Present Perfect

Connect past actions to the present moment - experiences, recent events & ongoing situations

What is Present Perfect?

The present perfect is the bridge tense – it connects the past to the present. Use it when a past action or experience is still relevant now, or when the exact time doesn't matter as much as the fact that it happened. It's one of the most challenging tenses for learners, but also one of the most useful!

Think of present perfect as your "life experience" tense. "I have visited Paris" means the experience is part of your life story right now. "I have lost my keys" means you still don't have them – the past action affects your current situation.

When to Use

1. Life Experiences (Unspecified Time)

Use present perfect to talk about experiences in your life, without saying exactly when.

I have visited Japan. (sometime in my life)
She has never eaten sushi.
They have seen that movie three times.
He has been to New York.
We have met before, haven't we?
Have you ever tried skydiving?
I have never forgotten that day.

2. Recent Past (Just, Already, Yet)

Use present perfect for actions that happened very recently and are still relevant.

I have just finished my homework.
She has already left the office.
They haven't arrived yet.
We have just heard the news.
He has already eaten lunch.
Have you finished yet?

3. Unfinished Time Periods (This Week, Today, This Year)

Use present perfect with time periods that aren't finished yet.

I have worked hard this week. (the week isn't over)
She has called me three times today. (today isn't finished)
We have seen a lot of changes this year.
They have traveled a lot this month.
He has been sick this week.

4. Actions That Started in the Past and Continue Now (For/Since)

Use present perfect for situations that started in the past and are still true.

I have lived here for 10 years. (still living here)
She has worked here since 2020. (still works here)
We have known each other for ages.
They have been married for 25 years.
He has studied English since he was a child.

5. Past Actions with Present Results

Use present perfect when a past action has a result that you can see or feel now.

I have lost my keys. (I still don't have them)
She has broken her leg. (her leg is still broken)
Someone has eaten my sandwich! (it's gone now)
It has stopped raining. (it's dry now)
They have painted the house. (it looks different now)

Formation

Positive Form: Subject + have/has + past participle

I have finished my work.
You have done a great job.
He has gone home. (irregular: go → gone)
She has written a book. (irregular: write → written)
It has been a long day.
We have seen that before.
They have lived here for years.

Negative Form: Subject + have/has + not + past participle

I haven't finished yet.
You haven't told me the truth.
He hasn't called me back.
She hasn't been to Paris.
It hasn't rained for months.
We haven't decided yet.
They haven't arrived yet.

Question Form: Have/Has + subject + past participle?

Have you finished your homework?
Has she called you?
Have they been there before?
Where have you been?
What has he done?
How long have you lived here?

Common Mistakes

❌ I have seen him yesterday. → ✅ I saw him yesterday. (use simple past with specific time)
❌ She has went to school. → ✅ She has gone to school. (went is simple past, not past participle)
❌ Have you finish? → ✅ Have you finished? (need past participle)
❌ I have wrote a letter. → ✅ I have written a letter. (irregular past participle)
❌ He has go home. → ✅ He has gone home.
❌ I have been to Paris last year. → ✅ I went to Paris last year. (specific time = simple past)
❌ They has lived here. → ✅ They have lived here. (they = have, not has)
❌ We have meet before. → ✅ We have met before.

Practice Tips

🎯 No specific time: If you mention when (yesterday, last week, in 2020), use simple past, not present perfect. Present perfect = time is vague or irrelevant.
📚 Learn irregular past participles: Many common verbs have irregular forms (see/seen, go/gone, do/done, eat/eaten). Make flashcards for the top 50.
⏰ For vs. Since: Use "for" with periods of time (for 3 years, for 2 months). Use "since" with starting points (since 2020, since Monday).
🔑 Key words: Ever, never, already, yet, just, recently, lately, so far – these signal present perfect. When you see them, think "have + past participle."
✍️ Life experience journal: Write 10 sentences about your life experiences: "I have traveled to...", "I have never tried...", "I have always wanted to..."