PRESENT PERFECT
Form:
Affirmative:
- S + Have/has + Past participle + O
I
You
We have
You seen this film before.
They
He/She/It has
Negative:
- S + Have/has + Not + Past participle + O
I
You
We have
You not seen this film yet.
They
He/She/It has
Interrogative:
- (Question word) + Have/has + S + Past participle + O
I
you
have we
(How many times) you seen this film?
they
has he/she/it
Usage and examples:
1. For past events:
- When the exact time is not mentioned either because it is not known or it is not
important. The emphasis is on the fact that the events happened before the time of
speaking:
- I've been to China.
- I've seen that film before.
- But if we say when something happened, we use the past simple:
- I went to China in 2011.
- I already saw that film last week.
- We also use the past simple if we ask when something happened in the past:
- "Have you ever been to China?” "Yes, I have.” "When did you go there?”
- "Have you seen that film before?” "Yes, I have.” "When did you see it?”
2. For recent events with a result in the present:
- An effect on the present moment:
- Someone has opened the window. (the window is open, and it is cold inside)
- Tom has broken his leg. (his leg is broken, and he can't walk)
- We use past simple if there is no connection between the action and the present
moment:
- Someone opened the window to let in some fresh air. (the window is now closed, or
we don't know whether it is closed or not)
- On the day before the match, Tom broke his leg. (his leg is not broken anymore)
3. With an incomplete period:
- To express actions happening in an incomplete period of time (an incomplete period is
the present moment, the time of speaking. This period can be implied or expressed
with a time expression (today, this week, this year, ever, never etc.):
- I haven't smoked today.
- I've lived here all my life.
- Have you ever been to China? (in your life
- My uncle has written several plays. (in his life, supposing he is still alive)
- He has never worked as a waiter. (in his life)
- We use past simple if the action happened in a completed period of time (one that does
not include the time of speaking) (yesterday, last week, last year, between 1905 and
1910 etc.)
- I didn't smoke yesterday.
- I lived in this house when I was a child. (I am not a child any more)
- Did you go to China when you were working as a flight attendant?
- Shakespeare wrote numerous plays. (in his life, he is dead now)
- He worked in this café between 1905 and 1910.
- Some time expressions (e.g. this morning, recently and lately) can be used with
different tenses depending on the situation:
- I have seen him this morning. (it is still morning)
- I saw him this morning. (it is later during the day)
- He has put on some weight recently. (in the past few days/weeks/months etc.)
- He put on some weight recently. (some time ago)
- Sometimes, even if we are talking about an incomplete period of time (a time that
includes now), we don't always use the Present Perfect tense:
- Have you been to Lake Balaton this year? (any time this year)
- Did you go to Lake Balaton this year? (at the time when you go there every year)
Present Perfect is for asking about any time during an incomplete period (like this year).
Past Simple is for asking about a specific event during that same period.
4. With for and since:
- With the questions words: How long?/Since when? and with the prepositions For/Since
to express that something started in the past and is still true
- I have lived here for two months.
- I have lived here since January.
- "How long have you known José?" "For ten years.”
- "Since when have you known José?" "Since the early 1990s.”
- The point in time after since can also be expressed with a clause containing a verb in
the past simple:
- I have lived here since I was born.
- I've known José since we were young.
5. With just:
- Used for recently completed actions, usually with the word just:
- I have just started a typing course.
- If the exact time is mentioned, the past simple is used:
- I started a typing course a few weeks ago.
- Just now also requires the past simple tense and means "a moment ago”:
- I spoke to him just now. He says hi.
6. With yet and already:
- Yet is used in negative and interrogative sentences:
- I haven't finished yet.
- Have you talked to him yet?
- Already is usually used in affirmative sentences:
- I've already told you more than I should.
7. With quantities:
- used to express quantities: how much we have done of something or how often we
have done something in an incomplete period of time:
- I've written two letters today.
- How much alcohol have you consumed in the past 24 hours?
- I've been to the cinema three times this month.
8. With superlative forms of adjectives:
- to express emphasis:
- This is the first time I have been to the Philippines.
- This is the worst film I have ever seen.
9. With when:
- When with present perfect refers to an indefinite time in an incomplete period of time
and is used to indicate criticism:
- When have you ever done the dishes? (any time in your life or since we met)