Present Perfect Tense: Definition, Rules and Useful Examples

Present Perfect Tense! In this section, we are going to be explaining exactly what the present perfect tense
and how we can use it, allowing you to be able to speak much more clearly about certain actions and the
times they are occurring.
What Is the Present Perfect Tense?
The present perfect tense is something which might seem complicated at first glance, but once you
understand the basic rules, it becomes much more simple. This tense is used to talk about an action which
began in the past but has continued into the present moment and is something that we see often when
using the English language.
The present perfect tense is used to describe:
1. an action or situation that began sometime in the past and continues into the present time.
2. an action performed during a period that has not yet completed.
3. a repeated activity in an unspecified time period between the past and the current time period.
4. an action that finished in the very recent past, expressed by ‘just’.
5. an action when the time is not important.
It is formed with a variant of the verb to have + the present participle (verb form ending in -ed).
The part that may confuse some readers is whether to use this present perfect verb tense (e.g. have
walked) or to use the simple past (e.g. walked).
Simple Past
 Used with adverbs that describe a time already past (e.g. I studied for the test on Sunday).
 Used with an adverb that marks a specific point in time (e.g. I have studied today).
Present Perfect
 Used with adverbs describing a time that started in the past and continues right up to the present
time (e.g. I have studied every day this week).
 Used with an adverb that marks a specific point in time (e.g. I have studied today).
 Used when speaking about an event that happened in the recent past (e.g. I have studied night
after night for this test).
In the next section are ten examples to demonstrate the various use cases described above. After that are
several exercises to provide practice identifying the different forms of the present perfect verb tense. As
always, a good way to continually reinforce this information is to try and identify this type of verb while
reading and always, always, always keep a dictionary or google search window handy.
Present Perfect Tense Structure
In English grammar, the present perfect is a combination of the present tense and perfect aspect that is
used to express a past event that has present consequences.
The structure of the Present Perfect (formula):
 Affirmative Sentence
Subject + have/has + past participle
Example:
I have tried sushi before.
 Negative Sentence
Subject + have not (haven’t)/has not (hasn’t) + past participle
Example:
I have not tried sushi before.
 Interrogative Sentence
Have/Has + subject + past participle?
Example:
Have you tried sushi before?
Examples of the Present Perfect Tense
1. My daughter has completed her math and reading homework assignments.
2. The gardener has planted all the seeds he is going to for the tomato season.
3. We have finished watching Star Wars and now we can start watching The Empire Strikes Back.
4. My company has banned remote work-from-home and now we all have to drive into the office
every day.
5. For the last two weeks, I have read a book a day and reviewed it for my website.
6. I have traveled back and forth to Japan once a month for the last year.
7. The cat has played with the ribbon for too long and now she just looks silly!
8. I have listened to all the PMP podcasts, and now I am ready to take the exam.
9. The trick-or-treaters have visited my house three times tonight and I’m not sure I can stay hidden
any longer.
10. My son has performed the same piano exercises for the last hour and I can’t get the sounds out of
my head!
How to Use the Present Perfect Tense?
The Present Perfect Tense Usage
The Present Perfect is used:
 To express things you have done in your life
Examples:
I’ve been to England.
She has never studied Japanese.
 To express the number of times you have done something
Examples:
I’ve been to Paris three times.
How many times have you tried to call her?
 To describe recently completed actions which are important now

Examples:
I have some bad news. I’ve lost my job.
I can’t play football tonight – I’ve hurt my leg.
 To express situations that started in the past and are still true
Examples:
I’ve known James for 4 or 5 years.
She’s been the director of that company since 2007.
 To describe unfinished actions or situations
Examples:
I’ve known Julie for ten years. (I met her ten years ago and I still know her)
We have lived here since 2004.
 To express the present result
Examples:
I’ve lost my keys.
John has missed the bus, so he’ll be late.
Time Adverbs in Present Perfect Tense
The present perfect tense is commonly used with the indefinite time adverbs (time expressions):
 Just
 Already
 Yet
 For
 Since
 Never
 Ever
 Still
Adverbs of Time Used with the Present
Perfect Tense
Just
 Refer to events that recently occurred
Examples:

Are you hungry? – No, I’ve just had dinner.

Is Tom here? – No, I’m afraid he’s just gone out.

Already
 An action that has happened at an unspecified time before now. It
suggests that there is no need for repetition
 Can be placed before the main verb (past participle) or at the end of the
sentence
Examples:

What time does the film start? – It has already started.

What time does the film start? – It has started already.

Yet
 Refer to events that have occurred up to now
Examples:

He hasn’t arrived yet.

Have you eaten the apples yet?

For
 Talk about a period or duration of time
 Doesn’t have to be an exact number, but it needs to refer to a period of
time
Examples:

He has lived in Paris for a long time.

We’re going to New York for the weekend.

Since
 Refer to a specific point in time
Examples:

I have lived here since 2010.

I have been walking since 5 p.m.

Ever/Never
 Express the idea of an unidentified time before now
 Always placed before the main verb (past participle)
Examples:

He has never been abroad.

Have you ever been to Europe?

 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. She has been to 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)

Note: When we want to give or ask details about when, where, who, we use the simple past.
Read more about choosing between the present perfect and the simple past tenses.

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.

Read more about using the present perfect with the words "ever", "never", "already", and
"yet", and about using the present perfect with the words "for" and "since".

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'.

Affirmative

Subject +to have +past participle

She has visited.

Negative

Subject +to have + not +past participle

She has not (hasn't) visited.

 Interrogative

to have +subject +past participle

Has she visited?

Negative interrogative

to have + not +subject +past participle

Hasn't she visited?

To Walk, present perfect

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

I have walked I haven't walked Have I walked?

You have walked You haven't walked. Have you walked?

Affirmative Negative Interrogative

He, she, it has walked He, she, hasn't walked Has he, she, it walked?

We have walked We haven't walked Have we walked?

You have walked You haven't walked Have you walked?

They have walked They haven't walked Have they walked?