PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE:

STATEMENTS, Q and A

USE:
To talk about actions or states which began in the past and are still relevant in the present. The Present
Perfect is often used with expressions starting with FOR and SINCE, to talk about actions or states which
began in the past and are true up until the present time. It is also used with the adverbs JUST, ALREADY, and
YET to talk about actions or events which took place at an indefinite time in the past. The Present Perfect is
also used to talk about recent actions or events ("news").

FORM:
The Present Perfect is made up of HAVE/HAS and the Past Participle (the third form of the verb [V3]).

AFFIRMATIVE

[SUBJECT + HAVE/HAS + (just/already) + PAST PARTICIPLE [V3]... (for/since...)]

EXAMPLES:
"I've lived here for two years."
"You've already lost one key. I can't believe you can't find the second."
"Whose package is this? It's been here since 4 p.m."
"We've already met them."
"They're not hungry. They've just eaten their dinner."

NOTE: In positive sentences, JUST and ALREADY usually go immediately before the past participle. Phrases
with FOR and SINCE go at the end of the sentence.
NEGATIVE

[SUBJECT + HAVE NOT/HAVEN'T + PAST PARTICIPLE [V3]..] HAS NOT/HASN'T

EXAMPLES:
"I haven't met her yet."
"It hasn't begun to rain yet."
"We haven't had lunch yet."
"You haven't said a word for 2 hours."
"They haven't finished their breakfast."

NOTE: In negative sentences, YET and phrases with FOR and SINCE usually go at the end of the sentence.
YES/NO QUESTIONS

[HAVE/HAS + SUBJECT +...PAST PARTICIPLE [V3]]

EXAMPLES:
"Have you already finished your work?"
"Has she finished painting the room?"

WH-QUESTIONS

WH-QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SUBJECT


[WH-WORD + HAVE/HAS +...PAST PARTICIPLE [V3]]

EXAMPLE:
"Who has just eaten the candy?"

WH-QUESTIONS ABOUT THE REST OF THE SENTENCE

[WH-WORD + HAVE/HAS + SUBJECT +...PAST PARTICIPLE (V3)]

EXAMPLES:
"Where has he put my coat?"
"What have you done with the money?"

NOTE: In questions, JUST and ALREADY usually go before the Past Participle [V3]; YET and phrases with
FOR and SINCE usually go at the end of the sentence.
CONTRAST WITH OTHER TENSES
USE:
We use the Present Perfect to talk about actions or events that happened during a period which in some way
includes or is connected to the present, when the exact time is not given.

EXAMPLE:
"Peter Parker has written five books."

The "period" in this sentence is Parker's life. By using the Present Perfect, we show that he is still alive and still
writing books.
BUT -
"John Craig wrote five books."
In this case, the Past Simple is used, showing that the "period" is finished, probably because Craig is dead.
We also use the Present Perfect to talk about recent actions or events which are "news" to the listener, often
with the adverbs JUST and ALREADY and YET in negative sentences and questions.

EXAMPLES:
"The results have just come in; and here they are..."
"I don't want to go to that movie: I've already seen it."
"Have you typed that letter yet?"

NOTE: In American English, the simple past form is often used:
"The election results just came in: here they are..."
"I don't want to go to that movie; I already saw it."
"Did you type that letter yet?"
We often use the Present Perfect with certain expressions:

FOR or SINCE
We can use FOR or SINCE at the beginning of the time expression. If we say how long the action or state
lasted, we use FOR:
"...for ten minutes."
"...for twenty years."
"...for two centuries."
"...for a very long time." etc.

If we say when the action or state began, we use SINCE, followed by the time or another expression which
indicates the time:
"...since 2 o'clock."
"...since last Monday."
"...since 1975."
"...since the end of the war."
"...since I was a baby." etc.
HOW LONG
We start a question to ask about the duration of an activity or state with HOW LONG:
EXAMPLES:
"How long have you had that sweater?"
"About six months."
"How long have you been an actor?"
"Since I left school."
EVER
If we want to know if something has happened, but not when, we often put the adverb EVER before the verb in
the question.
EXAMPLES:
"Have you ever eaten octopus?"
"Yes, I have."
"Have you ever been in an accident?"
"No, I haven't."
JUST, ALREADY or YET
JUST (=a short time ago), ALREADY (=before now) and YET (=before/until now) are used in Present Perfect
sentences that talk about recent actions or events ("news"). JUST and ALREADY usually go immediately
before the third form of the verb and YET is often used at the end of a negative sentence or question.

EXAMPLES:
"I have already seen that movie. Let's stay home!"
"But I haven't seen it yet!"

"Here we are at the Indy 500 with Mike Rhodes. Mike, have you ever driven in an Indy race?"
"No, I haven't. But I've been a race driver in Europe for ten years."
"Well, Good Luck to you!"
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