Rules And Usage Of The Present Perfect Tense With Examples

The present perfect tense is an important part of the English language. It helps you talk about actions or states that began in the past and are still relevant now. Learning this tense will help you communicate more effectively in various situations. It will improve your speaking and writing skills, whether you’re engaging in social, academic, or business contexts.

What is the present perfect tense?

When studying English grammar, you’ll encounter 12 tenses, and the present perfect tense is one of the most important.

The present perfect tense shows or tells that an action completed in the past has an impact or result in the present. In other words, it shows how something that happened in the past affects the present.

Just imagine how a bridge connects one side to the other. Similarly, the present perfect tense connects the past and present, linking these two time periods.

For Example;

“Mona has forgotten where she lives in the city“.

This sentence illustrates that Mona forgot where she lived at some point in the past and still doesn’t remember. The action happened in the past and it is still valid (true) in the present. That means the past action continues to influence the present situation.

Present Perfect Tense Structure | Present Perfect Tense Rule

Let’s look at the present perfect tense structures we use to make sentences.  

1. Present Perfect Affirmative Sentence Structure

Subject + have/has + Verb (past participle) + Object

Unlike the past simple tense, the present perfect tense uses the past participle form of the main verb. Normally, this isn’t an issue for regular verbs. Because the past participle form of regular verbs is the same as the past simple form. We add –ed to the end of the verb.

For example:

Work – worked – worked

Play – played – played

Cook – cooked – cooked

The irregular verbs, on the other hand, are the ones that can give you a hard time. This is because their past participle forms differ from the past simple and must be memorized.

For example:

Begin – began – begun

Come – Came – come

Do – did – done

These verbs don’t follow a consistent pattern, so you need to memorize their past participle forms. To use the present perfect tense accurately, you should review and familiarize yourself with these irregular verbs.

Affirmative Present Perfect Tense With Examples

Here are some examples of sentences in the affirmative present perfect tense. These examples will help you understand how to form sentences in this tense:

• I have worked in several companies.
• She has changed a lot.
• I have sent him an email about this matter.
• The petrol prices have risen again.
• The boss has called an urgent meeting.
• I have found your wallet under the table.
• We have received permission to access these files.

Contraction or Sort Form in Present Perfect Affirmative Sentences

I’ve worked in a few companies. (I have – I’ve)

She’s changed a lot. (She has – she’s)

• I have – I’ve
• You have – you’ve
• He has – he’s
• She has – she’s
• We have – we’ve
• They have – they’ve
• It has – it’s

2. Present Perfect Negative Sentence Structure

Subject + have/has + not + Verb (past participle) + Object

Examples of Present Perfect Tense Negative Sentences

• I have not worked in several companies.
• She has not changed a lot.
• I have not sent him an email about this matter.
• The petrol prices have not risen.
• The boss has not called an urgent meeting.
• I have not found your wallet under the table.
• We have not received permission to access these files.

Contraction or Sort Form in Present Perfect Negative Sentences

• Have not – Haven’t
• Has not – Hasn’t

Examples:

• I haven’t worked in a few companies.
• She hasn’t changed a lot.

3. Present Perfect Question Sentence Structure

Have/has + Subject + Verb (past participle) + Object?

Examples of present perfect tense question sentences

• Have I worked in a few companies?
• Has she changed a lot?
• Have I sent him an email about this matter?
• Have the petrol prices risen?
• Has the boss called an urgent meeting?
• Have I found your wallet under the table?
• Have we received permission to access these files?

Present Perfect Tense Usage

When is the present perfect tense used?

We can use the present perfect tense in various situations. Let’s explore them.

1. The connection between the past and the present –

The present perfect tense is used when there is a connection between the present and the past. Specifically, it is used for actions or situations that began in the past and continue into the present.

Examples of the present perfect tense

• We have been married for ten years.
• I have become a mother of a beautiful girl.
• She has been in this city for two years.
• They have lived here since March 2017.

2. Repetitive action in the past-

The present perfect tense describes activities that occurred multiple times in the past and continue into the present. For example: “I have watched many movies.” This means I watched movies in the past and I still watch them. It highlights an ongoing, repeated action that extends to the present.

Examples of the present perfect tense

• We have eaten in this restaurant for three years.
• He has dated many girls.
• Jenifer has never lied.
• I have played tennis since childhood.

3. To talk about life experience or accomplishment –

Another use of the present perfect tense is to discuss life experiences and achievements.

• I have graduated from XYZ University.
• She has never been to Canada.
• I have eaten sushi before coming to Japan.
• He has never served in the army.

4. Finished Actions or events –

The present perfect tense is also used to talk about a finished action (action completed recently).  

Present perfect tense examples for finished actions

• I have finished my homework.
• I have cooked dinner.
• I have eaten lunch.
• I have just sent the email.
• He has cleaned the bathroom.
• You have eaten enough.
• It has rained today.

5. Unfinished Actions or events –

When something started in the past and is still happening, or when an action began in the past, and has not yet been completed, the present perfect tense is used.

Present perfect tense examples for unfinished actions

• I have worked here for seven years.  (I started to work here seven years ago, and still work here.)
• I have lived here since June 1999. (I started to live here in June 1999 and still live here.)

Common Words and Expressions with the Present Perfect Tense

To understand when to use the present perfect tense, it’s helpful to look at some common words and expressions that frequently accompany it:

• Already: Indicates that something has happened before now.
  Example: “She has already finished her homework.”
• Just: Used to describe an action that was completed recently.
  Example: “I have just eaten lunch.”
• For: Shows the duration of an activity or state from the past up to the present.
  Example: “They have lived here for five years.”
• Since: Specifies the starting point of an action or state that continues to the present.
  Example: “He has worked here since 2010.”
• Yet: Typically used in negative sentences and questions to indicate that something has not happened up to now, or to ask if it has happened.
  Example: “Have you finished the report yet?”
• Ever: Refers to any time up to now, often used in questions and affirmative sentences to talk about life experiences.
  Example: “Have you ever been to Paris?”
• Never: Used to indicate that something has not happened at any time up to now.
  Example: “She has never traveled abroad.”
• How long: Asks about the duration of an activity or state that started in the past and continues to the present.
  Example: “How long have you known each other?”

These words and expressions help to clarify the time frame and relevance of the action or state being described with the present perfect tense.

Present Perfect Tense FAQs