Present perfect formula
Use has with he, she and it, and have with I, you, we and they. The main verb is the past participle: regular verbs end in -ed (worked), and irregular verbs have their own form (gone, written, seen).
| Form | I, you, we, they | He, she, it |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | They have (they've) finished. | She has (she's) finished. |
| Negative | They have not (haven't) finished. | She has not (hasn't) finished. |
| Question | Have they finished? | Has she finished? |
When to use the present perfect
Life experience, with no time given: "Have you ever eaten sushi?" "I've never been to Europe."
A past action with a result now: "He has broken his arm" (it is still broken).
Recent news: "The government has announced new visa rules."
A period that continues up to now, with for or since: "I've known her for ten years." For gives a length of time; since gives the starting point.
An unfinished time period: "I've drunk three cups of tea today." Today is not over yet.
Been and gone: "She has been to Delhi" means she went and came back. "She has gone to Delhi" means she is there now.
Present perfect or past simple?
The key question is whether the time is finished and stated. If it is, use the past simple.
| Present perfect | Past simple |
|---|---|
| No time given: "I have seen that film." | Finished time: "I saw that film last week." |
| Unfinished period: "I've written two essays this week." | Finished period: "I wrote two essays last week." |
| Signal words: ever, never, just, already, yet, so far, recently, since, for | Signal words: yesterday, ago, last month, in 2019, when I was a child |
| Still true: "He has worked here for five years" (he still does). | No longer true: "He worked here for five years" (he has left). |
Common mistakes
Wrong: I have visited London in 2019.
Right: I visited London in 2019.
A finished time such as in 2019 takes the past simple.
Wrong: I am here since this morning.
Right: I have been here since this morning.
Since with a period up to now needs the present perfect.
Wrong: He has went to the market.
Right: He has gone to the market.
After has, use the past participle (gone), not the past form (went).
Wrong: I didn't finish my homework yet.
Right: I haven't finished my homework yet.
In British English, yet usually goes with the present perfect. American English often allows the past simple here.
Using this in IELTS and PTE
The present perfect is the natural tense for describing change in IELTS Writing Task 2 and PTE Write Essay introductions: "The internet has transformed the way people work." In IELTS Speaking Part 1, questions such as "Have you ever...?" expect it in your answer. In Task 1, use it only when the data reaches the present; a chart that ends in the past needs the past simple.
5 questions
Exercise
Try each one, then open it to check your answer.
1. Complete this: "She ___ (live) in Chennai since 2015."
has lived (or has been living)
Since 2015 marks a period that continues up to now.
2. Choose: "I (have met / met) him two days ago."
met
Ago marks a finished time, so it takes the past simple.
3. Form a question: you / ever / try / Thai food?
Have you ever tried Thai food?
Ever asks about life experience, so it takes the present perfect.
4. Choose: "Rahul isn't here. He has (been / gone) to the bank."
gone
Gone means he is there now; been would mean he has returned.
5. Correct this: "I have finished the report last night."
I finished the report last night.
Last night is a finished time.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the present perfect and the past simple?+
The past simple is for a finished, stated time ("I called her yesterday"). The present perfect is for no stated time or a period up to now ("I've called her three times today").
What is the formula of the present perfect tense?+
Subject + has or have + past participle. Has goes with he, she and it; have goes with I, you, we and they.
When do we use for and since?+
For gives a length of time (for three years); since gives the start point (since 2021, since Monday). Both are common with the present perfect.
Is the present perfect used the same way in American English?+
Mostly, but Americans often use the past simple with just, already and yet ("Did you eat yet?"). In British English and in exams, the present perfect is the safer choice there.
Keep going
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