Present Perfect

Present Perfect

Form of Present Perfect Simple

• P: He has spoken.

• N: He has not spoken.

• Q: Has he spoken?

Use of Present Perfect Simple

Present Perfect Simple is used for actions that started in the past and stopped recently or are still going on. The focus is on the result.

• Action that is still going on

Situation that is still the same as it was in the past. We want to emphasise that the situation has not changed.

Examples: Your advice has always been extremely helpful. We have not yet received a remittance for the goods supplied to you.

• Action that stopped recently

Action that has just been completed. We want to emphasise the result. Examples:

I have typed five letters. I have just received your mail.

• Action in the past that has an influence on the present

Action that was completed in the past, but has an influence on a present situation. Note that you must not give a certain time for the action in the past (if you want to use a time expression, you must use Simple Past. Examples:

I have lost Misses Wilde’s phone number. We have agreed on the following points:

• Action that so far has taken place never, once or several times Action that happened / did not happen in the past. We want to emphasise how often the action has taken place so far. Examples:

I have never been to our New York subsidiary. Misses Newton has already phoned three times to inquire about the delivery of her goods.

Signal Words of Present Perfect Simple

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

Form of Present Perfect

Positive Negative Question I / you / we / they I have spoken. I have not spoken. Have I spoken?

he / she / it He has spoken.

He spoken.

has not

Has he spoken?

For irregular verbs, use the participle form. For regular verbs, just add “ed”.

Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ‘ed’

Exceptions in spelling when adding ed Example after a final e only add d love – loved final consonant after a short, stressed vowel or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled

admit – admitted travel – travelled

final y after a consonant becomes i hurry – hurried

Use of Present Perfect

• puts emphasis on the result Example: She has written five letters.

• action that is still going on Example: School has not started yet.

• action that stopped recently Example: She has cooked dinner.

• finished action that has an influence on the present

Example: I have lost my key.

• action that has taken place once, never or several times before the moment of speaking

Example: I have never been to Australia.

Signal Words of Present Perfect

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