Present perfect

Definition of the present perfect tense

The present perfect simple expresses an action that is still going on or that stopped recently, but has an influence on the present. It puts emphasis on the result.

Signal Words of Present Perfect

already, ever, just, never, not yet, so far, till now, up to now

Now , my students please look at this short youtube which  explains present perfect  with more examples briefly .

The present perfect is used to describe

1. Puts emphasis on the result

Example: She has written five letters.

2. Action that is still going on

Example: School has not started yet.

3. Action that stopped recently

Example : She has cooked dinner.

4. finished action that has an influence on the present

Example : I have lost my key.

5 . Action that has taken place once, never or several times before the moment of speaking

Example : I have never been to Australia.

form the Present Perfect

Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ‘ed’

Examples of present perfect 

• I have seen that movie twenty times.

• I think I have met him once before.

• There have been many earthquakes in California.

• People have traveled to the Moon.

• People have not traveled to Mars.

• Have you read the book yet?

How do we form the Present Perfect?

We form the Present Perfect with have and the past participle

(regular verbs: infinitive + -ed; irregular verbs: 3rd column of the table of the irregular verbs)

has → 3rd person singular (he, she, it)

have → all other forms

* past participle:

regular verbs → infinitive + -ed

irregular verbs → 3rd column

1. Affirmative sentences in the Present Perfect – regular verbs

I have opened the door.

She has opened the door.

2. Affirmative sentences in the Present Perfect – irregular verbs

They have gone home.

he has gone home.

► We use has in the 3rd person singular (he, she, it).

3.  Negative sentences in the Present Perfect – regular verbs

You have not opened the door.

It has not opened the door.

4. Negative sentences in the Present Perfect – irregular verbs

We have not gone home.

He has not gone home.

Time Expressions with Present Perfect

When we use the Present Perfect it means that something has happened at some point in our lives before now. Remember, the exact time the action happened is not important.

Sometimes, we want to limit the time we are looking in for an experience. We can do this with expressions such as: in the last week, in the last year, this week, this month, so far, up to now, etc.

Examples:

Have you been to Mexico in the last year?

I have seen that movie six times in the last month.

Adverb Placement

The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Examples:

You have only seen that movie one time.

Have you only seen that movie one time?