Present Perfect
B1 · IntermediatePresent TensesThe present perfect links the past to now — the focus is on the present result or relevance, not the exact time something happened.
What you'll learn
- Form: have/has + past participle (I have finished, she has finished)
- Used when the exact time isn't stated or doesn't matter — focus is on the result now
- Common with ever, never, already, yet, just, so far, and for/since
- Different from the past simple, which needs (or implies) a specific finished time
Past action, present relevance
The present perfect connects something that happened in the past to the present moment — either because it just happened, because its result still matters now, or because it happened at some unspecified point up to now.
Forming the present perfect
Use have (I/you/we/they) or has (he/she/it), followed by the past participle of the main verb. Many past participles are regular (-ed), but many common verbs are irregular: go → gone, see → seen, do → done.
Common signal words
Ever and never ask/answer about experience at any point in life. Already and yet are common in questions and negatives about whether something has happened. Just means very recently. So far and up to now show something is still ongoing or open.
Present perfect vs. past simple
The present perfect is used when the time isn't specified or doesn't matter. As soon as you mention a specific finished time (yesterday, in 2019, last week), you must switch to the past simple instead.
Real English
Watch out
A specific finished time (last week) needs the past simple, not the present perfect.
The present perfect needs the past participle (gone), not the simple past form (went).
For a state that started in the past and continues now, use the present perfect (with for/since), not the present simple.
Real life — Catching up with a friend
"Have you seen the new café downtown?"
"Not yet — I've heard it's really good, though."
"We should go. Have you eaten lunch already?"
"No, I haven't. Let's go now, actually."
Practice
Exercise 1 · Choose the correct form
I ___ my keys — can you help me find them?
Exercise 2 · Choose the correct forms
___ you ever ___ to Japan?
Exercise 3 · Choose the correct form
She ___ this movie three times already.
Exercise 4 · Choose the correct word
We haven't finished the report ___.
Exercise 5 · Choose the correct forms
He ___ just ___ the news.
Exercise 6 · Choose the correct word
I've ___ eaten sushi.
Exercise 7 · Choose the correct form
How many books ___ this year?
Exercise 8 · Complete the sentence
Complete: She ___ (finish) her homework already.
Exercise 9 · Complete the sentence
Complete: They ___ (not/arrive) yet.
Exercise 10 · Build the sentence
Exercise 11 · Choose the correct sentence
Which is correct?
Quick challenge
Five quick questions to check what stuck.
Question 1 / 5
Score: 0/0
We ___ already ___ dinner.
You learned
- Present perfect: have/has + past participle.
- Used when time isn't specified — the focus is on the result now.
- A specific finished time (yesterday, in 2019) requires the past simple instead.
- Common signal words: ever, never, already, yet, just, so far, for/since.
Related grammar lessons
Present Perfect Continuous
Learn how to form and use the present perfect continuous (have/has been + verb-ing) — for actions that started in the past and continue now, or whose recent activity explains a present result.
Present Continuous
Learn how to form and use the present continuous (be + verb-ing) — for actions happening right now, temporary situations, and stative verbs that avoid it.
Present Simple
Learn how to form and use the present simple tense — for habits, routines, facts, and schedules — including the do/does questions and negatives.
Linking Verbs
Learn how linking verbs like be, seem, become, feel, look, taste, sound, and smell connect the subject to a description rather than showing an action — and why they're followed by adjectives, not adverbs.