The present perfect

A) Grammar
Affirmative
Subj
Aux verb
Past
participle
I
have verbed*
You
have verbed*
He/she/it has verbed*
We
have verbed*
You
have verbed*
they
have verbed*

Negative
Subj.
Aux.
verb
Past
participle
I
haven't verbed*
You
haven't verbed*
He/she/it hasn't verbed*
We
haven't verbed*
You
haven't verbed*
they
haven't verbed*

Aux
have
have
has
have
have
have

Question
sub
verb
Past
participle
I
Verbed*
You
verbed*
he/she/it verbed*
We
verbed*
You
verbed*
they
verbed*

* If a verb is regular, its past participle form is verbed. If the verb is irregular, you have
to check the list.
B) uses
Use 1: Actions which started in the past and are still continuing
The present perfect is often used for an action which started at some time in the past, and
is still continuing now. Often, the words for(with a length of time) and since(with a
starting time) are used along with the present perfect.
He has lived in Canada for five years.
= between his arrival in Canada and now, it's been 5 years.
She has worked at the University since 1994.
=The starting point of her employment is 1994.

Use 2: Actions which happened at some unknown time in the past

Sometimes, it's important to say that something happened(or didn't happen), but it's not
important (or not known) whenit happened. In this case, we can use the present perfect
too. In this case, we often use the words already, yet, everor neveralong with the present
perfect. These words usually go before the past participle in the sentence.

I've already seen that film. I don't want to see it again.

= I know how it ends!
Have you ever been to Germany?
Do you have that experience in your life? If I talk about Germany, do you understand
what I am talking about?

Use 3: Actions which happened in the past, but have an effect in the present
This use is a little more difficult than the other two. In this case, the action happened at
some time in the past, but the effect of the action is still important now. It's easiest to
understand this use if we compare present perfect sentences with simple past sentences.
Tense

Sentence

Meaning

Present perfect

I've lost my keys.

Where the (censured) are they???

Simple past

I lost my keys
yesterday.

2 possibilities:
1. I found them
2. I replaced them

Present perfect

She's broken her arm.

Simple past

She broke her arm.

Her arm is still broken, she can't play

hockey.
Let me tell you the story...

Use 4: Actions which can be repeated within a time frame that is still going on.
In this case, not only did the action happened in the past, but my message is that I
am expecting it to happen again in a limited time frame (implied or said) .
Tense
Present perfect
Simple past
Present perfect
Simple past

Sentence
We've had 4 tests so
farthis week.
We had 4 tests this
week.
He has called 4 times
this morning
He called 4 times this
morning.

Meaning
1. the week is not over
2. More tests are coming
It's Friday 5pm. New tests are impossible.
We're still in the AM. He will call again.
1. It's now PM
OR
2. I unplugged the phone

Use 5. A very recent action

The present perfect is used when the action is so recent that the user feels as if he is
still in it, as if the action were not completed.
He has just killed 5 men.
The blood is still dropping, the bodies are still shaking, the knife is hot from the blood...
She just killed 5 men.
Not 10! just 5!
Use 6. An uncompleted list.
The present perfect is used to describe completed actions that make up a list of things to
do.
Ex: for the party, so far,
I have bought the chips
I have prepared a cocktail
I have set up the sound system,
but I haven't alerted the neighbours.