we use the present perfect tense to talk about things that happened at some time in the past and...

We use the present perfect tense to talk about things that happened at some time in the past and have a connection to the present.

He has lived in Sha Tin for twenty years.

She has taken art lessons for two months.

I have drunk five glasses of water since lunch.

The present perfect form of a verb is made up of two parts.

Positive statements are formed like this.

Subject have/has Past participle

IYouWeThey

have finished.

He/She/It has eaten.

Negative statements are formed like this.

not

I have finished.


I have not/haven’t finished.

You have finished.

not



You have not/haven’t finished.

She has finished.

not



You have not/haven’t finished.

She has not/hasn’t finished.

Questions are formed like this.

I have finished.

You have finished.

She has finished.

Have I finished?

Have you finished?

Has she finished?

We often use the following words with the present perfect tense.

already ever for just since yet

Which word is followed by a certain timein the past?

since

We have been to the airport five times since July.

I haven’t seen Helen since last summer.



Which word is followed by a length of time? for

I have been a member of the Drama Club for three years.

She hasn’t written to me for a year.



Which word is often used with negative statements and questions when the action has happened already or we expect it to happen soon?

yet

Have you done your Maths homework yet?Has your brother taken his driving test yet?My parents haven’t signed my report card yet.I haven’t had lunch yet.

Yet usually goes at the end of the question or negative statement.



Which other word is often used with the present perfect tense in questions?

ever

Have you travelled on a motorbike?

ever




ever

Have you ever travelled on a motorbike?

Has he invited you out for lunch?

ever




ever

Have you ever travelled on a motorbike?

Has he ever invited you out for lunch?

We put ever between the subject and the main verb.

If the answer is negative, we can use have/has never + past participle. It means ‘not at any time’.

Have you ever been to Tokyo Disneyland?

Yes, I have.No, I have not/haven’t. No, I have/’ve never been to Tokyo Disneyland.

Has he ever taken cooking lessons?

Yes, he has.No, he has not/hasn’t. No, he has/’s never taken cooking lessons.

or

or



Which word shows that an action was completed a short time ago?

just

They have finished the project.

just




just

They have just finished the project.

Mum has come home.

just




just

They have just finished the project.

Mum has just come home.

We put just between have/has and the main verb.



Which word is used in positive statementsto stress that something has happened?

already

Karen has left Hong Kong.

already




already

Karen has already left Hong Kong.already

I have seen the new film.




already

Karen has already left Hong Kong.

I have seen the new film already.

We put already between have/has and the main verb, or at the end of the sentence.

Practice

Complete the following sentences with the correct form of the simple past tense or present perfect tense of the verbs in brackets. Write in a subject if necessary.

1 (you / see) my school bag? (I / leave) it on my desk a minute ago and it’s gone now.

2 A fire (break out) in our building last night. All the residents (have) to leave their homes and wait in the street. Luckily, no one (be) injured.

3 just (I / come) back from my holiday. (I / go) to Hawaii with my friends.

4 My dad (be) a chef for twenty years. (he / be) a teacher before (he / become) a chef.

5 ever (you / try) duck’s tongues? never (I / have) any and I don’t want to try.

Have you seen I left

broke outhadwas

I have I went

has been He washe became

Have you I have

come

tried had