Prasent Perfect Tense

Prasent Perfect Tense

Prasent Perfect Tense

In this lesson we look at the structure and use of the Present Perfect tense, as well as the use of for and since, followed by a quiz to check your understanding.

How do we make the Present Perfect tense?

• The auxiliary verb (have) is conjugated in the Present Simple: have, has

• The main verb is invariable in past participle form: -ed (or irregular)

• For negative sentences we insert not between the auxiliary verb and the main verb.

• For question sentences, we exchange the subject and the auxiliary verb.

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.

We use the Present Perfect to talk about:

experience

change

continuing situation

Present Perfect for experience

We often use the Present Perfect 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:

Present Perfect for change

We also use the Present Perfect to talk about a change, or new information:

Present Perfect for continuing situation

We often use the Present Perfect to talk about a continuing situation. This is a state that started in the past and continues in the present (and will probably continue into the future). This is a situation (not an action). We usually use for or since with this structure.

Look at these example sentences using for and since with the Present Perfect tense:

• I have been here for twenty minutes.

• I have been here since 9 o'clock.

• John hasn't called for six months.

• John hasn't called since February

• He has worked in New York for a long time.

• He has worked in New York since he left school.