PRESENT PERFECTFORM

[has/have + past participle]

Youhave seenthat movie many times.

Haveyouseenthat movie many times?

Youhave not seenthat movie many times.

Present Perfect Forms

PositiveNegativeQuestion

Ihave traveled.

Youhave traveled.

Wehave traveled.

Theyhave traveled.

Hehas traveled.

Shehas traveled.

Ithas traveled. Ihave not traveled.

Youhave not traveled.

Wehave not traveled.

Theyhave not traveled.

Hehas not traveled.

Shehas not traveled.

Ithas not traveled. HaveItraveled?

Haveyoutraveled?

Havewetraveled?

Havetheytraveled?

Hashetraveled?

Hasshetraveled?

Hasittraveled?

USE 1 Unspecified Time Before Now

We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important. You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with specific time expressions such as: yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc. We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.

Ihave seenthat movie twenty times.

I think Ihave methim once before.

Therehave beenmany earthquakes in California.

Peoplehave traveledto the Moon.

Peoplehave not traveledto Mars.

Haveyoureadthe book yet?

Nobodyhaseverclimbedthat mountain.

A:Hasthere everbeena war in the United States?B: Yes, therehas beena war in the United States.

How Do You Actually Use the Present Perfect?

The concept of "unspecified time" can be very confusing to English learners. It is best to associate Present Perfect with the following topics:

TOPIC 1 Experience

You can use the Present Perfect to describe your experience. It is like saying, "I have the experience of..." You can also use this tense to say that you have never had a certain experience. The Present Perfect is NOT used to describe a specific event.

Ihave beento France.This sentence means that you have had the experience of being in France. Maybe you have been there once, or several times. Ihave beento France three times.You can add the number of times at the end of the sentence. Ihaveneverbeento France.This sentence means that you have not had the experience of going to France. I think Ihave seenthat movie before.

Hehasnevertraveledby train.

Joanhas studiedtwo foreign languages.

A:Haveyou evermethim?B: No, Ihavenotmethim.

TOPIC 2 Change Over Time

We often use the Present Perfect to talk about change that has happened over a period of time.

Youhave grownsince the last time I saw you.

The governmenthas becomemore interested in arts education.

Japanesehas becomeone of the most popular courses at the university since the Asian studies program was established.

My Englishhasreallyimprovedsince I moved to Australia.

TOPIC 3 Accomplishments

We often use the Present Perfect to list the accomplishments of individuals and humanity. You cannot mention a specific time.

Manhas walkedon the Moon.

Our sonhas learnedhow to read.

Doctorshave curedmany deadly diseases.

Scientistshave splitthe atom.

TOPIC 4 An Uncompleted Action You Are Expecting

We often use the Present Perfect to say that an action which we expected has not happened. Using the Present Perfect suggests that we are still waiting for the action to happen.

Jameshas not finishedhis homework yet.

Susanhasn't masteredJapanese, but she can communicate.

Billhasstillnot arrived.

The rainhasn't stopped.

TOPIC 5 Multiple Actions at Different Times

We also use the Present Perfect to talk about several different actions which have occurred in the past at different times. Present Perfect suggests the process is not complete and more actions are possible.

The armyhas attackedthat city five times.

Ihave hadfour quizzes and five tests so far this semester.

Wehave hadmany major problems while working on this project.

Shehas talkedto several specialists about her problem, but nobody knows why she is sick.

Time Expressions with Present Perfect

When we use the Present Perfect it means that something has happened at some point in our lives before now. Remember, the exact time the action happened is not important.

Sometimes, we want to limit the time we are looking in for an experience. We can do this with expressions such as: in the last week, in the last year, this week, this month, so far, up to now, etc.

Haveyoubeento Mexicoin the last year?

Ihave seenthat movie six timesin the last month.

Theyhave hadthree testsin the last week.

She graduated from university less than three years ago. Shehas workedfor three different companiesso far.

My carhas brokendown three timesthis week.

NOTICE

"Last year" and "in the last year" are very different in meaning. "Last year" means the year before now, and it is considered a specific time which requiresSimple Past. "In the last year" means from 365 days ago until now. It is not considered a specific time, so it requires Present Perfect.

Iwentto Mexicolast year.I went to Mexico in the calendar year before this one. Ihave beento Mexicoin the last year.I have been to Mexico at least once at some point between 365 days ago and now.USE 2 Duration From the Past Until Now

We use the Present Perfect to show that something started in the past and has continued up until now. "For five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Tuesday" are all durations which can be used with the Present Perfect.

Ihave hada cold for two weeks.

Shehas beenin England for six months.

Maryhas lovedchocolate since she was a little girl.

Although the above use of Present Perfect is normally limited to Non-Continuous Verbs and non-continuous uses of Mixed Verbs, the words "live," "work," "teach," and "study" are sometimes used in this way even though they are NOT Non-Continuous Verbs.

ADVERB PLACEMENT

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

You haveonlyseen that movie one time.

Have youonlyseen that movie one time?

ACTIVE / PASSIVE

Many touristshave visitedthat castle.Active That castlehas been visitedby many tourists.PassiveEXERCISES ON PRESENT PERFECT AND PAST SIMPLEWrite a suitable sentence using the PRESENT PERFECT TENSE :

1. Anns hair was dirty. Now its clean. (wash) ... Ann has washed her hair

2. Tom was 80 kg. Now hes 70. (lose weight) ..

3. Bill played football yesterday. Now he cant walk; his leg is in plaster. (break)

4. My sister is looking for her pen. (lose)

5. Mary is on holiday in France. (go) ..

6. Mr. Hill was in Canada last week. Hes back in London now. (be)

.

7. Look! Mrs. Smith has got a lot of packages. (buy) .

8. I cant eat anything now. (eat too much) .

9. Mrs. Jenkins is very tired. (clean / house)

10. Tony needs a holiday. (work / hard / this year)

Use PRESENT PERFECT TENSE after BECAUSE:

Example: She cant go to the party. (catch a cold)

She cant go to the party because she has caught a cold.

1. He cant walk very fast. (hurt / leg)2. I cant get in. (lose / key)3. I know this story very well. (see the film)

4. I cant post the letter. (not put / stamp / on it)

5. He cant stand up. (eat too much) 6. They cant go on holiday. (not save / money)

7. I know him. (meet him before)

8. We dont know how he is. (not hear from him)

9. He wont take a cigarette. (give up smoking)

10. She cant get in. (he / lock the door)

Follow the example and do the same using ALREADY:

Example: Bring the milk in, please.

- I have ALREADY brought it in.

1. You must find the tickets soon. ...

2. Turn the radio down, please.

3. Tidy your room. ..

4. Could you post the letters, please?

5. Why dont you see a doctor? ...

6. You have a bad cough. I think you should stop smoking....

7. Why dont you clean your shoes? ..

8. Brush your teeth, will you? ..

9. We have guests today. Shall we make a cake?.......................

10. We should invite Mary to the party.

Follow the example and do the same using YET:

Example: She has been in the shop. (buy anything)

- She has been in the shop but she hasnt bought anything YET.

1. Ive written to them three times. (not reply)

2. Ive asked you again and again. (not do it) ..3. I lent him $10 last month. (not give it back) 4. He lost his pen a week ago. (not find it) ..5. He borrowed my book last year. (not give it back) .6. She went to New York six months ago. (not return it) 7. She gave me $2 a week ago. (not return it) .8. I finished reading my library books a long time ago. (not change them) 9. She went to the bus-stop half an hour ago. (the bus / not come)

....

10. Hes still studying that lesson. (not learn it) .Put the verbs in the correct tense. Use the SIMPLE PAST or the PRESENT PERFECT:

1. .. Tim . (finish) his work yet?

2. .. he (finish) it yesterday?

3. They . (just / go) out.

4. They (go) out a minute ago.

5. Ann . (study) yesterday afternoon?

6. you . (send) the letters yet?

7. she .. (call) him a week ago?

8. They . (not / see) the film yet.

9. The train (just / arrive).

10. . you . (ever / be) in a TV studio?

11. you and Tom (enjoy) the party last night?

12. you . (not / finish) school last year?

13. I . (lose) my dictionary. I cant find it anywhere.

14. His hair looks short. He .. (have) a haircut.

15. When . (he / give up) smoking?

16. Jane .. (buy) her car two weeks ago.

17. My bicycle isnt here. Somebody . (take) it.

18. Why (Jim / not want) to play tennis last Friday?

19. The car looks clean. .. you .. (wash) it?

20. When we were on holiday, the weather (be) terrible.

Rewrite the following sentences twice, using SINCE and FOR:

Example: I havent seen you. (Christmas / 3 days)

a) I havent seen you SINCE Christmas. b) I havent seen you FOR 3 days.

1. Weve been here. (an hour / 4 oclock)

a) ...b) 2. She hasnt spoken to me. (2 weeks / last week)

a) ...b)

3. Theyve lived in this street. (1970 / a long time)

a) ...b)

4. I havent had time to do it. (last Monday / a few days)

a) ...b)

5. We havent bought a new one. (ages / many years)

a) ...b)

Use THE SIMPLE PAST or THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE to fill in the blanks:

1. What (you / learn) since you . (come) here? How many friends . (you / make)? I hope you ... (already / meet) a lot of interesting people.

2. Last night my roommate and I (have) some free time, so we .. (go) to a show.

3. I (just / have) lunch, but I (not / have) lunch yesterday.

4. Who . (write) the play Hamlet?

5. How many games (the team / win) so far this season?

6. I dont know Carols husband. I . (never / meet) him.

7. It (rain) a lot last week, but it (not / rain) much so far this week.

8. How many letters .. (you / write) since the beginning of the month?

9. When we were on vacation, the weather (be) terrible.

10. In her whole lifetime, Mary (never / see) snow.

11. I dont know where Ammy is. .(you / see) her?

12. When I . (get) home last night, I .. (be)

very tired and I (go) straight to bed.

13. Your car looks very clean. . (you / wash) it?

14. George .. (not / be) very well last week.

15. Mr. Clark (work) in a bank for 15 years. Then he gave it up.