The present perfect tense is the rule in English. Present perfect examples of construction and application of grammatical constructions

Present Perfect (Present Perfect) - a special time in the English language. It has no analogues in Russian. Therefore, not complex rules, but simple examples of sentences will help to understand its construction and understand cases of use.

General information

Present Perfect tense or Present Perfect tense is one of the 12 English temporary forms in English and belongs to the present group. It describes an action that took place up to a certain point in the past, but has a direct connection with the present. In other words, he has a special mission - to report the present result of an action that happened in the past. Not to be confused with time Past Simple (Simple Past), which is designed to describe events that occurred at a specific time in the past.

Present Perfect is translated into Russian as a verb in the past tense. It is this nuance that causes various kinds of doubts and difficulties for language learners. Numerous examples of Present Perfect Simple sentences with translation will help to deal with it.

Affirmative Examples Present Perfect tense

These examples allow you to understand the formation of the affirmative form of the Present Perfect: have/has + main verb in 3rd form . The auxiliary verb has is used after he (he), she (she), it (it) . In all other cases - have . The second part of the construction can be expressed by a regular verb with the ending -ed (received) or the form from the 3rd column of the table of irregular verbs (known).

Such "time markers" as already (already), just (just), lately (recently), for ages (many years), before (earlier), by now (by this time) are clear signs of Present Perfect time . As soon as they appear on the horizon, you can safely use this temporary form.

Negation

These examples of negative sentences in the Present Perfect show the position of the negative particle not (not) : she stands between have/has and the main verb in the 3rd degree. In addition, in negation, the time indicator is most often used. yet (more) , which is at the end of the sentence. pay attention to never (never) : it is used in affirmative sentences, but with a negative meaning, since double negation is not possible in English. And its synonym ever can be used in negative and interrogative sentences with the meaning "never", and in affirmative sentences with the meaning "ever".

Question

One of the most difficult English tenses to understand is Present perfect tense(present perfect tense). For almost every person who learns English, it causes difficulties.

Very often this time is confused with the simple past (past simple). After all, sentences in these tenses are translated similarly, and sometimes even the same way.

In this article, I will talk in detail about the Present Perfect: when it is used, how it is formed and how it differs from the past simple.

From the article you will learn:

• Rules for using Present Perfect in English
• Formation of negation in time Present Perfect in English
• Formation of questions in time Present Perfect in English

The difference between Present Perfect and Past Simple tenses

To make it easier for you to understand when to use the Present Perfect tense, we will compare it with the Past Simple tense, with which it is often confused.

Past Simple Tense

Past Simple is translated as "past simple" tense.
When we use:We use it when we talk about events that happened in the past.
What we show: The very fact of an action that once happened.

For example:

I lost my keys.
I was losing your keys.

You lost your keys sometime in the past and now talk about it as a fact that once happened to you. For example, at lunch you told a friend that you lost your keys last week.

Present perfect tense

Present Perfect is translated as "present perfect (completed)" tense.
When we use: We use the Present Perfect when we talk about an action that happened in the past, but it matters now.
What we show: The result of an action done in the past.

Let's look at an example:

I have lost my keys.
I lost your keys.

For example, you call your wife and ask her when she will come home from work so that she can open an apartment. She asks you why you don't do it yourself. And here you answer that you have lost the keys (this has already happened) and therefore you cannot enter the apartment (the result of the fact that you have lost the keys).

We are seeing the result of this action right now. : I am now without keys and cannot get into the apartment.

How to distinguish the present perfect from the past simple

Look at the following pictures:

For example, you cooked dinner yesterday. And now you are saying it as a fact. This action has nothing to do with the present moment.

For example, you invite your family to dinner. You say you have cooked dinner (past action). But you are focusing on the result - now you have dinner ready.

Look at the comparison table Past Simple and Present Perfect:

Let's look at another example.

past simple:

I ate.
I'm eating.

For example, to the question: “Did you eat yesterday?”, I say yes, I ate. It is simply a fact of the action itself in the past: I ate yesterday, but during this time I have already managed to get hungry and now I can still eat.

Present Perfect:

I have eaten.
I ate.

I want to say with this sentence that I ate and, as a result, now I am full. It's important to me this moment because now I don't want to eat anymore.

Now let's take a closer look at the use cases of Present Perfect Tense.

Rules for using Present Perfect in English

Let's see in which cases we use the completed tense:

1. The end / result of the action is visible right now

This means that the action you are talking about has just ended. And the result of this action is visible right now.

For example:

I cleaned the room (just finished cleaning, still clean).

She cooked dinner (right now you see the finished dinner).

2. We care about the result, not the time when something was done

We only care about the result - what we have done. The time it was done is irrelevant.

For example:

She did her homework (she has a notebook with homework ready at the moment (result), we don't care when exactly she did it).

He prepared a presentation (right now the presentation is ready, when he prepared it is not important for us).

3. Talk about your life experiences

That is, you are talking about what has or has not happened to you by now. In this case, the words are often used: ever, never, several (one, two, three, etc.) times.

For example:

He has never skydived (he has not jumped by now).

She has been to New York twice (so far, this is her life experience).

4. Talking about an unfinished period of time

That is, the time period you are talking about (week, month, year) has not ended, and you have the opportunity to do the action a certain number of times.

For example:

I fed the cat twice today (the day is not over yet and you can feed her again).

He has skated three times this winter (winter is not over yet and he can skate more).

Rules for the formation of time Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense is formed with have/has and the past form of the verb.

There are regular and irregular verbs in English. Depending on the verb, this form is formed as follows:

• if the verb is correct, then we add the ending -ed to it: cook - cooked, finish - finished.
• if the verb is irregular, then we put it in the 3rd form: do - done, eat - eaten.

There is no rule by which one can determine the correct or irregular verb before us. The only way to find out is by looking it up in a dictionary or memorizing it. The same is true for forms of irregular verbs. They must be memorized or looked up in a dictionary.

Now let's look at the scheme of such a proposal:

Actor + has/have + regular verb ending in ed or 3rd form of an irregular verb

When we talk about someone in the singular (he - he, she - she, it - it), we use has. In all other cases - have.

They have bought a new flat.
They bought a new apartment.

She has broken her arm.
She broke her arm.

Abbreviations

We can abbreviate has and have in sentences. It will look like this:

has='s
have= ‘ve

The rule for adding the ending -ed

When we add the -ed ending to a verb, there are a few things to keep in mind.

1. If the verb ends in -e, then the verb is added only -d

change e- chang ed- change
clos e-clos ed- close

2. If the verb ends into a consonant, in front of which stressed vowel, then the consonant is doubled

sto p- sto pped- stop
ba n-ba nned- forbid

Exceptions: verbs ending in -x and -w:

fi x- fi xed- fix
flo w- flo wed- flow

Note: in British English when the verb ends in -l, it is doubled no matter where the accent falls

travel l- travel lled- travel

American version:

travel l- travel led- travel

3. If the verb ends in -y and preceded by a consonant, y changes to i + ed

cr y-cr ied- cry
tr y-tr ied- try

Important: if -u is preceded by a vowel, then the ending -ed is added without change letters

sta y-sta yes- stay
pla y-pla yes- play

Time Pointers Present Perfect Tense

In English, there are words that are very often used in the present perfect tense. Here are the main ones:

• never - never
• just - just now
• yet - not yet / already
• already - already
• lately / of late - lately
• recently - recently
• ever - ever
• this week/month/year - this week/this month/this year

They have moved recently.
They have recently moved.

She has just finished.
She just finished.

But we never use the following words in Present Perfect time:

• yesterday - yesterday
• last week/year/month - on (in) the last week/year/month

Why are they not used?

After all, these words focus on when we performed the action, and not on the news/result of the action itself. We use them in Past Simple.

Formation of negation in time Present Perfect

A negative sentence is constructed in the same way as an affirmative one. Only after the auxiliary verb have/has do we put the negative particle not.

The scheme of such a proposal would be as follows:

Actor + has/have + not + regular verb ending in ed or 3rd form of an irregular verb

We have not done my homework.
We haven't done our homework.

She has not cooked dinner yet.
She hasn't cooked dinner yet.

Reduction

We can abbreviate have/has and not as follows:

have + not = haven't
has + not = hasn't

Formation of questions in time Present Perfect

To ask a question in this tense, we need to put have/has first in the sentence. Let's look at the diagram:

Have/has + character + regular ed verb or 3rd form of an irregular verb?

have they finished?
Are they finished?

Has he met his friend?
Did he meet his friend?

The answer to the question can be positive or negative.

Also we can give:

• short answer
• full answer

Short positive answer contains the word yes, the protagonist and the auxiliary verb:

have did they do it? Yes, they have.
They did it? Yes.

Has he read it? Yes, he has.
Did he read it? Yes.

Short no answer starts with no, and we add not to the auxiliary verb.

have did they do it? No, they have not.
They did it? No.

Has he read it? No, he has not.
Did she read it? No.

Full positive response looks like an affirmative sentence, only at the very beginning we put yes.

have they wrote a letter? Yes, they have written a letter.
Did they write a letter? Yes, they wrote a letter.

Has did she buy the dress? Yes, she has bought the dress.
Did she buy this dress? Yes, she bought this dress.

Full negative answer looks like a negative sentence, only at the very beginning we put no.

have they wrote a letter? No, they haven't written a letter.
Did they write a letter? No, they didn't write a letter.

Has did she buy the dress? No, she hasnt bought the dress.
Did she buy this dress? No, she didn't buy this dress.

So, we got acquainted with the time of Present Perfect. If you have any questions, ask them in the comments below the article. And now, to consolidate the theoretical part, let's move on to the practical task.

Reinforcement task

Translate the following sentences into English. Leave your answers in the comments.

1. He bought a car.
2. She finished her work.
3. They haven't cleaned the room yet.
4. Have you read these books?
5. He has not started yet.
6. We fixed the car.
7. They went to the cinema yesterday.

How do you like this phrase: "No one is perfect, that's why pencils have erasers." - "No one is perfect, that's why pencils have erasers"? However, "Perfect" still exists, and this is "Present" (real). What is the Present Perfect?

To begin with, it is worth noting that the equivalent of this tense or the Present Complete in Russian simply does not exist - this is the whole difficulty of understanding. But hold on! We're here to sort things out. Let's go!

Education Rules Present Perfect

Let's look at an example:

I have seen this film before.

In the first place we subject(subject or subject), then auxiliary verb(auxiliary) - have or has + Past Participle = seen.

Using Present Perfect

• When we talk about experience and achievements ( experience & achievements):

I have jumped with a parachute!- I jumped with a parachute!
I've just graduated from University and got a diploma!- I just graduated from university and got my diploma!
She has started to walk!- She started walking!

• To show some changes:

You've lost weight!- You've lost weight!

• When the action happened in the past, but we do not know when exactly, or the time does not matter. The main thing is not when the action happened, but its result in the present:

Have you read this book?- Did you read this book? (Although someday?)
Nick has traveled a lot. - Nick traveled a lot.

• In proposals from Stative/State verbs when an action started in the past, continues in the present, and may continue in the future. The following words can be used in these sentences: since(since) and for(during):

I've known him for ten years.- I have known him for 10 years (I knew him in the past, I know now, and maybe I will know him in the future).
I haven't felt well since Monday.- I don't feel well since Monday.

• When the time of the action is determined by words just(just now), already(already), yet(more). Exact connection with the present:

I've just seen an interesting movie.- I just watched an interesting film.
She has already left.- She's already gone.
The show has not started yet.- The show hasn't started yet.

• When an action took place during a period that has not yet ended. These periods include: today(today), this morning(this morning), this week(this week), this month(this month), this year(this year), etc.:

She has called her best friend this morning.- She called her best friend in the morning (the morning is not over yet).
I have never been to China.“I have never been to China. (I have never been to China in my entire life.)

• Description of recent events. Usually in such cases the words recently(recently), lately(lately, recently):

We have come back recently.- We just got back.
You've worked hard lately.- You've been working hard lately.

• When the action occurs for the first (second, third, etc.) time:

It's the first time I have done it.- I did it for the first time.
It's the second time I have driven a car.- I drove the car for the second time.
It's the third time she has called him this morning. She called him this morning for the third time.

Features of using been and gone in Present Perfect: examples

« Been" and " gone» are past participles (the third form of the verb), gone is the past participle form of the verb go, and been- past participle form of the verb be. Everything seems to be clear, but when translating into Russian or from Russian, students have a lot of problems. Let's look at examples:

Is Ann in the office? No, she has just been to Great Britain. And she is at home today relaxing. She'll be here tomorrow.

Is Ann in the office? No, she has just gone to China. She is spending there one month supervising the work of our subsidiary and is coming back on the 25th.

As you can see from the context in the first case, Anna was in the UK but has already returned. Her journey has just ended.

In the second case, on the contrary, her journey has just begun, she has left and will be in China for another month.

It follows that Present Perfect with " been" means back and forth action, and Present Perfect with " gone" means action only there.

Conclusion

After all of the above, the question arises: “Why then Past Simple if there is a Present Perfect?

There is a huge difference between Past Simple and Present Perfect. Past simple happened in the past . We know when, and the time is over. So it does not include the real. Yesterday, last year, two minutes ago. All this is already finished time.

What if time unfinished? Today, this week, for these ten years (all these periods of time include the moment "now"), then we use Present Perfect. Let's compare:

I've fed a tiger today. I fed ten tigers yesterday.
She went to Europe last summer. I've never been to Europe in my life.
We've had many customers this week. We didn't have so many customers last week.

I lived here for ten years. I've lived here for ten years.

In which case I'm still here live? Of course, I've lived here for ten years, because it means that the action started in the past and still going on. I lived here for ten years means I lived a long time ago, but have already moved. Here you are walking past the house where you once lived a long time ago, and you say: I lived here for ten years a long time ago.

We hope that now you have no doubts left! Have a great English and evolve!

We offer you to get acquainted with other tenses of the English language

Big and friendly family EnglishDom

There are 26 tenses in the grammatical system of the English language. This is often the reason for the appearance of difficulties in the process of studying it. After all, it is quite difficult for a Russian person, in whose native language there are only 3 tenses, to catch the difference in the use of these categories.

The greatest difficulty for students studying English is Present Perfect - the present perfect tense.

This difficult English. Present Perfect

The present perfect tense denotes an action that took place in the past, but its result is related to the present:

I have done my homework. I can go for a walk. - I did my homework. I can go for a walk (homework is done, and as a result of this - the opportunity to go for a walk).

I have lost my key. I can't enter my flat. - I lost my keys. I cannot enter the house.

Method of formation Present Perfect

My mum has just made a cake. My mother has just made a pie.

Ann has already washed up. - When I arrived, Anya had already washed all the dishes.

We had dinner today. - We've had lunch today.

In colloquial speech, instead of the full form, you can use the abbreviations ‘ve, ‘s:

I've arrived in Moscow today. - Today I arrived in Moscow.

He's lost his key. - He lost his keys.

To form negative forms, the particle not is attached to the auxiliary verb:

He hasnt prepared for English exam. He didn't prepare for the English exam.

They haven't come home yet. - They haven't come home yet.

Interrogative present perfect tense

To build a general type of questions in the Present Perfect tense category, has / have auxiliary verbs are placed at the beginning of the sentence:

Have you ever been in Greece? - Have you ever been to Greece?

Has she graduated from the University this year? - She graduated from university this year?

To create a special type of question, the following word order is used:

1) question word;

3) subject;

4) adverb of time (if any), predicate, etc.

What has she just cooked? What did she just cook?

Where did you walk this evening? - Where did you walk tonight?

Correct or not?

As mentioned earlier, this tense category is created using a special form of the semantic verb. In English, regular verbs are distinguished, which form the simple past and present perfect by adding the ending -ed, and irregular verbs. Present Perfect is the time in which their use is necessary.

But, unfortunately, this part of speech causes many difficulties for students. form temporary forms according to a special algorithm that defies any rules. In fact, they cannot be called exceptions, since there are more than a hundred of them in the English language.

An example of an irregular verb: go-went-gone (to go). The first word is an infinitive verb, the second is used to indicate the past tense (it is also called participle 2), and the third is used to express an action in the present perfect tense. This one does not have a specific way of forming the first or second participle form. The only way out of this situation is cramming. There is nothing to worry about, because basically all these verbs are "by ear", they are quickly remembered and firmly embedded in speech.

Faithful companions

As accompanying adverbs of this time are used:

• Already - already:

I have already passed my exam. - I have already passed the exam.

• Just - just now:

You have just won the prize! - You just won the grand prize!

• Ever - ever:

Have you ever been to Milan? - Have you ever been to Milan? (this is how the verb "be" present perfect is expressed)

• Before - before, earlier:

I have never met him before. - I've never met him before.

• Yet - yet, still, still:

I haven't been tired yet. - I'm not tired yet.

As can be seen from the examples, accompanying adverbs are placed after the auxiliary verb. The exception is the word "yet".

Of course, the accompanying adverbs will not be used in every case of the present perfect tense. But the presence of these words serves as a certain clue to the recognition of a new temporal category.

Use cases

As mentioned earlier, this time is used to indicate the effectiveness of an action committed in the past. In addition, the Present Perfect time is necessary in the following cases:

1. When talking about an action without specifying the time of its completion:

He has done all his work. - He did all his work.

2. When the action has ended, but the time period in which it was carried out has not yet ended.

Compare:

I had breakfast this morning. - I had breakfast this morning. (The morning is not yet over).

I had breakfast this morning. - I had breakfast this morning (it is evening now, the action is in the past).

3. The present perfect tense can be used to refer to previous actions, for example:

I have taken on my coat before I went out. - I put on my coat before leaving the house.

Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous

To refer to actions that began in the past and continue in the present, the Present Perfect is used. Offers:

I have lived there since 2000. - I have lived here since 2000.

She has worked here as a secretary for 5 years. She has been working here as a secretary for 5 years.

In this case, the present perfect tense is very closely related to another temporary category - Present Perfect Continuous. It is also necessary to indicate actions lasting from some point in the past to the present. A person, using a given tense in speech, wants to show the process of the action, its duration.

I have been flying in the plane for 3 hours. - I have been flying on an airplane for 3 hours (the process itself is indicated).

What is the difference between the simple and the real complete?

The main difficulty in mastering this tense is that a Russian-speaking student often cannot catch the difference between the past tense and the present perfect. So that the choice between these tenses does not become a real dilemma and an endless obstacle to acquiring language skills, it is necessary to highlight specific cases of their use.

1. Present Perfect denotes a result, while Past simple indicates the completion of an action in the past that has nothing to do with the present.

Compare:

I visited a museum a week ago. - I went to the museum a week ago.

I have just visited this museum! The exhibition is really worth seeing. - I just visited the museum. The exhibition is really worth seeing.

If in the first case the action ended in the past and the sentence only states the fact of visiting the museum, then in the second case a direct connection with the present is shown - there is a result, that is, the person got pleasure from contemplating the pictures. In addition, in the first example, a specific indication of time is given - a week ago, which is the main sign of the simple past tense.

2. If the question begins with the word when, then in this case, instead of the present perfect tense, the simple past will be used.

Compare:

Have you ever seen this girl? - Have you ever seen this girl (at all)?

When did you see this girl? - When did you see this girl (a specific period of time in the past is recognized)?

Do you need time band Perfect in colloquial speech

Often, memorizing huge tables with tenses, irregular verbs and other intricacies of the English language, many do not understand the meaning of such language bells and whistles, hearing the everyday uncomplicated speech of a foreigner. Indeed, the inhabitants of some countries have simplified English beyond recognition, forgotten many temporary forms and other grammatical phenomena. Therefore, the question arises: is it worth suffering and delving into all this if it is not useful?

Worth it, because it will definitely come in handy. After all, English is not only communication with a foreigner via Skype in a "broken" language. It:

• foreign periodicals;
• literary masterpieces of world famous authors - Dickens, Thackeray, Hardy;
• the opportunity to work in serious foreign companies, enter prestigious universities, engage in tutoring, etc.

Thus, the study of the grammatical features of the English language is simply necessary. After all, lexical units, like beads, are strung on the connecting threads of grammar.

Present Perfect is a complex phenomenon, but understandable for a diligent student. In order for it to be firmly assimilated in the mind, it is necessary to perform appropriate exercises to develop grammatical skills, read as much classical literature in a foreign language as possible - after all, where else can you find an abundance of language forms? Actively use new grammatical material in speech, if possible.

Perfect - here it means "complete, finished."

The present perfect tense in English connects the past with the present and is one of the most commonly used. You can use this tense to emphasize the result of a past action, especially when the exact timing of the action is not important. The present perfect tense is formed using the Auxiliary verb (auxiliary verb) to have and Past Participle of main verb (past participle of the semantic verb). And also in this article, you will learn about the conjugation of regular and irregular verbs in the Present Perfect and master the use of this tricky English tense.

After reviewing the rules and examples with Present Perfect tense (Present Perfect Simple), you can easily do the exercises, thereby testing your grammatical skills.
In Russian it is pronounced [Present Perfect], in English it will be Present Perfect -.

A short text that will introduce you to Present Perfect Tense will show you how verbs are used in this tense.

Recently, it has rained. In the last week, it has rained four times.
I have always loved the rain. I have walked in the rain many times.
my friend has just called me. He asked me to help him with the project. And for that, he will invite me to dinner. It's a good idea because I have never tasted Chinese food.
I' ve just taken a shower and ready for bed.

Now consider the cases of using the Present Perfect

Cases of using the Present Perfect may seem complicated to you, because in Russian there is no such thing as the present perfect tense, since the action cannot end in the present. By looking at example sentences with the Present Perfect, you will understand when this tense is used.

1. Recently performed actions, without mentioning the exact time

example:

— He has tidied up the kitchen - He tidied up the kitchen (He finished washing the kitchen - And you see the result, it is clean).
— He has just cleared out the garage - He just cleaned out the garage (And when that happened doesn't matter, we don't say the exact time).
— I' ve just taken a shower - I just took a shower.

2. Actions that happened at an indefinite time in the past and are related to the present

example:

— They have sold their house and gone on a tour of the world - They sold their house and went on a trip around the world (They are still traveling).
— Lilly is sad because she has missed the train - Lily is sad because she missed the train (The action is related to the present, she is sad now).
— I' ve eaten too much and now I feel sick - I overate and now I feel bad (the action is connected with the present).

3. Actions that started in the past and continue to the present

example:

— Clare and James have known each other since they were in kindergarten - Clara and James have known each other since kindergarten (They still know each other).
— We have lived here for twenty years - We have been living here for 20 years (we still live here).

• What if we put an offer in past simple?

— They knew each other when they were in kindergarten - They knew each other when they went to Kindergarten(They don't know each other anymore.)

4. Use Present Perfect tense when talking about a period of time that hasn't ended yet.

Words indicating time that are used (the same day, month, week etc.):

example:

— I' ve eaten six tomatoes today - Today I ate six tomatoes (Think, is today already over? No, today is still today. If today were over, it would have been yesterday).
— I have had several tests this week - I had several tests this week (the week is not over yet).

5. Personal experience or changes that happened

example:

— You won't believe! I' ve lost five kilos - You won't believe it! I dropped five kilos.
— I' ve learned a lot in this class - I learned a lot from this lesson.
— He has gained a lot of weight recently - He recently gained weight.

6. Emphasis on number

example:

— I have written ten projects since this afternoon - C today I wrote ten projects.
— He has phoned her three times this morning - He called her three times this morning.
— We' have been to Saint Petersburg four times this month - We have been to St. Petersburg four times this month.

7. When we talk about our past experiences

We do not specify the exact time, WHEN it happened, it is important for us that this event took place. And the words are often used ever and never.

example:

— have you ever played cricket? Have you ever played cricket?

8. The present perfect is also used in the news.

The media often use the Present Perfect at the beginning of a story to give a brief overview or new information. The past simple tense is used to give specific information about when something happened.

example:

—The Prime Minister has promised to create more jobs for people - The Prime Minister promised to create more jobs for people.
— During yesterday's conference in Paris, the Prime Minister promised to create new jobs for people - During yesterday's conference in Paris, the Prime Minister promised to create new jobs for people.

Companion words in Present Perfect (signal words)

Temporal marker words, also called helper words or indicators of time, will help you recognize the time in a sentence. And it doesn’t matter what they are called, the main thing is that you will begin to independently navigate and use these words in English speech.

Signal words in Present Perfect:

All day long, all my life, how long, for ages, ever, never, just, this week/month/year, for, already, yet, recently, lately, before, since, always, so far, at last, till now, up to now, today, etc.

Present Perfect Tense Education Rules

Present Perfect is formed using the following structure:

Subject (subject)+ Auxiliary verb (auxiliary verb) to have/has + V.3 (past participle) those. verb in 3rd form.

For - I / We / They / You - verb to have.
For - He / She / It - verb to has.

Remember, if the verb is correct, then the ending is added to it -ed
If the verb is irregular, then (Regular and irregular verbs) will show how the verb changes in the Past Participle.

Let's look at some irregular verbs:

Come-came-come
Be-was-been
Go-went-gone
see-saw-seen
Bite-bit-bitten

Such verbs require attention. They don't follow the rules, they need to be learned.

Regular verbs do not change:

look-look
Want - wanted
Ask - asked

Present Perfect sentence forms

In this section, you will be introduced to the three sentence forms and also learn how to distinguish between them.

Present Perfect (Positive sentences)

The formula for an affirmative sentence in the present perfect tense is very simple. Consider the affirmative sentence table below:

Abbreviated affirmative form:

In the negative form, particle (particle) not comes after the Auxiliary verb (auxiliary verb). Consider a table:

Abbreviated form of negative sentences:

- I have not - I haven't lived here.
- He has not - He hasn't taken the money.

Interrogative sentences Present Perfect (Interrogative sentences)

In the interrogative form, the Auxiliary verb (auxiliary verb) is placed before the subject. Consider the table below:

Abbreviated negative-interrogative sentences:

- Have you not - Haven't you washed the dishes?
- Has he not - Hasn't he left the office yet?

Comparison of Present Perfect and Past Simple

In the table below, we will look at the difference between Present Perfect and. After studying this information, you will learn to distinguish between these two times and understand that the difference is obvious.

Description of words used in the present perfect tense

• We often use never, ever, not …ever when talking about experiences:

— have you ever tried to sing a song backwards? Have you ever tried to sing a song backwards.

• We often use the Present Perfect Simple when we talk about a unique experience and use superlatives:

— It was the best performance I have ever seen“It was the best performance I have ever seen.
— It was the worst decision he has ever made It was the worst decision he ever made.

• Phrase the first time used with the Simple Present Perfect when we are talking about an immediate, ongoing, or recent event:

— That's the first time they have seen the city - This is the first time they have seen the city.

Prepositions Since and For

The Present Perfect Simple is used with since and for when talking about a present situation that started at a certain point in the past and continues into the present:

• For– refers to the time period three years, five hours, ages, months, years etc.
• I have been a doctor for 20 years – I have been a doctor for 20 years.
• Since- refers to the previous point in time Last Tuesday, last year, yesterday, 1889.
• I have been a doctor since 1995 - I have been a doctor since 1995.

The phrase How long..?

Expressions with since/for are often used to answer the question How long… + present perfect.

• how long have you lived there? – How long do you live there?
• Since 4 Dec. So for three months - From the fourth of December. During three months.

Adverbs ALREADY, JUST, YET are used with Present Perfect Simple

Mostly yet is used in interrogative and negative statements (Things that we intend to do in the future, but have not yet been done).

• Haven't you done your assignments yet? Have you completed your assignments yet? (You intend to do this).

Used when we want to emphasize that something is done or achieved, often the expected time:

• I've already cooked dinner - I have already cooked dinner.

A short time ago:

• I've just taken a shower - I just took a shower.

Emphasizes duration. Used with real forms ().

• I've already told you, He still hasn't said sorry to me - I already told you, she still hasn't apologized.

+Bonus

American English or British English (American vs. British English)?

Already can be placed at the end of an affirmative sentence. If you prefer american english, feel free to put already at the end of the sentence:

• The lesson has finished already.
• The lesson has already finished. (British English)

Another moment when in the American version it is used instead of Present Perfect, often with the words already and yet:

Compare:

American English- Did you sleep(yet)? british english- have you slept(yet)?

++Bonus rule

The difference between Have gone to/have been to/have been in

• She has gone to China. (She’s there or on her way to China / She is in China or on her way to China).
• She has been in China for six months. (She's in China now / She is in China now).
• She has been to China once. (She's visited China and she's back now / She visited China and she returned).

Take note: Present simple and Present continuous

For example:

WRONG: I know her for eight years.
— CORRECT: I' ve known her for eight years.
WRONG: I' m living here since 2003.
— CORRECT: I' ve lived here since 2003.

Take note: Present Perfect/Past Simple

If the situation is complete, Past S. + for is used, not Present P.

example:

— My half-sister worked as a sales manager for 3 years and then she got the sack - My stepsister worked as a sales manager for 3 years and then she got fired.

* When you listen to someone using a sentence with for = period of time, listen carefully to the verb. Sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between I've lived in Hawaii for several years and I lived in Hawaii for several years, but there is a big difference between these proposals. This tells us whether the speaker still lives there or no longer lives there.

General table of formation of the Present Perfect Tense - Present Perfect Tense

Present Perfect Tense - Present Perfect Tense: Exercises and Answers

To consolidate the material covered, we recommend that you take tests on Present Perfect.

Exercise 1. Open the brackets and put the verb in the Present Perfect.

1. They (clean) the house.

2. I (print) the document.

3. He (ask) a question.

4. You (dial) the wrong number.

5. She (not speak) to me yet.

6. How long did you (know) him?

7. You (hear) from Sam recently?

8. I'm so hungry I could eat a horse! I (not eat) anything since this morning.

9. It's the most amazing city I ever (see).

10. She (drink) too much coffee.

answers. Answers to the exercise:

1. Have cleaned
2. Printed
3. Has asked
4. Have dialled
5. Hasn't spoken
6. Have you known
7. Have you heard
8. Haven't eaten
9. Have ever seen
10. Has drunk.

Exercise 2. Put 5 sentences into an interrogative form using the Present Perfect.

1. (you/be/to Dublin/yet).

2. (How often/he/call/you).

3. (the children/clean/their room).

4. (you/be/on holiday/this year).

5. (he/write/to the Prime Minister).

answers. Answers to the exercise:

1. Have you been to Dublin yet?
2. How often has he called you?
3. Have the children cleaned their room?
4. Have you been on holiday this year?
5. Has he written to the Prime Minister?

Exercise 3. Insert Yet or already.

A: Haven't you cooked the dinner…?

B: You have …asked me that!

A: You know I'm busy with the project. And I have… told you that our friends are coming to stay with us.

B: Keep calm. They haven't come…. And why are you always asking me to cook?

A: Always? You have been living here for 3 years and I haven’t tasted your dinner…

answers. Answers to the exercise:

1. Yet
2. Already
3. Already
4. Yet
5. Yet

Exercise 4. Insert For or Since.

1. He has been in Chile … 10 years.

2. My grandparents have lived in Los Angeles ... 1993.

3. I haven't seen her … ages.

4. They haven't been to Manchester … their last birthday.

5. We haven't met … you left for Washington.

answers. Answers to the exercise:

1. for
2.since
3. for
4. since
5.since

Exercise 5. Task for comparing Past Simple and Present Perfect. Decide what time to set.

1. Ever (be) to Liverpool?

2. How long have you (learned) Italian?

3. I (start) learning Italian when I (be) eleven.

4. I(give) you the money last week.

5. We (just/get) home.

6. You (see) the Jackie Chan film on TV last night?

answers. Answers to the exercise:

1. Have ever been
2. Have learned
3. Have started, was
4. Gave
5. have just got
6. Have seen

When we learn something new, at first some topics are difficult for us. For some people learning English is like a walk in the park but for others, it's really hard. Some people find learning English quite easy. And others need to make a good effort.
At the same time, we will learn a new expression - A walk in the park means that something is very easy to do.

Make up some sentences on the Present Perfect and share them in the comments.

Video on Present Perfect. In it, you will see how actors from films use the present perfect tense. Happy viewing.