PRESENT PERFECT

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE:

STATEMENTS, Q and A

USE:

To talk about actions or states which began in the past and are still relevant in the present. The Present

Perfect is often used with expressions starting with FOR and SINCE, to talk about actions or states

which began in the past and are true up until the present time. It is also used with the adverbs JUST,

ALREADY, and YET to talk about actions or events which took place at an indefinite time in the past.

The Present Perfect is also used to talk about recent actions or events ("news").

FORM:

The Present Perfect is made up of HAVE/HAS and the Past Participle (the third form of the verb [V3]).

AFFIRMATIVE

[SUBJECT + HAVE/HAS + (just/already) + PAST PARTICIPLE [V3]... (for/since...)]

EXAMPLES:

"I've lived here for two years."

"You've already lost one key. I can't believe you can't find the second."

"Whose package is this? It's been here since 4 p.m."

"We've already met them."

"They're not hungry. They've just eaten their dinner."

NOTE: In positive sentences, JUST and ALREADY usually go immediately before the past participle.

Phrases with FOR and SINCE go at the end of the sentence.

NEGATIVE

[SUBJECT + HAVE NOT/HAVEN'T + PAST PARTICIPLE [V3]..] HAS NOT/HASN'T

EXAMPLES:

"I haven't met her yet."

"It hasn't begun to rain yet."

"We haven't had lunch yet."

"You haven't said a word for 2 hours."

"They haven't finished their breakfast."

NOTE: In negative sentences, YET and phrases with FOR and SINCE usually go at the end of the
SENTENCE

YES/NO QUESTIONS

[HAVE/HAS + SUBJECT +...PAST PARTICIPLE [V3]]

EXAMPLES:

"Have you already finished your work?"

"Has she finished painting the room?"

WH-QUESTIONS

WH-QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SUBJECT

[WH-WORD + HAVE/HAS +...PAST PARTICIPLE [V3]]

EXAMPLE:

"Who has just eaten the candy?"

WH-QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REST OF THE SENTENCE

[WH-WORD + HAVE/HAS + SUBJECT +...PAST PARTICIPLE (V3)]

EXAMPLES:

"Where has he put my coat?"

"What have you done with the money?"

NOTE: In questions, JUST and ALREADY usually go before the Past Participle [V3]; YET and phrases

with FOR and SINCE usually go at the end of the sentence.

CONTRAST WITH OTHER TENSES

USE:

We use the Present Perfect to talk about actions or events that happened during a period which in

some way includes or is connected to the present, when the exact time is not given.
EXAMPLE:

"Peter Parker has written five books."

The "period" in this sentence is Parker's life. By using the Present Perfect, we show that he is still alive

and still writing books.

BUT -

"John Craig wrote five books."

In this case, the Past Simple is used, showing that the "period" is finished, probably because Craig is

dead.

We also use the Present Perfect to talk about recent actions or events which are "news" to the listener,

often with the adverbs JUST and ALREADY and YET in negative sentences and questions.

EXAMPLES:

"The results have just come in; and here they are..."

"I don't want to go to that movie: I've already seen it."

"Have you typed that letter yet?"

NOTE: In American English, the simple past form is often used:

"The election results just came in: here they are..."

"I don't want to go to that movie; I already saw it."

"Did you type that letter yet?"

We often use the Present Perfect with certain expressions:

FOR or SINCE

We can use FOR or SINCE at the beginning of the time expression. If we say how long the action or

state lasted, we use FOR:

"...for ten minutes."

"...for twenty years."

"...for two centuries."

"...for a very long time." etc.

If we say when the action or state began, we use SINCE, followed by the time or another expression

which indicates the time:

"...since 2 o'clock."

"...since last Monday."

"...since 1975."

"...since the end of the war."

"...since I was a baby." etc.

HOW LONG

We start a question to ask about the duration of an activity or state with HOW LONG:

EXAMPLES:

"How long have you had that sweater?"

EXAMPLES:

"How long have you had that sweater?"

"About six months."

"How long have you been an actor?"

"Since I left school."

EVER

If we want to know if something has happened, but not when, we often put the adverb EVER before

the verb in the question.

EXAMPLES:

"Have you ever eaten octopus?"

"Yes, I have."

"Have you ever been in an accident?"

"No, I haven't."

JUST, ALREADY or YET

JUST (=a short time ago), ALREADY (=before now) and YET (=before/until now) are used in Present
Perfect sentences that talk about recent actions or events ("news"). JUST and ALREADY usually go

immediately before the third form of the verb and YET is often used at the end of a negative sentence

or question.

EXAMPLES:

"I have already seen that movie. Let's stay home!"

"But I haven't seen it yet!"

"Here we are at the Indy 500 with Mike Rhodes. Mike, have you ever driven in an Indy race?"

"No, I haven't. But I've been a race driver in Europe for ten years

Well, good luck to you

PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

USE:

To talk about a continuous or repeated action which began in the past and continues up to the

present, or which finished very recently and still has an effect. We do not normally use the Present

Perfect Progressive with stative verbs (TO HAVE RED HAIR, TO BE HAPPY/ILL/TIRED, TO KNOW
THE

ANSWER, etc.).

EXAMPLE:

“Betty anc ee Wve been working all night: they're exhausted!"

"Ted, Ih enn you to make your bed for two hours!"

FORM:

AFFIRMATIVE

[SUBJECT + HAVE/HAS + BEEN + VERB+ing ]

“Ive been sitting here for an hour.”

"she's been hiding in the garage.”

NEGATIVE

[SUBJECT + HAS/HAVE + NOT + BEEN + VERB+ing...]

HASN'T/HAVEN'T

EXAMPLES:

You have not ( haven’t ) working all week

He has not ( hasn’t ) been living here very long

NOTE: The expressions FOR and SINCE are used with the Present Perfect Progressive in the same way
as with the Present Perfect Simple.

EXAMPLES:

"They have been studying French for three years

"She has been living here since 1987