Present Perfect

The Present Perfect is used to express actions that happened at an indefinite time or that began in the past and continue in the present. This tense is also used when an activity has an effect on the present moment.

USE
1. Actions which happened at an indefinite (unknown) time before now 2. Actions in the past which have an effect on the present moment 3. Actions which began in the past and continue in the present

USE 1: Indefinite time before now

Use the Present Perfect to talk about actions that happened at some point in the past. It does not matter when exactly they happened.
Examples:

I have already had a breakfast. He has been to England.

USE 2: Effect on the present moment

We also use this tense to when an activity has an effect on the present moment. Examples:

1. He has finished his work. (so he can now rest) 2. I have already eaten the dinner. (so I'm not hungry) 3. He has had a car accident. (that's why he is in the hospital)

USE 3: Continuation in the present

We often use the Present Perfect when we want to emphasize that an event continues in the present. Examples: 1. Mary has worked as a teacher for over 25 years. 2. Patrick has achieved a lot in his life.

FORM
To form a sentence in the Present Perfect, you need: The proper conjugation of the auxiliary verb "to have". The Past Participle of your verb.

1. Auxiliary Verb "to have" We conjugate the auxiliary verb "to have" the same way we would conjugate the normal verb "to have". As you can see, the third person singular is irregular. More examples: She has never seen my brother. Neither Mike nor Tom has ever driven a truck.

Person
First Second Third

Singular
I have You have He/she/it has

Plural
We have You have They have

2. The Past Participle The past participle of a verb is a verb form that appears with the perfect tenses. The past participle can be either regular or irregular. The regular verbs are formed by adding -ed to the verb:

Verb

Past Participle

talk
explain use deliver

talked
explained used delivered

include
achieve

included
achieved

The formation of the irregular verbs does not follow one rule. Therefore, they should be memorized.

Verb
be become see

Past Participle
been become seen

Learn more
be become see

go
eat grow

gone
eaten grown

go
eat grow

Declarative Sentences

Subject

Auxiliary verb +

e.g. I/a dogetc.

has/have

Past participle e.g. slept/taken/ gone etc.

Use (Use 1) (Use 2) (Use 1) (Use 3) (Use 1,2) (Use 3) (Use 3)

Examples We have already had breakfast I have bought new shades I have already been to Paris John has been a plumber for 2 years Someone has just taken my bag! Jane has never been so angry He has been our most serious partner for so long that I can assure you he's a very decent man

Questions
Auxiliary verb has/have + Subject e.g. I/a dogetc. + Past participle e.g. slept/taken/ gone etc.

Examples Have you ever seen this program?

Use (Use 1)

Where has she lived for the past 21 years?

Have you found the telephone number? Have you ever been to France?

(Use 3)
(Use 1,2) (Use 1)

Has anyone taken my bag?

(Use 1,2)

Negative Sentences
Subject + e.g. I/a dog etc. Auxiliary verb + not has not/have not Past participle + e.g. slept/taken/ gone etc.

Examples

Use

He hasn't taken any drug for two years

I haven't met my perfect partner yet They haven't contacted you, have they?

(Use 3)
(Use 3) (Use 1)