What Is the Present Perfect Tense? (with Examples)
The present perfect tense is oddly named because it is used to describe actions that began in the past. However, it is different from the simple past tense because quite often the actions being described are still continuing into the present.Examples of the Present Perfect Tense
Here are some examples of the present perfect tense (highlighted):- Janet has run two miles. (This is the present perfect tense. In this example, Janet is still running when the words were said.)
- Janet ran two miles. (This is the simple past tense. In this example, Janet has stopped running when the words were said.)
- David has worked alongside two of the world's finest scientists in the field of entomology. (This is the present perfect tense. In this example, David might have finished working with those scientists, but the sentence carries the connotation that he is still working as an entomologist.)
- David worked alongside two of the world's finest scientists in the field of entomology. (This is the simple past tense. This example carries the connotation that David no longer works as an entomologist.)
More Examples of the Present Perfect Tense
Here are some more examples of the present perfect tense:- The board has decided not to uphold the appeal. (Connotation: The board continues to uphold the appeal.)
- I have taken the wrong path again. (Connotation: I am still on the wrong path.)
- The board has not decided not to uphold the appeal.
- I have not taken the wrong path again.
- Has the board decided to uphold the appeal?
- Have I taken the wrong path again?
Forming the Present Perfect Tense
Here is an infographic explaining the present perfect tense:
Using Present Perfect Tense, Explanations and Examples. Follow the list for detailed expressions;
The tenses simply show the time of an action.
PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
Present Perfect Tense is used to express an event that started in the past and the impact of the event is now continuing (or a long-running event that started in the past and is still going on). This tense is used to express actions completed recent past. In this tense, it is important whether the event occured or not. ( or the result of the event is important, not the time of the event )
The Present Perfect Tense is formed by putting “to have ( have or has )” before the past participle of the verb.
POSITIVE FORM (+) : Subject ( I, YOU, WE, YOU, THEY ) + HAVE + V3 ( third form of main verb – past participle )
Subject ( HE, SHE, IT ) + HAS + V3 ( third form of main verb – past participle )
NEGATIVE FORM (-) : Subject ( I, YOU, WE, YOU, THEY ) + HAVE + NOT + V3 ( third form of main verb – past participle )
Subject ( HE, SHE, IT ) + HAS + NOT + V3 ( third form of main verb – past participle )
QUESTION FORM (?) : HAVE + Subject ( I, YOU, WE, YOU, THEY ) + V3 ( third form of main verb – past participle )
HAS + Subject ( HE, SHE, IT ) + V3 ( third form of main verb – past participle )
| POSITIVE(+) | NEGATIVE(-) | POSITIVE QUESTION (?) |
|---|---|---|
| I have seen | I have not (haven’t) seen | Have I seen |
| You have seen | You have not (haven’t) seen | Have you seen |
| He has seen | He has not (hasn’t) seen | Has he seen |
| She has seen | She has not (hasn’t) seen | Has she seen |
| It has seen | It has not (hasn’t) seen | Has it seen |
| We have seen | We have not (haven’t) seen | Have we seen |
| You have seen | You have not (haven’t) seen | Have you seen |
| They have seen | They have not (haven’t) seen | Have they seen |
CONTRACTIONS:
For “HAVE OR HAS”;
have –> ‘ve Ex: I‘ve seen.
has –> ‘s Ex: She‘s seen.
For “HAVE NOT OR HAS NOT”;
have not –> haven’t Ex: I haven’t seen.
has not –> hasn’t Ex: I hasn’t seen.
Common Tense Markers:
Already / Yet / Ever / Never / Just / Since / For / Before / In my life / So far / Up until now / first time, two, three,severeal times, etc.
Examples:
- I have already prepared breakfast.
- My sister has cleaned the room.
- Has the post come yet?
- It has rained a lot lately.
- I haven’t seen Susan since Sunday.
- She has watched this movie several times.
- He has saved $20.000.000 up until now.
- They have gone fishing until later this evening.
- I have solved 20 questions so far.
- Hasn’t my mother cooked the dinner yet?
- We haven’t received any mail since we were retired.
- I have already made the coffee.
- Have you ever been to England?
- You have already eaten four plums.
- We haven’t met before.
- I have lived in Texas for 10 years.
- Tom has just come to the office.
- The students have read that poem twice.
- I have never lied in my life.
- We haven’t gone to watch the new movie.
- It hasn’t stopped.
- I have never been to Germany.
- Have you done the essay yet?
- Call me when you’ve finished writing the report.
Note:
We use other question words ( Like Who, What, Why , etc.) in present perfect tense.
Question Words (who, what, why, etc.) + have + subject + V3
Examples:
- What have they done?
- Why has she said like that?
- Where have you seen my wallet?
USE OF PRESENT PERFECT TENSE:
1. Present Perfect Tense is used to express an action that happened at an unspecified time in the past and the impact of the event is now continuing.
( Finished Actions —-Past Event & Present Result )
Examples:
- She has lost her wallet ( She can’t find it )
- We can’t reach Paul by phone. Have you seen him?
- Tom isn’t at school. I think he has gone to the theater.
- My sister has broken her arm. Her arm is still broken.
2. Present Perfect Tense is used to express an action that ended recently. We often use words like “just” or “recently” for the events taking place a very short time before now.
( Recent Completed Actions )
Examples:
- I have just finished my project.
- My mother has just cleaned the house.
- We have recently eaten dinner.
3. Present Perfect Tense is used to talk about unfinished actions or states or habits that started in the past and continue to the present. In such sentences, it is emphasized that how long the action has continued. So we usually use ‘since’ or ‘for’ to express “how long”. We often use stative verbs / non-continuous verbs / mixed verbs in such sentences).
( Unfinished Actions / Duration from Past until Now )
Examples:
- The student has studied maths for three months.
- I have lived in Paris for five years.
- My son has been sick since Monday.
- He has worked in Berlin since he graduated from the university.
- She haven’t been calm since the accident.
- Teachers have thought this subject for hours.
- They have had many cars since I can remember.
4. Present Perfect Tense is used to express repeated actions in an unspecified time between the past and now.
( Repeated or Multiple Actions at Different Times )
Examples:
- We have watched that movie three times.
- I have seen David several times.
- She have had six exams so far this semester.
- They have called him four times this month.
5. Present Perfect Tense is used when we talk about life experiences.
( Life Experiences )
Examples:
- I have been to England in my life.
- Have you ever eaten Sushi before?
- We have never tried to invent something new.
6. Present Perfect Tense is used when we talk about accomplishments.
( Accomplishments )
Examples:
- My father has spoken five languages.
- Scientists have found a new way to get cancer cells to self-destruct.
- Man has walked on the Moon.
7. Present Perfect Tense is used when we talk about changes that has occurred over periods of time.
( Changes Over Time )
Examples:
- Our english has improved a lot when we moved to England.
- Her behavior and attitudes have changed a lot since you last saw her.
- I have become more interested in medical issues.
Attention 1:
1. “Present Perfect Tense” is used with “an unfinished time word ( this week, today, etc. )“. The period of time is still continuing.
Examples:
- We haven’t called him this week.
- I have eaten lots of plumps today.
- They have had several tests this month.
2.“Present Perfect Tense” is not used with “a finished time word ( yesterday, last week, etc. )“. In such sentences, we use “Simple Past Tense”
Examples:
- I haven’t seen you yesterday. ( wrong ) * I didn’t see you yesterday. ( correct )
- We have finished the project last week. ( wrong ) * We finished the project last week. ( correct )
- He has bought a new house last year. ( wrong ) * They bought a new house last year. ( correct )
Attention 2:
We often use the present perfect with some time adverbials ( adverbs of time ). Some of them are mentioned here.
1. “Since” is used with a point ( previous point ) in time in the past.
Examples:
- Since last week / month / year / summer, etc.
- Since one o’clock / two o’clock / six o’clock, etc.
- Since Sunday, Monday, Friday, etc.
- Since April, June, January, etc.
- Since 1950, 1999, 2017, etc
- Since they moved / we talked to him, etc.
2. “For” is used with a period of time in the past, present or future.
Examples:
- For one minute / ten minutes, etc.
- For two hours / five hours, etc.
- For a day, four days, six days, etc.
- For three weeks, seven weeks, etc.
- For two months, three months, etc.
- For five years, ten years, etc.
- For hours, more than a week, ages, a couple of months, etc.
3. “Already” is used to emphasise that something was completed before something else happened. It is also used to show surprise about things that have happened or will have happened earlier than we expected. It usually comes between the auxiliary verb ( have or has ) and the main verb.
( We use “already” in affirmative ( positive ) sentences and questions but not usually in negative sentences )
Examples:
- She has already come.
- The plane has already landed.
- I have already done it.
- Have you already written to John?
- Has the train already left?
4. “Yet” is used to refer to a time which starts in the past and continues up to the present. It usually comes at the end of a sentence.
( We use “yet” mostly in negative sentences and questions but not usually in positive sentences )
Examples:
- It hasn’t stopped snowing yet.
- They haven’t opened it yet.
- Have they arrived yet?
- Has she driven her new car yet?
5. “Just” is used to refer to a short time before the moment of speaking. It usually comes between the auxiliary verb ( have or has ) and the main verb.
(We use “just” in affirmative ( positive ) sentences and questions)
Examples:
- We have just decided to sell our car.
- The plane has just arrived.
- Have they just left?
6. “Ever” is used to refer to at any time. It usually comes between the auxiliary verb ( have or has ) and the main verb.
(We use “ever” mostly in questions)
Examples:
- Have you ever met her?
- Have you ever cooked cheesecake?
- Have you ever heard this sound?
7. “Never” is used to refer to not at any time. It usually comes between the auxiliary verb ( have or has ) and the main verb.
(We use “never” in negative sentences ( negative meaningful ))
Examples:
- I have never been to America.
- We have never heard anything so stupid.
- She has never flown in a plane before.
Tense
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Present Tense
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Past
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