1. Formation
We form the present perfect with have/has + the past participle.
I have lost my keys.
She has not lost her keys.
Have you lost your keys?
2. Use
We use the present perfect to say that someone has done something or that something
has happened. The exact time is not important (or is unknown) and is not
mentioned. The action or event often has direct consequences for the present or
the future.
I’ve have seen that movie twenty times.
Some common phrases of time are just, already, always, never, rarely, seldom, before,
ever, lately, recently, often, still not, so far, up to now, not yet, yet?
Have you ever been to Ireland? I’ve been to Ireland four times so far.
The present perfect is used to express the idea that a state began in the past and
is still continuing. Some common phrases are always, all week, since and for.
I’ve had this car for two years.
The present perfect is used to express a finished action in an unfinished period
of time.
I have seen him this morning.
(I have seen him = finished; this morning = unfinished)
Note!
You cannot use the present perfect with expressions such as yesterday, one year ago,
last week, etc. You have to use the past simple because these expressions refer to a
specific point of time in the past. Compare the following two sentences:
I met a lot of people two days ago.
I’ve met a lot of people in the last few days.
Notice the difference between gone and been:
Fiona has gone to Wales. (Fiona is in Wales now.)
Fiona has been to Wales. (Fiona has been to Wales and come back.)
We form the present perfect with have/has + the past participle.
I have lost my keys.
She has not lost her keys.
Have you lost your keys?
2. Use
We use the present perfect to say that someone has done something or that something
has happened. The exact time is not important (or is unknown) and is not
mentioned. The action or event often has direct consequences for the present or
the future.
I’ve have seen that movie twenty times.
Some common phrases of time are just, already, always, never, rarely, seldom, before,
ever, lately, recently, often, still not, so far, up to now, not yet, yet?
Have you ever been to Ireland? I’ve been to Ireland four times so far.
The present perfect is used to express the idea that a state began in the past and
is still continuing. Some common phrases are always, all week, since and for.
I’ve had this car for two years.
The present perfect is used to express a finished action in an unfinished period
of time.
I have seen him this morning.
(I have seen him = finished; this morning = unfinished)
Note!
You cannot use the present perfect with expressions such as yesterday, one year ago,
last week, etc. You have to use the past simple because these expressions refer to a
specific point of time in the past. Compare the following two sentences:
I met a lot of people two days ago.
I’ve met a lot of people in the last few days.
Notice the difference between gone and been:
Fiona has gone to Wales. (Fiona is in Wales now.)
Fiona has been to Wales. (Fiona has been to Wales and come back.)