Present perfect tense
Present perfect tense examples
- He has worked here for 4 years.
- I have cut my hair.
- Have you eaten your lunch?
- We have eaten our lunch.
- She hasn’t done her homework yet.
The present perfect form
- Affirmative form: Subject + have/has + past participle
- Negative form: Subject + have/has + not + past participle
- Interrogative form: Have/has + subject + past participle
The present perfect simple uses
Use 1: Present perfect simple is used for a completed action where the result is visible in the present.
→ I have done my homework.
→ He has washed the car.
Use 2: The present perfect tense is used for a completed action at a time in the past that is not mentioned.
→ I have already read that novel.
Use 3: We use present perfect tense when the time is recent.
→ We have just eaten lunch.
Use 4: Present perfect simple is used for experiences people have had in their lives.
→ I have been to Australia twice.
→ I have never eaten Chinese food.
→ I have never visited that museum.
→ have you ever been to Egypt?
Use 5: Present perfect simple is used to talk about the duration of an action that started in the past and continues to the present.
→ The headmaster has worked in this school for 12 years.
→ He has worked in this school since 2008.
Use 6: Present perfect simple is used with ‘today’, ‘this morning’/’afternoon’, etc. when these periods of time are not finished at the time of speaking.
→ I have received 25 emails this morning. (It is still morning, so this period of time is not over yet. I may receive more emails.)
Tip:
We often use Present Perfect Simple with these expressions: for, since, just, already, yet, ever, never, recently, so far, it’s the first time.
- We have a meeting after 5 minutes, but the manager has not arrived yet.
- Have you taken the second test yet?
- They have just arrived.
- Have you ever eaten Japanese food?
- This is the best film I have ever watched.
- My friend has recently bought a new car.
- I have replied to 15 emails so far.
- It’s the first time I have visited this beautiful town.
Present perfect progressive (present perfect continuous)
Present perfect tense exercises
Exercise 1: Make sentences using the words below.
1. She/never/travel/ abroad.
……………………………………
2. The plane/just/arrive.
………………………………………
3. You/ever/meet/anyone/famous?
………………………………………
4. He /not finish/ his homework/yet.
…………………………………………
5. You/ make / a cake/ ever?
………………………………………
6. He /live/in that house/ for 20 years.
…………………………………….
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