FORMING THE PRESENT PERFECT
The present perfect of any verb
is composed of two elements : the appropriate form of the auxiliary verb to have (present tense), plus the past
participle of the main verb. The past participle of a regular verb is base+ed, e.g. played, arrived, looked. For
irregular verbs, see the Table
of irregular verbs in the
section called 'Verbs'.
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Affirmative
|
|
Subject
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to have
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past participle
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|
She
|
has
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visited.
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Negative
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Subject
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to have + not
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past participle
|
|
She
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has not
(hasn't)
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visited.
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Interrogative
|
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to have
|
subject
|
past participle
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Has
|
she
|
visited?
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Negative interrogative
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to have + not
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subject
|
past participle
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Hasn't
|
she
|
visited?
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TO WALK, PRESENT PERFECT
|
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Affirmative
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Negative
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Interrogative
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I have walked
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I haven't
walked
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Have I
walked?
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You have walked
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You haven't
walked.
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Have you
walked?
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He, she, it has walked
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He, she,
hasn't walked
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Has he,
she, it walked?
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We have walked
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We
haven't walked
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Have we
walked?
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You have walked
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You
haven't walked
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Have you
walked?
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They have walked
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They
haven't walked
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Have they
walked?
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FUNCTIONS OF THE PRESENT PERFECT
The Present Perfect is used to
indicate a link between the present and the past. The time of the action is before now but not specified, and
we are often more interested in the result than in the action itself.
BE CAREFUL! There may be a verb tense in your language
with a similar form, but the meaning is probably NOT the same.
THE
PRESENT PERFECT IS USED TO DESCRIBE
- An
action or situation that started in the past and continues in the present. I have lived in Bristol since 1984 (= and I still do.)
- An
action performed during a period that has not yet finished. Shehas beento the cinema twice this week (= and the week isn't over yet.)
- A
repeated action in an unspecified period between the past and now. We have visited Portugal several times.
- An
action that was completed in the very recent past, expressed by 'just'. I have just finished my work.
- An
action when the time is not important. He has read 'War and Peace'. (= the result of his reading is
important)
ACTIONS
STARTED IN THE PAST AND CONTINUING IN THE PRESENT
- They haven't lived here for years.
- She has worked in the bank for five years.
- We have had the same car for ten years.
- Have you played the piano since you were a child?
WHEN
THE TIME PERIOD REFERRED TO HAS NOT FINISHED
- I have worked hard this week.
- It has rained a lot this year.
- We haven't seen her today.
ACTIONS
REPEATED IN AN UNSPECIFIED PERIOD BETWEEN THE PAST AND NOW.
- They have seen that film six times
- It has happened several times already.
- She has visited them frequently.
- We have eaten at that restaurant many times.
ACTIONS
COMPLETED IN THE VERY RECENT PAST (+JUST)
- Have you just finished work?
- I have just eaten.
- We have just seen her.
- Has he just left?
WHEN
THE PRECISE TIME OF THE ACTION IS NOT IMPORTANT OR NOT KNOWN
- Someone has eaten my soup!
- Have you seen 'Gone with the Wind'?
- She's studied Japanese, Russian, and English.
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.
Examples:
- 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.
Examples:
- 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.
Examples:
- 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.
Examples:
- 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.
Examples:
- 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.
Examples:
- 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.
Examples:
- 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.
Examples:
- 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 (Non-Continuous Verbs)
With Non-Continuous Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, 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.
Examples:
- 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.
Examples:
- You have only seen that movie one time.
- Have you only seen that movie one time?
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:
- Many
tourists have visited that castle. Active
- That
castle has been visited by many tourists. Passive