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Grammar in use

Present Vs Past	Definition	Rules
Exercises	Videos	Test

DEFINITION OF THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

The present perfect is used to indicate a link between the present and the past. The time of the action is before now but not specified, and we are often more interested in the result than in the action itself.

BE CAREFUL! There may be a verb tense in your language with a similar form, but the meaning is probably NOT the same.

THE PRESENT PERFECT IS USED TO DESCRIBE

• An action or situation that started in the past and continues in the present. I have lived in Bristol since 1984 (= and I still do.)
• An action performed during a period that has not yet finished. She has been to the cinema twice this week (= and the week isn't over yet.)
• A repeated action in an unspecified period between the past and now. We have visited Portugal several times.
• An action that was completed in the very recent past, expressed by 'just'. I have just finished my work.
• An action when the time is not important. He has read 'War and Peace'. (= the result of his reading is important)

Note: When we want to give or ask details about when, where, who, we use the simple past. Read more about choosing between the present perfect and the simple past tenses.

ACTIONS STARTED IN THE PAST AND CONTINUING IN THE PRESENT

• They haven't lived here for years.
• She has worked in the bank for five years.
• We have had the same car for ten years.
• Have you played the piano since you were a child?

WHEN THE TIME PERIOD REFERRED TO HAS NOT FINISHED

• I have worked hard this week.
• It has rained a lot this year.
• We haven't seen her today.

ACTIONS REPEATED IN AN UNSPECIFIED PERIOD BETWEEN THE PAST AND NOW.

• They have seen that film six times
• It has happened several times already.
• She has visited them frequently.
• We have eaten at that restaurant many times.

ACTIONS COMPLETED IN THE VERY RECENT PAST (+JUST)

• Have you just finished work?
• I have just eaten.
• We have just seen her.
• Has he just left?

WHEN THE PRECISE TIME OF THE ACTION IS NOT IMPORTANT OR NOT KNOWN

• Someone has eaten my soup!
• Have you seen 'Gone with the Wind'?
• She's studied Japanese, Russian, and English.

source: https://www.ef.com/wwen/english-resources/english-grammar/present-perfect/

PRESENT PERFECT + EVER, NEVER, ALREADY, YET

EVER

The adverbs ever and never express the idea of an unidentified time before now(Have you ever visited Berlin?)'Ever' and 'never' are always placed before the main verb (past participle). Ever is used:

IN QUESTIONS

EXAMPLES

Have you ever been to England?
Has she ever met the Prime Minister?

IN NEGATIVE QUESTIONS

EXAMPLES

Haven't they ever been to Europe?
Haven't you ever eaten Chinese food?

IN NEGATIVE STATEMENTS USING THE PATTERN NOTHING+EVER OR NOBODY+EVER

EXAMPLES

Nobody has ever said that to me before.
Nothing like this has ever happened to us.

WITH 'THE FIRST TIME'

EXAMPLES

It's the first time that I've ever eaten snails.
This is the first time I've ever been to England.

NEVER

Never means at no time before now, and is the same as not ..... ever: (I have never visited Berlin)

BE CAREFUL!You must not use never and not together

I haven't never been to Italy.
I have never been to Italy.

ALREADY

Already refers to an action that has happened at an unspecified time before now. It suggests that there is no need for repetition.

EXAMPLES

I've already drunk three coffees this morning. (= and you're offering me another one!)
Don't write to John, I've already done it.

It is also used in questions:

Have you already written to John?
Has she finished her homework already?

Already can be placed before the main verb (past participle) or at the end of the sentence:

I have already been to Tokyo.
I have been to Tokyo already.

YET

Yet is used in negative statements and questions, to mean (not) in the period of time between before now and now, (not) up to and including the present.Yet is usually placed at the end of the sentence.

EXAMPLES

Have you met Judy yet?
I haven't visited the Tate Gallery yet
Has he arrived yet?
They haven't eaten yet

source: https://www.ef.com/english-resources/english-grammar/present-perfect-ever-never-already-yet/

How to use the 'Present Perfect'

Grammar

'I have been to Costa Rica.'

·         Noun+Have/has + past participle makes the present perfect.

Examples:

She has lost her bag.

They have taken a taxi

I have been to Australia

·         The present perfect tense is used to describe something that happened in the past, but the exact time it happened is not important. It has a relationship with the present.

I have done my homework = I finished my homework in the past. It is not important at what exact time, only that it is now done.

I have forgotten my bag = exactly when in the past that I forgot it is not important. The important thing is that I don't have it now.

·         As we do not use exact time expressions with the past perfect, we cannot say:

I have done my homework yesterday

In this case we use the past simple tense:

I did my homework yesterday.

Using already just and yet with the present perfect

Already, just and yet can are all used with the present perfect.

Already means 'something has happened sooner than we expected:

Example:

'The movie only came out yesterday, but I have already seen it.'

Just means 'a short time ago':

Example:

'I have just seen your brother going into the bank with a gun!'

Yet is only used in questions and negative sentences. It means 'something is expected to happen':

Example:

'Have you finished the report yet?'

No, I haven't finished it yet.'

• PRESENT VS PAST
  
• DEFINITION
  
• RULES
  
• LIST OF VERBS
  
• EXERCISES
  
• UNIT TESTS
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• VIDEOS