GE L9 Unit 4 (Present perfect active 7 Passive)

Unit 4

Present perfect active and passive

Global English Level 9

What is the Present Perfect Tense?

The Present Perfect Tense connects the past with the present.
It is used to describe:

• Actions that started in the past and continue to the present, or

• Past actions that have results in the present.

🔹 Example:

• I have visited Singapore twice.
  (= I did it before, and it’s still true now.)

Present Perfect Active

The Present Perfect Active focuses on who did the action (the subject).

🧠 We use it to:

1. Talk about actions that started in the past and continue now.
   👉 I have worked here for five years.

2. Describe recent actions that have results now.
   👉 She has broken her leg.

3. Describe experiences or achievements.
   👉 Scientists have discovered a new planet.

Present Perfect Active -Pattern

Structure	Subject + have/has + past participle (V3)

Positive

She has written three reports.

Negative

She hasn’t written any reports.

Question

Has she written any reports?

Present Perfect Active - Example

Sentence Meaning Scientists have developed a new medicine. The scientists did the action (they developed it). We have raised money for the project. The subject (we) performed the action. Doctors have found the cure. Focus on who performed the action.

Present Perfect Passive

The Present Perfect Passive focuses on the action or the result, not the person who did it. It is used when the doer is unknown, unimportant, or obvious. 🧠 We use it to: Emphasize the result or effect of an action. 👉 A new vaccine has been discovered. When the doer is unknown or not important. 👉 The window has been broken. To make writing more formal or scientific. 👉 Data has been collected from 1,000 participants.

Present Perfect Passive - Pattern

Structure Subject + have/has + been + past participle (V3) Positive A cure has been found. Negative A cure hasn’t been found yet. Question Has a cure been found yet?

Present Perfect Passive - Example

Sentence Explanation Many lives have been saved by the new vaccine. Focus on the result, not who saved them. Data has been collected for the research. The action is important; the doer is not. Several new drugs have been developed. The result of the action is emphasized.

Comparing active and passive

Active Voice (Focus on doer) Passive Voice (Focus on action/result) Scientists have developed a new vaccine. A new vaccine has been developed (by scientists). Doctors have found the cause of the disease. The cause of the disease has been found. The company has produced new medicine. New medicine has been produced.

Key tip

Use Active when the subject (doer) is important. Use Passive when the result or process is more important.

Key tip

You can use both active and passive with time expressions such as: Already → The vaccine has already been tested. Just → They have just discovered a cure. Yet → Has the medicine been approved yet? Recently → Several new studies have recently been published.