Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense describes an action that began in the past
(despite being a present tense). For example:
• John has taken Sarah's advice.
• They have fixed the fence.
Often, the action being described is still continuing into the present (e.g., John
continues to take Sarah's advice). This is how the present perfect tense differs
from the simple past tense.

More Examples of the Present Perfect Tense

Here are some more examples of the present perfect tense:
• The board has decided to uphold the appeal.
(This sentence carries the connotation that the board continues
to uphold the appeal.)
• I have taken the wrong path.
(Connotation: I am still on the wrong path.)
Forming the Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense is formed:

• I have worked.
• She has painted.

Forming the Past Participle (Regular Verbs)

If it's a regular verb, the past participle is the same as the simple past tense.
In other words, it is formed like this:

Add "ed" to most verbs:

• jump > jumped
• paint > painted

If a verb of one syllable ends [consonant-vowel-consonant], double the final

consonant and add "ed":
• chat > chatted
• stop > stopped

If the final consonant is "w," "x," or "y," don't double it:

• sew > sewed
• play > played
• fix > fixed

If last syllable of a longer verb is stressed and ends [consonant-vowel-

consonant], double the last consonant and add "ed":
• incur > incurred
• prefer > preferred

If the first syllable of a longer verb is stressed and the verb ends [consonant-
vowel-consonant], just add "ed":
• open > opened
• enter > entered
• swallow > swallowed
If the verb ends "e," just add "d":
• thrive > thrived
• guzzle > guzzled

If the verb ends [consonant + "y"], change the "y" to an "i" and add "ed":
• cry > cried
• fry > fried

Forming the Past Participle (Irregular Verbs)

If it's an irregular verb, the past participle is formed in all sorts of different
ways. Here are some examples:
• arise > arisen
• catch > caught
• choose > chosen
• know > known

The Negative Version

If you need the negative version, you can use the following construction:

•
The board has not decided to uphold the appeal.
• I have not taken the wrong path.
Remember that "has not" is sometimes written as the contraction "hasn't."
The Question Version
If you need to ask a question, you can use the following word order for a
yes/no question:

• Has the board decided to uphold the appeal?

• Have I taken the wrong path?

You can use the following word order for a question-word question:

• Why has the board decided to uphold the appeal?

• How have I taken the wrong path?