Present Perfect Tense
We use the present perfect tense to show an action that happened before now at an unspecified time. The exact time is not important. We don’t use specific time expressions with present perfect tense.
Specific time expressions such as yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I
was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc.
On the other hand, we use unspecific time expressions or
some adverbs such as: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so
far, already, yet, etc.
Examples:
·
I have seen that movie twenty times.
·
I think we have met them once before.
·
People have traveled to the Moon.
When we use the present perfect, it means that something has
happened at some point in our lives before now and is connected to the present or has its effect on the subject.
·
I have eaten.
·
I have done MBA.
·
It has rained cats and dogs.
·
Coronavirus has affected all over the world.
We use the present perfect tense to talk about an action that was started in the past, has recently been completed, or continues to the
present. We use the time expressions ‘since’ and ‘for’. For is used to talk about the duration of time. Since is used to talk about a specific time.
·
I have known Billy for 20 years.
·
He has been my friend for five years.
·
I have known Billy since 1996.
·
I have worked at this company since May 1, 2013.
·
Diya has loved candies since she was a little
girl.
Present Perfect Forms
The present perfect is formed by using the auxiliary verb (has/have) +
past participle form of the verb. In questions, we use auxiliaries (has/have) at
the beginning of the sentence. Negatives are made with not.
Affirmative:
Subject + have/has + verb (past participle form) + . . . . .
.
·
You have seen that movie many times.
·
I have been to France.
·
Ali has grown since the last time I saw him.
·
Doctors have cured many deadly diseases.
·
I have got a cold for two days.
·
He has been to New York many times.
Negative:
Subject + have/has + not + verb (past participle form) + . .
. . . . .
·
You have not studied that novel book many times.
·
People have not traveled to Mars.
·
Diya has not loved candies since she was a little
girl.
Interrogative:
Have/has + subject + verb (past participle form) + . . . . .
. .
·
Have you seen that movie many times?
·
Have you read the book?
·
Has she met him?
·
Have people traveled to Mars?
Negative and Interrogative:
Have/has + not + subject + verb (past participle form) + . .
. . . . . (Am Eng)
·
Have not you seen that movie since you were a
child?
·
Have not you met him for three months?
·
Have not you read that book?
Have/has + subject + not + verb (past participle form)+ . .
. . . . . (Br Eng)
·
Have you not seen that movie since you were a
child?
·
Have you not met him for three months?
·
Have you not read that book?
Contract forms or short forms
|
I have |
I’ve |
We have |
We’ve |
|
You have |
You’ve |
He has |
He’s |
|
She has |
She’s |
It has |
It’s |
|
They have |
They’ve |
Ali has |
Ali’s |
|
Has not |
Hasn’t |
Have not |
Haven’t |
·
I’ve been to France.
·
We’ve completed our homework.
·
You’ve seen that movie many times.
·
He’s been in New York for six months.
·
She’s cooked the meal.
·
It’s rained since morning.
·
They’ve cured many deadly diseases.
·
Ali’s grown since the last time I saw him.
·
Ali hasn’t grown since the last time I saw him.
·
I haven’t got a cold for two weeks.
Yes/No Questions and Short Answers
A question that is answered by Yes or No is called a Yes/No
Question.
A short answer means to use just subject and auxiliary after
yes or no to give an answer. A comma is used after Yes or No.
Ex:
·
Have you taken tea?
Yes, I have.
·
Have you congratulated him?
No, I have not.
Information Questions (wh questions) and Answers
A question that is asked to interrogate or get information
is called an information question.
Ex:
·
What has she given you?
She has
given me some money.
·
Where have they gone?
They
have gone to New York.
·
Why has he left the job?
Because
he has intended to have another one.
·
Who has eaten the apple which I put in the refrigerator?
I have
eaten.
·
Whose car have you taken?
I have
taken my friend’s car.
·
Which book have you bought?
I have
bought an English Grammar Book.
·
How has it rained since morning?
It has
rained cats and dogs.
Adverbs of time with the present perfect tense
Just
Refer to events that recently occurred. It is used before the verb.
Examples:
·
Are you hungry? – No, I’ve just had dinner.
·
Is Tom here? – No, I’m afraid he’s just gone out.
Recently/ Lately
Refer to events that recently occurred. They are used
everywhere.
Examples:
·
I have recently bought a new car.
·
Ali has given a topic for discussion lately.
Already
‘Already’ tells that something has happened at an
unspecified time before now. It can be placed before the main verb or at the
end of the sentence. “Already” is usually used in affirmative sentences.
We can also use it in questions but not in negative sentences.
Examples:
·
What time does the film start? – It
has already started.
·
What time does the film start? – It has
started already.
·
She has already come.
·
The plane has already landed.
Yet
Yet is used to show an event that has occurred up to now. It is
used in negative and interrogative sentences.
Yet is usually used at the end of the sentence. It can also
be used before the main verb.
Examples:
·
He hasn’t arrived yet.
·
Have you eaten the apples yet?
Note: When it is used in a negative question, the answer is
already No.
·
Haven’t you called
him yet?
Ans:
No, I haven’t.
So far
So far means up to now. It is placed at the beginning as
well as at the end of the sentence.
Examples:
·
I have visited my uncle many times so far.
·
So far, they have visited their relatives many times.
Ever
The adverb ‘Ever’ means all the time and expresses the
idea of an unidentified time before now. It is used to show that event has
occurred all the time before now.
'Ever' is always placed before the main verb (past
participle). Ever is used in questions and negative questions.
Examples:
·
Have you ever been to England?
·
Has she ever met the Prime Minister?
·
Haven't they ever been to Europe?
·
Haven't you ever eaten Chinese food?
·
I have not ever been to New York.
Never
It is used to show that the event has occurred at no time before
now. Be careful! You must not use never and not together
·
I haven't never been to Italy. (incorrect)
·
I have never been to Italy.
Still
It
describes an activity that started in the past and is continuing up to the present.
It is placed before the verb. In the negative, it is used after the subject.
·
He has still got his book.
·
He still hasn’t done his homework.
