Back to library Present Tenses

Present Perfect

Connect the past with now: experiences, recent news and situations that continue today.

Intermediate 2 min read

What is it?

The present perfect links the past to the present. The time is not finished, or the exact time doesn’t matter. What matters is the result now.

When to use it

Life experience: I’ve visited Sri Lanka twice.
Recent news or results: She’s lost her phone. (She doesn’t have it now.)
Unfinished time: I’ve had three coffees today.
Situations continuing until now with for and since: We’ve lived here for ten years.

When not to use it

Never use the present perfect with a finished time such as yesterday, last week, in 2019, two days ago. Use the past simple: I saw him yesterday, not I have seen him yesterday.

How to build it

Form	Pattern	Example
Positive	have / has + past participle	He has finished.
Negative	haven’t / hasn’t + past participle	I haven’t eaten yet.
Question	Have / Has + subject + past participle?	Have you ever tried it?

Useful words: ever, never, already, just, yet, for, since, so far, recently.

Examples

Monica has worked here since 2021.
Have you finished your homework yet?
I’ve just heard the news!
Joe has never been on a plane.

Common mistakes

I have seen that film last week.I saw that film last week.
I live here since 2019.I have lived here since 2019.
She has went home.She has gone home.

Memory tip

For = how long (for two years, for a week). Since = from when (since Monday, since 2020). If you can ask “From when?”, use since.

Joe & Monica

Monica: Have you ever been to Cox’s Bazar?

Joe: Yes, I’ve been there three times. I went last December with my family.

Monica: Lucky you! I’ve never seen the sea.

Interactive Practice

Pick an answer to check your understanding.

Question 1 of 5

I have never ___ sushi.

Question 2 of 5

Monica ___ at the same company since 2020.

Question 3 of 5

___ you ever been to Cox’s Bazar?

Question 4 of 5

I’ve lived here ___ three years.

Question 5 of 5