The Present Perfect Tense - When to use
1. We use the Present Perfect Tense to talk about experiences. It is important if we have done it in o
lives or not. It is not important when we did it.
Examples
I have been abroad two times.
Anna has never broken a leg.
Have you ever eaten sushi?
Tip! We often use never and ever with the Present Perfect Tense to talk about experience.
2. We use the Present Perfect Tense to talk about an action which started in the past and continuous
up to now.
Examples
I have been a teacher for more than ten years.
We haven't seen Janine since Friday.
How long have you been at this school?
Tip! We often use since and for to say how long the action has lasted.
3. We also use the Present Perfect Tense to talk about a past action that has the result in the presen
Examples
I have lost my wallet. = I don't have it now.
Jimmy has gone to South America. = He isn't here now.
Have you finished your homework? = Is your homework ready?
Tip! We often use just, already and yet with the Present Perfect Tense for an action in the past
with the result in the present.
Uses of the Present Perfect - Practice
Exercise: chose for or since.
---
1. You have broken my watch!
2. I have never been to Paris.
---
3. How long have you been here?
4. Angela has bought a new flat.
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5. How many times have you been married?
6. We haven't worked on a farm.
---
---
7. This building has been an office since 1998.
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The Present Perfect Tense - How to form
We make the Present Perfect tense with the correct form of the auxiliary verb have (have/has) and the
third form (past participle) of the mail verb.
IRREGULAR VERBS.
IRREGULAR VERBS. (3 COLUMN OF THE LIST)
BEGIN…..BEGAN…..BEGUN
SLEEP…..SLEPT…..SLEPT
SWIM…..SWAM…..SWUM
SPEAK…..SPOKE…..SPOKEN
REGULAR VERBS ( ADD “ED” )
WORK…..WORKED
PLAY…..PLAYED
CRY…..CRIED
MOP…..MOPPED
To form the past participle of the regular verbs, we add ed to the infinitive.
Examples:
I have worked as a secretary for two years.
Have you ever visited the Disneyland?
The film hasn't started yet.
Tip! You may want to visit The English Irregular Verbs pages to learn how we form the past simple (seco
form) and past participles (third form) of some English verbs..
Present Perfect - Positive Sentences
I
've
been to Moscow.
You
've
finished the exercise.
He
's
just gone home.
She
's
already had a holiday this year.
It
's
broken!
We
've
seen this film before.
They
've
bought a new car.
Exercise: Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
Example: I
(see) my new teacher.

The train to Newcastle

Alan

The Browns

I

We
already
(leave).
(be) married twice.
(have) a baby!
(break) my leg once.
(live) here for a year.
has;left;'s been|has
Check Answers
Answers





The train to Newcastle
---
Alan
The Browns
I
---
We
---
already
(be) married twice.
---
(have) a baby!
(break) my leg once.
---
(live) here for a year.
Present Perfect - Negative Sentences
I
haven't
been abroad yet.
You
haven't
answered my question.
He
hasn't
been home for five years.
She
hasn't
found a new job.
---
(leave).
It
hasn't
finished yet.
We
haven't
worked on a farm.
They
haven't
seen each other for ages.
Exercise: Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
haven't gone
Example: The kids

I think I

She

The shop

John

We
(go) to bed yet.
(see) her before.
(have) a holiday this year.
(open) yet.
never
(ride) a bicycle.
(do) our homework yet.
haven't seen|have n
Check Answers
Answers

I think I

---



She
---
(have) a holiday this year.
---
The shop
---
John
We
(see) her before.
(open) yet.
never
---
---
a bicycle.
(do) our homework yet.
Present Perfect - Yes/No Questions
Have
I
Have
you
ever done it before?
been to the cinema recently?
Has
he
worked here long?
Has
she
already sent the fax?
Has
it
ever been in a crash?
Have
we
Have
they
done it right?
gone home yet?
Exercise: Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
Example:
Have
you
met
(meet) our new teacher?

your son ever

Ms Bixby

you

the post

they
(sleep) in a tent?
(work) here longer than you?
(see) my glasses?
(arrive)?
(fix) the car?
Has;slept;Has;wor
Check Answers
Answers

---

---

---

---
the post

---
---
your son ever
Ms Bixby
you
they
---
---
---
(sleep) in a tent?
(work) here longer than you?
(see) my glasses?
---
(arrive)?
(fix) the car?
Present Perfect - Information Questions
What
have
I
done?
How long
have
you
How many times
has
he
been married?
What countries
has
she
visited?
Where
has
it
How long
have
we
Where
have
they
been here?
been?
been together?
worked?
Exercise: Fill in the gaps with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
have
Example: What exams

Where

How long

How many letters

What companies

How many copies
you already
you
passed
(pass)?
(be)?
they
(have) their car?
he
(write)?
she
(work) for?
we
(sell)?
have;been;have;ha
Check Answers
Answers





Where
---
How long
you
---
How many letters
What companies
How many copies
---
they
-------
(be)?
---
(have) their car?
he
---
she
---
we
---
Present Perfect - Practice
(write)?
(work) for?
(sell)?
Exercise: Put the verb in brackets in the correct form to make the Present
Perfect Tense.

you ever

I

The Browns
(break) a leg?
(not be) to the theatre for ages.

(move) a flat.
Anita already
(speak) to you?

Our parcel
(not arrive) yet.

What countries
you

My parents
(live) in the same city all their lives.
(be) to?
Have;broken;haven
Check Answers
Answers
---





you ever
---
I
(break) a leg?
(not be) to the theatre for ages.
The Browns
---
---
---
(move) a flat.
Anita already
Our parcel
---

What countries

---
My parents
---
(speak) to you?
(arrive) yet.
---
you
---
(be) to?
(live) in the same city all their lives.
Present Perfect Tense - Already and Yet
Already means that something happened earlier than we expected. With Present Perfect already usually
goes after have or has and before the main verb.
Examples
- We've already had our breakfast.
- When are you going to do your homework?
- But I've already done it!
- Do you want a cup of coffee?
- No, thanks. I've already had one."
Yet means that something that we expected has happened or hasn't happened. We usually put it at the
end of a sentence.
Examples
- Has the post arrived yet?
- Have you done your homework?
- Not yet.
- Haven't you got ready yet? Look at the time!
Already and Yet with Present Perfect Tense - Practice
Exercise. Do we use for or since with the following time references?

I haven't phoned home
---
---
Christmas.

We've been here

I have worked for International House







nine o'clock.
---
I haven't visited my home town
---
I haven't been to the cinema
I have studied non-stop
---
Johan has been in England
more than eight years.
I left school.
ages.
9.15.
---
I have had a driving licence
She hasn't had a day off
---
I was eighteen.
---
1999.
---
Peter has been my best friend
more than two weeks now.
---
we were nine.
Check It!
Already and Yet with Present Perfect Tense - More Practice
Exercise. Decide if you need for or since with these time expressions.
---
last weekend
---
ten seconds
---
Christmas Eve
---
a decade
---
I finished school
---
a couple of days
---
my birthday
---
a long time
---
ten centuries
---
the 70s
---
I was a boy
---
August
---
the last month
---
fifteen years
---
the accident
---
then
---
we bought this house
---
last month
---
a millennium
---
I met you