Present Perfect
Present Perfect (Basics)
Reminder
You already know how to:
- talk about the present (present simple & present continuous)
- talk about the past (past simple)
The present perfect is not about when something happened, but about what experience or result matters now.
1. What Is the Present Perfect?
The present perfect is used to talk about:
- things that happened before now
- but are connected to the present
The exact time is not important or not mentioned.
Key idea:
Past action + present result or relevance
2. How Is the Present Perfect Formed?
Basic Structure
Subject + have / has + past participle
- have → I / you / we / they
- has → he / she / it
- “I have eaten lunch.”
- “She has finished her homework.”
- “They have visited Paris.”
3. What Is a Past Participle?
Regular Verbs
Regular verbs form the past participle by adding -ed.
Examples:
- work → worked
- clean → cleaned
- play → played
Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs have a different past participle form.
Examples:
- go → gone
- eat → eaten
- see → seen
- do → done
- make → made
4. When Do We Use the Present Perfect?
At A2 level, focus on three main uses.
4.1 Life Experience (Before Now)
Use the present perfect to talk about things you have experienced in your life.
The time is not mentioned.
Examples:
- “I have been to Italy.”
- “She has tried sushi.”
- “We have seen that movie.”
“Is this about experience, not time?”
→ Use present perfect.
4.2. Finished Action with a Result Now
Use the present perfect when a past action has a result or effect now.
Examples:
- “I have lost my keys.”
→ I can’t find them now. - “She has broken her phone.”
→ The phone is broken now. - “They have finished the test.”
→ The test is complete now.
4.3 Actions in an Unfinished Time Period
Use the present perfect when the time period is not finished. The action happened in the past, and the time period is still continuing.
Examples:
- “I have drunk three coffees today.”
- “She has worked a lot this week.”
- “We have met many people this year.”
5. Present Perfect vs Past Simple (Basic Comparison)
Present Perfect
- Time is not mentioned
- Focus is on experience or result
Example:
- “I have seen that movie.”
Past Simple
- Time is finished and mentioned
- Focus is on when it happened
Example:
- “I saw that movie last night.”
Compare:
- “I have been to London.”
→ Experience - “I went to London in 2022.”
→ Specific time
6. Negative Sentences (Present Perfect)
Structure
Subject + have / has + not + past participle
Examples:
- “I have not finished.” → I haven’t finished.
- “She has not eaten yet.” → She hasn’t eaten.
The verb does not change after have / has.
7. Questions (Present Perfect)
Yes / No Questions
Have / Has + subject + past participle?
Examples:
- “Have you been to Spain?”
- “Has she finished her work?”
- “Have they seen this film?”
Short Answers
- Yes → “Yes, I have.” / “Yes, she has.”
- No → “No, I haven’t.” / “No, she hasn’t.”
8. Common Time Words Used with Present Perfect
These words often appear with the present perfect:
- ever
- never
- already
- yet
- just
- today
- this week / this month / this year
Examples:
- “Have you ever tried Thai food?”
- “I have never flown in a plane.”
- “She has already finished.”
- “They haven’t arrived yet.”
- “I have just finished my homework.”
(These words do not give a finished time.)
9. Easy Way to Remember
Ask yourself:
- Is the time not important or not said?
- Is there a connection to now?
- Am I talking about experience or result?
Practice Exercises
Test your knowledge with interactive fill-in-the-blank exercises
Present perfect (basic uses: experience & unfinished time)
A2Ready to practice Present perfect (basic uses: experience & unfinished time)? Take these exercises to reinforce your understanding.
Related Vocabulary
Expand your vocabulary with words related to this grammar topic
Present perfect (basic uses: experience & unfinished time)
A2Past Participle Verbs
22 wordseaten
verb
To consume food.
I eat breakfast every morning.
seen
verb
To perceive with the eyes
I see the stars in the sky.
done
adjective
Completed or finished.
The project is done, and we can submit it now.
visited
taken
verb
To grab or receive something.
I will take the bus to school.
told
verb
To communicate information to someone.
She told me a secret.
asked
verb
To say something in order to get information or to request something.
She asked me about my weekend plans.
given
adjective
Specified or stated; known
The given time for the test is one hour.
read
noun
The act of interpreting written language.
Reading is essential for learning.
worked
played
verb
To engage in an activity for enjoyment or recreation.
I played soccer with my friends yesterday.
watched
studied
noun
The act of learning or examining a subject
I have a study session every Saturday.
traveled
verb
To go from one place to another, often over a distance.
I traveled to Paris last summer.
broken
adjective
Damaged and no longer able to function properly.
The chair is broken and cannot be used.
found
verb
To establish or set up something, such as an organization or institution.
They founded a new school in the community.
worn
adjective
Damaged or used through wear; not new.
He wore a worn jacket that had many holes.
gone
adjective
No longer present or available; having left or departed.
The cookies are all gone.
made
verb
To create or construct something.
I will make a cake for your birthday.
known
verb
To have information about something or to be certain about something.
I know the answer to the question.
felt
noun
A type of fabric made from fibers, often used for crafts.
I bought some felt to make a craft project.
come
verb
To move toward or approach a person or place.
Please come to my party this Saturday.