Present Perfect Tense
•The present perfect tense is used to show a link between the present
and past and is commonly used in everyday conversations, in the news,
on the radio, and when writing letters.
• Present perfect tense combines the present tense and the perfect
aspect used to express an event that happened in the past that has
present consequences.
• This tense is formed by have/has + the past participle.
•The present perfect tense is used when talking about experiences from
the past, a change or a situation that has happened in the past but is still
continuing today. This tense is an important part of English grammar
since it demonstrates that actions or events in the past have an effect
on the present situation.
There are many different situations where the present perfect
tense can be used. It can be used in the following ways:
• To describe an action that is being repeated between the
past and present.
• Example: We have gone to the beach many times.
• To describe an action that started in the past and is still
continuing in the future.
• Example: I have lived in the United States since 1990.
• To describe an action that has not yet been finished.
Example: It has rained a lot this month.
There are many different situations where the present perfect tense can be used. It can be used in the following ways:
• To describe an action that was completed in the recent past.
Example: I have just finished my training at the office.
•To talk about events that happened in the recent past but the
effect of the recent event is still felt in the present
Examples: The children have made a mess in the kitchen.
He has started a new job.
They've been married for nearly fifty years.
She has lived in Liverpool all her life.
There are many different situations where the present perfect tense can be used. It can be used in the following
ways:
• Present perfect tense can be used in questions as well
Examples: Where have I left my sandals?
Have you visited England?
Has she met John?
To describe our experience up to the present:
Examples: I've seen that film before.
I've played the guitar ever since I was a teenager.
He has written three books, and he is working on
another one.
There are many different situations where the present perfect tense can be used. It can be used in the following ways:
•We use it with the adverb ever to talk about experience up
to the present
•Examples: My last birthday was the worst day I have ever had.
• Have you ever met George?
• We use never for the negative form
• Examples: Have you ever met George?
• Yes, but I've never met his wife.
Time Adverbials with the Present Perfect
•We often use the present perfect with adverbials which refer to the
recent past:
• Recently, Just, already
•We often use the present perfect with adverbials which include the
present:
•so far, until now, up to now, ever (in questions), yet (in questions
and negatives)
•we often use a clause with since to show when something started
in the past:
•I've worked here since I left school
Exercises: Correct the mistake
• 1- Here is your car. I just washed it.
I _________ it.
• have just washed
• 2- I've known Peter from last year.
I've known Peter ______ last year.
• since
• 3- Were you ever here before?
________ here before?
•Have you ever been
Exercises: Correct the mistake
• 4- I practise skiing since my childhood.
I ______ skiing since my childhood.
•have practised
• 5- Did you order the magazine yet?
_______ the magazine yet?
•Have you ordered
• 6- I never saw the film. I'd like to see it.
I ________ the film.
•have never seen
Exercises: Correct the mistake
• 7- I'm sorry. I did not finish the letter yet.
I'm sorry. I _______ the letter yet.
• have not finished
• 8- We've done nothing like this at that time.
We've done nothing like this ______ .
•yet / so far / up to now
• 9- Has your brother ever been in India?
Has your brother ever been ___ India?
•to
Exercises: Correct the mistake
• 10- She always loved Spain. It's her favourite country.
She ______ Spain.
•has always loved
• 11- I'm hungry. I didn't eat anything since lunch.
I _______ anything since lunch.
• have not eaten
• 12- Did you meet Bill lately?
_______ Bill lately?
•Have you met
Exercises: Correct the mistake
• 13- I don't know Greg. I didn't hear about him so far.
I ______ about him so far.
•have not heard
• 14- We just missed the plane! What shall we do?
We _______ the plane!
• have just missed
• 15- He is our teacher for four years now.
He _______ our teacher for four years now.
• has been
• 16- She is trying to lose weight. She did not eat any sweets for a week.
She _______ any sweets for a week.
• has not eaten
Present perfect Vs past simple
• Use the simple past when the action started in the past, finished
in the past, and is not continuing now. Use the present perfect
when the action started in the past and is continuing now. The
simple past tells us that an action happened at a certain time in
the past and is not continuing anymore.
Definite time in the past.
I finished my homework an I finished my homework at a time in the past
hour ago. (one hour ago).
I haven’t finished my From a time in the past up to now.
homework yet. I started my homework at a time in the past and
it is not finished yet (yet means ‘up to now’).
We had a good Definite time in the past. We had a good day in
day yesterday. the past (yesterday).
From a time in the past up to now.
We have had a good day so The day has been good until now but it hasn’t
far. finished yet.
We didn’t see Diana last
Definite time in the past (last week).
week.
We haven’t
From the beginning of the week until now.
seen Diana this week.
I didn’t have any It is still today but it is almost the end of
lunch today. the day and past lunchtime.
I haven’t had any It is still today and not too late to have
lunch today. lunch.