Present Perfect Simple

The Present Perfect Simple is used, if an action happened in the past and there is a
connection to the present. This action has just stopped or is still going on. There's no
exact time expressed when the action happened.

Key words: already, just, yet, ever, never, for, since, so far, up to now, not
yet, lately, recently

How to form the Present Perfect Simple

I, you, we, they - have + 3rd form
he, she, it - has + 3rd form

They have visited her uncle recently. - She has just baked an apple pie.

Short forms
I've never been there before. - We've studied a lot so far.
He's worked in this shop lately. - He's found his wallet.

Negation
I, you, we, they - have not (haven't) + 3rd form
he, she, it - has not (hasn't) + 3rd form

They haven't tidied up their room so far. - He hasn't finished his homework yet.

Questions
Have you already done your homework?
Have/Has - subject - verb

How long have you been there?

Question word - have/has - subject -verb

Use of the Present Perfect Simple

Examples:
Past Present
Nick has gone on holidays. result He is not in the office.
connection with the
He has already met Sue. He likes her.
Present
He has just eaten something connection with the
He feels sick now.
bad. Present
He has lived in Spain for ten connection with the
He is still there.
days. Present
He has been in connection with the
He is still there.
Spain since Friday. Present
 Have you ever been to Italy? connection with the Do you know Italy?
Present No, I've never
been there

The present perfect tense:

This page will present the present perfect simple:

 its form
 and its use.

You may also be interested in the present perfect continuous

The form of the present perfect simple tense:

Have (in the simple present) + Verb (in the past participle form)

Positive Negative Interrogative

I have worked. I have not worked. Have you worked?

NOTE:

I have worked = I've worked I have not = I haven't worked

He has worked = He's worked He has not = He hasn’t worked

Examples:

 Have you finished the job?

 No, I haven't finished yet.
 Yes, I have already finished.
 She's just finished her job.

Remember:
1. The past participle of regular verbs is :

Rule Examples

Verb + ed play - played

visit - visited
finish -finished

2. The past participle of irregular verbs can't be predicted (there is no rule

.) But there is a list of irregular verbs that you have to learn by heart.
Here are some examples:

Infinitive Simple past Past participle

be was/were been
come came come
go went gone
do did done
meet met met

The uses of the present perfect simple tense:

1. To emphasize on the result of a past action without mentioning the

actual time when it happened:

Examples:

 I have met that girl before.

 We have discussed this issue a few times.

2. Action performed in a period that has not finished yet (the same day,
week, month, etc.):

Examples:

 Have you seen Lacy today? (The day is not over yet.)
 I have had several tests this month. (The month has not finished yet.)

3. Action that started in the past and has continued until now. Often used
with since (indicating the beginning of action) or for (indicating the
duration of action):

Examples:

 They have lived here for ten years.

 I have not seen her since we left high school.
 Clare and John have known each other since they were at primary school.
4. It is used to indicate completed activities in the immediate past (with
just).

Example:

 " He has just taken the medicine."

Present perfect vs past simple tense:

The use of past simple instead of present perfect requires clear reference
to a past period/moment:

Present perfect Simple past

I have met that girl before I met that girl at the beach last Saturday.

Have you seen Nancy recently? Did you see Nancy yesterday?

We have discussed this issue a few times. We discussed this issue last month.

I have had some tests this week. I had some tests last week.