Present Perfect: Complete Grammar Guide with Examples
The Present Perfect is one of the most important tenses in English, especially for learners at CEFR levels A2 to B1. It is commonly used to describe experiences, recent events, and actions that connect the past to the present.
What Is the Present Perfect? (Definition)
The Present Perfect tense is used to describe:
- Experiences without specifying when they happened.
- Actions that happened in the past but have a result in the present.
- Actions that started in the past and are still happening now.
Form:
Have/Has + Past Participle (Verb 3rd form)
When to Use the Present Perfect? (Specific Uses)
Life Experiences
To talk about things you have done in your life without saying exactly when.
I have visited Italy.
(You don’t say when, just the fact it happened.)
Actions with Present Results
To show that a past action has a consequence now.
She has lost her keys.
(She doesn’t have them now.)
Actions Continuing Until Now
To describe actions that started in the past and are still true.
We have lived here since 2015.
(And we still live here now.)
Recent Actions (with ‘Just’)
To express that something happened very recently.
I have just finished my homework.
Present Perfect Rules
Affirmative Sentences:
Subject + have/has + past participle
- I have seen that movie.
- She has finished her work.
Negative Sentences:
Subject + have/has + not + past participle
- I haven’t seen that movie.
- He hasn’t finished his work.
Questions:
Have/Has + subject + past participle?
- Have you visited Paris?
- Has she completed the task?
Common Time Expressions with Present Perfect
- Ever – at any time in your life (Have you ever…?)
- Never – not ever (I have never…)
- Just – a short time ago (I have just…)
- Already – before now (I have already…)
- Yet – until now (used in negatives/questions: Have you finished yet?)
- Since – from a point in time (since 2010)
- For – duration of time (for 5 years)
Examples with CEFR-Level Sentences
| Sentence | Translation | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Have you ever been to London? | – | Life experience |
| I have just finished my report. | – | Recent action |
| She has already eaten lunch. | – | Present result |
| We haven’t visited the museum yet. | – | Negative with yet |
| They have lived here since 2018. | – | Action continuing |
Important Rules to Remember
- ❌ Do not use the Present Perfect with specific past time expressions, such as yesterday, last year, in 2019, two days ago.
✔️ Use Past Simple for those. - ✔️ Use the past participle form of verbs (3rd column in irregular verbs). For example:
go → gone, see → seen, eat → eaten.
Conclusion
The Present Perfect is an essential tense to express life experiences, recent events, and actions that connect the past to the present. Mastering this tense will help you sound more natural and accurate in English conversations.
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