Present Perfect Tense
The present perfect tense describes an action that began in the past (despite being a present tense). For example:
- John has taken Sarah's advice.
- They have fixed the fence.
Often, the action being described is still continuing into the present (e.g., John continues to take Sarah's advice). This is how the present perfect tense differs from the simple past tense.
More Examples of the Present Perfect Tense
Here are some more examples of the present perfect tense:
- The board has decided to uphold the appeal. (This sentence carries the connotation that the board continues to uphold the appeal.)
- I have taken the wrong path. (Connotation: I am still on the wrong path.)
Comparing the Present Perfect Tense and the Simple Past Tense
Here is another example of the present perfect tense (highlighted). For comparison, the example is given alongside similar-looking example featuring the simple past tense.
- Janet has run two miles. (This is the present perfect tense. In this example, Janet is still running when the words were said.)
- Janet ran two miles. (This is the simple past tense. In this example, Janet has stopped running when the words were said.)
Here is another example:
- David has worked alongside two of the world's finest scientists in the field of entomology. (This is the present perfect tense. In this example, David might have finished working with those scientists, but the sentence carries the connotation that he is still working as an entomologist.)
- David worked alongside two of the world's finest scientists in the field of entomology. (This is the simple past tense. This example carries the connotation that David no longer works as an entomologist.)
Forming the Present Perfect Tense
The present perfect tense is formed:
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- I have worked.
- She has painted.
Forming the Past Participle (Regular Verbs)
If it's a regular verb, the past participle is the same as the simple past tense. In other words, it is formed like this:
Add "ed" to most verbs:
- jump > jumped
- paint > painted
If a verb of one syllable ends [consonant-vowel-consonant], double the final consonant and add "ed":
- chat > chatted
- stop > stopped
If the final consonant is "w," "x," or "y," don't double it:
- sew > sewed
- play > played
- fix > fixed
If last syllable of a longer verb is stressed and ends [consonant-vowel-consonant], double the last consonant and add "ed":
- incur > incurred
- prefer > preferred
If the first syllable of a longer verb is stressed and the verb ends [consonant-vowel-consonant], just add "ed":
- open > opened
- enter > entered
- swallow > swallowed
If the verb ends "e," just add "d":
- thrive > thrived
- guzzle > guzzled
If the verb ends [consonant + "y"], change the "y" to an "i" and add "ed":
- cry > cried
- fry > fried
Forming the Past Participle (Irregular Verbs)
If it's an irregular verb, the past participle is formed in all sorts of different ways. Here are some examples:
- arise > arisen
- catch > caught
- choose > chosen
- know > known
You just have to learn them.
Read more about irregular verbs (includes a list of the most common irregular verbs).
The Negative Version
If you need the negative version, you can use the following construction:
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- The board has not decided to uphold the appeal.
- I have not taken the wrong path.
Remember that "has not" is sometimes written as the contraction "hasn't."
The Question Version
If you need to ask a question, you can use the following word order for a yes/no question:
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- Has the board decided to uphold the appeal?
- Have I taken the wrong path?
You can use the following word order for a question-word question:
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- Why has the board decided to uphold the appeal?
- How have I taken the wrong path?
Exercises – Present Perfect Simple
Fill in the correct form of the present perfect simple as in the examples.
- Dan has worked in that company for 12 years. (work)
- Have you heard the news? (hear)
- The boys have never eaten sushi. (eat)
- Daniel ____ that video clip at least twenty times. (see)
- The workers _______ a break in 4 hours. (not have)
- We ___________ them regularly over the last few years. (visit)
- _______ Ella _______ her driving test yet? (pass)
- Roger _______ to Mexico several times since 2002.(be)
- They______ to each other in ages, _______ they? (not speak)
- Why _______ Mathew _______his job? (quit)
- ______the nurses ______ on strike again? (go)
- ________ they ______ the post yet? (not deliver)
- I _____ already_______ you the answer. (tell)
Answers:
- has seen
- haven’t had
- have visited
- Has/passed
- has been
- haven’t spoken/have
- has/quit
- Have/gone
- Haven’t/delivered
- have/ told
