English language

Present perfect

The present perfect is a grammatical combination of the present tense and the perfect aspect, used to express a past event that has present consequences.

The present perfect is formed from the present tense of the verb to have and the

past participle of a verb:

Present Perfect

FORM

[has/have + past participle]

Examples:

You have seen that movie many times.
Have you seen that movie many times?
You have not seen that movie many times.

When should we use the present perfect tense?

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.

It’s been raining for hours.

For something we have done several times in the past and continue to do:

I’ve played the guitar ever since I was a teenager.

He has written three books and he is working on another one.

I’ve been watching that programme every week

We use 'since' with a fixed time in the past (2004, April 23rd, last year, two hours ago).

I've known Sam since 1992.

I've liked chocolate since I was a child.

She's been here since 2pm.

We use 'for' with a period of time (2 hours, three years, six months):

I've known Julie for ten years.

I've been hungry for hours.

She's had a cold for a week.

When we are talking about our experience up to the present:

I have been to Tokyo.

She has lived in Germany.

They have visited Paris three times.

We have never seen that film.

Have you ever read 'War and Peace'?

I have been to France

Note: 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.

Note: 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 with a result in the present

I've lost my keys (so I can't get into my house). - I can’t get in the house. I’ve lost my keys.

I’ve been working all day (so I am tired out). - I’m tired out. I’ve been working all day.

She's hurt her leg (so she can't play tennis today). - She can't play tennis today. She's hurt her leg

We use 'gone' (often when we are talking about an action with a result in the present) to mean that the person is at the place now:

Julie has gone to Mexico (now she's in Mexico).

They've gone to Japan for three weeks (now they're in Japan).

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

A: Where is Maria? I haven’t seen her for weeks.B: She's gone to Paris for a week. She’ll be back tomorrow.

A:Where's John? B:He's gone to the shops (he's at the shops now).

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

(just, only, recently)

Scientists have recently discovered a new breed of monkey.

We have just got back from our holidays.

I have only said few words.

Present Perfect

FORM

[has/have + past participle]

Examples:

You have seen that movie many times.
Have you seen that movie many times?
You have not seen that movie many times.

Complete List of Present Perfect Forms

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.

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.