2. The Present Perfect
Tense
The present perfect tense is common
in English. It is used for many different
functions. This presentation will explain
the rules for forming the tense with
regular and irregular verbs.
Forming the present perfect tense
This tense is formed using two
components: the auxiliary HAVE (in the
present tense), and the past participle
form of a verb. With a regular verb the
past participle ends with -ED (just like
the simple past).
Irregular verbs have a special past
participle form that you have to learn.
Here are some examples:
I have been to Moscow.
You have finished the exercise.
He has just gone home.
She has
already had a holiday this
year.
It has broken!
We have seen this film before.
They have bought a new car.
3. Present Perfect - Negative Sentences
I haven't been abroad yet.
You haven't answered my question.
He hasn't been home for five years.
She hasn't found a new job.
It hasn't finished yet.
We haven't worked on a farm.
They haven't seen each other for ages.
4. Present Perfect – YES/NO Questions
Have you
been to the cinema
recently?
Yes, I have.
No, I haven’t.
Has he worked here long?
Yes, he has.
No, he hasn’t.
Has she already sent the fax?
Yes, she has.
No, she hasn’t
Has it ever been in a crash?
Yes, it has.
No, it hasn’t.
Have we done it right?
Yes, you have.
No, you haven’t.
Have they gone home yet?
Yes, they have.
No, they haven’t.
5. Present Perfect – Information Questions
What have I done?
How long have you been here?
How many times has he been married?
What countries has she visited?
Where has it been?
How long have we been together?
Where have they worked?
6. PRESENT
PERFECT
As it was mentioned before, the present perfect tense is used for many
different functions. Some of its most important uses are…
Use 1: Actions which started in the past and are still continuing
The present perfect is often used for an action which started at some time
in the past and is still continuing now. Often, the words for (with a length
of time) and since (with a starting time) are used along with the present
perfect.
•
He has lived in Canada for five years.
(He started living in Canada five years ago, and
he's still living there now.)
She has worked at the University since 1994.
(She started working at the University in 1994,
and she's still working there now.)
7. Use 2: Actions which happened at some unknown time in the past
Sometimes, it's important to say that something happened (or didn't happen),
but it's not important (or not known) when it happened. In this case, we can
use the present perfect too. In this case, we often use the words already, yet,
ever or never along with the present perfect. These words usually go before the
past participle in the sentence.
I've already seen that film. I don't want to see it again.
(It doesn't matter when I saw it.)
Have you ever been to Germany?
(It doesn't matter when you went -- I just want to know whether you have
been there or not.)
8. Use 3: Repeated actions at unspecified times in the past
This use is similar to the previous one: it's important to say that something
happened (or didn't happen), but it's not important (or not known) when it
happened. In this case, the most important thing is that the action has
happened several (repeated) times.
I've already seen that movie three times.
(It doesn't matter when I saw it. The important thing is how many times
I saw it.
She’s been to Disneyworld two times already.
(It doesn't matter when she went. Here what matters is the fact that she’s
been there more than once.
9. Use 4: Actions which happened in the past, but have an effect in
the present
This use is a little more difficult than the other two. In this case, the action
happened at some time in the past, but the effect of the action is still
important now. It's easier to understand this use if we compare present
perfect sentences with simple past sentences.
Tense Sentence Meaning
Present Perfect I've lost my keys.
I haven't found the keys
yet -- they're still
missing.
Simple Past
I lost my keys
yesterday.
I've probably found
them again already.
Present Perfect She's broken her arm.
The arm is still injured.
Simple Past She broke her arm.
The arm is probably OK
by now.
10. FOR and SINCE
I have been afraid of spiders since I
I was five years old.
I have had this phobia for many
years.
• Am I afraid of spiders now?
• When did I start being afraid of spiders?
• How long has it been a phobia?
• When do we use for and since?
11. FOR and SINCE
We often use for and since when talking about
time.
• for + period: a "period" is a duration of time
- five minutes, two weeks, six years. For means
"from the beginning of the period to the end of
the period".
• since + point: a "point" is a precise moment
in time - 9 o'clock, 1st January,
Monday. Since means "from a point in the past
until now".
13. Type of
statement
Position:
before the p.p.
Past participle Position: end
of the sentence
Meaning Example
? ever
past participle
- At any time Have you ever been to
Spain?
? / + already already Before now Have you already
been to Spain?
I’ve already been to
Spain.
I’ve been to Spain
already.
? / - - yet Up to now Have you studied yet?
I haven’t studied yet.
+ just - Refers to the
verb
recent past
I’ve just come from
school.
+ recently recently Refers to the
verb
recent past
I’ve recently been to
the U.S.
I’ve been to the U.S.
recently.
- never - Not at any
time
I’ve never been to
Moscow.
- still*
(before aux.)
have/
has
past
participle
- Up to now I still haven’t done my
homework.
