Present-Perfect-Tense

Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense is used to express actions that began in the past and continue in the present.

Uses of Present Perfect Tense:
1.  Actions and situations started in the past and continuing in the present.
Example.
She has worked in the bank for five years.

2.  An action performed during a period that has not yet finished.
Example.
It has rained a lot this year.

3.  Actions repeated in an unspecified period between the past and now.
Example.
They have seen that film six times.

4.  An action that was completed in the very recent past 
(expressed by ‘just’).
Example.
We have just seen her.

5.  When the precise time of the action is not important or not known.
Example.
Someone has eaten my soup.

Note: We used ‘since’ with a fixed time in the past (2004, April 23rd, last year, two hours ago). The fixed time can be another action, indicated with the past simple (e.g. since I was at school etc.)
Examples.
I have known Jack since 1992.
I have liked chocolate since I was a child.
We use ‘for’ with a period of time (2 hours, three hours, six months).
Examples.
I have known Sarah for ten years.
I have been hungry for hours.

Sentence Structure of Present Perfect Tense

Structure of Simple/Positive Sentence:
He/She/Singular noun + has + 3rd form of verb + Object.
I/We/You/They/Plural noun + have + 3rd form of verb + Object.
Note: with ‘he, she, it, singular noun’ helping verb ‘has’ is used and with ‘I, we, you, they, plural noun’ helping verb ‘have’ is used.

Simple Sentences:
                   Subject + Helping Verb +  III-Verb  +  Object
                   (He              has                  played      in the hall.)
He has played in the hall.             She has taken care of her health.
It has Slept on the sofa.                They have gotten late for school.
We have spoken good English.    You have told a story.
I have watched T.V.                     John has gone to school.

Structure of Negative Sentence:
He/She/Singular noun + has not + 3rd form of verb + Object.
I/We/You/They/Plural noun + have not + 3rd form of verb + Object.
Note: with ‘he, she, it, singular noun’ helping verb ‘has’ is used and with ‘I, we, you, they, plural noun’ helping verb ‘have’ is used.

Negative Sentences:
                   Subject + Not +Helping Verb + III-Verb   +   Object
                   (He         not          has                played      in the hall.)
He Has not Played in the hall.
She Has not Taken care of her health.
It Has not Slept on the sofa.
They Have not Gotten late for school.
We Have not Spoken good English.
You Have not Told a story.
I Have not Watched T.V.
Yuri Has not Gone to school.

Structure of Interrogative Sentence:
Has + He/She/Singular noun + 3rd form of verb + Object?
Have + I/We/You/They/Plural noun + 3rd form of verb + Object?
Note: with ‘he, she, it, singular noun’ helping verb ‘has’ is used and with ‘I, we, you, they, plural noun’ helping verb ‘have’ is used.

Interrogative Sentences:
                   Helping Verb + Subject +  III-Verb  +  Object?
                   (Has                      he          played      in the hall?)
Has He Played in the hall?
Has She Taken care of her health?
Has It Slept on the sofa?
Have They Gotten late for school?
Have We Spoken good English?
Have You Told a story?
Have I Watched T.V?
Has Jack Gone to school?

Previous Lesson | Next Lesson