Present

perfect
tense
 Use
The present perfect is used to talk about
situations and events that took place at an
indefinite time in the past. The time at which
the events took place or when the situations
existed may not be known or may not be
important.
 Affirmative form
I
You
We have/‘ve Past
participle
They

I’ve been to Europe.

He
Past
She has/‘s participle
It

She’s eaten pizza.

 Negative form
I
You
We have not/ Past
haven‘t participle
They

I haven’t been to Europe.

He
Past
She has not/ participle
hasn‘t
It

She hasn’t eaten pizza.

 Past participle verbs
Regular past participle
The forms and spelling rules
for regular past participle
ending in –ed are the same
as for simple past verbs.
Irregular past participle
Some irregular past participle are the
same as the same form of the verb
(come/ came/ come), some are the
same as the simple past (have/ had/
had), and others are different form
both the base form and the simple
past (see/ saw/ seen).

Present Past Past participle

Ask Asked Asked
Become Became Become
Catch Caught Caught
Draw Drew Drawn
Some common uses of present
perfect:
• For action or events that happened at an
indefinite time in the past that still have
importance in the present.
I haven’t saved enough money.
(I still don’t have enough)
• For repeated actions at an indefinite time in
the past.
We’ve gone sailing three times this year.
(Indefinite time)
 • With certain time expressions
the present perfect may be used with time
expressions that refer to “time up to now”, such
as before, never, in my life, over the past three
years, this week, up to now, just, and lately. Just
and lately are used to emphasize that something
happened in the very recent year.

I’ve never tried it before.

She’s been really tired lately.
I’ve just finished my homework.
Already = Actions that happened before
they have been asked for [in the past].

She’s [she has] already made

her bed.
Just = Actions that happened very
recently.

She’s [she has] just painted

the wall.
Yet = We use it in negative and
interrogative sentences.

He hasn’t done
homework yet.
* Has he been to
nottingham yet?
 Present perfect vs. Past
Second subject
The present perfect is not normally used with
time expressions that indicate a definite points
in time in the past that is now finished (e.g. last
week, two years ago). With these expressions,
the simple past is generally used.

I’ve always wanted to be an actor.

When I was young, I wanted to be
an actor.
 Examples:
We have been to France.

THIS SENTENCE MEANS THAT WE HAVE HAD THE

EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN FRANCE. MAYBE THEY
HAVE BEEN THERE ONCE, OR SEVERAL TIMES.
 He has traveled by train three times.

HE DID THE ACTIVITY 3 TIMES BUT, THE EXACT

DATE IS INDEFINITE.
I think I have never seen that movie before.

THIS SENTENCE MEANS THAT YOU HAVE NOT

HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF WATCHING THE
MOVIE.
In pairs, create sentences using the pictures and
use Present Perfect:
Thank you