Present Perfect Tense | Examples & Use
The present perfect tense of a verb is used to discuss a past action or event that has effects in the present. It is used to refer to actions that started in the past and are continuing in the present, actions that have recently ended, or changes that have happened over time.
The present perfect uses a form of the auxiliary verb “have” and the past participle of the main verb (e.g., “You have grown”). The third person singular (e.g., “he,” “she,” and “it”) uses “has”; all other subjects use “have.”
Affirmative | Negative | Interrogative |
---|---|---|
I have traveled | I haven’t traveled | Have I traveled? |
You have traveled | You haven’t traveled | Have you traveled? |
He/she/it has traveled | He/she/it hasn’t traveled | Has he/she/it traveled? |
We have traveled | We haven’t traveled | Have we traveled? |
You (plural) have traveled | You haven’t traveled | Have you traveled? |
They have traveled | They haven’t traveled | Have they traveled? |
How to use the present perfect
The present perfect is formed by combining the auxiliary verb “have” (or “has” for the third person singular) and the past participle of the main verb. The subject and auxiliary verb are frequently combined into a contraction in affirmative statements (e.g., “They’ve worked”).
The present perfect is used to discuss changes that have happened over time, experience up to the present, recently completed actions (often with “just”), and incomplete actions that are expected to be completed (in the negative form, usually with “yet”).
When used with the simple future tense, the present perfect can also describe a future action. In this scenario, a subordinating conjunction (e.g., “after,” “when”) usually introduces the present perfect clause.
Indicating time
Since the present perfect is used to refer to occurrences at a nonspecific past time, adverbs that refer to an unspecified time (e.g., “never,” “before,” “once”) often appear in sentences using this tense.
Phrases that reference a specific time (e.g., “yesterday,” “last month”) are usually accompanied by a preposition (e.g., “since,” “for”) when used in the present perfect.
Simple past vs present perfect
Both the simple past and the present perfect are used to refer to past actions, but there are some differences in their use:
- The present perfect describes an action that happened in the past and has present effects or that started in the past and may continue.
- The simple past typically describes an action that happened at a specific time in the past and will not continue.
Present perfect vs present perfect continuous
The present perfect and the present perfect continuous (or present perfect progressive) are both used to refer to the current effects of a past action or event (e.g., “I have played tennis for five years” and “I have been playing tennis for five years”).
The two tenses are not always interchangeable, though:
- The present perfect refers to past occurrences that may or may not continue in the present.
- The present perfect continuous describes occurrences that started in the past and are definitely ongoing.
How to form negatives
In the present perfect, negatives are formed by adding the adverb “not” between the auxiliary verb “have” and the main verb.
How to form questions
Yes–no questions are formed in the present perfect by placing the auxiliary verb first, then the subject, and then the past participle of the main verb.
Wh-questions (using interrogative pronouns like “what” or interrogative adverbs like “why”) are formed like yes–no questions but with the addition of the wh-word before “have” or “has.”
How to form the passive voice
The passive voice is used to show that the subject is not the one performing the action but is instead being acted on. The passive voice can be expressed in the present perfect tense by inserting the past participle of the verb “be” (i.e., “been”) between the auxiliary verb and the past participle form of the main verb.
Present perfect exercises
Test your understanding of the present perfect tense by answering these practice quiz questions.
Frequently asked questions about the present perfect tense
- What is the difference between the present perfect and the present perfect continuous?
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The present perfect and the present perfect continuous (present perfect progressive) are both verb tenses that are used to refer to the current effects of a past action or event. There are some differences between the two tenses, though:
- The present perfect is used to refer to past occurrences that may continue in the present (e.g., “I have traveled to six countries”).
- The present perfect continuous describes occurrences that started in the past and are ongoing (e.g., “I have been trying to talk to the doctor since last week”).
- What is the difference between the present perfect and the simple past?
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Both the simple past and the present perfect are verb tenses that are used to refer to past actions, but there are some differences in their use:
- The present perfect describes an action that happened in the past and has present effects or that began in the past and might continue (e.g., “I have seen that movie three times”).
- The simple past typically describes an action that happened at a specific time in the past and won’t continue (e.g., “I ate a waffle for breakfast”).