PRESENT PERFECT TENSE – Form and Use

Present perfect in English, imperfect, imperfetto, impefect,

FORM

Basic Form: Subject + Helping (Auxiliary)  verb ‘to have’ + Past Participle

Question Form: Helping verb (Auxiliary) + Subject + Past Participle

Negative Form: Subject + helping verb + not + Past Participle

USE THE PRESENT PERFECT TO DESCRIBE:

  • an action that began in past continues in present – I have been in Malta for 3 months.
  • a past / finished action that has present importance – I have just broken a glass.
  • to describe past life experiences- I have been to Mexico.
  • an action happened at an indefinite or unspecified time in the past – I have never had an operation.

 

  PRESENT PERFECT FORM

Person  Regular Verb Irregular Verb Negative Long Form Negative Short Form  
 

have or has &

Past Participle

(base of verb +ed)

have or has +

Past participle

have/has not +

Past Participle

haven’t/hasn’t +

Past Participle

 
I have played have eaten have not eaten  haven’t played  
You have played have eaten have not eaten  haven’t played  
He/She/It has played has eaten has not eaten  hasn’t played  
We have played have eaten have not eaten  haven’t played  
You have played have eaten have not eaten  haven’t played  
  They have played have eaten have not eaten  haven’t played  
Check your knowledge with this quiz exercise:

PRESENT PERFECT QUESTION FORM

Question Word Helping Verb Subject Past Participle
   
What have I done today?  
Where have you written your homework?  
Why has she/he/it worked today?  
Who have we visited this week?  
When have you tried to find the answer?  
 How long have they known about the plan?  

 

Click here for exercises to practise the difference between the Past Simple and Present Perfect Tenses.

 

For teaching tips and more about the present perfect click here.

  Since, For & AgoPresent Perfect Tense – Form And Use   


 

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