ed’

Exceptions in spelling when adding ed Example

after a final e only add d love – loved

final consonant after a short, stressed vowel admit – admitted

or l as final consonant after a vowel is
 doubled travel – travelled

final y after a consonant becomes i hurry – hurried

Use of Present Perfect

 puts emphasis on the result
Example: She has written five letters.

 action that is still going on

Example: School has not started yet.

 action that stopped recently

Example: She has cooked dinner.

 finished action that has an influence on the present

Example: I have lost my key.

 action that has taken place once, never or several times before the moment of speaking
Example: I have never been to Australia. I have visited Paris.

Signal Words of Present Perfect

 already, ever, just, never, not yet, so far, till now, up to now

The uses of the present perfect simple tense:

1. To emphasize on the result of a past action without mentioning the actual time when it
happened:

Examples:

  I have met that girl before.

 We have discussed this issue a few times.

2. Action performed in a period that has not finished yet (the same day, week, month, etc.):

Examples:

  Have you seen Lacy today? (The day is not over yet.)

  I have had several tests this month. (The month has not finished yet.)
3. Action that started in the past and has continued until now. Often used with since
(indicating the beginning of action) or for (indicating the duration of action):

Examples:

 They have lived here for ten years.

  I have not seen her since we left high school.
 Clare and John have known each other  since they were at primary school.

4. It is used to indicate completed activities in the immediate past (with just).

Example:

  " He has just taken the medicine."

Present perfect vs past simple tense:

The use of past simple instead of present perfect requires clear reference to a past
period/moment:

Present perfect Simple past

I have met that girl before I met that girl at the beach last Saturday.

Have you seen Nancy recently? Did you see Nancy yesterday?

We have discussed this issue a few We discussed this issue last month.

times.

I have had some tests this week. I had some tests last week.

When do I use Present Perfect?

We use Present Perfect for:

 recent actions that have an impact on the present situation:

I have just eaten lunch. (So I am not hungry.)

 uncompleted actions that should be completed soon:

(The negative form is used in this case.)
He has not finished his homework yet.
  changes over time:
She has cut her hair (since the last time I saw her).

 actions/situations that started in the past and continue in the present:

He has lived here for 10 years. (He still lives here.)
 life experience:
I have been to Japan.
I have seen this movie three times (up to now / so far).

Adverbs & Prepositions

Adverbs and prepositions that are often used with Present Perfect:

 just: I have just eaten lunch.
 already: I have already eaten lunch.
 yet: I have not eaten lunch yet.

 never / ever: I have never been to Canada. / I have not ever been to Canada.

 so far / up to now: I have been to Canada two times so far / up to now.
 recently: I have been to Canada recently.
 for & since: These two prepositions are used for actions/situations that started in the past and continue in the
present.
For indicates the period between the starting point and the present:  He has lived here for 10 years.
Since indicates the starting point: He has lived here since 2002.

Affirmative / Interrogative / Negative

  Affirmative Interrogative Negative

1st person
I have eaten lunch. Have I eaten lunch? I have not eaten lunch.
Singular

2nd person You have heard this song Have you heard this song You have not heard this song
Singular before. before? before.

He has finished his Has he finished his He has not finished his

3rd person homework. homework? homework.
Singular She has cut her hair. Has she cut her hair? She has not cut her hair.
The concert has started. Has the concert started? The concert has not started.
 We have lived here for two Have we lived here for two We have not lived here for two
1st person Plural
years. years? years.

You have been to Italy two

2nd person Plural Have you been to Italy? You have not been to Italy.
times.

3rd person Plural They have grown a lot. Have they grown a lot? They have not grown a lot.

Present Perfect
The present perfect is a verb tense which is used to show that an action has taken place once or
many times before now. The present perfect is most frequently used to talk about experiences or
changes that have taken place, but there are other less common uses as well. Read on for detailed
descriptions, examples, and present perfect exercises.

Present Perfect Forms

The present perfect is formed using has/have + past participle. Questions are indicated by inverting
the subject and has/have. Negatives are made with not.

 Statement: You have seen that movie many times.

 Question: Have you seen that movie many times?
 Negative: You have not seen that movie many times.

Complete List of Present Perfect Forms

Present Perfect Uses

USE 1 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 specific 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, one day, etc. We CAN use the present perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever,
never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.

Examples:

 I have seen that movie twenty times.

 I think I have met him once before.
 There have been many earthquakes in California.
 People have traveled to the Moon.
 People have not traveled to Mars.
  Have you read the book yet?
 Nobody has ever climbed that mountain.
 A: Has there ever been a war in the United States?
B: Yes, there has been a war in the United States.

How Do You Actually Use the Present Perfect?

The concept of "unspecified time" can be very confusing to English learners. It is best to associate
present perfect with the following topics:

TOPIC 1 Experience

You can use the present perfect to describe your experience. It is 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.

Examples:

 I have been to France.

This sentence means that you have had the experience of being in France. Maybe you have
been there once, or several times.
 I have been to France three times.
You can add the number of times at the end of the sentence.
 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.
 A: Have you ever met him?
B: No, I have not 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.

Examples:

 You have grown since the last time I saw you.

 The government has become more interested in arts education.
 Japanese has become one of the most popular courses at the university since the Asian
studies program was established.
 My English has really improved since I moved to Australia.

TOPIC 3 Accomplishments

We often use the present perfect to list the accomplishments of individuals and humanity. You cannot
mention a specific time.

Examples:
  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 which we expected has not happened. Using
the present perfect suggests that we are still waiting for the action to happen.

Examples:

 James has not finished his homework yet.

 Susan hasn't mastered Japanese, but she can communicate.
 Bill has still not arrived.
 The rain hasn't stopped.

TOPIC 5 Multiple Actions at Different Times

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

Examples:

 The army has attacked that city five times.

 I have had four quizzes and five tests so far this semester.
 We have had many major problems while working on this project.
 She has talked to several specialists about her problem, but nobody knows why she is sick.

Time Expressions with Present Perfect

When we use the present perfect it means that something has happened at some point in our lives
before now. Remember, the exact time the action happened is not important.

Sometimes, we want to limit the time we are looking in for an experience. We can do this with
expressions such as: in the last week, in the last year, this week, this month, so far, up to now, etc.

Examples:

 Have you been to Mexico in the last year?

 I have seen that movie six times in the last month.
 They have had three tests in the last week.
  She graduated from university less than three years ago. She has worked for three different
companies so far.
 My car has broken down three times this week.

NOTICE

"Last year" and "in the last year" are very different in meaning. "Last year" means the year before
now, and it is considered a specific time which requires simple past. "In the last year" means from
365 days ago until now. It is not considered a specific time, so it requires present perfect.

Examples:

 I went to Mexico last year.

I went to Mexico in the calendar year before this one.
 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.

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

With non-continuous verbs and 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 which can be used with the present perfect.

Examples:

 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.

Although the above use of present perfect is normally limited to non-continuous verbs and non-
continuous uses of mixed verbs, the words "live," "work," "teach," and "study" are sometimes used in
this way even though they are NOT non-continuous verbs.

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever,
still, just, etc.

Examples:

 You have only seen that movie one time.

 Have you only seen that movie one time?

The present perfect is formed from the present tense of the verb have and the past participle of a verb.

We use the present perfect:

 for something that started in the past and continues in the present:

They've been married  for nearly fifty years.

She has lived in Liverpool all her life.

 when we are talking about our experience up to the present:

I've seen  that film before.

I've played the guitar ever since I was a teenager.
He has written three books and he is working on another one.

We often use the adverb  ever to talk about experience up to the present:

My last birthday was the worst day I have ever had.

and we use never for the negative form:

Have  you  ever met George?

Yes, but I've never met his wife.

 for something that happened in the past but is important in the present:

I can't get in the house. I've lost my keys.

Teresa isn't at home. I think she has gone shopping.

have been and have gone

We use have/has been when someone has gone to a place and returned:

A: Where have you been?
B: I've just been out to the supermarket.
A: Have  you  ever been to San Francisco?
B: No, but I've been to Los Angeles.

But when someone has not returned, we use have/has gone:

A: Where's Maria? I haven't seen her for weeks.

B: She's gone to Paris for a week. She'll be back tomorrow. 
have been and have gone

Present perfect with time adverbials 

We often use the present perfect with adverbials which refer to the recent past:

recently just only just

Scientists have recently discovered a new breed of monkey.

We have just  got  back from our holidays.

or adverbials which include the present:

so far     until now     up to now
ever (in questions)
yet (in questions and negatives)

Have  you  ever seen a ghost?

Where have you been up to now?
A: Have  you  finished your homework yet?
B: No, so far I've  only done my history.

After a clause with the present perfect we often use a clause with since to show when something started in
the past:

I've worked  here since I left school.

I've been watching that programme every week since it started.

Be careful!

We do not use the present perfect with adverbials which refer to a finished past time:

yesterday last week/month/year in 2017 when I was younger etc.

I have seen that film yesterday.

We have just bought a new car last week.
When we were children we have been  to California.

but we can use the present perfect with adverbials which refer to a time which is not yet
finished:

today this week/month/year now that I am 18 etc.

Have  you  seen Helen today?

We have bought  a new car this week.

Present perfect continuous

The present perfect continuous is formed with have/has been and the -ing form of the verb.

We normally use the present perfect continuous to emphasize that something is still continuing in the
present:
She has been living in Liverpool all her life.
It's been raining for hours.
I'm tired out. I've been working all day.
They have been staying  with us since last week.

We do not normally use the present perfect continuous with stative verbs. We use the present perfect
simple instead:

I've always  been liking liked John.

Present perfect for future

We normally use the present simple to talk about the future in clauses with before, after, until, etc.:

I'll keep looking  until I find my book.

We'll begin  when everyone arrives.

but we can also use the present perfect:

I'll keep looking  until I have found my book.

We'll begin  when everyone has arrived.

Do you know the difference between We've painted the room and We've been painting
the room?

Look at these examples to see how the present perfect simple and continuous are used.

We've painted the bathroom. 

She's been training for a half-marathon.
I've had three coffees already today!
They've been waiting for hours.

Grammar explanation
We use both the present perfect simple (have or has + past participle) and the present perfect
continuous (have or has + been + -ing form) to talk about past actions or states which are still
connected to the present.

Focusing on result or activity

The present perfect simple usually focuses on the result of the activity in some way, and the present
perfect continuous usually focuses on the activity itself in some way. 

Present perfect simple Present perfect continuous

Focuses on the result Focuses on the activity

 Present perfect simple Present perfect continuous

You've cleaned the bathroom! It looks lovely! I've been gardening. It's so nice out there.

Says 'how many' Says 'how long'

She's read ten books this summer. She's been reading that book all day.

Describes a completed action Describes an activity which may continue

I've written you an email.  I've been writing emails.

  When we can see evidence of recent activity

The grass looks wet. Has it been raining?

 
I know, I'm really red. I've been running!

Ongoing states and actions

We often use for, since and how long with the present perfect simple to talk about ongoing states.

How long have you known each other?

We've known each other since we were at school. 

We often use for, since and how long with the present perfect continuous to talk about ongoing single
or repeated actions.

How long have they been playing tennis?

They've been playing tennis for an hour.
They've been playing tennis every Sunday for years.
Sometimes the present perfect continuous can emphasise that a situation is temporary.

I usually go to the gym on the High Street, but it's closed for repairs at the moment so I've been
going to the one in the shopping centre. 

When to use Present Perfect Simple

When it comes to this topic, probably everyone was tempted, as some point, to
genuinely exclaim: „Why can’t I just use the past simple instead?”. Well, the
implications of using the present perfect are far greater than what meets the eye. To
see exactly how important the present perfect is, let’s „dissect” the change in meaning
when talking about the past simple and the present perfect by using the two sentece
pair:

E.g.1.  Jane’s hamster has become very sick in his old age. Present perfect in this
sentence indicates that Jane’s hamster is still alive. The focus of the sentence is on the
hamster has changed between the past and the present.

E.g.2.  Jane’s hamster became very sick in his old age. The simple past indicates
completion, so in this simple past sentence, the hamster is dead. Also, he was sick
before he died.

E.g.1. My mother has cleaned every room of the house. In this present perfect sentence,
the focus is on the accomplishment.

E.g..2.  My mother cleaned every room of the house. The simple past in this sentence
tells us that, on one occasion in the past, my mother cleaned every room of the house
– this sentence emphasizes that the event is over.

Use:

We use the present perfect when we talk about something which started in the past
and is still the case:

Phil  has known  his friend Paul since they were twelve.

We use the present perfect to talk about something which happened in the past but
which has consequences in the present:

My sister  has bought  a new laptop (so he is selling his old one).
We use the present perfect when we talk about things which happened in a period of
time that is not yet finished (e.g. today, this week):

Maria  has had  two driving lessons  this week.

With the present perfect we often use always, never, often, just and already:

                She’s always loved  dogs.

                              Laura  has never been  to Italy.

                              She  has often forgotten  her door key.

                              John  has just found  some coins on the pavement.

                                Has  Jane  already arrived?

Note: 1.  We use ever in questions and negative statements:

‘Have you  ever  learnt to ski?’/ ‘No, I haven’t  ever  wanted to.’

2. We use the present perfect with yet to mean ‘up till now’:

                ‘Has  your brother  finished  his homework  yet?

                              My friend  hasn’t arrived yet.

Form:

+form:                S + has/ have (auxiliary verb)  + v (past participle)

Note: In conversations, we often contract the auxiliary to ‘s/ ‘ve, particularly after
pronouns.

-form:                  S + have not (haven’t)/ has not (hasn’t)  + v (past participle)

?form:                  Have/ has  + S + v (past participle)

Present perfect simple with since  and for:

We use since  with a time (e.g. three o’clock, last month):

Andrea has been here since nine o’clock.

We use for  with a period of time (e.g. five weeks, ten hours):

Tom has only been here for  about two hours.

Let’s practise :) 

Complete the following sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets
and either since  or for. The first one is done for you.

1. Ashley (live) …has lived… in a camper van …for… three years.

2. He (be) ……………………… a writer ……………………. October 1999.
3. His wife, Stella, (work) …………………………….. on an organic farm ………………..
Ashley gave up his job.
4. They (not/ eat) ………………………. any meat ………………….. two years.
5. Ashley (speak) …………………………. French ……………………. he was a child.
6. They (be) ……………………………. married …………………………….. ten years.
7. I (not/ see) …………………………… them ……………………………… last January.
8. He (have) ………………………… a shaved head ……………………. May last year.

Present Perfect Continuous

The present perfect continuous (also called present perfect progressive) is a verb tense which is used
to show that an action started in the past and has continued up to the present moment. The present
perfect continuous usually emphasizes duration, or the amount of time that an action has been taking
place. Read on for detailed descriptions, examples, and present perfect continuous exercises.

Present Perfect Continuous Forms

The present perfect continuous is formed using has/have + been + present participle. Questions
are indicated by inverting the subject and has/have. Negatives are made with not.

 Statement: You have been waiting here for two hours.

 Question: Have you been waiting here for two hours?
 Negative: You have not been waiting here for two hours.

Complete List of Present Perfect Continuous Forms

Present Perfect Continuous Uses

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.

Examples:

 They have been talking for the last hour.

 She has been working at that company for three years.
 What have you been doing for the last 30 minutes?
 James has been teaching at the university since June.
 We have been waiting here for over two hours!
 Why has Nancy not been taking her medicine for the last three days?

USE 2 Recently, Lately

You can also use the present perfect continuous WITHOUT a duration such as "for two weeks."
Without the duration, the tense has a more general meaning of "lately." We often use the words
"lately" or "recently" to emphasize this meaning.

Examples:

 Recently, I have been feeling really tired.

 She has been watching too much television lately.
 Have you been exercising lately?
 Mary has been feeling a little depressed.
 Lisa has not been practicing her English.
 What have you been doing?

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 can suggest that
the person looks sick or unhealthy. A question such as "Have you been smoking?" can suggest that
you 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.

REMEMBER 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. Instead of
using present perfect continuous with these verbs, you must use present perfect.

Examples:

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

 Sam has had his car for two years. Correct

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever,
still, just, etc.

Examples:

 You have only been waiting here for one hour.

 Have you only been waiting here for one hour?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Examples:

 Recently, John has been doing the work. Active

 Recently, the work has been being done by John. Passive

NOTE: Present perfect continuous is less commonly used in its passive form.