Present perfect tense

Verb tense that narrates events that have already occurred at a time in the past but that continue to have a relevance in the present

Explanation

Expressions of time

Structures

Is formed using 'has' or 'have' and the past participle of the verb

HAS

HAVE

SHE

HE

IT

I

YOU

WE

THEY

Use

Accomplishments

Life experiences

Recent completed actions

Chances over time

Multiple actions at different times

Unfinished actions from the past until now

Finished actions with results in the present

Scientists have got the Covid19 vaccine

I have worked here for ages

Example

I have talked to her many times before

I have just done my homework

I have changed my mind/opinion

She has tried parachuting once in her life

I have lost my keys

Common Present Perfect Questions

In your life-experience

Recommendations

Recent Sightings

Recently /already / yet

Have you been there before?

Have we met before?

Has (that-this) happended before?

Have you thought about_____? (telling the truth, looking for another job)

Have you ever consider____?

Have you talked to_____ recently? (your mom, your boyfried)

Have you _______ yet? (done your homehork, finished the project, finished the dishes)

Have you seen_____?

(my phone,Jim, my keys) today, this morning etc)

Has anyone seen____?

WH......

Where have you been to?

How have you been? = How are you?

(long time)

Why has no one ever mentioned this?

Why/how many times have you been there?

What have your done?

(shock by something)

What has that ever happened?

(surprise, like a wedding)

Using the correct present form of the auxiliary verb "To have", "Have" or "Has", will follow the participle of the desired verb.

Affirmative

Negative

Interrogative

Subject + have/has + verb (participle) + complement

My father has started a new job

Paula has not had a holiday since last summer

How many times has she gone to England this year?

Subject + haven ́t/hasn ́t + verb (participle) + complement

Auxiliary verb have/has + subject + verb (participle) + complement

Examples

Just

Already

Yet

For / Since

It can mean a few moments ago or in a very recent past

Structures

Subject + have/has + just + verb (participle) + complement

Examples

Kim has just vacuumed the carpet

Indicates that the action has already been performed

Subject + have/has + already + verb (participle) + complement

He has already been three times abroad

It is used in interrogations to ask whether the action has been carried out or not and in denials to say that the action has not yet occurred

Structures

Interrogative

Negative

Examples

Subject + haven´t/hasn´t + verb (participle) + complement

Have/has + subject + verb (participle) + complement

Jenny hasn´t learned to drive yet

Have you gone to the bazaar yet?

They are used to indicate how long an action has been taking place

To express the duration of an activity, we can say the amount of time it has been done

Point out the specific moment when the action began

Examples

I haven't been to that restaurant for six months

They haven´t had holidays since last summer

Maya has lived in the USA since 2001

Present perfect tense

Differences present perfect and past simple

In English are used many conncetor to join tenses, in this case we are going to use: when, while, before, after,as soon as

THE PRESENT PERFECT ALWAYS CONNECTS THE PAST AND THE PRESENT

THE PAST SIMPLE TELLS US ONLY ABOUT THE PAST

INDEFINITE ACTIONS:

DEFINITE ACTION:

WIth no time reference or references to recent time - these put emphasis on the action and usually have a result in the present

e.g : I have just lost my wallet. (= this means very recently and puts the emphasis on the action)

1. She ________________ (not sleep) much lately.

2. The race __________________ (not start) yet.

3.-We _______________ (be) married since 1960.

4.-________ you ever __________ (get) lost?

5.-He_______ just ___________ (clean) the window.

Also it is important to check what kind of wh question word we use in every tense.

How long, why, where. (When)

We use a definite past time, like yesterday, 5 days ago, last month…. to say or imply WHEN something happened

e.g: I lost my wallet yesterday. (= here I want to stress when the action happened)

1.-Billy ___________________ (see) a great movie on Saturday.

2.- ________ you ________ (close) the door when we left?

3.- I _______________ (take) the garbage out late last night.

4.- He _________________ (hear) a strange noise yesterday.

5.- I ______________ (not win) the race, did I?

The action is over and we don’t do it anymore

When-gives an specific time in past

Let’s check the next examples

I have visited my sister yesterday

INCORRECT

Did you see the doctor last week?

I have applied for a job last week

The have lived here for two years

Have you heard the news?

CORRECT

CORRECT

CORRECT

INCORRECT

Before

Yet

Already

Just

Never

Ever