Present Perfect
When do we use the Present Perfect?
- Actions with a result in the present
- I have lost my keys. (= I don't have them now)
- Life experiences (we don't say when)
- Actions that started in the past and continue now
- We have lived here for ten years.
- Recent actions with present relevance
- He has just finished his homework.
Common time expressions
| Expression | Example |
|---|
| ever / never | Have you ever tried sushi? |
| already | I've already eaten. |
| yet | She hasn't called yet. |
| just | He's just arrived. |
| for | We've known each other for years. |
| since | I've worked here since 2020. |
Regular and irregular past participles
| Base form | Past participle |
|---|
| work | worked |
| visit | visited |
| go | gone |
| eat | eaten |
| see | seen |
| be | been |
| write | written |
| have | had |
Structure
| Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|
| I / You / We / They | I have ('ve) worked | I haven't worked | Have you worked? |
| He / She / It | She has ('s) worked | She hasn't worked | Has she worked? |
⚠️ Present Perfect vs Past Simple
- Present Perfect: I have seen that film. (no specific time)
- Past Simple: I saw that film last night. (specific time in the past)
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FGetty_tense-155096784-56af9f573df78cf772c6c6dd.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
