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When to Use the Present Perfect Tense

• 5-minute read
• 23rd June 2023

Most English language learners have issues with English verb tenses . The present perfect tense is no exception! We hope this guide will help you use the present perfect more confidently.

What Is the Present Perfect?

The present perfect is one of the perfect tenses . It serves as a bridge between the past and the present. Here’s how to form the present perfect in English:

Subject + have/has + past participle of main verb

For example:

When Do We Use the Present Perfect?

Actions during ongoing periods.

Learners often mistakenly use the past tense when they should be using the present perfect. Take the following example:

This sentence suggests that the speaker was living in America for five years but isn’t anymore. Now, let’s use the present perfect tense:

The meaning here has changed. Now the verb phrase indicates that the speaker was living in America for five years and still is. In other words, the action extends into the past and continues into the present.

When writing or speaking about an experience that has not ended, you should use the present perfect tense.

This rule also applies when the action is finished but the period is not:

The speaker may have completed their two trips to the store, but since they’re referring to a period that is still ongoing ( this week ), they’ve used the present perfect.

Unknown Time of Experience

Another use of the present perfect is to refer to an experience that happened at an unspecified time:

If we use the past tense, Harold went to Japan , we have to clarify the meaning with a specified time, something like Harold went to Japan last year . But when we want to be more general and state that someone has completed an action at some unspecified point in the past, we use the present perfect.

Recently Completed Action

The present perfect can describe an action completed in the very recent past:

Here, just is an adverb indicating that the action happened recently, and it’s important to know that you can only use just between the auxiliary verb, have , and the main verb, baked .

Repeated Action in an Unspecified Period

Finally, the present perfect can describe a repeated action in an unspecified period between the past and the present:

Here, we don’t know when the three times occurred, so we use the present perfect instead of the past tense.

Difficulties With the Present Perfect

The present perfect uses have or has as an auxiliary verb . Because of this extra helping verb, students often cannot identify the main verb in a sentence. Students are accustomed to using have/has as a possessive verb . For example:

Students need to be familiar with have/has functioning as a helping verb for the main verb. Of course, some students question the need for the extra have/has verb. To illustrate, let’s consider this example:

We can see that Jerry has worked at his company for eight years and will continue to work there.

If we removed the auxiliary verb has from the sentence, the meaning would be different, indicating that Jerry worked for Kanta for eight years but is not working there anymore. So we must keep the auxiliary verb to retain the meaning.

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Some students also have difficulty with the difference between have and has . The simplest answer is that the correct choice depends on the subject pronoun. Here are the basic conjugations:

Present Perfect or Simple Past?

Naturally, students want to know when to use the present perfect instead of the simple past. We’ll provide a breakdown of when to use each.

Use the present perfect to:

●  Describe experiences that start in the past and continue into the present

●  Describe events/actions from a period that has not ended

●  Describe repeated actions from an unspecified period

●  Give recent news

Use the simple past to:

●  Describe completed actions from a time period that has ended

●  Give older news

●  Describe actions that interrupt an ongoing action in the past

Let’s recap what we’ve covered:

●  The present perfect links the past with the present.

●  It mainly describes events in the past that occurred at an unknown time.

●  The action indicated in the present perfect has not ended.

●  The present perfect can describe actions or events that occurred within an ongoing period.

●  It uses the auxiliary verb have or has with the main verb.

●  The auxiliary verb often confuses students.

●  We cannot use the present perfect and the simple past interchangeably.

We understand that you may be working on an essay, a paper, or a business document that requires the present perfect. That’s why we always recommend proofreading the document once you’ve written it. This process will help detect typos, extra spacing, and grammatical errors. A second pair of eyes always helps, so we recommend that you ask our proofreading experts to review your document . They’ll check for grammatical errors, ensure perfect spelling, and offer suggestions to improve your writing – and of course, they’ll make sure you’ve used the present perfect correctly. You can even submit a 500-word document for free!

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When talking about past events AND the time is unimportant, unknown, or a secret, the present perfect is a good tense to use.  What is the present perfect?  Here is an example:

How is this grammar formed?  It is formed with the following words:

The past participle and the simple past are sometimes the same.  Sometimes they are different.  For the word visited , the simple past and the past participle are the same.  If the simple past and past participle are different, they are usually irregular verbs .  For a list of irregular verbs, click here . 

Maybe you are asking, "What is the difference between the simple past and the past perfect?"  That's a good question.  You are so smart!  Let's take a look at the above sentence in both the simple past and the present perfect.

The present perfect can give a starting time or an amount of time only if you use the words since and for .  When using these words, the sentence usually means that the action is continuing .   If you do not use since or for , the sentence means the action is finished , and it may or may not continue in the future.  Take a look at these examples:

Therefore, when the present perfect sentence does not have since or for , we do not know if it is still continuing.  

So, the present perfect is used for one of the following two reasons:

Some verbs are NOT used with for or since because they do not have any length of time.  The following is a list of some verbs that can be used in the present perfect when the time is unimportant, unknown, or a secret.  These words very rarely use for or since because they do not have a length of time.  In other words, the following actions occur, but then almost immediately do not continue; they do not have a length of time.  Therefore, they do not use for or since .

Here is an example of what we mean:

The first sentence is correct because it does not use since or for .  Begin (begun) does not have a length of time.  After a few seconds, it is over; you cannot continuously begin the same test.

Some of you may know the present perfect progressive .  If you do, then you may want to know what the difference is.  For example,

The second and third sentences above have identical meanings.  The first and second sentences have (potentially) different meanings even though they look almost the same.  

INCORRECT: What time have you done it?

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#281: The Present Perfect for Talking About Experiences [+ Ever, Never, Before, Yet, Already, So Far]

Jul 12, 2023 | Grammar , Verb Tenses

Accurately talking about your work, travel, relationship, and life experiences is a must.

Whether you’re preparing for a job interview or want to chat about a recent travel experience, you’ll likely need the Present Perfect in English to do so.

Moreover, you’ll hear English speakers often use words such as ever, never, before, yet, already , and so far as well.

Each of these words is a key word. It provides a signal that helps us understand time and how an experience relates to the present moment.

These complex time expressions combined with similarities to the Simple Past make the Present Perfect rather challenging. 

On top of that, many languages don’t have an exact equivalent to the present perfect in English. As a result, it may be difficult to grasp its concept and usage.

But not after today.

In this lesson, you’ll get meaningful practice through clear examples and opportunities to practice so you can accurately and confidently use the present perfect to highlight your life experiences.

The Present Perfect for Talking About Experiences 

With ever, never, before, yet, already, so far, what is present perfect .

Let’s start with a quick recap on the present perfect form. 

The present perfect is a verb tense English speakers use to indicate a link between the present and the past. In other words, when past actions or events are related to or continue into the present moment, we use the present perfect tense.

In general, we form the present perfect with the following positive structure:

Subject + have/has + past participle

In its negative form, the structure is:

Subject + have/has + not + past participle

• Ex . “ I have been to the museum. ”
• Ex . “ Margot hasn’t watched the movie. ”
• Ex . “ Nikita has worked at this bank. ”
• Ex . “ Why haven’t you called? ”
• Ex . “ Have you heard of Notre Dame? ”

When do we use it? 

English speakers especially use the present perfect tense to talk about past life experiences that are relevant to the present – right now.

Usually, we use this tense to highlight the experience or action itself.

Moreover, the present perfect can be used to share your thoughts about a variety of experiences, such as a recent vacation, your work experience while interviewing for a job, parenting, personal relationships, and more.

To help with describing these experiences using the present perfect, let’s focus on 6 keywords that are most often used with this tense:

• and, so far.

Ever, Never, Before

English speakers often use ‘ever’ and ‘never’ to discuss whether an experience happened at any point in the life they’ve lived thus far. 

• Ex . “ Have you ever worked with Jessica on a project? ”
• “ Yes, I have. We worked together on a proposal a few months ago. ”

In this example, ever is used to refer to whether the person had this opportunity at any point during their career or time at the company.

The words “at any point” are the key to the use of ever .

Any time a question starts with “Have you ever…” the focus is at any point in your life have you had a particular experience.

For example:

• Have you ever (at any point in your life) lived abroad?
• Have you ever regretted a big purchase?

So why are we using the present perfect? How is this connected to the past?

It’s possible that many years ago you lived abroad for a short period of time. For example, maybe you lived abroad for 1 year during your university years. 

That experience is over; however, your life is not yet over. And the focus with the word ever is at any point in your life, which again, is not over. So there is a link from the past to the present moment.

Similarly, we can even use ‘ever’ and ‘never’ WITH ‘before’ to imply that up until a present circumstance, we didn’t have a particular experience. 

• Ex . “ Have you ever been to this restaurant? ”
• “ I’ve never been here before; it’s my first time! ”

In addition, we can also use ‘before’ to establish an existent or nonexistent experience with a topic, event, or action related to the present.

• “Yes, I’ve been there before. It’s been years but I remember I loved it. I highly recommend it.
• “ I have used it before, but it’s been a while. I might need a bit of a refresher.”

Yet, Already

English speakers might also combine the present perfect with ‘yet’ to describe an event that started in the past and is leading up to the present. It’s used to emphasize that we expect something to happen soon. 

• Ex . “ This week has been so busy; I haven’t even started preparing for my interview yet! ” (But I expect to start preparing soon.)
• Ex . “ Have you watched the new Indiana Jones movie yet?
• Not yet. I booked tickets to go watch it this weekend. ” (It’s happening soon.)

Moreover, when we use the present perfect tense we also follow ‘yet’ with ‘but’ to contrast, provide reasoning, or share a plan of action. 

• Ex . “ I haven’t asked my boss for a raise yet, but I’m hoping to do it by the end of this month. ”
• Ex . “ Viola hasn’t moved yet, but she is looking for a new condo. ”

We also use ‘yet’ with ‘already’ to talk about actions or events that have happened by the present moment.

• Ex . “ Have you applied for the manager position yet? ”
• “ Yup, I’ve already submitted everything. I’m just waiting to hear back from them. ”

Finally, similar to yet, we can use ‘so far’ with the present perfect to imply that an experience set in the past is true, even in the present, or up until now. It can also mean to a certain or limited extent.

• Ex . “ I’ve watched the first three episodes of Queen’s Gambit so far and I love it!”
• Ex . “ So far, I haven’t had any luck with getting my toddler to sleep in her own bed. ”

Time to Practice!

Let’s practice using the present perfect to talk about your experiences. 

Choose one of the questions below to share your experience. Be sure to use the keywords from the lesson to accurately describe it. 

• Have you ever taken an online course? Would you recommend it to someone who’s never taken one?
• How do you handle unexpected interview questions? Have you ever been asked an odd question in a job interview?
• Have you ever participated in a competition before? How did you prepare for it?

You can share your answers — as well as your questions — with me in the comments below.

~ Annemarie

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• English Grammar
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• Present Perfect Tense

Present Perfect Tense - Meaning, Definition, Formula, Structure and Uses with Examples

The present perfect tense is indeed simple and easy if you try to understand and use it the right way. It seems to be confusing to some though the tense has a very simple structure. However, anything can be learnt, and so this article on present perfect tense is here to help your learning process. In this article, the meaning, definition, formula, structure and uses will be explained along with examples to help you understand better.

Table of Contents

Definition of the present perfect tense, structure and formula of the present perfect tense.

• Rules to Be Followed When Using the Present Perfect Tense

Uses of the Present Perfect Tense

Examples of the present perfect tense, check your understanding of the present perfect tense, frequently asked questions on the present perfect tense, what is the present perfect tense.

The present perfect tense is employed in a sentence to represent an action that just happened in the recent past and still has its effect in the present or an action that represents an indefinite time in the past. To have a clearer idea of the tense, let us look at how different dictionaries define the tense.

The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines the present perfect tense as “the form of a verb that expresses an action done in a time period up to the present, formed in English with the present tense of ‘have’ and the ‘past participle’ of the verb, as in I have eaten .” According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the present perfect tense is defined as “the form of the verb used for actions or events that have been completed or have happened in a period of time up to now.”

A much more elaborate definition is given by the Collins Dictionary and according to it, “the present perfect tenses of a verb are the ones used to talk about things which happened before the time you are speaking or writing but are relevant to the present situation, or things that began in the past and are still happening.” The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the present perfect tense as one “relating to, or constituting a verb tense that is traditionally formed in English with have and a past participle and that expresses an action or state begun in the past and completed at the time of speaking (as in “I have finished”) or continuing in the present (as in “We have lived here for several years”).

The general formula of the present perfect tense is as described below:

The structure of the present perfect tense can be analysed with reference to positive, negative, interrogative and negative interrogative types of sentences. Have a look at the table given below for a closer look at the same.

Rules to be Followed When Using the Present Perfect Tense

The very first thing that you will have to learn before you start using present perfect tense is how past participles are formed. In the English language , a past participle is formed by adding an ‘ed’ to the base form of the verb in most cases. However, there are a number of irregular verbs that have different spellings and do not, in any way, follow the concept of adding ‘ed’ to the base form like regular verbs . You can take a look at the extensive list of irregular verbs to analyse how these verbs are in their past participle form.

The next point to remember is that a sentence with the past perfect form of the verb uses two verbs – a helping verb and a main verb . ‘Have’ and ‘has’ are the two helping verbs that are used. ‘Have’ is used when the pronouns ‘I’, ‘you’, ‘they’ or plural nouns act as the subject in a sentence. ‘Has’ is used when the pronouns ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’ or singular nouns act as the subject.

The present perfect tense can be used

• To denote an action or event that happened or started in the past and still has its impact or some connection to the subject in the present.
• To indicate an action that happened in the past and continues to occur in the present.
• To connect the events of the present to the events that happened in the past.

Learn how to use the present perfect tense effectively by going through the examples given below.

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of the present perfect tense in the following sentences:

1. We ___________ (find – negative) it yet.

2. Venu and Parvati ____________ (invited) all their friends for today’s party.

3. Shashi _________ (sleep – negative) all night.

4. ________ he _________ (finish) his work?

5. It ___________ (be – negative) the same ever since you left.

6. They __________ (buy) a 2BHK flat.

7. You ___________ (come) to the right place.

8. _______ you ever ________ (be) to Malaysia?

9. Do you know why she __________ (like – negative) it?

10. ________ you _________ (hear) about the new education policies?

Check if you have used the right form of the tense from the following sentences.

1. We have not found it yet.

2. Venu and Parvati have invited all their friends for today’s party.

3. Shashi has not slept all night.

4. Has he finished his work?

5. It has not been the same ever since you left.

6. They have bought a 2BHK flat.

7. You have come to the right place.

8. Have you ever been to Malaysia?

9. Do you know why she has not liked it?

10. Have you heard about the new education policies?

What is the present perfect tense?

The present perfect tense is employed in a sentence to represent an action that just happened in the recent past and still has its effect in the present or an action that represents an indefinite time in the past.

What is the definition of the present perfect tense?

What is the formula of the present perfect tense.

The general formula of the present perfect tense is as described below: Subject + have/has + past participle + the rest of the sentence

What are the rules to be followed when using the present perfect tense?

The point that you should keep in mind when using the present perfect tense is that it has two verbs – a helping verb and a main verb. ‘Have’ and ‘has’ are the two helping verbs that are used. This is followed by the main verb which appears in its past participle form.

Give some examples of the present perfect tense form.

Given below are a few examples of sentences using the present perfect form of the verb.

• Veena has not reached home yet.
• All the children have finished their assignments.
• Rinita has eaten all the mangoes.
• I have not watched the movie yet.
• Has she still not gone to the hospital?

What are the uses of the present perfect tense?

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Present Perfect vs Past Perfect: Understanding the Key Differences

Published by

Olivia Drake

Summary:   Present Perfect (“have/has” + past participle) for actions impacting the present. Past Perfect (“had” + past participle) details events before others in the past. Key is understanding timing, sequence, and effects. Avoid common mistakes like incorrect time references. Examples clarify their application, ensuring precise expression of past actions’ relevance or sequence.

On this page:

The Present Perfect and Past Perfect tenses are both used to talk about actions and situations in relation to a point in time, but they differ in their focus. Here’s a breakdown of the main differences:

Present Perfect

Usage:  Indicates actions or events that occurred at an unspecified time before now. It emphasizes the result or effect of the action in the present. Form:  “have/has” + past participle (e.g., “have done,” “has seen”). Key Phrases:  often used with “already,” “ever,” “just,” “never,” “not yet,” “so far.” Example Sentences:

• “I have finished my homework.” (The exact time is not specified; the focus is on the completion.)
• “She has visited Paris three times.” (Emphasizes the experience up to now.)

Past Perfect

Usage:  Describes actions or events that were completed before another action or event in the past. It highlights the sequence of past actions. Form: “had” + past participle (e.g., “had done,” “had seen”).Key Phrases: often used with “before,” “by the time,” “until.” Example Sentences:

• “I had finished my homework before dinner.” (Emphasizes that the homework was completed before another past event.)
• “She had visited Paris three times before she moved there.” (Indicates the visits occurred before another past action.)

Comparison Between Present Perfect and Past Perfect

Timeline and order.

When comparing the present perfect and past perfect, it’s important to understand the timeline and order of events. The present perfect is used to describe an action that happened at an unspecified time before now, while the past perfect is used to describe an action that happened before another past action.

For example , if you say “I have eaten breakfast,” you’re talking about an action that happened at an unspecified time before now. But if you say “I had eaten breakfast before I went to work,” you’re talking about an action that happened before another past action (going to work).

Consequences and Results

Another difference between the present perfect and past perfect is the consequences and results of the actions. The present perfect focuses on the present result of a past action, while the past perfect focuses on the past result of a past action.

For example , if you say “I have lost my keys,” you’re talking about the present result (not having your keys) of a past action (losing your keys). But if you say “I had lost my keys before I found them,” you’re talking about the past result (not having your keys) of a past action (losing your keys).

Verbs and Actions

The choice between present perfect and past perfect can also depend on the verb and action being described. The present perfect is often used for actions that have a connection to the present, while the past perfect is often used for actions that are completely in the past.

For example , if you say “I have lived in this city for five years,” you’re talking about an action (living in the city) that has a connection to the present (you still live there). But if you say “I had visited that museum before it closed,” you’re talking about an action (visiting the museum) that is completely in the past.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Navigating the nuances between the Present Perfect and Past Perfect tenses can be challenging, often leading to common mistakes. Here’s a look at these mistakes and tips on how to avoid them:

1. Confusing Time Reference

Mistake:  Using the Present Perfect to talk about a specific time in the past. Example of Mistake:  “I have seen him yesterday.”Correction: “I saw him yesterday.” (Use simple past for specific times in the past.) How to Avoid:  Remember that the Present Perfect connects the past action to the present moment without specifying when it happened. For actions at a specific past time, use the Simple Past.

2. Using the Past Perfect without a Second Past Action

Mistake:  Using the Past Perfect when there’s no second past action or event for it to precede. Example of Mistake:  “I had gone to the store.” (No second action mentioned.)Correction: “I went to the store.” (Use Simple Past if there’s no subsequent action in the past.) How to Avoid:  Use the Past Perfect only when you need to show that one past action happened before another past action. Otherwise, stick with the Simple Past.

3. Misplacing Time Expressions

Mistake:  Misusing time expressions specific to each tense. Example of Mistake:  “I had finished my work just now.”Correction: “I have just finished my work.” How to Avoid:  Use time expressions like “just,” “already,” “ever,” and “never” with the Present Perfect. For the Past Perfect, phrases like “by the time,” “before,” and “until” are more appropriate.

4. Overusing the Past Perfect

Mistake:  Overusing the Past Perfect for actions that don’t require emphasizing order. Example of Mistake:  “After I had woken up, I had brushed my teeth, and then I had gone to school.”Correction: “After I woke up, I brushed my teeth, and then I went to school.” How to Avoid:  Use the Past Perfect sparingly, mainly to clarify the sequence of past events when the sequence is not clear through context. Otherwise, the Simple Past is often sufficient.

5. Ignoring the Present Implication of Present Perfect

Mistake:  Forgetting that the Present Perfect implies a connection to the present. Example of Mistake:  “I have lived in Paris in 2005.” (The action is completely in the past.) Correction: “I lived in Paris in 2005.” (Use Simple Past for actions that happened and ended in the past.) How to Avoid:  Use the Present Perfect to talk about experiences that affect the present or when the exact time of the action is not important or not mentioned. For past actions with a clear end, use the Simple Past.

Practical Examples of Present Perfect vs Past Perfect

To better understand the difference between present perfect and past perfect tenses, let’s look at some practical examples and exercises.

Example 1: Event

• Past perfect : You had already finished your homework before the party began.
• Present perfect : You have finished your homework before the party started. In this example, the past perfect tense is used to describe a completed action that happened before another past action. The present perfect tense is used to describe a completed action that happened before the present moment.

Example 2: Experience

• Past perfect : You had never been to New York before you visited last year.
• Present perfect:  You have been to New York three times this year. In this example, the past perfect tense is used to describe a past experience that happened before another past action. The present perfect tense is used to describe a past experience that happened at an unspecified time in the past and has relevance to the present moment.

Example 3: Dinner

• Past perfect : You had already eaten dinner when your friend arrived.
• Present perfect : You have eaten dinner already. In this example, the past perfect tense is used to describe a completed action that happened before another past action. The present perfect tense is used to describe a completed action that happened before the present moment.

Example 4: Not Finished

• Past perfect : You had not finished your work when your boss called.
• Present perfect : You have not finished your work yet. In this example, the past perfect tense is used to describe an incomplete action that happened before another past action. The present perfect tense is used to describe an incomplete action that is relevant to the present moment.

Example 5: So Far

• Past perfect : You had traveled to five countries before you turned 30.
• Present perfect : You have traveled to seven countries so far. In this example, the past perfect tense is used to describe a completed action that happened before another past action. The present perfect tense is used to describe a completed action that is relevant to the present moment.

Example 6: Events

• Past perfect : You had missed the train when you arrived at the station.
• Present perfect : You have missed the last train. In this example, the past perfect tense is used to describe a completed action that happened before another past action. The present perfect tense is used to describe a completed action that is relevant to the present moment.

Example 7: Will/Going to

• Past perfect : You had planned to go to the beach, but it rained.
• Present perfect : You have planned to go to the beach this weekend. In this example, the past perfect tense is used to describe a planned action that did not happen because of an external factor. The present perfect tense is used to describe a planned action that is relevant to the present moment.

Example 8: Already Eat

• Past perfect : You had already eaten breakfast when your friend arrived.
• Present perfect : You have already eaten breakfast. In this example, the past perfect tense is used to describe a completed action that happened before another past action. The present perfect tense is used to describe a completed action that happened before the present moment.

Exercise 6: Learners

• Past perfect : You had studied English for three years before you moved to the United States.
• Present perfect : You have studied English for six months. In this example, the past perfect tense is used to describe a completed action that happened before another past action. The present perfect tense is used to describe a completed action that is relevant to the present moment.

Related Articles:

• Present Perfect Tense: How to Use It
• Past Simple vs Present Perfect: A Clear Comparison Guide
• Questions in Present Perfect: Mastering its Usage and Structure
• Present Perfect Sentences with Examples

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Using the present perfect to introduce life experiences

In a recent post, I advised English language learners to focus on four tense aspects which are most commonly used in everyday speech . One of those aspects is the present perfect , which is used in a variety of situations. This time, I’d like to concentrate on the use of the present perfect to introduce life experiences. 

Personally, I don’t teach pointless tense aspects such as the future perfect continuous or the past perfect passive . I don’t believe I’ve ever used them in my life whilst having a conversation with someone. I certainly can’t imagine my students using them. Besides, such grammar points are more suitable for written English - not spoken English.

I’m only concerned with USEFUL grammar. That is, grammar that helps my students to detail what they’ve experienced and achieved in their lives. Well - there’s no better aspect than the present perfect to introduce life experiences and achievements. 

F ORMING THE PRESENT PERFECT TO INTRODUCE LIFE EXPERIENCES

The present perfect aspect is formed by using ‘have’ / ‘has’ + the past participle. The past participle is the form of the verb used in forming perfect and passive tenses. It’s often referred to as the third form. This is because every verb has an infinitive form (watch), a past tense (watched) and a past participle - the third form (watched). 

For the majority of verbs, the past tense and the participle forms of the verb are the same. Moreover, verbs in the past participle form usually end in the letters - ed . Take a look at this table:

There are also quite a few irregular verbs. This means that the past tense forms and the participle forms aren’t the same. Feast your eyes on this table:

Let’s create some sentences to put all this theory into action. Remember that it is perfectly natural to use contractions when you speak English (“I’ve”, instead of “I have” and “He’s” instead of “he has”):

D ECIDING WHETHER TO USE THE PAST SIMPLE TENSE OR THE PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE TENSE

To decide whether you should use the past simple tense or the present perfect simple tense , it all depends on whether you wish to state exactly WHEN an action took place.

Compare the following:

a. David went to Berlin last month

b. Yeah, David’s been to Berlin before

In a, we are concerned with WHEN the action took place. 

In b, we are concerned with the fact that David HAS experienced something. However, there are no specific references to time. All we know is that David has been to Berlin in his life. 

Hence, in b, David may have been to Berlin a number of times in his life. When using the present perfect to introduce life experiences, it’s common to add the NUMBER OF TIMES something has happened. 

Let’s extend b again:

Yeah, David’s been to Berlin before. In fact, I think he’s been there four or five times since he caught the travel bug in his late teens .

A SKING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE’S LIFE EXPERIENCES USING THE PRESENT PERFECT

The table below illustrates how best to ask people about their life experiences:

The use of ever intensifies a question, but it’s perfectly fine to ask questions without ever .

M IXING THE PRESENT PERFECT AND PAST SIMPLE |  T HE 1-2-2-2 RULE

This post is predominantly about using the present perfect to introduce your the life experience it is you want to talk about. However, in order to give full details about life experiences, it’s usually a clever move to combine the present perfect and past simple.

In a recent exercise with some of my students, I prepared fifteen questions for them beginning with “Have you (ever) …?” 

When it came to them orally responding to the questions, I tried to get them to think in terms of numbers in order to organise their answers.  

Let’s have a look at one of my student’s answers to a selection of questions and analyse what I mean by “thinking in terms of numbers”:

As you can see in the second question, I taught my students that there’s not much they can do with the present perfect when their answer is positive. They can answer something like “Yes I have” or “I have” and move on to the past simple.

In questions 2, 5 and 6, each number 2 represents PRECISE DETAILS about a particular experience. All of these additional details should be in the past simple . 

Even when your answer may be negative, you should still look to make use of the present perfect . In 5, for example, the student mentioned that he’s seen some badly-damaged cars in his life, despite having never witnessed an accident.

T YPICAL ERRORS WHEN DESCRIBING LIFE EXPERIENCES WITH THE PRESENT PERFECT AND PAST SIMPLE

Despite my best efforts to guide students with the 1-2-2-2 pattern, it is inevitable that some initial confusion may arise when choosing between the present perfect and past simple . 

Here are some of the most frequent mistakes I’ve noticed:

1. Adding details with the present perfect instead of the past simple

Unsurprisingly, it’s been difficult for some of my students to make a swift transition from the present perfect to the past simple soon after replying to a question.

Here’s one example from a student who talked about his time on the Greek island of Zakynthos:

Question: Have you ever been to Rhodes?

My student's response: 

* I haven’t but I’ve been to Zakynthos [a good start]

* I’ve been to four or five places on the island [this is when the student should have switched to the past simple to give extra details = I visited / went to four or five places on the island]

2.  Saying “I’ve been in” or “I was never in” instead of “I’ve been to ” or " I've not/never been to"

Many of my students say “I’ve never been in” instead of the correct “I’ve never been to”. 

When it comes to my Polish students, the utterance, "I've been in", may result from language interference . This is the effect a language learner’s mother tongue has on the production of an utterance made in a second language.

Polish people might directly translate “nie byłem w Grecji” as “I was never in Greece”. If they’re more on the ball when it comes to producing the present perfect , they may say “I’ve never been in Greece”. This is because the Polish preposition w can generally be translated as in in most contexts in English. 

Another reason students might say in is because they're not aware that been is the third form of the verb go . They might associate been with the verb be . Of course, it’s more natural to say “I was in …” than “I was to ..” so this may be why many lower-level some learners of English say “I’ve been in …”.

3.  Using the present perfect with “the first/last time ..”

Just this morning, I did the exercise in the screenshot above with a student. It made me realise that I’ve heard many students use the present perfect with “the first time” and “the last time”.

The two chunks - “the first time” and “the last time” - are typically associated with the past simple because it’s expected that a specific time reference will follow:

• The first time I travelled abroad was on a school trip to France in 1997. We visited Paris and several places in northern France, including Mont Saint-Michel and Bayeux
• The first time I went on a plane was back in the summer of 2006. I travelled from Luton to Kraków, where I stayed for six weeks

C ONCLUSION: P RESENT PERFECT TO INTRODUCE LIFE EXPERIENCES - P AST SIMPLE FOR THE DETAILS

Contrary to popular belief in the world of ELT, the present perfect does not describe life experiences. In fact, the present perfect introduces life experiences. It is the past simple that does most of the leg work. Students should provide details and time references relating to a specific experience in the past simple .

By using and visualising the 1-2-2-2 pattern discussed above, English language learners are able to describe life experiences in a very convincing and highly structured way.  

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Using the present perfect tense

by Manjusha Nambiar · May 27, 2016

To talk about things that we have experienced in life, we use the present perfect tense. Note that this usage is possible only when there is no definite time reference. For example, we cannot use the present perfect tense to say that something happened to us on a particular day. Form: Subject + has / have + past participle form of the verb I have been to all the continents in the world. I have never seen a ghost. I have seen that movie. I have experienced despair. I have faced many setbacks in life. I have read all novels written by Mark Twain. I have written a novel. I have seen her before. I have played cricket at the national level. I have attended a few workshops on acting. If we say when something happened, we use the simple past tense. I wrote a novel last year. (NOT I have written a novel last year.) I faced many setbacks in 2012. (NOT I have faced many setbacks in 2012.) I saw that movie yesterday. (NOT I have seen that movie yesterday.) Now think about a life experience that started in the past and has continued up to the present. For example, consider this situation. You got married to the man you love some ten years ago and you are still married to him. How do you express this idea in English? Well, you can use a sentence like this. I have been married to Shyam for ten years. How long have you been married to Maya? Now consider another situation. You were ten when your parents moved to Mumbai. Now you are twenty-five and your family still lives in Mumbai. You can express this idea in the following ways. I have lived in Mumbai for fifteen years. OR I have lived in Mumbai since I was ten. OR I have lived in Mumbai since 1998. Questions in the present perfect usually begin with ‘How long…?’ or ‘Have you ever…?’ How long have you lived in Chennai? I have lived in Chennai for ten years. How long have you worked for Wipro? I have worked for Wipro for twenty years. How long have you been married to him? I have been married to him for twenty-five years. Questions about life experiences usually begin ‘Have you ever…?’ Have you ever been to Australia? No, I have never been to Australia. Have you ever seen a ghost? No, I have never seen a ghost. Have you ever tried parasailing? Yes, I have tried it a couple of times.

Manjusha Nambiar

Hi, I'm Manjusha. This is my blog where I give IELTS preparation tips.

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IELTS Practice

Present Continuous Tense Exercises

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Present continuous tense exercises help learners understand and practice this tense, which describes ongoing actions happening now or future planned events. These exercises focus on forming sentences correctly, recognizing patterns, and using the tense in various contexts. With numerous examples and practice scenarios, learners can enhance their grasp of how and when to use the present continuous tense effectively, improving both written and spoken English skills.

Exercise-1: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verbs in the Present Continuous Tense

• She __________ (read) a book right now.
• They __________ (play) soccer in the park.
• I __________ (study) for my exams.
• We __________ (watch) a movie at the moment.
• He __________ (work) on his project this week.
• The children __________ (make) a lot of noise.
• You __________ (wear) a beautiful dress today.
• The dog __________ (bark) loudly outside.
• She __________ (cook) dinner in the kitchen.
• They __________ (travel) to Spain this summer.
• I __________ (write) an email to my friend.
• The students __________ (listen) to the teacher.
• He __________ (paint) the walls of his room.
• We __________ (plan) a surprise party for her.
• She __________ (run) in the marathon.
• They __________ (fix) the broken window.
• I __________ (clean) my room right now.
• The baby __________ (sleep) in the crib.
• He __________ (drive) to work at the moment.
• We __________ (wait) for the bus.

Exercise-2: Change into the Present Continuous Tense

Change the following sentences into the present continuous tense:

• She writes a letter.
• They play football.
• I read a book.
• We watch TV.
• He eats dinner.
• The cat sleeps on the couch.
• You study for the exam.
• They travel to Paris.
• She sings a song.
• I cook dinner.
• He drives to work.
• We paint the house.
• She learns Spanish.
• They build a new house.
• You listen to music.
• The dog runs in the park.
• I write an email.
• He fixes the car.
• We organize the party.
• She makes a cake.

Exercise-3: Multiple Choices for Present Continuous Tense

Choose the correct present continuous form to complete each sentence.

• a) is writing
• b) are playing
• a) am reading
• b) are watching
• b) is eating
• b) is sleeping
• b) are studying
• a) are traveling
• c) is singing
• b) am cooking
• a) is driving
• b) are painting
• b) is learning
• a) are building
• b) are listening
• b) is running
• a) am writing
• a) is fixing
• a) organize
• b) are organizing
• c) organizes
• c) is making

Exercise-4: Rewrite the Sentences in the Present Continuous Tense

Rewrite the following sentences in the present continuous tense.

What is the present continuous tense?

The present continuous tense describes actions happening now or ongoing actions, using “am,” “is,” or “are” with the verb’s -ing form.

How do you form the present continuous tense?

Form the present continuous tense with “am,” “is,” or “are” followed by the verb’s -ing form (e.g., I am eating).

When do we use the present continuous tense?

Use it for actions happening right now, temporary activities, and future plans (e.g., She is studying now; They are visiting next week).

What are common signal words for the present continuous tense?

Common signal words include “now,” “right now,” “at the moment,” and “currently.”

Can the present continuous tense describe future actions?

Yes, it can describe future plans or arrangements (e.g., We are meeting them tomorrow).

How do you make negative sentences in the present continuous tense?

Add “not” after “am,” “is,” or “are” (e.g., She is not playing; They are not coming).

How do you form questions in the present continuous tense?

Invert the subject and “am,” “is,” or “are” (e.g., Are you coming? Is he working?).

What is the difference between present simple and present continuous?

Present simple describes habitual actions; present continuous describes actions happening now (e.g., She reads daily; She is reading now).

Can stative verbs be used in the present continuous tense?

Typically, no. Stative verbs (e.g., know, love) are usually not used in the present continuous (e.g., I know him, not I am knowing him).

Why is the present continuous tense important?

It is essential for expressing current actions, ongoing events, and future plans, enhancing clarity in communication.

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