Present Perfect
🔹 1. Definition
The Present Perfect is a tense that links the past to the present.
It describes an action or state that happened at an unspecified time in the
past, but its effects, results, or relevance are still true or connected
to now.
Form:
👉 Subject +
have/has + past participle (V3)
Example:
- She has finished her homework. (Her homework is done now).
🔹 2. Core Meanings
There are four main uses:
(A) Life experiences
(unspecified time)
- Talks about things that happened at some point up
to now.
- Time is not mentioned.
Example:
- I have visited France twice. (We don’t say when).
- Have you ever eaten sushi?
👉 Rule: Never use exact
finished time expressions (yesterday, in 2010, last week).
(B) Recent events with present
relevance
- Describes something just completed or with
visible effects in the present.
Examples:
- I have just finished my work.
- She has broken her leg (her leg is still broken now).
(C) Unfinished time periods
- Talks about actions that started in the past and
continue into the present.
Examples:
- We have lived here for ten years. (and we still live here).
- He has worked at this company since 2015.
👉 Common with for + duration
and since + starting point.
(D) Repeated actions up to now
- Actions that happened several times before now.
Examples:
- I have watched that movie three times.
- She has called me every day this week.
🔹 3. Signal Words
- Already, yet, ever, never, just, recently, lately
- For, since, so far, up to now, until now, this
week, this year
🔹 4. Contrast with Past Simple
- Past Simple = completed
action at a specific time in the past.
- Present Perfect =
connection to now, time is not specified.
Example:
- I went to London in 2019. (specific time, past simple).
- I have been to London. (experience, no time mentioned).
🔹 5. Advanced Notes
- American vs. British English:
- British uses present perfect more strictly:
I’ve just eaten. - American often uses past simple instead:
I just ate. - Stative verbs (know,
believe, like, etc.) often appear in present perfect for states:
I have known her since childhood. - Present Perfect Continuous emphasizes duration:
I have been studying all morning. (focus on activity, not result).
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