Present Perfect Tense, Tenses

Waseem Jamali says: Next/Pre

Present Perfect Tense
I have sung

The present perfect tense is a rather important tense in English, but it gives speakers of some languages a difficult time. That is because it uses concepts or ideas that do not exist in those languages. In fact, the structure of the present perfect tense is very simple. The problems come with the use of the tense. In addition, there are some differences in usage between British and American English.

In this lesson we look at the structure and use of the present perfect, followed by a quiz to check your understanding:


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Waseem Jamali says: Next/Pre

A2 Grade
Posts: 4353

How do we make the Present Perfect Tense?

The structure of the present perfect tense is:
subject + auxiliary verb + main verb
have past participle

Here are some examples of the present perfect tense:

Contractions with the present perfect tense

When we use the present perfect tense in speaking, we usually contract the subject and auxiliary verb. We also sometimes do this when we write.

He's or he's??? Be careful! The 's contraction is used for the auxiliary verbs have and be. For example, "It's eaten" can mean:

* It has eaten. [present perfect tense, active voice]
* It is eaten. [present tense, passive voice]

It is usually clear from the context.

Here are some examples:

* I've finished my work.
* John's seen ET.
* They've gone home.


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Waseem Jamali says: Next/Pre

A2 Grade
Posts: 4353

How do we use the Present Perfect Tense?

This tense is called the present perfect tense. There is always a connection with the past and with the present. There are basically three uses for the present perfect tense:

1. experience
2. change
3. continuing situation

1. Present perfect tense for experience

We often use the present perfect tense to talk about experience from the past. We are not interested in when you did something. We only want to know if you did it:


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Waseem Jamali says: Next/Pre

A2 Grade
Posts: 4353

Connection with past: the event was in the past.
Connection with present: in my head, now, I have a memory of the event; I know something about the event; I have experience of it.
2. Present perfect tense for change

We also use the present perfect tense to talk about a change or new information:


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Waseem Jamali says: Next/Pre

A2 Grade
Posts: 4353


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