The Present Perfect Tense

Presented by Sasha & New Headway, 2003

Introduction

The same form HAVE+Past Participle exists in many European languages, but the uses in English are different. In English, the Present Perfect Tense is essentially a present tense but it also expresses the effect of past action and activities on the present.

Forming

HAVE / HAS + Past ParticipleHAVE / HAS + Past Participle

Past participle:

1. Regular: -ed suffix (played)

2. Irregular: III column (done)

I have played ~ She has seen

He has done ~ I have met

Present perfect

Present perfect means “before now”

PAST PRESENT PERFECT

PRESENT

The Present Perfect does not express when an action happened. If we say the exact time we have to use the Past Simple:

1. In my life I have travelled to all five continents.

2. I travelled round Africa in 1988.

Use 1

The Present Perfect has three main uses:

1. It expresses an action which began in the past and still continues

We’ve lived in the same house for 25 years. Peter’s worked as a teacher since 1991. How long have you known each other? They’ve been married for twenty years.

Many languages express this idea with a present tense:

- Peter is a teacher for ten years. WRONG- Peter has been a teacher for ten years. CORRECT

Time expressions

Note the time expressions that are common with this use. We use FOR with a period of time, and SINCE with a point of time:

FOR SINCE

two years

a month

a few minutes

half an hour

ages

1970

the end of the lesson

August

8.00 pm

Christmas

Use 2

2. It expresses an experience that happened at some time in one’s life. The action is in the past and finished, but the effects of the action are still felt. When the action happened is not important!

I’ve been to the States. (I still remember) Have you ever had an operation? (at any time in

your life up to now) I’ve never tried bunjee jumping. How many times has she been married? (in her

life)

Use 3

3. It expresses a past action that has a present result. The action is usually in the recent past:

I’ve lost my wallet. (I haven’t got it now) The taxi hasn’t arrived. (we are still waiting) What have you done to your lip? (It’s bleeding) Peter has shaved his beard off. (He looks

different now)

Useful adverbs:

Yet already just ever never recently lately

Use 4

4. We often announce news in the Present Perfect, because the speaker is emphasizing the event as a present fact.

Have you heard? The Prime Minister has resigned.

Susan’s had her baby, I’ve ruined the meal. It’s burnt.

Note the adverbs that are common with this use: I haven’t done my homework yet. I’ve already done my homework. I’ve just seen her.

Final notes

1. Be careful with BEEN and GONE: He’s been to America. (=experience, he isn’t

there now) He’s gone to America. (=present result, he’s

there now)2. Compare the following sentences: I’ve lived in Paris for six years. (I still live there) I lived in Paris for six years. (Now I live

somewhere else) Shakespeare wrote many plays. (He can’t write

any more, he is dead) I’ve written several books. (I can still write some

more)

Final notes

Have you seen Bill this morning? (It’s still morning)

Did you see Bill this morning? (It’s the afternoon or evening)

3. Compare the following right and wrong sentences:

RIGHTRIGHT WRONGWRONG

a) When did you go to Greece?

b) I saw him yesterday.

c) I’ve studied English for three years.

d) Where did you buy your jumper?

e) I haven’t brought my dictionary to class.

a) When have you been to Greece?

b) I have seen him yesterday.

c) I study English for three years.

d) Where have you bought your jumper?

e) I didn’t bring my dictionary to class.

Final notes

We can see how Present Perfect refers to indefinite time and the Past Simple refers to definite time by looking at the time expressions used with the different tenses:

Present Perfect - IndefinitePresent Perfect - Indefinite Past Simple - DefinitePast Simple - Definite

I’ve done it

yesterday

last week

two days ago

at eight o’clock

in 1990

for a long time

since July

before

recently

I did it

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