Present perfect: Structure and examples
Examples / / April 02, 2023
He present perfect It is a tense that is used to connect past actions to the present. For example: Yo have won the lottery!/ I won the lottery!
He present perfectIt is a present tense because the action or time period has a connection to the present. For example: They have known each other for many years. / They have known each other for many years.
Although the use of present perfectimplies "until now", the specific time at which the action occurred is not important, but rather the action itself, which may or may not have finished (recently). For example:John have traveled extensively all his life of him./ John has traveled extensively his entire life. (John traveled extensively throughout his life.)
While in Spanish there is past perfect compound, whose translation is equivalent to the present perfect in English (“I have gone”, “I have done”), the present perfectin English it is not similar in uses or contexts to the tense in Spanish.
- It can help you: Prayers in "past simple»
structure of present perfect
The present perfect in English (present perfect) is a compound tense that is formed with with haveeither have you as auxiliaries + past participle (participle of the main verb).
affirmative structure of present perfect
Subject | have / have | past participle |
---|---|---|
YoyouWeThey | have ('go) | eaten |
I haveSheItem | have you (‘s) |
For example: The dog has eaten too much./ The dog has eaten too much.
Attention:
- The contraction of the auxiliary have is 'go. For example: Yo'go been to England before.
- The contraction of the auxiliary have you is ‘s. For example: I have’s Done his homework.
negative structure of present perfect
The negative form of present perfectis constructed by negating the auxiliary haveeither have you.
Subject | haven't / hasn't | past participle |
---|---|---|
YoyouWeThey | haven't | gone |
I haveSheItem | hasn't |
For example: Matt hasn't finished his lunch yet./ Matt hasn't finished his lunch yet.
Attention: The contraction of have not is haven't and the contraction of you have not is hasn't.
interrogative structure of present perfect
The questions in present perfectare constructed by preceding the auxiliary haveeither have youto the subject, as appropriate.
have | Subject | past participle |
---|---|---|
Have | Yoyouwethey | finished? |
have you | I havesheItem |
For example: have you the baby slept well?/ Did the baby sleep well?
Uses of present perfect
The present perfect tense in English is unlike any other tense because it has a wide variety of uses and the different contexts in which it is used. However, all uses of the present perfectthey connect the past tense to the present in some way: either because the action or the mentioned period continue. He present perfectis used to express:
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Past actions with present result. The action occurred and ended in the recent past, but has an effect in the present. For example:
- CEO you have resigned./ The CEO has resigned.
- Yo’ve lost my passport./ I've lost my passport.
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life experience. It is used in questions together with ever (“ever”) or in declarative sentences next to never(“never”) to talk about experiences. For example:
- I've never tried sushi in my life./ I have never tried sushi in my life.
- Have you evervisited Europe? / Have you ever visited Europe?
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Actions that started in the past and continue in the present. They express states or activities started in the past and that continue. It is the only use in which the action continues to the present. For example:
- She has known Jack since 2012./ She has known Jack since 2012.
- They have lived in town for 20 years./ They have lived in the city for 20 years.
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to-do list. It is used together with already (“ya”) in statements and questions, or yet (“yet”) in denials and questions. For example:
- He has already written the report. / He has already written the report.
- I haven't told her the news yet./ I haven't told him the news yet.
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Time periods that have not ended. Along with adverbs of time such as: this morning, this week, this month.
- Have you seen Jenny this morning?(It means that the morning is not over yet)
Attention: There is the present perfect continuous, which is used to emphasize the duration of the action. It is formed with the auxiliaries have / has + been + ing of the main verb. For example: I have been working all day long./ I've been working all day.
- See also: Past Perfect in English
What is the difference between present perfect and past simple?
The essential difference between present perfect (present perfect) and past simple (past simple) is that while the past simple It's a past tense present perfectit is a present tense.
PAST SIMPLE | PRESENT PERFECT |
---|---|
It is important to know when the action was performed. John traveled to Japan in 2018. |
It is not important to know when the action was performed. John have traveled to Japan. |
The preposition forindicates that both the action and the time period have ended. We lived in London for two years. |
The preposition forindicates that both the action and the time period continue. We have livedin London for two years. |
Certain expressions, like this morningeitherthis afternoon, indicate that the mentioned period of time has ended. Yo didn't see Emma this morning. |
Certain expressions, like this morningeitherthis afternoon, indicate that the time period continues. Yo haven't seen Emma this morning. |
It is used to tell of a life experience that has ended or when the person is not alive. shakespeare wrote many plays. |
It is used to tell a life experience that did not end or when the person is alive. Yo have written several novels. |
In American English, it is used together with just(“already”) to indicate that an action has been done a moment ago. Yo just he washed the dishes. |
In British English, it is used together with just(“already”) to indicate that an action G has been done an instant ago. I've just he washed the dishes. |
Attention: He present perfect is incompatible with a specific past tense reference (yesterday, last week, three days ago or the adverb when). For example: He went to Europe in 2015. (And not: He has been to Europe in 2015).
- See also: Sentences with "was" and "were"
What adverbs are used with the present perfect?
The adverbs that are used with the present perfect are:
- since. It means "from". It is used with a year, month, or at the beginning of a period. For example:I've known Steve since two years ago.
- for. It means “by”, “during. It is used together with a period of time. For example: We've lived in this apartment for a year.
- already. It means "already". It is used to express or ask about tasks performed. For example: He's already finished the project.
- still. It means "yet", "yet". It is used to express tasks not done. For example:Yo still haven't found it.
- yet. It means "yet", "yet" or "already". It is used to express tasks not done and for questions. For example: We haven't started yet.
- ever. It means "sometime". For example: Have you ever been bungee jumping?
- never. It means "never". For example: I've never heard anything like this.
- so far. It means "until now". For example: I've understood everything so far.
- It can help you: Interrogative Adverbs in English
He past participle
He past participle (the third column of verbs) is a non-conjugated form used to form compound tenses in English (perfect tenses), As the present perfect, he past perfect or the future perfect.
He past participle of the regular verbs is formed by adding the ending –Ed to the verb.
For example: like- liked; work – worked; wash – washed.
The irregular verbs do not follow a rule to form the past participle:
Infinitive verb | past participle | Translation |
---|---|---|
become | become | turned to |
begin | begun | started |
blow | blown | blown |
bite | bitten | bitten |
break | broken | broken |
bring | brought | brought, taken with them |
buy | bought | bought |
eat | eat | I come |
cost | cost | side stand |
do | donate | made |
drink | drunk | drunk |
drive | driven | driven |
eat | eaten | Eaten |
find | found | found |
forbidden | forbidden | forbidden |
forget | forgotten | forgotten |
get | gotten | got |
give | given | given |
go | gone | gone |
have | had | had |
hear | heard | ear |
hit | hit | struck |
hurt | hurt | hurt |
keep | kept | kept |
know | knew | known, known |
learn | learnedeither learned (regular) | learned |
leave | left | left, left, abandoned |
lend | slow | borrowed |
I know | lost | lost |
make | made | made |
meet | met | gathered, found |
pay | paid | paid |
read | read | read |
put | put | position |
rising | risen | uploaded |
run | run | run |
say | said | saying |
see | seen | seen |
send | felt | sent |
sit | sat | sitting |
take | taken | taken |
understand | understood | understood |
wake up | woken up | woken up |
wear | worn | dress |
write | written | written |
The past participle is also used to form the passive voice (passive voice)
Examples of sentences in present perfect
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We have lived in this house for over twenty years.
We have lived in this house for over twenty years. -
She have you never been to Florida.
He has never been to Florida. -
Yo have seen this movie twice.
I have seen this movie twice. -
They have given up hope.
They have lost hope. -
Yo’ve lost my keys.
He's lost my keys. -
We have spoken about this issue before.
We have discussed this topic before. -
Yo haven't eaten anything today.
I have not eaten today. -
My father he has shaved off his beard from him.
My father has shaved his beard. -
The team have developed a groundbreaking software program.
The team has developed a revolutionary software program. -
Yo've cut my finger and it's bleeding profusely.
I have cut my finger and it is bleeding profusely. -
Have you turned off the computer?
Have you turned off the computer? -
the child has spilled all the water on his lap from her.
The boy has spilled all the water on her lap. -
miley have broken her leg.
Miley has broken her leg. -
The students haven't started studying for their final exam yet.
The students have not started studying for their final exam. -
the police you have arrested the suspects.
The police have arrested the suspects. -
Oliver he has had his hair cut.
Oliver has cut his hair. -
you have improved your English very much.
You have improved your English a lot. -
The project has cost them over five thousand dollars.
The project has cost them more than five thousand dollars. -
Have you ever been inPoland?
Have you ever been to Poland? -
Yo’ve learned This recipe by heart.
I have memorized this recipe. -
We have been here before.
We have been here before. -
Yo have worked for this company for over ten years.
I have worked for this company for over ten years. -
you've been on the phone for an hour!
You've been on the phone for an hour! -
Noah have you always helped us.
Noah has always helped us. -
you still haven't seen the worst part.
You haven't seen the worst part yet. -
Have you seen my dog?
Have you seen my dog? -
scientists have discovered a cure for the disease.
Scientists have found a cure for the disease. -
still haven't found the time to do it.
I haven't found the time to do it yet. -
que have you donate?
What have you done he? -
John have you come up with an excellent idea.
John has come up with an excellent idea. -
Mr Hamilton he has become a very successful doctor.
Mr. Hamilton has become a successful doctor. -
We have been cooking all morning.
We've been cooking all morning. -
Have you checked the time of your flight?
Have you checked your flight schedule? -
The couple has broken up.
The couple is over. -
We have already finished the first exercise.
We have already finished the first exercise. -
Have you donate all your homework?
Have you done all your homework? -
Yo have taught all of my friends how to play this game.
I have taught all my friends to play this game. -
Have you enjoyed are you so far?
Have you enjoyed your stay so far? -
Yo have forgotten why we set up this meeting.
I have forgotten why we agreed to this meeting. -
They have improved the service.
They have improved the service. -
She she has changed her mind of her.
She has changed her mind. -
Have you ever tried Thai food?
Have you ever tried Thai food? -
Item has rained a lot this week.
It has rained a lot this week. -
We haven't seen Adele this morning.
We haven't seen Adele this morning. -
They have finished dessert and they are ready to leave.
They have finished dessert and are ready to go. -
Yo’ve taken care of all the details.
I have paid attention to every detail. -
She hasn't worn that dress in ages.
She hasn't worn that dress for ages. -
you haven't changed at all since the last time I saw you.
You haven't changed a bit since the last time I saw you. -
Yo have seen that kid before, but I don't remember his name from him.
I've seen that boy before, but I don't remember his name. -
Have you found what were you looking for?
Have you found what you were looking for?
Follow with:
- Irregular Sentences in English
- Regular English Sentences
- past continuous
- English Compound Future