Present Perfect
The Present Perfect connects the past to the present. Use it for experiences, recent events with present relevance, or actions that started in the past and continue now. It is formed with have/has + past participle. Common time expressions include ever, never, already, yet, just, for, and since.
WHEN TO USE
Use for life experiences (without a specific time), for recent actions with a present result, for actions that started in the past and continue now (with 'for' or 'since'), and for news/announcements.
STRUCTURE
S + have/has + past participleShe has visited Japan three times.
S + haven't/hasn't + past participleI haven't seen that film yet.
Have/Has + S + past participle?Have you ever tried sushi?
SIGNAL WORDS
- ever
- never
- already
- yet
- just
- for
- since
- recently
- lately
- so far
EXAMPLES
I have visited Japan three times.
She has just finished her homework.
Have you ever tried sushi?
They haven't arrived yet.
He has lived here for ten years.
SPELLING RULES (HE/SHE/IT)
| Regular verbs | add -ed (same as past simple) | work → worked, play → played |
|---|---|---|
| Irregular verbs | unique past participle form | go → gone, eat → eaten, write → written |
COMMON MISTAKES
I have seen her yesterday.
I saw her yesterday.
Don't use present perfect with a specific past time. Use past simple instead.
Have you eaten yet? — Yes, I have eaten.
Have you eaten yet? — Yes, I have.
In short answers, don't repeat the past participle — just use 'have/has'
Tip
The key difference between present perfect and past simple: present perfect = the specific time is unknown or unimportant. Past simple = a specific time is mentioned or implied (yesterday, last year, in 2010).