PRESENT PERFECT

FORM
[has/have + past participle]
You have seen that movie many times.
Have you seen that movie many times?
You have not seen that movie many times.

Present Perfect Forms

Positive

Negative

Question

I have traveled.

I have not traveled.

Have I traveled?

You have traveled.

You have not traveled.

Have you traveled?

We have traveled.

We have not traveled.

Have we traveled?

They have traveled.

They have not traveled.

Have they traveled?

He has traveled.

He has not traveled.

Has he traveled?

She has traveled.

She has not traveled.

Has she traveled?

It has traveled.

It has not traveled.

Has it traveled?

USE 1 Unspecified Time Before Now

We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time
is not important. You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with specific time expressions such as: yesterday,
one year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc. We
CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever, never, once, many times, several
times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.

I have seen that movie twenty times.

I think I have met him once before.
There have been many earthquakes in California.
People have traveled to the Moon.
People have not traveled to Mars.
Have you read the book yet?
Nobody has ever climbed that mountain.
A: Has there ever been a war in the United States?
B: Yes, there has been a war in the United States.

How Do You Actually Use the Present Perfect?

The concept of "unspecified time" can be very confusing to English learners. It is best to associate Present
Perfect with the following topics:
TOPIC 1 Experience
You can use the Present Perfect to describe your experience. It is like saying, "I have the experience of..."
You can also use this tense to say that you have never had a certain experience. The Present Perfect is NOT
used to describe a specific event.

I have been to France.

THIS SENTENCE MEANS THAT YOU HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN FRANCE. MAYBE YOU HAVE
BEEN THERE ONCE, OR SEVERAL TIMES.
I have been to France three times.
YOU CAN ADD THE NUMBER OF TIMES AT THE END OF THE SENTENCE.
I have never been to France.
THIS SENTENCE MEANS THAT YOU HAVE NOT HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF GOING TO FRANCE.
I think I have seen that movie before.
He has never traveled by train.
Joan has studied two foreign languages.
A: Have you ever met him?
B: No, I have not met him.

TOPIC 2 Change Over Time

We often use the Present Perfect to talk about change that has happened over a period of time.
You have grown since the last time I saw you.
The government has become more interested in arts education.
Japanese has become one of the most popular courses at the university since the Asian studies
program was established.
My English has really improved since I moved to Australia.

TOPIC 3 Accomplishments
We often use the Present Perfect to list the accomplishments of individuals and humanity. You cannot
mention a specific time.
Man has walked on the Moon.
Our son has learned how to read.
Doctors have cured many deadly diseases.
Scientists have split the atom.

TOPIC 4 An Uncompleted Action You Are Expecting

We often use the Present Perfect to say that an action which we expected has not happened. Using the
Present Perfect suggests that we are still waiting for the action to happen.
James has not finished his homework yet.
Susan hasn't mastered Japanese, but she can communicate.

Bill has still not arrived.

The rain hasn't stopped.

TOPIC 5 Multiple Actions at Different Times

We also use the Present Perfect to talk about several different actions which have occurred in the past at
different times. Present Perfect suggests the process is not complete and more actions are possible.
The army has attacked that city five times.
I have had four quizzes and five tests so far this semester.
We have had many major problems while working on this project.
She has talked to several specialists about her problem, but nobody knows why she is sick.

Time Expressions with Present Perfect

When we use the Present Perfect it means that something has happened at some point in our lives before
now. Remember, the exact time the action happened is not important.

Sometimes, we want to limit the time we are looking in for an experience. We can do this with expressions
such as: in the last week, in the last year, this week, this month, so far, up to now, etc.

Have you been to Mexico in the last year?

I have seen that movie six times in the last month.
They have had three tests in the last week.
She graduated from university less than three years ago. She has worked for three different
companies so far.
My car has broken down three times this week.

NOTICE
"Last year" and "in the last year" are very different in meaning. "Last year" means the year before now, and
it is considered a specific time which requires Simple Past. "In the last year" means from 365 days ago until
now. It is not considered a specific time, so it requires Present Perfect.
I went to Mexico last year.
I WENT TO MEXICO IN THE CALENDAR YEAR BEFORE THIS ONE.
I have been to Mexico in the last year.
I HAVE BEEN TO MEXICO AT LEAST ONCE AT SOME POINT BETWEEN 365 DAYS AGO AND NOW.

USE 2 Duration From the Past Until Now

We use the Present Perfect to show that something started in the past and has continued up until now. "For
five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Tuesday" are all durations which can be used with the Present
Perfect.
I have had a cold for two weeks.
She has been in England for six months.
Mary has loved chocolate since she was a little girl.

Although the above use of Present Perfect is normally limited to Non-Continuous Verbs and non-continuous
uses of Mixed Verbs, the words "live," "work," "teach," and "study" are sometimes used in this way even
though they are NOT Non-Continuous Verbs.
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just,
etc.
You have only seen that movie one time.
Have you only seen that movie one time?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Many tourists have visited that castle. ACTIVE
That castle has been visited by many tourists. PASSIVE

EXERCISES ON PRESENT PERFECT AND PAST SIMPLE

Write a suitable sentence using the PRESENT PERFECT TENSE :
1. Anns hair was dirty. Now its clean. (wash) ... Ann has washed her hair
2. Tom was 80 kg. Now hes 70. (lose weight) ..
3. Bill played football yesterday. Now he cant walk; his leg is in plaster. (break)

4. My sister is looking for her pen. (lose)

5. Mary is on holiday in France. (go) ..
6. Mr. Hill was in Canada last week. Hes back in London now. (be)
.
7. Look! Mrs. Smith has got a lot of packages. (buy) .

8. I cant eat anything now. (eat too much) .

9. Mrs. Jenkins is very tired. (clean / house)
10. Tony needs a holiday. (work / hard / this year)
Use PRESENT PERFECT TENSE after BECAUSE:
Example: She cant go to the party. (catch a cold)
She cant go to the party because she has caught a cold.
1. He cant walk very fast. (hurt / leg)
2. I cant get in. (lose / key)
3. I know this story very well. (see the film)
4. I cant post the letter. (not put / stamp / on it)
5. He cant stand up. (eat too much)
6. They cant go on holiday. (not save / money)
7. I know him. (meet him before)
8. We dont know how he is. (not hear from him)
9. He wont take a cigarette. (give up smoking)
10. She cant get in. (he / lock the door)
Follow the example and do the same using ALREADY:
Example: Bring the milk in, please.
- I have ALREADY brought it in.
1. You must find the tickets soon. ...
2. Turn the radio down, please.
3. Tidy your room. ..
4. Could you post the letters, please?
5. Why dont you see a doctor? ...
6. You have a bad cough. I think you should stop smoking....
7. Why dont you clean your shoes? ..
8. Brush your teeth, will you? ..
9. We have guests today. Shall we make a cake?.......................
10. We should invite Mary to the party.
Follow the example and do the same using YET:
Example: She has been in the shop. (buy anything)
- She has been in the shop but she hasnt bought anything YET.
1. Ive written to them three times. (not reply)
2. Ive asked you again and again. (not do it) ..
3. I lent him $10 last month. (not give it back)
4. He lost his pen a week ago. (not find it) ..
5. He borrowed my book last year. (not give it back) .
6. She went to New York six months ago. (not return it)
7. She gave me $2 a week ago. (not return it) .
8. I finished reading my library books a long time ago. (not change them)

9. She went to the bus-stop half an hour ago. (the bus / not come)
....
10. Hes still studying that lesson. (not learn it) .
Put the verbs in the correct tense. Use the SIMPLE PAST or the PRESENT PERFECT:
1. .. Tim . (finish) his work yet?

2. .. he (finish) it yesterday?
3. They . (just / go) out.
4. They (go) out a minute ago.
5. Ann . (study) yesterday afternoon?
6. you . (send) the letters yet?
7. she .. (call) him a week ago?
8. They . (not / see) the film yet.
9. The train (just / arrive).
10. . you . (ever / be) in a TV studio?
11. you and Tom (enjoy) the party last night?
12. you . (not / finish) school last year?
13. I . (lose) my dictionary. I cant find it anywhere.
14. His hair looks short. He .. (have) a haircut.
15. When . (he / give up) smoking?
16. Jane .. (buy) her car two weeks ago.
17. My bicycle isnt here. Somebody . (take) it.
18. Why (Jim / not want) to play tennis last Friday?
19. The car looks clean. .. you .. (wash) it?
20. When we were on holiday, the weather (be) terrible.
Rewrite the following sentences twice, using SINCE and FOR:
Example: I havent seen you. (Christmas / 3 days)
a) I havent seen you SINCE Christmas. b) I havent seen you FOR 3 days.
1. Weve been here. (an hour / 4 oclock)
a) ...b)
2. She hasnt spoken to me. (2 weeks / last week)
a) ...b)
3. Theyve lived in this street. (1970 / a long time)
a) ...b)
4. I havent had time to do it. (last Monday / a few days)
a) ...b)
5. We havent bought a new one. (ages / many years)
a) ...b)
Use THE SIMPLE PAST or THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE to fill in the blanks:
1. What (you / learn) since you . (come) here?
How many friends . (you / make)? I hope you ...
(already / meet) a lot of interesting people.
2. Last night my roommate and I (have) some free time, so we ..
(go) to a show.
3. I (just / have) lunch, but I (not / have) lunch yesterday.
4. Who . (write) the play Hamlet?
5. How many games (the team / win) so far this season?
6. I dont know Carols husband. I . (never / meet) him.
7. It (rain) a lot last week, but it (not / rain) much so far this week.
8. How many letters .. (you / write) since the beginning of the month?
9. When we were on vacation, the weather (be) terrible.
10. In her whole lifetime, Mary (never / see) snow.
11. I dont know where Ammy is. .(you / see) her?
12. When I . (get) home last night, I .. (be)
very tired and I (go) straight to bed.
13. Your car looks very clean. . (you / wash) it?

14. George .. (not / be) very well last week.

15. Mr. Clark (work) in a bank for 15 years. Then he gave it up.