PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

Present Perfect Tense is used to explain the situation that happened before this time and still
continue until now or finished in a certain time in the past. Present perfect tense also used to
describe:
-An action or situation that started in the past and continues in the present. Expressed by
since and for.
Example: I have had this book since 2015. (since + a particular time)
She has been here for a month. (for + a duration of time)
-An activity which is repeated in an unspecified of time between the past and now.
Example: My family and I have visited Jogja many times.
-An action that was completed in the very recent past. Expressed by the word ‘just’.
Example: Oty has just caught a bird.
-An action/activity where the time is not important.
Example: My cat has eaten three pouches of Whiskas.

Present perfect tense consists of auxiliary verb have or has and past participle (verb 3). The
word have is used for I, you, we, and they, while the word has is used for he, she, and it.
Past participle (verb 3) consists of regular and irregular verbs. Regular verb is a basic verb
+ ed in the end of the verb. The examples are studied, arrived, looked, etc. Irregular verb has
inconsistent shape, the examples are: eat→eaten, catch→caught, fly→flown, etc.

Some adverbs that usually used for present perfect tense:

Just Yet Already Ever Never Recently/Lately

Formula of Present Perfect Tense:

Affirmative:
S + HAVE/HAS + PAST PARTICIPLE (VERB 3)
Example: She has studied for the exam.

Negative:
S + HAVE/HAS + NOT + PAST PARTICIPLE (VERB 3)
Example: I have not learned structure for two years.
Interrogative:
HAVE/HAS + S + PAST PARTICIPLE (VERB 3)?
Example: Has he met his father this time?

Negative Interrogative:
HAVE/HAS + NOT + S + PAST PARTICIPLE (VERB 3)?
Example: Have not you visited your grandma last month?

Exercises: (from Fundamentals of English Grammar, Betty Schrampfer Azar)

1. (I, finish)…….my work. I finished it two hours ago.
2. (she, fly) Ms. Parker travels to Washington, D.C., frequently. ……………. there many
times.
3. (it, be) I don’t like this weather. …………… cold and cloudy for the last three days.
4. (I, meet, never) ………… Nancy’s parents. I hope I get the chance to meet them soon.
5. (he, finish, not) Greg is working on his composition, but …………… it yet. He’ll probably
finish it in a couple of hours.
6. (Ron, never, be) ……………. in Hong Kong, but he would like to go there someday.
7. (you, have/has, ever, be) …………. in Europe?
8. (Bob, have/has, ever) ……….. a job?

9. (Amy, have/has, not, master) ………….. English pronunciation?

10. (The rain, have/has, not, stop)…………. this morning?