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Present Perfect

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What is Present Perfect?

Present Perfect tense has several functions and is used to talk

about:

Past actions that happened at unspecified times.

Experience.

Changes over time and actions that start in the past and continue

until now.

Accomplishments.

FORM

[has/have + past participle/third form]

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The past participle is sometimes called the third form. Your verb booklet contains first, second and third forms. For example:

First Form Second Form Third Form or Past Participle

see saw seen

break broke broken

eat ate eaten

speak spoke spoken

have had had

drink drank drunk

write wrote written

do did done

walk walked walked

Positive Negative Question

I have seen I have not seen Have I seen?

You have seen You have not seen Have you seen?

We have seen We have not seen Have we seen?

They have seen They have not seen Have they seen?

He has seen He has not seen Has he seen?

She has seen She has not seen Has she seen?

It has seen It has not seen Has it seen?

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USE 1 Unspecified Time Before Now

We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important.

You CAN NOT use the Present Perfect with specific time expressions such as: yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc.

We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.

Examples:

I have seen that movie. 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? Nobody has ever climbed that mountain. A: Has there ever been a war in the United States?

B: Yes, there has been a war in the United States.

Try and write some sentences here using present perfect tense.

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How Do You Actually Use the Present Perfect?

The concept of "unspecified time" can be very confusing to English learners. It is best to associate Present Perfect with the following topics:

TOPIC 1 Experience

You can use the Present Perfect to describe your experience. It is like saying, "I have the experience of..." You can also use this tense to say that you have never had a certain experience. The Present Perfect is NOT used to describe a specific event.

Examples:

I have been to France. This sentence means that you have had the experience of being in France. Maybe you have been there once, or several times.

I have been to France three times. You can add the number of times at the end of the sentence.

I have never been to France. This sentence means that you have not had the experience of going to France.

I think I have seen that movie before. He has never traveled by train. Joan has studied two foreign languages. A: Have you ever met him?

B: No, I have never met him.

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TOPIC 2 Change Over Time

We often use the Present Perfect tense to talk about change that has happened over a period of time.

Examples:

You have grown since the last time I saw you. The government has become more interested in arts education. Japanese has become one of the most popular courses at the university

since the Asian studies program was established. My English has really improved since I moved to Australia.

We use Present Perfect to talk about actions that started in the past and continue into the present.

Examples:

I have lived in England for five years. (The action started in the past and continues until now.)

I have worked here for five years. (The action started in the past and continues until now.)

TOPIC 3 Accomplishments

We often use the Present Perfect to list the accomplishments of individuals and humanity. You cannot mention a specific time.

Examples:

I have passed my ESOL exam! Our son has learned how to read.

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Contracted Forms

I have eaten. I’ve eaten.

I have not eaten. I haven’t eaten.

You have eaten. You’ve eaten.

You have not eaten. You haven’t eaten.

She has eaten. She’s eaten.

She has not eaten. She hasn’t eaten.

He has eaten. He’s eaten.

He has not eaten. He hasn’t eaten.

It has eaten. It’s eaten.

It has not eaten. It hasn’t eaten.

We have eaten. We’ve eaten.

We have not eaten. We haven’t eaten.

They have eaten. They’ve eaten.

They have not eaten. They haven’t eaten.

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Listening Task

My hobby: present perfect

Listen to Penny talking about her hobby:

http://esol.britishcouncil.org/content/learners/grammar-and-vocabulary/grammar-lessons/my-hobby-present-perfect

Have you ever had a hobby?

Do you have a hobby now?

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Reading Task

Underline all the present perfect verbs that Penny uses.

Have you got a hobby? I have – pottery. I’ve done it since I was quite little because my uncle and aunt are potters, and whenever we went to visit them on holiday I always played on the pottery wheel.

I’ve only really become more serious about pottery since about 2008, when I decided to join an evening class. Then, last year, I bought my own potter’s wheel, so I can make pots at home now.

I’ve made lots of different things over the years. When I started, I made some very strange, heavy little bowls. But little by little, I’ve managed to make thinner bowls, and I’ve just made a set of bowls that we use for breakfast every day. I’ve also made lots of mugs. These are getting better too – the first ones were really heavy even before you put coffee in them! My neighbour’s just asked me to make a set of mugs for her, and I’ve sold quite a few to friends.

When I first started, I used to put a ball of clay on the wheel, and then I had absolutely no control over it. Sometimes it became a bowl, sometimes a plate, maybe a mug, and often I had to throw it away – it was always quite a surprise! Thankfully I have improved since then, as I can now decide what I want to make before I start making it. I have learnt to control the clay to make the shape I want. I have also started making bigger things like jugs and serving bowls, and more difficult things like teapots. I haven’t sold any teapots yet, but my kitchen is getting very full so I think I’ll need to start selling them soon!

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Have you ever been to France? (ever means at any time) Yes, I have been to France. No, I have never been to France. (never means not at any time) When we use never it gives our answer extra emphasis. Look at the following sentences. Which is the strongest? I haven’t been to France. I have never been to France. I have never ever been to France. **Using been and gone.** The participle ‘been’ is used when we talk about someone who has visited a place and returned. For example: She has been to France. (She has visited France and returned) She has gone to France. (She is still in France.)

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Ask someone in class the following questions: Have you ever been to the gym? Have you ever climbed a mountain? Have you ever been to Germany? Have you ever eaten mango? Have you ever learned a language? Have you ever been to a football match? Have you ever played a musical instrument? Have you ever won a prize? Have you ever owned a pet? Have you ever seen the Taj Mahal?

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Past Simple vs. Present Perfect

Complete the sentences with the verb in brackets in past simple or present perfect.

1. She loves Paris. She ..................... (be) there many times.

2. Bill ....................... (work) for that company for 3 years. (He still works there).

3. They ....................... (go) to London on holiday last summer.

4. I ....................... (read) that book. It´s good.

5. His parents ....................... (be) here yesterday.

6. They ....................... (go) to Germany when he ....................... (be) only 4.

7. ........... you ......... (watch) any films last night?

8. I ....................... (have) a couple of apples for breakfast this morning.

9. He ....................... (live) in Rome since he was a teenager.

10. The house looks different. .......... you .............. (paint) it?

11. I ....................... (not see) you in class last Friday.

12. Shakespeare ....................... (write) over one hundred sonnets.

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Say if the following sentences are right or wrong. Correct them if necessary.

1. Have you ever been to Thailand?

......................................................................................

2. I´ve had sausages for lunch at half past one.

....................................................................

3. She´s enjoyed herself at the party last night. .....................................................................

4. I´ve read that book but I didn´t like it much. .......................................................................

5. Tom has left school one year ago. .....................................................................................

6. My cousins have lived in Dublin since they´ve been children. ...........................................

7. We have worked here for a year and a half. ......................................................................

8. My parents lived in Britain for a couple of years. ...............................................................

9. James has made a cake yesterday. ..................................................................................

10. I´ve washed the car. It looks great now. ..................................................................................

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Using ‘since’ and ‘for’ with present perfect tense.

Using Since and For

Use since + (a specific time) like March 31, or 9:19 a.m., or Tuesday.

Examples:

I have been studying English since 1993. John has helped me since 10:00 this morning. Those people have been in Europe since August. Note: Because we are talking about a time in the past until now, we have to use have/has + past participle when we use since.

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Use for + (a length of time) like 1 day, or 3 hours, or 5 years.

Examples:

I have been studying English for 4 years. John has helped me for 8 hours. Those people went to Europe for 2 months.

Complete the following sentences:

I have worked here ……………………………………………………..

I have been studying English………………………………………….

I have lived in England…………………………………………………

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Writing a Postcard

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Fill in the postcard. Describe what you have done on holiday.

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Name………………………………….

Date……………………………………

Tick the boxes that describe you.

I can use present perfect tense confidently.

I need more help with present perfect tense.

I can identify the past participles of five verbs.

I can identify the past participles of more than 10 verbs.

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NOTES:

New vocabulary