Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense refers to actions and events that happened some time in the past and continues to be true in the present. Examples: He told me the number but I’ve forgotten about it. =I can’t remember it now. John has lost his wallet. =He lost it and he does not have it now.

Formation of Present Perfect Tense: Person Subject To be Past Participle Singular first person I have   done second person You third person He/She/It has Plural We They

Examples of Past Participle: Infinitive Verb Past Participle put run break broken do done laugh laughed play played

The Positive Form  Subject + has/have + Past Participle Example:  I have finished my homework.

The Negative Form Subject + has/have + not + Past Participle Example:  Paul has not finished his homework.

The Question Form Has/Have + Subject + Past Participle Example: Has Mary broken the vase?

The Question Form Question Word + has/have + Subject + Past Participle Example: What have you brought for Ella’s birthday?

We use the present perfect tense to talk about an action that happened in the past and continues to be true in the present. Example: The thief has stolen my wallet.

We use the present perfect tense to talk about an action that has just completed recently. Example: I have finished my homework.

We use the present perfect tense to talk about an experience. Example: Mary has seen a polar bear before.

The use of ‘already’ and ‘yet’ as adverbs in sentences in the present perfect tense. ‘Already’ is used in positive statement to emphasise that something has completed before now. Example: They have already finished their meeting.

The use of ‘already’ and ‘yet’ as adverbs in sentences in the present perfect tense. ‘Yet’ is used in negative statement to emphasise that something has not happened. It is also used in questions. Example: Have you cooked the potato yet? No, I haven’t cooked the potato yet.

The use of ‘for’ and ‘since’ with present perfect tense to show how long an action lasted. ‘For’ is used to show the length of the period. Example: Kitty has been broken her arm for three weeks.

The use of ‘for’ and ‘since’ with present perfect tense to show how long an action lasted. ‘Since’ is used to show the starting time of an action or an event. Example: She has fallen asleep since two o’clock.

The use of ‘ever’ and ‘never’ with present perfect tense to talk about general experience. ‘Ever’ is used in questions, meaning ‘at any time up to now’. Example: Have you ever been to Japan?

The use of ‘ever’ and ‘never’ with present perfect tense to talk about general experience.  ‘Never’ is used in statements, meaning ‘at no time’. Example: I have never watched this film before.

Exercise: Paul _____________ some books from the library. (borrow) ______ you ______ my ring on the table? (see) We ____________ in the hotel for four days. (stay) Mum ___________________ her dinner. (already finish) Mabel and Jim ____________ that hill before. (climb) I _________ the presents in my drawer since February. (keep) has borrowed Have seen have stayed has already finished have climbed have kept