The Present Perfect Tense

Form and use

MEANING

The present perfect tells us

about the past and the present.

Use
When we use the present perfect, we see
things as happening in the past but having
a result in the present.
Ive bought
some
presents.

Form

have/has + past participle

POSITIVE

I/you/we/they have (theyve) gone.

He/she/it has (its) gone.

NEGATIVE
I/you/we/they have not gone.
He/she/it hasnt gone.

INTERROGATIVE

Have I/you/we/they gone?

Has he/she/it gone?
SHORT ANSWERS
Yes, I have. / No, I havent.
Yes, he has. / No, he hasnt.

The plane has landed safely.

They have graduated.

Congratulations!

Federer has lost the semifinal

match in Melbourne .

Nole has won the Australian Open for

the second time.

RELATED WORDS
We use the present perfect with today and
phrases with this, e.g. this morning, this week,
this year.

EXAMPLE: I have been here

since this morning.
We've
done quite
a good job
today.

When we ask / talk about our

experience
Have
you ever
been to
London?

No, I
havent.
And you?

 With lately and recently

meaning.

Have I told
you lately
that I love
you?

JUST
With just to express the action finished a short
time ago

We have just come back from our holiday.

ALREADY
With already meaning sooner than expected
Ive already
finished my
dinner.

YET
With yet in negative sentences and questions
when we expect something to happen
Sorry, Nick. I
havent finished
the homework yet.

FOR/SINCE
We use for to say how long this period is (for
three days).
We use since to say when the period began
(since Friday).
Thanks. I havent
eaten anything for
three days.

Me, too. I havent

grabbed a bite
since Friday.

NEVER /

EVER

We use NEVER as: NOT AT ANY TIME in the

past, including now

I have never seen such a beautiful sunset

 We use EVER as: at any time, including the

present (only in questions)
Have you ever ridden a horse?

PRACTISE
She ___________________ a letter to me. (write)
The team ______________ the match (win)
We ___________________ our work. (not/finish)
Why _____ you _________ the bill? (pay)
_______the train ________? (depart)
He __________________ his mistakes.
(not/realize)
Sandra _________________ her bag. (lose)