Present perfect simple

Others

1. Present perfect

The present perfect is mainly used to refer to actions that began in the past and continue in the present. 
IMG UNIT 07-01
They have painted their bedroom.
IMG UNIT 07-02
She has written several novels.

2. Structure of present perfect 

  • Affirmative form
    Subject auxiliarY Verb
    (past participle)
    Examples
    I have
    've
    been I have been to Mexico.
    You You have been to Mexico.
    He has
    's
    He has been to Mexico.
    She She has been to Mexico.
    It It has been to Mexico.
    We have
    've
    We have been to Mexico.
    You You have been to Mexico.
    They They have been to Mexico.
    Remember that with regular verbs we form the past participle by adding -ed to the end of the verb, while with irregular verbs we have to look at the 3rd column of the list of irregular verbs.
  • Negative form
    Subject auxiliarY Verb
    (past participle)
    Examples
    I have not
    haven't
    been I haven't been to Mexico.
    You You haven't been to Mexico.
    He has not
    hasn't
    He hasn't been to Mexico.
    She She hasn't been to Mexico.
    It It hasn't been to Mexico.
    We have not
    haven't
    We haven't been to Mexico.
    You You haven't been to Mexico.
    They They haven't been to Mexico.
  • Interrogative form
    auxiliarY Subject Verb
    (past participle)
    Examples
    Have I been? Have I been to Mexico?
    you Have you been to Mexico?
    Has he Has he been to Mexico?
    she Has she been to Mexico?
    it Has it been to Mexico?
    Have we Have we been to Mexico?
    you Have you been to Mexico?
    they Have they been to Mexico?

Interrogative sentences in present perfect also have their own short answers.

Adverb Subject AuxiliarY
Yes, I have
you
he has
she
it
we have
you
they
Adverb Subject AuxiliarY
No, I haven't
you
he hasn't
she
it
we haven't
you
they
IMG UNIT 07-08
Have you locked the door? Yes, I have.
IMG UNIT 07-09
Has he broken the window? No, he hasn't.

3. How is the present perfect used?

The present perfect is used for:

  • Actions performed at undetermined point in the past that have a result in the present.  It is not important to know exactly when the action occurred.
    IMG UNIT 07-10
    She has made her bed.
    The bed was made at some point in the past, we do not know when. The result in the present is that the bed is made.
    IMG UNIT 07-18
    He has watered the plants.
    At some point in the past he watered the plants. The result is that the plants have water now.
  • Experiences
    .
    IMG UNIT 07-11
    She has flown in a balloon, she has done parachuting and she has swum with dolphins.
    She did all these activities at some point in the past, but the time she did them is not mentioned because it is not relevant in this context. That is, she emphasizes the action but not the specific moment when the action took place.
  • Repeated actions that have taken place at different times in the past, that is, that have occurred more than once.
    IMG UNIT 07-13
    I have lost my wallet four times.
    In this case, the action of losing his wallet has taken place repeatedly. The important thing is the action, not when it happened.
    IMG UNIT 07-19
    I have seen the film twice.
    He visto la película dos veces.
    In this case, the action has taken place a couple of times in the past. Again, the important thing is not when it happened but the action itself (see the movie).
  • Actions that began at some specific point in the past and continue in the present.
    IMG UNIT 07-14
    Mary has worked in a bank since 1999.
    Mary started working at the bank at one point in the past (1999) and she is still working there today.

4. Time expressions with the present perfect

With the present perfect the following time expressions are usually used:

  • JUST

    The action took place a short time ago and it's finished. It is mainly used in affirmative sentences and it is placed between the auxiliary verb have and the main verb.

    IMG UNIT 08-02
    Sally has just washed her hair.
    IMG UNIT 08-03
    They have just done an exam.
  • ALREADY

    The action took place at some point before now or before the expected time. It is used in affirmative sentences and it can go between the auxiliary verb have and the main verb, or at the end of a sentence.


    IMG UNIT 08-04
    Mary has already washed the dishes.
    IMG UNIT 08-05
    We have already been here.
  • YET

    In interrogative sentences it is used to ask whether something that was expected to happen has occurred. In negative sentences it is used to express that an action that should have happened has not taken place.  It goes at the end of a sentence.


    IMG UNIT 08-06
    My sister hasn't arrived in London yet.
    IMG UNIT 08-07
    Has Mr. Jones corrected the exams yet?
  • FOR
    It shows duration, that is, how long an action lasts or continues. The action began at a particular time in the past and continues into the present.
    IMG UNIT 08-08
    We have been married for two years.
    IMG UNIT 08-09
    She has lived in London for 12 years.
  • SINCE
    It indicates when the action began and covers the period of time between that particular moment in the past and the present.
    IMG UNIT 08-10
    I haven't smoked since last week.
    IMG UNIT 08-11
    She has worked in the company since April.
  • EVER
    It means at any time in the past. It is usually used to ask about experiences and it is placed between the subject and the main verb.
    IMG UNIT 08-12
    Have you ever eaten snake meat?
    IMG UNIT 08-13
    Has he ever played volleyball?
  • HOW LONG
    It is mainly used in interrogative sentences to ask about the period of time that has passed since the action began until the present moment.
    IMG UNIT 08-14
    How long have you been together?
    As we can see, this example refers to the time that has passed between the time this couple started dating and the present day.
    IMG UNIT 08-15
    How long has Paul taught in this school?
    As we can see, this example refers to the time that has passed since Paul started teaching in the school until today.

Time expressions that indicate a specific moment in the past, for example: yesterday, on Monday, at 6, last year... are used with the simple past but not with the perfect present unless we refer to a period of time that has not yet ended (this week, today, this year...).

I've had three exams today.
Sue has travelled a lot this year.

In both examples, the time period expressed (today, this year) has not ended.

Remember!

The present perfect is used to express actions that took place in the past with visible results in the present. It is also used to refer to the same action that has occurred more than once in the past or to actions that began in the past but continue in the present.
  Structure Examples
AFFIRMATIVE Subject + have / has + verb (past participle) + (compl.) I have ridden a horse many times.
NEGATIVE Subject + have / has + verb (past participle) + (compl.) We haven't finished our homework.
INTERROGATIVE Have / Has + subject + verb (past participle) + (compl.)? Have you seen Joe? No, I haven't.