English - Present Perfect

Introduction / Use

The present perfect tense tell us about the past and the present. We use it when we see things as happening in the past but having a result in the present.

Example :

• We've washed the dishes. (They are clean now)
• The aircraft has landed means that the aircraft is on the ground now.

Form

The present tense of have + a past participle.

Positive

• I/you/we/they have washed or I/you/we/they've washed
• he/she/it has washed or he/she/it's washed

Negative

• I/you/we/they haven't washed
• he/she/it hasn't washed

Question

• Have I/you/we/they washed ?
• Has he/she/it washed ?

Regular

Regular past participles end in -ed (e.g. washed, landed, finished)

Irregular Form

Some participles are irregular :

• made
• sold
• thought
• written
• drunk

Just, already, yet

For, since and how long

Here something began in the past and has lasted up to the present time. We use since

• We've lived in Oxford since 1992. NOT We live here since 1992

We say use to say how long this period is (for three days)

• Vicky has only had that camera for three days.

We use how long in the question :

• How long has Vicky this camera ? Since Thursday, I think

Gone or been to ?

• Claire has gone to Australia : Gone there means that she is still there.
• Calire has been to Australia : Been there means that the visit is over.

Ever and never

Meaning

• ever : in your whole life
• never : means “not ever”

We use ever in questions. Example :

• Have you ever played cricket ? No, never
• Have you ever been in Brazil ?

First time, second time, etc

After It's/this is the first /second time, we use the Present perfect :

• This is the first time, we've been to Scotland, so it's all news to us.
• This is the second time that Rachel has forgotten to give me a message

Today, this week, etc

We use the present perfect with today and phrase with this, (eg this morning, this week, …) :

• We've done quite a lot of work today
• I haven't watched any television so far this week.