{"id":1321,"date":"2020-09-26T22:00:47","date_gmt":"2020-09-26T21:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.englishforums.com\/blog\/?p=1321"},"modified":"2020-09-26T22:00:47","modified_gmt":"2020-09-26T21:00:47","slug":"present-perfect-tense-get-to-know-usage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/blog\/present-perfect-tense-get-to-know-usage\/","title":{"rendered":"Present Perfect Tense: Get To Know Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

The present perfect is a verb tense used to indicate a link between the past and present. It is used to show actions done or taken in the past that lead up to the present. The time of the action is\u00a0before the present but not specified<\/strong>, and we are often more interested in the\u00a0result<\/strong>\u00a0than in the actions that have taken place to the present culmination. We use resent perfect tense to describe experiences and changes that have taken place before now.<\/p>\n

What are past perfect tense examples?<\/h2>\n

Before we indulge further we need to understand what present tense is. This is a tense used in grammar to describe a currently ongoing action or that is habitually performed.
\nIn order to understand the present perfect tense in more detail, we will need to first recap on what is the past perfect tense with examples. The tense is used to show that an action occurred once or multiple times before another point in the past. The past perfect is formed when we use had <\/em><\/strong>together with a past participle<\/strong>. This means that questions are formed by inverting the subject and adding\u00a0had <\/em>while negatives are made by adding\u00a0not<\/em>.<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Statement:\u00a0You\u00a0had read<\/strong>\u00a0the book three times before you attended the book club.<\/em><\/li>\n
  • Question:\u00a0Had<\/strong>\u00a0you\u00a0read<\/strong>\u00a0the book many times before you attended the book club?<\/em><\/li>\n
  • Negative:\u00a0You\u00a0had<\/strong>\u00a0not\u00a0read<\/strong>\u00a0the book many times before you attended the book club.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    What are the present perfect tense examples?<\/h2>\n

    \"verb,verbs,
    \nUnlike present progressive<\/strong> that indicates something that is continuously happening now, the present perfect tense formed using\u00a0has\/have<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>together with the past participle<\/strong>. Questions are indicated by inverting the subject and adding has\/have <\/em>while negatives are made by adding\u00a0not<\/em>.<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Statement:\u00a0You\u00a0have read<\/strong>\u00a0that book three times.<\/em><\/li>\n
    • Question:\u00a0Have<\/strong>\u00a0you\u00a0read<\/strong>\u00a0that book many times?<\/em><\/li>\n
    • Negative:\u00a0You\u00a0have not read<\/strong>\u00a0that book many times.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      The present perfect tense is used to describe the following.<\/p>\n

        \n
      • When an action or situation that begun in the past and continues in the present. For example, I\u00a0have lived\u00a0in Africa since 1989\u00a0<\/em>(and I still do.)<\/li>\n
      • When an action done during a period that is yet to be completed.\u00a0For example, He\u00a0has been\u00a0to the club six times this month <\/em>(and the month isn’t over yet.)<\/li>\n
      • When an action is repeated in an unspecified period between the past and now.\u00a0For example, We\u00a0have visited\u00a0him in the hospital several times.<\/em><\/li>\n
      • When a performance was done in the very recent past, with the use of ‘just’. For example, \u00a0I\u00a0have just completed\u00a0my assignment.<\/em><\/li>\n
      • When the time an action is done is not important.\u00a0For example, He\u00a0has watched\u00a0‘Money Heist’.\u00a0<\/em>(the result of his watching is more important.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Actions started in the past and continuing in the present<\/h3>\n
          \n
        • They\u00a0haven’t gone<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0there for months.<\/li>\n
        • He\u00a0has worked<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0in finance for three years.<\/li>\n
        • We\u00a0have lived<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0in the same area for ten years.<\/li>\n
        • Have you played<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0the guitar since you were a freshman?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          When the time period referred to is not completed<\/h3>\n
            \n
          • I have worked<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0hard\u00a0<\/em>this month<\/em><\/strong>.<\/li>\n
          • It\u00a0has rained<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0a lot\u00a0this month<\/em><\/strong>.<\/li>\n
          • They\u00a0haven’t seen<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0him\u00a0today<\/em><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Actions done multiple times in an unspecified period between the past and now<\/h3>\n
              \n
            • We\u00a0have read<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0that book three times<\/li>\n
            • It\u00a0has happened<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0multiple times already.<\/li>\n
            • They\u00a0have visited<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0him frequently.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Actions completed in the very recent past (use just<\/em>)<\/h3>\n
                \n
              • Have you just finished<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0writing?<\/li>\n
              • I\u00a0have just used the restroom<\/em><\/strong>.<\/li>\n
              • We\u00a0have just met<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0them.<\/li>\n
              • Has she just called<\/em><\/strong>?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                When the exact time of the did is not important or not known<\/h3>\n
                  \n
                • Someone\u00a0<\/em>has taken<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0my bag<\/em>!<\/li>\n
                • Have you read<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>‘Midnight sun’?<\/li>\n
                • He’s studied<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0Latin<\/em>, English, and German.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  What is the present perfect tense?<\/h2>\n

                  How do you actually use the present perfect tense?<\/h3>\n

                  For some English learners, the concept of “unspecified time” can be something very confusing. The following topics will help you to associate with the present perfect better.<\/p>\n

                  Experience<\/h4>\n

                  As a learner, the present perfect can be used to describe an experience. Think of it like saying, “I have the experience of…<\/em>” This tense can NOT be used to describe a specific event. For example;<\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • I\u00a0have been<\/strong>\u00a0to Africa.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                    This implies that you have experienced being in Africa. Maybe you have been there just once, or numerous times.<\/em><\/p>\n

                      \n
                    • I\u00a0have been<\/strong>\u00a0to Africa four times.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                      You can also add the number of times you have been to Africa at the end of the sentence.<\/em><\/p>\n

                        \n
                      • I\u00a0have<\/strong>\u00a0never\u00a0been<\/strong>\u00a0to Africa.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                        Meaning you have not had the experience of going to Africa.<\/em><\/p>\n

                        Change over time<\/h4>\n

                        Present perfect tenses can be used to talk about change that has occurred over a period of time. For examples;<\/p>\n

                          \n
                        • I\u00a0have lost a lot of weight<\/strong>\u00a0since the last time we met.<\/em><\/li>\n
                        • The school\u00a0has become<\/strong>\u00a0more interested in science education.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                          Accomplishments<\/h4>\n

                          Use the present perfect to often list the accomplishments of individuals. It should be noted that you cannot mention a specific time. For examples;<\/p>\n

                            \n
                          • My dog has learned<\/strong> how to sit on command.<\/em><\/li>\n
                          • Our daughter\u00a0has begun <\/strong>to walk by herself.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                            Uncompleted actions you are expecting<\/h4>\n

                            Use the present perfect to often show that an expected action is yet to happen. This suggests that we are still waiting for the thing to occur. For example;<\/p>\n

                              \n
                            • Karen\u00a0has not finished<\/strong>\u00a0her dinner yet.<\/em><\/li>\n
                            • Allan\u00a0hasn’t mastered<\/strong>\u00a0French, but he can string together a few words.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                              Multiple actions at different times<\/h4>\n

                              Use the present perfect to also show several different actions that have occurred in the past at different times. This suggests that the process is incomplete and more actions might still happen. For example;<\/p>\n

                                \n
                              • The attackers have scored<\/strong> five goals against the opposition.<\/em><\/li>\n
                              • John\u00a0has had<\/strong>\u00a0four servings so far this evening.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                Time expressions with present perfect<\/h4>\n

                                Using the present perfect means something that has happened at some point in our past lives before. Kindly note that the exact time in the past it occurred is not important.
                                \nIf however, we want to limit the time period in which an action occurred in the past, we can use certain expressions such as: on the last day, in the last month, this year, this month, up to now, so far, etc<\/em>. Below are a few more examples:<\/p>\n

                                  \n
                                • Have\u00a0you\u00a0been\u00a0to your parents’ home\u00a0in the last month?<\/em><\/li>\n
                                • I\u00a0have read\u00a0that book twice\u00a0in the last week.<\/em><\/li>\n
                                • We\u00a0have had\u00a0four tests\u00a0in the last month.<\/em><\/li>\n
                                • I\u00a0have worked\u00a0for two different organizations\u00a0so far.<\/em><\/li>\n
                                • My neighbor’s car\u00a0has broken\u00a0down a couple of times\u00a0this week.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                  Remember, “Last month<\/em>” and “in the last month<\/em>” have two very different meanings when it comes to present perfect tense. “Last month” is used to describe the month before now, and it is considered as a specific time which requires\u00a0simple past tense. On the other hand, “In the last month” means from 30\/31 days ago until now. It is not considered a specific time, thus requires present perfect tense. E.g<\/p>\n

                                    \n
                                  • I\u00a0went\u00a0to Africa\u00a0last month.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                                    I went to Africa in the month before this one.<\/em><\/p>\n

                                      \n
                                    • I\u00a0have been\u00a0to Africa\u00a0in the last month.<\/em><\/li>\n
                                    • I have been to Africa at least once at some point between 30\/31 days ago and now.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                      Want to know about the present perfect tense of verbs? The English Forward team can teach you all about tenses.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1324,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_generate-full-width-content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[292],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1321"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1321"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1321\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1324"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1321"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1321"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.englishforward.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1321"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}