Tenses: Present Perfect
Structure
Affirmative: Have / Has + Past participle. Ex: I have finished my work = I’ve finished my
work / He has finished his work = He’s finished his work.
Have ( I/ We / You / They), Has ( He / She / It ).
Negative: Have / Has + not + Past participle. Ex: He has not finished / He hasn’t finished.
Interrogative: Have / Has he finished ?
Interro-negative: Has he not finished his work / Hasn’t he finished his work?
Uses of the Present Perfect
1-It is used with just for a recently completed action.
Ex: The train has just left.
2-Actions which happened at an unspecified time before now. In this case, we can use the
present perfect with expressions like: once, may times, several times, before….
Ex: I have watched that movie many times.
3-We often use the present perfect to say that an action which we expected has not happened.
Using the present perfect in this case suggests that we are still waiting for the action.
Ex: John has still not arrived.
4-It is used with lately, recently, so far to indicate an incomplete period of time. It means at
any time during the last week, month …etc
Ex: I have not seen her lately.
5-We often use the present perfect to list the accomplishments of individuals and humanity.
You cannot mention a specific time.
Ex1: Man has walked on the Moon.
Ex2: Doctors have cured many deadly diseases.
6-Past actions with results in the present. Ex: John has broken his leg.
7-Life experience. Ex: Have you ever been to New York.
8-To show that something started in the past and has continued up until now. With for + a
period of time and since + a point in time.
Ex1: They have known him for 30 years.
Ex2: I have lived in this neighborhood since 2010
Present Perfect + ever, never, already, yet
The adverbs ever and never express the idea of an unidentified time before now.
Ex: I haven't ever tried sushi before.
Ever is used:
a-In questions: Have you ever met the Prime Minister?
b-In negative questions: Haven’t you ever eaten Italian food?
c-In negative statements using the pattern ( nothing…ever), (nobody…ever)
Ex: Nothing like this has ever happened to us.
Ex2: Nobody has ever said that to me before.
d-with the first time….
Ex: This is the first time I‘ve ever been to England.
Never
Never means at no time before now, and is the same as not….ever.
Ex: She has never travelled outside of her country before.
Ex2: She has not travelled outside of her country ever. = She has not ever travelled outside
of her country before.
Position : We often place ever and never before the main verb.
Already and yet
*Already refers to an action that has happened at an unspecified time before now. It suggests
that there is no need for repetition.
Ex: Don’t write the complaint, I’ve already done it.
*Already is also used in questions. Ex: Has she already finished her homework?
*Already can be placed before the main verb ( past participle) or at the end of the sentence.
Ex1: I have already been to Japan.
Ex2: I have been to Japan already.
Yet
Is used in negative statements and questions, to mean (not) in the period of time between
before now and now, (not) up to and including the present.
Ex1: I haven’t visited the Tate Gallery yet.
Ex2: "Have you finished your homework yet?"
Position: Usually placed at the end of the sentence.
References