Present Perfect Tense is the present perfect tense in English. Present Perfect - rules and examples of use in English Verbs present perfect

The present perfect tense, or Present Perfect Tense, is a rather complex tense form for a Russian-speaking person. But the whole point is that in Russian there is no equivalent to this grammatical form. We are immediately confused by the fact that the Present Perfect refers to both the present and the past tense. How is this possible? Let's find out!

Present Perfect Tense (Present Perfect Tense) is a tense form of a verb that expresses the connection of a past action with the present time. That is, the present perfect tense conveys an action performed in the past, but the result of this action is visible at the present moment. For example:

We've bought a new car. — We bought a new car → At the moment we have a new car, that is, the action took place in the past, but the result is visible at the present moment.

Present Perfect is translated into Russian in the same way as Past Simple - in the past tense. For example:

Present Perfect: I’ve written many letters - I wrote a lot of letters
Past Simple: Last month I wrote many letters - Last month I wrote a lot of letters

The difference in the meaning of these tenses is that the Past Simple expresses a past action, timed to a specific moment in the past and not related to the present. The Present Perfect expresses a past action that is not confined to any moment in the past and has a result in the present. The difference in the meanings of the Past Simple and Present Perfect tenses can be seen in the following example:

What have you done? - What have you done? (The questioner is interested in the result)
I’ve cooked dinner - I prepared lunch (Lunch is ready now)

What did you do an hour ago? - What were you doing an hour ago? (The questioner is interested in the action itself, not its result)
I cooked dinner - I was preparing lunch (It doesn’t matter whether dinner is ready at the moment)

If the time of a past action is indicated by time circumstances or context, the Past Simple is used. If the time of a past action is not indicated by time circumstances and is not implied by the context, the Present Perfect is used.

Present Perfect is mainly used in colloquial speech when describing events in the present tense that are the result of past actions.

Rules for the formation of Present Perfect Tense

Mean + have/ has + Past Participle …

In the interrogative form Present Perfect Tense auxiliary to have is placed before the subject, and the Past Participle of the main verb is placed after the subject.

Have/Has + Mean. + Past Participle...?

The negative form is formed using the negation not, which comes after the auxiliary verb and, as a rule, merges with it into one whole:

have not → haven’t
has not → hasn’t

Mean + have/ has + not + Past Participle …

Conjugation table for the verb to lie in Present Perfect Tense

Number	Face	Affirmative form	Interrogative form	Negative form
Unit h.	1 2 3	I have (I"ve) lied You have (you"ve) lied He/ She/ It has (He"s/ She’s) lied	Have I lied? Have you lied? Has he/ she/ it lied?	I have not (haven"t) lied You have not (haven"t) lied He/ She/ It has not (hasn"t) lied
Mn. h.	1 2 3	We have (we"ve) lied You have (you"ve) lied They have (they"ve) lied	Have we lied? Have you lied? Have they lied?	We have not (haven"t) lied You have not (haven"t) lied They have not (haven"t) lied

Rules for using Present Perfect Tense:

1. To express a past action associated with the present tense, if the sentence does not contain any time circumstances. Examples:

I’ve seen wolves in the forest - I saw wolves in the forest
We've heard so much about them - We've heard so much about them
The snow has stopped, you can leave - The snow has stopped, you can leave
I have fallen off a horse - I fell from a horse
You’ve got nine - You got nine
He has become part of our life - He has become part of our life

2. If the sentence contains such adverbial words or adverbs of indefinite time and repetition as:

ever - ever
never - never
often - often
always - always
yet - yet
rarely - rarely
already - already
rarely - rarely
several times - several times

I haven’t had lunch yet - I haven’t eaten lunch yet
He has already made good progress - He has already made good progress
She’s always been hardworking person - She has always been a hardworking person
Have you ever been to London? - Have you ever been in London?
No, never - No, never

3. If in the sentence the period of time indicated has not yet ended at the time of speech with such detailed words and adverbs of a specific time as:

today - today
all day - all day
this morning - this morning
this month - this month
just - just now

I haven’t had time to look at the paper today - I didn’t have time to look at the papers today
She hasn’t seen me today - She didn’t see me today
They must be there, I’ve just seen them - They must be there, I just saw them

Present Perfect use with a preposition 4. If the sentence contains such time circumstances that indicate the period during which the action took place (starting from a certain moment in the past to the present):

for a long time - for a long time
for the past two years (days, months, hours) - during the last two years (days, months, hours)
for three days (hours, months, years) - within three days (hours, months, years)
for ages - an eternity
how long - how long
up to now - until now
up to the present- until now
lately - recently

Have you bought anything new lately? — Have you bought anything new recently?
She hasn’t written to me up to now - She hasn’t written to me until now
Where have you been for the past two years? — Where have you been for the last two years?
We haven’t seen each other for ages - We haven’t seen each other for ages

Or if the sentence contains time circumstances that indicate only the beginning of such a period:

since - since, since then, since

They have been partners since 2005 - They have been partners since 2005
I have owned this flat since my parents bought it for me - I have owned this apartment since my parents bought it for me
I haven’t seen you since May, have I? “I haven’t seen you since May, have I?”

This was the basic information on the topic of Present Perfect Tense. As you can see, everything is not so complicated. It is important to learn adverbial words and adverbs that indicate the present perfect tense, and then everything becomes much easier. You will comprehend other nuances of this time of the English language in the process of improving the language.

System of species-temporal forms English verb differs significantly from a similar system in Russian. And the Present Perfect tense once again confirms this. It covers events that happened in the past but are taking place in the present. Agree, very interesting!

The Present Perfect tense is formed using the auxiliary verb have/has and the main verb in the 3rd form (past participle).

Using the Present Perfect (present perfect)

The Present Perfect tense is used in the following cases:

If an action began in the past and continues in the present

They have known each other for fifteen years.“They have known each other for fifteen years.”
He has lived in Manchester all his life.— He lived in Manchester all his life.

If an action has happened repeatedly in the past and continues to happen

She has bought five dresses already and she wants another one.— She has already bought five dresses and wants one more.
I’ve played football since childhood.— I’ve been playing football since childhood.

To show the start time of an action, it is often used with the preposition since:

He has worked here since he was a student. — He has been working here since his student days.

If we are talking about the experience experienced up to the present moment

In this case, the adverbs ever or never (in negation) are often used:

He is the best friend I have ever had. — He best friend from those that I had.
He had never tried bungee jumping.

If an action happened in the past but has consequences in the present

I have washed my hair. They are still wet. — I washed my hair. They are still wet.
I have written the essay. Here it is. —. Here it is.

Use have/has been to indicate that someone was away but has already returned:

A: Where has Emma been? — Where was Emma?
B: She has just returned from her friends. — She just returned from friends.
A: Have you ever been to Italy? — Have you ever been to Italy?
B: Yes, I have been there once. — Yes, I was there once.

If the return has not yet occurred, use have/has gone:

My cousin has gone to London. He lives there now.— My cousin went to London. He currently lives there.
She has gone to visit her grandparents. She will be back in two days.— She left to visit her grandparents. She will return in two days.

The Present Perfect tense is often used with indicating the recent past: just; only just; recently (just; barely; recently).

I have visited this bookshop recently.— I went to this bookstore the other day.
He has just returned from the school.— He just returned from school.

And also with adverbs and expressions that include the present moment: ever (in questions); yet(in); so far; until now; up to now;

—Have you ever flown on an airplane?
How many songs has he written so far?— How many songs has he written so far?
Have you bought the tickets yet?— Have you already bought tickets?

Present Perfect and Past Simple

The present perfect is not used with expressions that indicate a period of time that has already ended (yesterday, last year, a month ago). In this case, the simple past is used.

I have seen him yesterday. I saw him yesterday.- I saw him yesterday.
We have been to China last summer. We went to China last summer.— Last summer we went to China.
He has played the guitar when he was young. He used to play the guitar when he was young.— In his youth he played the guitar.

If the period of time has not yet ended, the Present Perfect is used:

How much coffee have you had today?— How much coffee did you drink today?
He has graduated from the college this year.— He graduated from college this year.

The nuances of using Present Perfect and Past Simple are described in more detail in the following video (in English with subtitles):

As you can see, using the Present Perfect is not as difficult as it might seem at first. But it is important not to confuse it with the Past Simple.
And if you still have questions, ask them in the comments, and we will try to answer you right away. Bye for now!

When it comes to times in English language, students periodically experience a stupor: it seems that we are always talking about the past, present and future, but why are there so many of these times? The most frightening thing in all this is the lack of analogues of some tenses in the Russian language. Just today we will consider one of such cases, namely the Present Perfect tense and ways of using it, so that fears of not understanding or being misunderstood when using it will go away once and for all.

Present Perfect Tense or Present Perfect Tense in English is a tense that is used to express an action that began in the past, but its result is related to the present. In simple terms, the present perfect tense is used in cases where an action has already been completed, but the result of this action is still important to us at the moment.

For example, I have read all Harry Potter books. (I have read all the Harry Potter books). I read them in the past, but now I know what they are about, the result is in the present. In English, the Present Perfect Tense is tied to the present time, and not to the past, since the result of actions is in the present.

Unlike its brothers, Future Perfect, Present Perfect Continuous and other representatives of the perfect group, the Present Perfect tense is used in speech very often, so knowledge of it is simply necessary for the free expression of thoughts. And for this you will need to analyze the formation, forms and rules of use of the present perfect tense, which is what we will do.

The formation of the Present Perfect is practically no different from other Perfect tenses, where auxiliary and semantic verbs are also needed. The auxiliary verb is the verb to have. It is used in the present tense and has two forms that replace each other depending on the person and number.

The role of the semantic verb is the past participle or the third form of the verb. In order to use this form in the Present Perfect Tense, you need to determine whether the verb is regular or irregular. The regular verb is formed into the perfect by adding the ending -ed:

Important: Learn how to add an -ed ending if you encounter difficulties.

In the case of an irregular verb, this method will not work, since such verbs are formed independently. Usually irregular verbs and their forms are simply learned.

Let's look at some of them:

Infinitive (Infinitive)	PastSimple (Past indefinite)	PastParticiple (Past participle)
be (to be)	was / were	been
break (break)	broke	broken
grow (grow)	grew	grown
lose (lose)	lost	lost
prove (to prove)	proved	proven
read (read)	read	read
speak (speak)	spoke	spoken
teach (teach)	taught	taught

To use an irregular verb in the Present Perfect, you need to use its form from the third column (its perfect form):

If you have problems determining the type of a verb, do not check a particular word in the table regular verbs: If the word is not listed, the verb is most likely regular.

Present Perfect: sentence forms

One way of forming verbs is not enough, because you need to learn how to use these verbs in different forms of sentences.

Affirmative sentences Present Perfect

In an affirmative sentence, the Present Perfect or present perfect tense uses direct word order, where auxiliary and semantic verbs follow each other after the subject. The Present Perfect formula in an affirmative sentence for an illustrative example:

To form the passive voice after have, use the verb to be in the third form (been). Let us recall that in such sentences the subject is not the person/thing performing the action, since the action, on the contrary, is directed at this person or thing.

Negative sentences Present Perfect

To form a negative sentence in the Present Perfect tense, after the auxiliary verb in English, the particle not is used.

In both groups mentioned, the auxiliary verb can be shortened to simplify communication. Let's look at the explanation of both forms using examples:

Full form

Short form

statement

We have completed.

He has disappeared.

We've completed.

He's disappeared.

—

negation

I have not heard.

She has not slept.

You have not seen.

I haven't heard.

She hasn't slept.

You haven't seen.

Please note that the auxiliary verb is 3rd person singular in the Present Perfect in its abbreviated form looks identical to the abbreviated form of to be in the Present Simple.

As you can see, it is still quite easy to distinguish these tenses, since the main features of sentences in the Past Perfect are semantic verbs in the third form.

Interrogative sentences Present Perfect

The interrogative form of the Present Perfect changes the word order, the verb have comes to the fore:

However, if it is necessary to create non-general or alternative questions, then the diagram is constructed differently.

Special questions in the Present Perfect follow a similar pattern, but a question word is added before the auxiliary verb:

For a disjunctive question in the Present Perfect, the affirmative and negative forms of the sentence are preserved, and short questions are added to them:

Dividing and general questions require a short answer, while special and alternative ones are given a full answer in the affirmative or negative Present Perfect form. Examples:

After analyzing the methods of formation and construction of sentences, you can safely move on to cases of using the Present Perfect tense, so as not to be limited to dry theory.

Present Perfect: use

The present perfect tense in English is used in the following situations:

When the speaker wants to focus on the result of an action that happened in the past. To make this rule easier to understand, you can sometimes substitute the phrase “here it is”:

In this case, an action in the past can cause another action in the present.

As you may have noticed, during translation the present perfect tense turns into the past tense, due to the lack of analogues of time in the Russian language.

Often the Present Perfect Tense can be used with perfect adverbs, which indicate that an action has recently completed or has just ended. Such adverbs include: already (already), just (just), recently (the other day), lately (recently), of late (recently / recently).

These adverbs in the Present Perfect usually appear in the middle of the sentence between the auxiliary and semantic verbs, but can also appear at the end.

Over the course of the Present Perfect, the following adverbs are often encountered: so far (until now / at the moment), by now (to date), up to now (until now).

In interrogative and negative sentences, the Present Perfect usually contains the adverb yet.

In interrogative sentences it is used to mean “already”:

In negatives it is used to mean “not yet”:

As a short answer to a question in the Present Perfect, you can answer “Not yet” (not yet).

Please note that the adverb yet in these cases always comes at the end of the sentence.

Another adverb, the use of which in the Present Perfect could not go unnoticed, is the adverb before. With it, as with yet, interrogative and negative sentences are formed:

When the speaker wants to talk about his experience. In this case, the emphasis is on the action itself, and not on the time of the action:

Numerals are often used to emphasize how many times an action has already been done:

It is worth paying special attention to constructions that translate as “was (somewhere).”

havebeen to

involves the trip itself, that is, movement / flight and arrival at some place, is used to show that a person went on a trip, but has already returned.

I've been to Los Angeles.

I was in Los Angeles.

(was once, went on a trip and returned)

havebeenin

suggests being in a place, used to show that a person is there

They have been in Moscow for 2 years.

(went to Moscow and is still there)

have gone to

assumes that the subject has gone somewhere, is currently on the road and will remain in some place for some time

You can’t make an appointment, as the doctor has gone to Europe.

You can't make an appointment because the doctor left for Europe.

(left, will return in a while)

Present Perfect Tense sentences often use the words ever or never to describe experience.

In sentences containing the adverb never, the particle not is not used, since the negation is implied by the word “never” itself.

Ever is also used in "have you ever done something?" questions:

Situations for which this rule of using the Present Perfect applies are often confused with situations in which it is necessary to use the Past Simple. The Present Perfect in English is used when we have never done something, the Past Simple - we have done. Let's compare:

To highlight how many times an action occurred, it is also possible to use the Present Perfect in the construction it (that) is the (ordinal number) time + Present Perfect:

If the period in which the action occurred has not yet ended:

In this case, it is also important not to confuse the Present Perfect with the Past Simple. Let's compare:

The Present Perfect is also used as the Present Perfect Continuous to show that an action began in the past and is still ongoing at the time of conversation. In this case, the prepositions (during) and since (since) are often used.

According to the rules, the present completed tense replaces the Present Perfect Continuous:

when state verbs are used, that is, those verbs that do not have the Continuous form:

when verbs are used that themselves imply duration:

I’ve worked here since 05/07/2017.	I have been working here since 05/07/2017.
Brooke has slept for 3 hours.	Brooke has been sleeping for three hours already.

However, now the Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous tenses perform the same functions in conversation, not only according to the above-mentioned rules. Therefore, if you have difficulty using the Present Perfect Continuous, you can use the Present Perfect. Let's look at a few more examples for this case:

Present Perfect Tense can be recognized by the phrase with the preposition for – for ages (a very long time ago / for an eternity):

The Present Perfect with the prepositions since and ever since is also used in conjunction with the Past Simple, where it serves as the main clause:

If the action in the subordinate clause has not yet ended, you can use the Present Perfect in two parts:

The Present Perfect Continuous and Past Simple can also be used in English with the present perfect tense with the word still:

Present Perfect Tense is also used with time clauses that begin with before, after, as soon as, when, until. The second part is used in the Future Simple. Typically this method is used:

to emphasize that one action will happen before another in the future:

to show that one action can be carried out provided that the first action is performed:

The peculiarity of such sentences is that Present Simple and Perfect are interchangeable in them:

To tell recent news, the Present Perfect is also used. The details of the news are narrated in the past tenses “continuus” or “simple”.

These were all the cases and examples of using Present Perfect Tense. Even if at first glance their number and variety will cause difficulties, with constant practice this time will be given to you absolutely easily, since the grammar of the English language is almost always amenable to explanation and a certain logic.

Let's look at how affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences with the present perfect tense are formed.

1. Statement: I have closed

In the affirmative Present Perfect formed with an auxiliary verb and a past participle.

Let me remind you that for all regular verbs the past participle form is formed in the same way as the past tense, using the ending – ed. It is formed in a special way.

Possible abbreviations: I’ve, you’ve, he\she\it’s, we’ve, they’ve.

Examples:

I have signed the petition – I signed the petition.

My sister has gone to Tampa – My sister went to Tampa.

We have broken the window – We broke the window.

2. Denial: I have not closed

Negation is built using a particle not- add it after to have.

There are two possible abbreviations: I haven't (I've not), you haven't (you've not), he\she\it hasn't (it's not), we haven't (we've not) , they haven't (they've not).

Examples:

I haven't seen your dog – I haven’t seen your dog.

I've not forgotten you - I haven't forgotten you.

We haven't closed the gate – We didn’t close the gate.

3. Interrogative form: Have I closed?

In the interrogative form, the auxiliary verb to have placed before the subject:

Example:

Have you seen this boy? -Have you seen this boy?

Have you unboxed your present? -Have you unwrapped your gift?

Meaning of Present Perfect

The main uses of this tense are:

An action that has already been completed in the past

The Present Perfect expresses an action that has already been completed in the past. Its result is now evident. The speaker pays attention not to the action, but to its result.

I have broken the window. - I broke the window.

We have called the ambulance. - We called an ambulance.

She has done her homework. – She did her homework.

Even though we translate Present Perfect As a past tense (broken), native speakers perceive it as the present, because the emphasis is not on the action (broken), but on its result, which exists in the present (broken glass).

The Present Perfect is used when they want to emphasize that: 1) the action is completed (the window is broken), 2) the result of the action is relevant or available now (it is broken now - here it is).

Having experience, knowledge associated with an action in the past

The Present Perfect is used to emphasize that an action in the past led to the presence of experience or knowledge in the present.

I have read your report. – I read your report (I know what it’s about).

He has seen such people many times. – He has seen such people many times (he knows what they are like).

I can show you London! I 've been there. – I can show you London! I was there (I know the city).

Template expressions about existing or absent experience

The Present Perfect is often used in formulaic expressions like “Have you ever seen/heard something/been somewhere?”, “I have never been/seen/heard” and the like - usually with an adverb ever(in this case: someday) or never(never).

I have never been to London - I've never been to London.

I have never seen a lion - I have never seen a lion.

Have you ever heard this song? -Have you ever heard this song?

Has she ever visited your parents? - Has she ever visited your parents?

Present Perfect and Past Simple

These two tenses are similar, but only at first glance - both are translated into Russian as the past tense, and therefore beginners often do not understand when to use which tense.

In short, the main thing is this:

Present Perfect: the action occurred in the past, without specifying when exactly; what is important is not the action itself, but its result in the present.
Past Simple: the action happened at a certain moment in the past.

HOWEVER, in colloquial speech, although this is not correct, instead Present Perfect sometimes used Past Simple.

Present Perfect Simple

1. Time name

Present Perfect Simple

2. Method of education

3. Changefinal letters
Tat (short vowel syllable) + ed = tatted
Silent e + ed = ed
Ty + ed = tied

4. Formation approval
Subject + have\has + V3 + minor members of the sentence

5. Formation of the question
Have\has + subject + V3 + minor members of the sentence?

6. Formation of denial
Subject + have\has + not + V3 + minor members of the sentence

7. Words are indicators of time
Ever, never, yet (the word yet in interrogative sentences comes last), already, just, since, for (non-continuous verbs) not only lately, recently, the first (second) time, superlative degree of comparison.

8. Time value

An action that just happened.

The action took place in the past, but we see the result now.

The action that started in famous moment in the past and is still ongoing or has just ended (non-continuous verbs) or state verbs.

An action that began at a certain moment in the past and is repeated to this day.

Something that never happened.

With a superlative degree of comparison.

An action that happened 1, 2, 3... times.

9. Modal verbs and constructions
Modal verbs:
- Can - have\has\had to

No constructions are used.

Present Perfect - Present Complete

We have already gone through 2 present tenses, which we called “simple” and"long". Now we'll look at present complete - Present Perfect. It sounds paradoxical, but in English some types of completed actions can refer to the present tense rather than the past tense. Such actions are referred to in the context of a period of time that has not yet ended. For Russian-speaking students, this phenomenon may present some difficulties, because... we convey it using the past tense. However, the situation will become clearer after you understand the difference. Look at the following pair of sentences in Russian that used the past tense:

In English, these two sentences will be used in 2 different tenses.

I traveled to the USA last spring.-- refers to the Simple Past, which we have already gone through. the key phrase is " last spring ", i.e. a period of time that has already been completed. -I went to the USA last spring
I have traveled to the USA three times in my life.-- refers to the Present Complete, because time interval " in all my life " has not yet been completed, despite the fact that the action has already been completed. - I have gone to the USA three times in my life

Those. the key point will be the period of time referred to in the sentence.

For education Present Perfect You need to put the verb “Have” after the subject in the form corresponding to the subject (Have / Has), and after that the verb, to which the ending “ed” is added. It should be noted that the verb have in the Present Perfect is auxiliary and does not mean “to have”. It simply helps form the Present Perfect Tense.

We know that there are also irregular verbs for which the ending “ed” cannot be substituted, and they simply had to be learned to be used in the past tense. So in the Present Perfect such verbs will have a new form. This form is called "Past Participle", and it will be used in many other tenses and phrases, which we will consider further. Look at the following irregular verbs whose past tense forms you already know. Now remember the Past Participle forms that will be used in the Present Perfect.

List of Irregular Verbs in English

Present	Past	Past Participle
be	was, were	been
become	became	become
begin	began	begun
blow	blew	blown
break	broke	broken
bring	brought	brought
build	built	built
burst	burst	burst
buy	bought	bought
burst	burst	burst
catch	caught	caught
choose	chose	chosen
come	came	come
cut	cut	cut
deal	dealt	dealt
do	did	done
drink	drank	drunk
drive	drove	driven
eat	ate	eaten
fall	fell	fallen
feed	fed	fed
feel	felt	felt
fight	fought	fought
find	found	found
fly	flew	flown
forbid	forbade	forbidden
forget	forgot	forgotten
forgive	forgave	forgiven
freeze	froze	frozen
get	got	gotten
give	gave	given
go	went	gone
grow	grew	grown
have	had	had
hear	heard	heard
hide	hid	hidden
hold	held	held
hurt	hurt	hurt
keep	kept	kept
know	knew	known
lay	laid	laid
lead	led	led
leave	left	left
let	let	let
lie	lay	lain
lose	lost	lost
make	made	made
meet	met	met
pay	paid	paid
quit	quit	quit
read	read	read
ride	rode	ridden
run	ran	run
say	said	said
see	saw	seen
seek	sought	sought
sell	sold	sold
send	sent	sent
shake	shook	shaken
shine	shone	shone
sing	sang	sung
sit	sat	sat
sleep	slept	slept
speak	spoke	spoken
spend	spent	spent
spring	sprang	sprung
stand	stood	stood
steal	stole	stolen
swim	swam	swum
swing	swung	swung
take	took	taken
teach	taught	taught
tear	tore	torn
tell	told	told
think	thought	thought
throw	threw	thrown
understand	understood	understood
wake	woke (waked)	woken
wear	wore	worn
win	won	won
write	wrote	written

Now look at examples of Present Perfect formation:

Subject	have/has (not)	Past Participle	Abbreviations
I	have (not)	written	I"ve (not) (I haven"t)
you	have (not)	worked	you"ve (not) (you haven"t)
he	has (not)	understood	he"s (not) (he hasn't)
she	has (not)	played	she"s (not) (she hasn't)
it	has (not)	broken	it"s (not) (it hasn't)
we	have (not)	cooked	we"ve (not) (we haven"t)
they	have (not)	met	they"ve (not) (they haven"t)

Questions:

Where

have

has

I/you/we/they

he/she/it

been?

Have	you	been	to Ukraine?	Yes, I have
Has	she	written	a letter?	No, she hasn't
Have	they	visited	their parents?	Yes, they have.