Present Perfect

have/has + participle

 

We use the present perfect to talk about:

1. The recent past
2. Unfinished actions
3. Life experiences

 

Here are some examples.

1. Recent past – a past that has just happened. Sometimes this recent past has a present consequence.

• We’ve just arrived five minutes ago.
• She’s just cooked dinner.

 

A recent past with a present consequence.

• I can’t get into my car. I’ve lost my keys. (Present consequence)
• I’ve missed the bus! I’m going to be late for work. (Present consequence)

 

2. Unfinished actions – are actions that started in the past but are still continuing in the present.

• He hasn’t finished his homework yet.

 (He started his homework in the past but in the present moment it’s still not finished.)

• He’s a student at college. He hasn’t graduated yet.

(He’s still studying.)

• Ann has known Sheila since 2005.

(Anna still knows Sheila.)

3. Life experiences – When talking about life experiences you can explain what you’ve done in the past up to the present moment. It is not a closed past.

• We have been to Argentina two times.
• They’ve seen that movie already.
• I enjoy walking in Floral Park. I’ve been there several times.
• Have you ever been to Japan? No, I’ve never been.

 

How to construct the Present Perfect

 

Contractions are used to make the short form of the present perfect. Instead of saying, “I have seen this movie already” you can say I’ve seen this movie already.

 

Signal words often used with the present perfect

Just

We use “just” to show that a past action has recently happened.

*Just comes between the auxiliary verb and the past participle.

• I’ve just eaten. I’m not hungry anymore.
• She’s just woken up from her nap.
• I’ve just gone for a run. I’m tired now.

 

Since and For

In the present perfect we use “since” and “for” to talk about time. Since explains when an event started and for explains the amount of time.

• I have known Maria for 6 years. (This sentence tells us how long or the amount of time someone has known Maria.)
• I have known Maria since 2015 (This sentence tells us when someone met Maria.)

 

Already and Yet

In the present perfect we use “already” and “yet” to talk about time.

Already explains an action that is completed. Sometimes this action was completed earlier than expected.

*Already can go at the end of the sentence or between have/has and the main verb.

• The plane has already We can board now.
• I’ve eaten already.

Yet explains an action that is not completed. We are still waiting for this action to happen.

*Yet goes at the end of the sentence.

• The plane hasn’t landed yet. We are still waiting for it to arrive.

 

Ever and Never

We use ever and never to talk about our experiences. If we want to ask someone if they’ve had an experience, we might use the word “ever” which means at “any time”.

• Have you ever been to Italy?

Meaning, at any time in your life, have you been to Italy?

One might say never to explain an experience that they haven’t experienced “at no time” in their life.

• I’ve never been to Italy?

 

Been and Gone

We use “been” and “gone” to talk about places we’ve visited. It can be far away destinations we’ve visited or as simple as going to the grocery store.

Been is used to say that you visited a place and returned.

• Jessica has been to Hawaii several times.

(Jessica has gone to Hawaii and returned home.)

 

Gone is used when you visited a place and have not returned.

• Jessica has gone to Hawaii. She’ll be there for two weeks.

(Jessica has gone on vacation to Hawaii and she hasn’t returned yet)

 

Click here for present perfect quiz.