Present perfect tense in English
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In this chapter the present perfect will be explained. The present perfect talks about an action that happened in the past and continues in the present. When the action took place is not specified.
The present perfect is formed with the present simple of the auxiliary verb 'to have' and the past participle:
to have + past participle
The verb 'to have' has to be conjugated according to the subject of the sentence.
The past participle of regular verbs is formed by adding '-ed' to the infinitive of the verb.
The irregular verbs have different endings.
How the present perfect tense is formed depends on whether the sentence is:
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Structure: Subject + auxiliary verb 'to have' + past participle + rest of the sentence.
Take a look at the table below to see the conjugation of the verb 'to have' in present simple tense.
Subject | Verb 'to have' |
---|---|
I | have |
You | have |
He / she / it | has |
We | have |
You | have |
They | have |
Examples:
Structure: Subject + negative form of auxiliary verb 'to have' (have not / has not) + past participle + rest of the sentence.
The table below will show you the conjugation of the negative form of the verb 'to have'.
Subject | Negative form of 'to have' |
---|---|
I | have not |
You | have not |
He / she / it | has not |
We | have not |
You | have not |
They | have not |
Examples:
Structure: Auxiliary verb 'to have' + subject + past participle + rest of the sentence + question mark.
Examples:
The table below shows you the situations when to use the present perfect tense.
Situation | Example |
---|---|
Actions initiated in the past and continuing in the present |
|
When reference is made to an unfinished time period |
|
Repeated action in a nonspecific period located between the past and the present |
|
Actions concluded in a very recent past |
|
When the temporal dimension is not relevant or known |
|
The use of the present simple tense can be recognized when the sentence contains one of the signal words in the table below.
Signal words | Function | Example |
---|---|---|
For | For + period of time: Means "during", indicating its duration to define a period of time before the present time. |
|
Since | Since + concrete moment: Means "from", indicating the beginning of a period of time that is still going on. |
|
Already | To express an action that has happened earlier or sooner than expected. |
|
Ever | It is used above all in questions, to explain if it has happened. |
|
Never | Used with actions that have not happened any time prior to the present. |
|
Just | Actions that happened in a very recent past. |
|
Still | For actions that have not happened or have not ended. |
|
Yet | For actions that we hoped would have already happened but have not happened. It is used in negative phrases. |
|
Train your skills by doing the exercises below!
Complete the sentence by filling in the present perfect tense in English.
Remember:
She the questions many times. (to repeat)
They already that movie twice. (to watch)
We just to the dentist. (to be)
I the programme so we can see it when we get home. (to record)
He a fish. (to catch)
You the bus. (to miss)
you enough water today? (to drink)
She not any letters to him. (to write)
The teacher that eating is not allowed. (to say)
It a lot this week. (to rain)
The present perfect can not be formed without the verb 'to have'. The conjugation of this verb changes according to the subject.
Fill in the correct conjugation of the verb 'to have'.
I come to the office today.
She walked to the station.
They needed your help many times.
We graduated this year.
You felt left out.
He tried to do the exercise.
My sister listened to my music.
Her brother stolen his shoes.
Paul and Angela been on holiday together.
I helped you twice this week.
Fill in the English present perfect. The present perfect consists of the verb 'to have' + past participle.
Remember:
Examples:
My mother me to pick her up from work. (to ask)
She to congratulate me. (to remember)
The restaurant already the food. (to serve)
The municipality to build new houses. (to decide)
Construction workers new houses in my street. (to build)
The lion a rabbit. (to kill)
She her child on her own. (to raise)
The hairdresser my hair. (to cut)
The offer in my email. (to appear)
She many letters to him.
Fill in the English present perfect tense.
Remember:
The bus for the running man to arrive. (to wait)
I a present for my aunt. (to buy)
She Berlin. (to visit)
He the finish earlier today. (to reach)
The glass just off the table. (to fall)
They their keys many times. (to lose)
The teacher the naughty boy's parents.
The car at the right time. (to stop)
Maria a page to the assignment. (to add)
The child a lot since last year. (to grow)
Complete the sentence by filling in the present perfect tense in English.
Remember:
She the questions many times. (to repeat)
They already that movie twice. (to watch)
We just to the dentist. (to be)
I the programme so we can see it when we get home. (to record)
He a fish. (to catch)
You the bus. (to miss)
you enough water today? (to drink)
She not any letters to him. (to write)
The teacher that eating is not allowed. (to say)
It a lot this week. (to rain)
The present perfect can not be formed without the verb 'to have'. The conjugation of this verb changes according to the subject.
Fill in the correct conjugation of the verb 'to have'.
I come to the office today.
She walked to the station.
They needed your help many times.
We graduated this year.
You felt left out.
He tried to do the exercise.
My sister listened to my music.
Her brother stolen his shoes.
Paul and Angela been on holiday together.
I helped you twice this week.
Fill in the English present perfect. The present perfect consists of the verb 'to have' + past participle.
Remember:
Examples:
My mother me to pick her up from work. (to ask)
She to congratulate me. (to remember)
The restaurant already the food. (to serve)
The municipality to build new houses. (to decide)
Construction workers new houses in my street. (to build)
The lion a rabbit. (to kill)
She her child on her own. (to raise)
The hairdresser my hair. (to cut)
The offer in my email. (to appear)
She many letters to him.
Fill in the English present perfect tense.
Remember:
The bus for the running man to arrive. (to wait)
I a present for my aunt. (to buy)
She Berlin. (to visit)
He the finish earlier today. (to reach)
The glass just off the table. (to fall)
They their keys many times. (to lose)
The teacher the naughty boy's parents.
The car at the right time. (to stop)
Maria a page to the assignment. (to add)
The child a lot since last year. (to grow)
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I Offer English teaching, Phonics, word and sound pronunciation.
My lessons are aimed at children aged 2- 8.
I do general English conversation for older groups too.
Lets build a bright future and expand our knowledge.
If there is something I do not offer , please ket me know as we can try and do a specific lesson.
Stories, flash card, books and other items are used in lessons to make it fun.
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Inge was great with my daughter who is 5 . It was a fun lesson and I will definitely book again . Thank you for making my daughter have a good lesson .
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I am TEFL qualified and I have over 16 years experience in 7 countries. Because of Covid I now teach only online using English File (oup). I will first analyse and assess your exact level. Then I will prepare a FREE sample lesson. After that I will fix any problems you may have below that level, so that you can progress with a solid ability in Grammar, Reading, Pronunciation, Listening and of course Speaking.
I like my lessons to be fun, but I am serious about teaching. If you really want to improve, I can help you.
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MERHABA :)
Hello! I am Omer, a teacher of both English and Turkish living and working in Lithuania.
My hometown is Antalya and I am a native speaker of Turkish. I speak proper and clear Istanbul Turkish (this is the most common dialect of Turkish) If you're looking for a teacher who's devoted, attentive, and fun, you've come to the right place. I never come to a class empty-handed and always make sure my students are engaged, entertained, and learning. Whatever your level in Turkish (or English), I can provide you with a casual, open environment where you feel comfortable experimenting with the language you're learning. Hoping to see you soon! :-)
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Ömer is an experienced teacher who speaks multiple languages. He teaches to people of all ages and levels (A1 to C2.) He is very organized and has lots of learning materials.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
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