Present Perfect Simple
When do we use the Present Perfect Simple?
The Present Perfect Simple is a combination of past and present. It is used for actions in the past that have something connection with the present.
1. Result of an action in the past that is important to the present (It is not important when this action happened so we do not use a specific time in the past – e.g. yesterday – if we do then we must use the Past Simple.)
I have finished my homework.
(It is all completed now. It is not important when.)
Have you ever been to America?
(Has you been there or not in your life? it is not important when )
2. Recently completed actions with a connection to now
He has just run a marathon.
(It is over but he is all hot and out of breath. So there is a connection to a finished past action and now.)
I have just painted the room.
(the job is finished but it is news to the listener)
3. State beginning in the past and still continuing – mostly with since (point of time) or for (period of time)
We have lived in London since 2010.
(We still live there.)
4. together with lately, recently, yet
I have been to Berlin recently.
(no specific point of time)
He has not phoned me yet.
(He has not done it.)
5. Signal words
- already
- for
- ever
- just
- lately
- never
- recently
- since
- so far
- until now/till now
- up to now
- (not) yet
6. Form
have/has + past participle *
7. Examples
7.1. Affirmative sentences in the Present Perfect – regular verbs
Long forms | Contracted forms |
---|---|
I have finished my homework. | I‘ve finished my homework. |
You have finished your homework. | You‘ve finished your homework. |
He has finished his homework. | He‘s finished his homework. |
7.2. Affirmative sentences in the Present Perfect – irregular verbs
Long forms | Contracted forms |
---|---|
I have done my homework. | I‘ve done my homework. |
You have done my homework. | You‘ve done my homework. |
He has done my homework. | He‘s done my homework. |
7.3. Negative sentences in the Present Perfect – regular verbs
Long forms | Contracted forms |
---|---|
I have not finished my homework. | I‘ve not finished my homework. |
I haven’t finished my homework. | |
You have not finished your homework. | You‘ve not finished your homework. |
You haven’t finished your homework. | |
He has not finished his homework. | He‘s not finished his homework. |
He hasn’t finished his homework. |
7.4. Negative sentences in the Present Perfect – irregular verbs
Long forms | Contracted forms |
---|---|
I have not done my homework. | I‘ve not done my homework. |
I haven’t done my homework. | |
You have not done your homework. | You‘ve not done your homework. |
You haven’t done your homework. | |
He has not done his homework. | He‘s not done your homework. |
He hasn’t done your homework. |
* past participle:
- regular verbs → infinitive + -ed
- irregular verbs → 3rd column of the table of the irregular verbs
Explanations
- Present Perfect Simple – Overview
- Diagram of the Present Perfect Simple
- Form of the Present Perfect Simple
- Be Do & Have in the Present Perfect Simple
- Questions in the Present Perfect Simple
- Signal Words for the Present Perfect Simple
- Short Forms and Long Forms in the Present Perfect Simple
- Spelling of Verbs in the Present Perfect Simple