Present Perfect

The present perfect connects the past to the present. It describes past actions with present relevance.

Formation

Affirmative

have/has + past participle

Examples:

• I have finished my homework.
• She has lived here for 10 years.
• They have seen that movie.

Past Participles

Regular verbs: add -ed (same as simple past)

• work → worked
• play → played
• study → studied

Irregular verbs: must be memorized

Negative

have/has + not + past participle

• I have not (haven’t) finished.
• She has not (hasn’t) arrived.
• They haven’t seen it.

Questions

Have/Has + subject + past participle?

• Have you finished?
• Has she arrived?
• What have they done?

When to Use Present Perfect

1. Experiences (unspecified time)

Life experiences up to now:

• I have visited Paris. (sometime in my life)
• She has never eaten sushi.
• Have you ever seen a ghost?

Common words: ever, never, before

2. Recent Events with Present Results

Past action, present result:

• I have lost my keys. (I can’t find them now)
• She has broken her leg. (It’s still broken)
• They have arrived. (They’re here now)

Common words: just, already, yet

• I have just finished. (very recently)
• She has already left. (before expected)
• Have you finished yet? (by now?)
• I haven’t finished yet. (not by now)

3. Unfinished Time Periods

Time period still continuing:

• I have worked here for 5 years. (still working)
• She has lived in London since 2010. (still living)
• We have had three meetings this week. (week not over)

Common words: for, since, this week/month/year, today

For vs. Since:

• for + duration: for 5 years, for 2 hours, for a long time
• since + point in time: since 2010, since Monday, since I was a child

4. Changes Over Time

• You have grown so much!
• The city has changed a lot.
• My English has improved.

5. Accomplishments

• Scientists have discovered a new planet.
• She has written three books.
• I have finished the project.

Present Perfect vs. Simple Past

Examples:

• I have been to Paris. (sometime, unspecified)

• I went to Paris last year. (specified: last year)

• She has worked here for 5 years. (still working)

• She worked here for 5 years. (not anymore)

• I have seen that movie. (my experience)

• I saw that movie yesterday. (specific time)

Cannot use present perfect with:

• yesterday, last week, in 2020, ago, when…?

Been vs. Gone

• She has been to Paris. (went and came back)
• She has gone to Paris. (went, still there)

Practice

Choose the correct form:

1. “I ___ (live) here for 10 years.” → I have lived here for 10 years.

2. ”___ you ever ___ (try) sushi?” → Have you ever tried sushi?

3. “She ___ (leave) an hour ago.” → She left an hour ago. (specific time = simple past)

4. “I ___ (just/finish) my work.” → I have just finished my work.

Quiz