The Present Perfect Simple Tense

Present Perfect

1. Use of the Present Perfect

1.1. result of actions in the past is important in the present – It is not important when the actions happened.

I have cleaned my room.

1.2. recently completed actions

He has just played handball.

1.3. states beginning in the past and still continuing

We have lived in Canada since 1986.

1.4. together with lately, recently, yet

I have been to London recently.

2. Signal words

• just
• yet
• never
• already
• ever
• so far
• up to now
• recently
• since
• for

3. Form

have/has + past participle *

4. Examples

4.1. Affirmative sentences in the Present Perfect – regular verbs

Long forms	Contracted forms
I have cleaned my room.	I've cleaned my room.
You have cleaned your room.	You've cleaned your room.
He has cleaned his room.	He's cleaned his room.

4.2. Affirmative sentences in the Present Perfect – irregular verbs

Long forms	Contracted forms
I have gone home.	I've gone home.
You have gone home.	You've gone home.
He has gone home.	He's gone home.

4.3. Negative sentences in the Present Perfect – regular verbs

Long forms	Contracted forms
I have not cleaned my room.	I've not cleaned my room.
	I haven't cleaned my room.
You have not cleaned your room.	You've not cleaned your room.
	You haven't cleaned your room.
He has not cleaned his room.	He's not cleaned his room.
	He hasn't cleaned my room.

4.4. Negative sentences in the Present Perfect – irregular verbs

Long forms	Contracted forms
I have not gone home.	I've not gone home.
	I haven't gone home.
You have not gone home.	You've not gone home.
	You haven't gone home.
He has not gone home.	He's not gone home.
	He hasn't gone home.

* past participle:

• regular verbs → infinitive + -ed
• irregular verbs → 3rd column of the table of the irregular verbs

How do we form the Present Perfect?

We form the Present Perfect with have and the past participle *
(regular verbs: infinitive + -ed; irregular verbs: 3rd column of the table of the irregular verbs)

has → 3rd person singular (he, she, it)
have → all other forms

* past participle:

• regular verbs → infinitive + -ed
• irregular verbs → 3rd column of the table of the irregular verbs

1. Affirmative sentences in the Present Perfect – regular verbs

• I have opened the door.
• You have opened the door.
• He has opened the door.
• She has opened the door.
• It has opened the door.
• We have opened the door.
• You have opened the door.
• They have opened the door.

2. Affirmative sentences in the Present Perfect – irregular verbs

• I have gone home.
• You have gone home.
• He has gone home.
• She has gone home.
• It has gone home.
• We have gone home.
• You have gone home.
• They have gone home.

► We use has in the 3rd person singular (he, she, it).

3. Negative sentences in the Present Perfect – regular verbs

• I have not opened the door.
• You have not opened the door.
• He has not opened the door.
• She has not opened the door.
• It has not opened the door.
• We have not opened the door.
• You have not opened the door.
• They have not opened the door.

4. Negative sentences in the Present Perfect – irregular verbs

• I have not gone home.
• You have not gone home.
• He has not gone home.
• She has not gone home.
• It has not gone home.
• We have not gone home.
• You have not gone home.
• They have not gone home.

1. Questions without question words in the Present Perfect

Auxiliary	Subject	Verb	Rest	Yes/No	Subject	Auxiliary (+ n't)
Have	you	done	the shopping?	Yes, No, No,	I I I	have. have not. haven't.
Has	Jane	played	basketball?	Yes, No, No,	she she she	has. has not. hasn't.
Have	they	been	in Canada?	Yes, No, No,	they they they	have. have not. haven't.

2. Questions with question words in the Present Perfect

Question word	Auxiliary	Subject	Verb	Rest	Answer
How often	have	you	tried	to download the file?	I have tried to download the file three times.
How long	have	they	lived	in Ottawa?	They have lived in Ottawa since 2009.
Where	has	he	been?		He has been at home.

► Use has with the 3rd person singular (he, she, it) and in all other persons have.

Use the verb in the past participle:

• regular verbs: infinitive + -ed
• irregular verbs: 3rd column of the table of the irregular verbs
• Take This quiz about : Present Perfect Simple

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