Present Perfect (for/since)

Form of the Present Perfect Tense (Affirmative)

Have (I, you,
we, they)
Has (he, she,
it)

Subject

Verb in past
participle

have

climbe
d

A
mountain

Negative form of the Present Perfect Tense

You can use the adverb not to make the sentence negative.
Have (I, you,
we, they)
Has (he, she,
it)

Subject

She

not

has

not

Past
participle

played

tenni
s

You can use a contraction of have/has and not to make the sentence negative.
havent/
hasnt

Subject
She

past
participle

hasnt

tenis

playe
d

Questions in the Present Perfect Tense

Have/has
Has

subject
you

past
participle
been

to Africa

Review of the Past Participle

The past participle is a verb form used in the present perfect tense. The past participle of
regular verbs is the same as the simple past form.
Base form
climb

Simple past
climbed

Past participle
climbed

Some irregular verbs have a different past participle form.

Base form
eat

Simple past
ate

Past participle
eaten

Examples of present perfect:

You have seen that movie many times.

Have you seen that movie many times?
You have not seen that movie many times.

The present perfect can give a starting time or an amount of time only if you use the words
since and for. When using these words, the sentence usually means that the action is
continuing. If you do not use since or for, the sentence means the action is finished, and it may
or may not continue in the future.
Take a look at these examples:
I have smoked.
NOT SURE it continues
Meaning: The person
smoked in the past (we
don't know when), and
he/she may still smoke, but
we do not know.

I have smoked for 12 years.

SURE it continues
Meaning: The person started to
smoke 12 years ago, and
he/she still smokes.

Present Perfect
Examples
Fred Meyers has had excellent profits this
quarter.
The class's understanding has increased greatly
this semester.
Have they finished the report yet?
The study of irregular verbs has improved test
scores.
They have bought a new car.
I've already eaten lunch.

Uses
Giving or asking for news or recent events.

She's travelled in many parts of the world.

Have you ever been to France?
They've never seen a mountain.
He's lived in San Francisco for 10 years.
How long have you worked for this company?
They've studied English for 3 years.
She hasn't travelled abroad.
Man has walked on the Moon.
Doctors have cured many deadly diseases.
Scientists have split the atom.

Life experience

Susan hasn't mastered Japanese, but she can

communicate.
James has not finished his homework yet.

I have had four quizzes and five tests so far this

semester.
The army has attacked that city five times.
Common present perfect time expressions
include:
Felipe Caldern has been president of Mexico
since 2006.
Felipe Caldern has been president of Mexico
for 5 years.

Past actions with results in the present.

Unfinished actions (action still in progress). In

this respect the present perfect and present
perfect continuous are very similar.
Accomplishments: We often use the Present
Perfect to list the accomplishments of
individuals and humanity. You cannot
mention a specific time.
An Uncompleted Action You Are Expecting
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.
Multiple Actions at Different Times
Present Perfect suggests the process is not
complete and more actions are possible.
for (with a period of time), a few days, half an
hour, two years
since (with an exact point in time, when the
action started), this week, a month, 8th June.

Do we use for or since with the following time references?

1.
2.
3.
4.

I haven't phoned home__________ Christmas.

We've been here____ nine o'clock.
I have worked for International House_____ more than eight years.
I haven't visited my home town_____ I left school.

Exercise. Decide if you need for or since with these time expressions.
___________ last weekend
___________ the 70s
__________ ten seconds
___________ I was a boy
__________ Christmas Eve
___________ August
___________ a decade
___________ I finished school
___________ a couple of days
___________ my birthday
__________ then

___________ the last month

___________ fifteen years
___________ a long time
__________ten
wecenturies
bought this house
___________
__________the
lastaccident
month
___________

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

You have only seen that movie one time.

Have you everseen that movie one time?
She has never eaten a hamburger.
My mother has just washed the dishes.
Bill has still not arrived.
Have you read the book yet?
He has always loved his cousin.

WHAT HAVE THEY DONE?

Choose the correct verb and complete the sentences using the present perfect:

1. Tom..
some flowers.

2. She
some candles in
church.

3. They ..
champagne.

4. The burglar
.in a flat.

5. Mum
.... the
babys nappy.

6. They
a lot of fish.

7. He
the light on.

8. Mary .
the dog.

9. Dad .. a 10. They

nap in the
a very
country.
important
contract.

11. He.. a
lot of money.

12. The Smiths

. a big
house.

13. Tony ..
his bike.

14. They ..
to a fancy dress
party.

15. He
..
asleep in front
of the
computer.

16. They ..
presents.

17. He
his shopping.

18. They
Sues birthday.

19. She
an e-mail.

20. They
.. in the
hotel pool.

21. She ..... a

bubble bath.

22. They ..
the sleep-over.

23. He .. his 24. They ..

way.
each other.

25. They
.. to Italy.