Present Perfect Tense: Definition, Use, and Examples
The present perfect tense is an English verb tense used to denote past actions that are related to the present (or continue to it). It’s easily recognized by the auxiliary verbs (or partner verbs) have and has, as in, “I have gone fishing since I was a child.”
Of all the English verb tenses, the present perfect is one of the most complicated because there’s not always a direct translation in other languages. So in this guide, we explain everything you need to know to use it perfectly, including how and when to use it, with a lot of present perfect tense examples.
What is the Present Perfect Tense?
- The present perfect tense is utilized in a sentence to represent an action that simply happened in the new past regardless has its impact in the present or an action that represents an unexplained time in the past.
- To have a clearer idea of the tense, let us take a look at how different dictionaries define the tense.
Definition of Present Perfect Tense
The time of the action is before now but not stated. Truth be told, more often than not, the outcome interests us more than the action itself. This tense is formed by having/has + the past participle.
Have or has is the first component which relies upon the subject-verb is conjugated with. Similarly, the second component is the past participle of the very. It forms for the most part by adding – ed or – d to the base of the verb.
For instance, talked, inclined, wiped, mixed, and the sky is the limit from there. However, the English language does contain a couple of verbs that have irregular past participles. For instance, done, won, eaten, gone, thought, from there, the sky is the limit.
How do you use the present perfect tense?
In the present perfect tense, the main verbs always use the auxiliary verbs (partner verbs) has or have. The main verb takes specifically the past participle form. The past participle is often a similar form as the simple past form of the verb, except if it’s an irregular verb, which each has its own unique past participle form.
Only the auxiliary verbs are conjugated to fit the subject-verb understanding in the present perfect tense; the past participle of the main verb remains similar regardless of what the subject is. By and large, you use have for all subjects aside from the singular third-person, which instead uses has.
Related: Facebook Ad Targeting Tips to Grow Soon
First-person: I have made some amazing progress.
Second person: You have progressed significantly.
Third-person plural: They have progressed significantly.
Third-person singular: He/she/it has made some amazing progress.
Rules to be Followed When Using the Present Perfect Tense
The very first thing that you will have to learn before you begin using the 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 many cases.
However, several irregular verbs have different spellings and do not, in some way, follow the concept of adding ‘ed’ to the base form like standard verbs. You can take a gander at the extensive list of irregular verbs to examine how these verbs are in their past participle form.
The following 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 assisting verbs that are used. ‘Have’ is used when the pronouns ‘I’, ‘you’, ‘they’ or plural nouns go about as the subject in a sentence. ‘Has’ is used when the pronouns ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’ or singular nouns go about as the subject.
Present Perfect Sentences for Describing
We use present perfect tense to describe:
- A repeated action in an unspecified period between the past and present. They have visited London multiple times.
- An action that was finished in the very late past. ‘Just’ is used to communicate it. We have quite recently finished our assignment.
- An action when the time does not convey a lot of importance. She has perused ‘Harry Potter’. Here, the aftereffect of her reading carries importance.
Similarly, kindly remember that if you wish to give or get some information about when, where, and who, you must use the simple past.
Uses of the Present Perfect Tense
The present perfect tense can be used
- To denote an action or event that happened or began in the past despite everything having its impact or some connection to the subject in the present.
- To indicate an action that happened in the past and continues to happen in the present.
- To connect the events of the present to the events that happened in the past.
The present perfect tense for statements
For general statements, the most common use of the present perfect, use have or has in addition to the past participle form of the main verb.
[have/has] + [past participle]
Charlotte has become friends with Wilbur.
We’ve separated before, but this time feels different.
The present perfect tense for negatives
To use the present perfect tense in the negative, simply add the negative word (like not or never) after the auxiliary verb but before the past participle.
[have/has] + [negative] + [past participle]
I have not rested soundly since the tests began.
My Midwestern friend has never seen the sea.
Examples of Present Perfect Tense
Unspecified Time Before Now
We utilize the present perfect tense to say that an action took place at an unspecified time before now. Thus, the specific time is not of that much importance. Do NOT use the present perfect with particular time expressions like yesterday, quite a while back, last month, when I was a kid, when I lived in Gujarat, at that point, that day, one day, and so forth.
You can use the present perfect with unspecific expressions like ever, once, a few times, never, as of now, ordinarily, so far, yet, and that’s just the beginning.
Read Also: Guidance and Counselling Difference: All You Need to Know
Examples –
- We have seen that video ten times.
- There have been numerous wildfires on Amazon.
- Astronauts have headed out to the Moon.
- They have not gone to Jupiter.
- Have you read the thesis yet?
- No one has at any point visited that scary place.
- Q. Has there at any point been a wildfire in California?
- A. Indeed, there has been a wildfire in California.
The present perfect tense for questions
When asking a question in the present perfect tense, the auxiliary verb starts things out, followed by the subject, and afterwards the past participle of the main verb. This follows a similar construction as questions with the auxiliary verb do, which also precedes the subject.
[have/has] + [subject] + [past participle]
Have you eaten dinner yet?
Has the party begun?
How to use the present perfect tense with adverbs
[have/has] + [adverb] + [past participle]
They have progressively progressed their career from cashier to senior supervisor.
Every one of the visitors has previously arrived.
Be careful, though. Certain adverbs — especially yet and just — have special rules for where they’re placed.
The adverb yet, used often with a negative or in questions, quite often comes at the finish of a sentence or clause.
Unfortunately, he hasn’t finished the race yet.
Have you finished your schoolwork yet?
Conversely, the adverb simply is always placed between the auxiliary verb and the past participle.
I’ve recently awakened.
Their plane has recently landed.
Rules for using the Present Perfect
Experience
We can utilize the present perfect to describe our experience. For instance, ‘I have the experience of… ‘ Similarly, this tense can also be used to say that you have never had a particular experience. We do not use the present perfect for describing a particular event.
Examples –
I have been to New York.
I have been to New York five times.
The number of times can be added at the finish of the sentence.
I have never been to New York.
Through this sentence, you will say that you have not had the experience of visiting New York.
I think I have seen that video before.
She has never gone via vehicle.
Tina has studied four foreign languages.
Q. Have you at any point met her?
A. No, I have not met her.
Change Over Time
The present perfect is also used to denote the change that has happened over a certain period.
Examples –
You have developed since the last time I saw you.
French has become one of the most well-known courses at the school since the Foreign Language program was established.
How to use the present perfect tense in the passive voice
When discussing writing, we often discuss the active versus passive voice. Although we suggest using the active voice however much as could reasonably be expected, sometimes the passive voice is unavoidable.
To use the present perfect tense in the passive voice, use been (the past participle of the verb be) before the past participle of the main verb.
[have/has] + [been] + [past participle]
She has been given an honour.
You have recently been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Achievements
The use of the present perfect is also done to list the achievements of individuals and humanity. But, you cannot state a particular time.
Examples –
Man has strolled on the Moon.
Scientists have split the atom.
Our little girl has learned how to move.
Doctors have restored numerous destructive diseases.
Uncompleted Action You Are Expecting
Using the present perfect will propose that you are still waiting for the action to happen.
Examples –
Rahul has not finished his undertaking yet.
Priya hasn’t dominated Bengali, but she can communicate.
Pete has still not come to.
The rain hasn’t stopped.
How to use the present perfect continuous tense
You can also combine the present perfect tense with the present continuous tense to show an ongoing action that began in the past and continues to the present. This hybrid tense is known as the present perfect continuous tense. The construction is similar to using the present perfect tense in the passive voice, then again the main verb uses the present participle instead of the past participle.
[have/has] + [been] + [present participle]
She has been seeing a physical therapist since her medical procedure.
Like every continuous tense, the present perfect continuous tense can not be used with stative verbs like want, need, love, or hate.
Multiple Actions at Different Times
It proposes the interaction is incomplete and there is a possibility of additional actions.
Examples –
The military has attacked the neighbouring country two times.
I have had a lot of issues while teaching junior classes.
He has conversed with multiple doctors about her concern, but no one can figure out the reason for her illness.
Read Also: