Present perfect

Present Perfect Tense
I have sung |
The present perfect tense is a rather important tense in English, but it gives speakers of some languages a difficult time. That is because it uses concepts or ideas that do not exist in those languages. In fact, the structure of the present perfect tense is very simple. The problems come with the use of the tense. In addition, there are some differences inusage between British and American English.
In this lesson we look at the structure and use of the present perfect, followed by a quiz to check your understanding:
* Structure: how to make the present perfect tense
* Use: when and why to use the present perfect tense
* For and Since with the present perfect tense. What's the difference?
* Present Perfect Quiz
The present perfecttense is really a very interesting tense, and a very useful one. Try not to translate the present perfect tense into your language. Just try to accept the concepts of this tense and learn to "think" present perfect! You will soon learn to like the present perfect tense!

How do we make the Present Perfect Tense?
The structure of the present perfect tense is:
subject | + | auxiliary verb | + |main verb |
  |   | have |   | past participle |
Here are some examples of the present perfect tense:
  | subject | auxiliary verb |   | main verb |   |
+ | I | have |   | seen | ET. |
+ | You | have |   | eaten | mine. |
- | She | has | not | been | to Rome. |
- | We | have | not | played | football. |
? | Have | you |   | finished? |   |
? | Have | they |   | done | it? |Contractions with the present perfect tense
When we use the present perfect tense in speaking, we usually contract the subject and auxiliary verb. We also sometimes do this when we write. 
I have | I've |
You have | You've |
He has
She has
It has
John has
The car has | He's
She's
It's
John's
The car's |
We have | We've |
They have | They've |
Here are some examples:
* I'vefinished my work.
* John's seen ET.
* They've gone home.
He's or he's??? Be careful! The 's contraction is used for the auxiliary verbs have and be. For example, "It's eaten" can mean:
* It has eaten. [present perfect tense, active voice]
* It is eaten. [present tense, passive voice]
It is usually clear from the context.

How do we use the Present Perfect Tense?
This tense iscalled the present perfect tense. There is always a connection with the past and with the present. There are basically three uses for the present perfect tense:
1. experience
2. change
3. continuing situation
1. Present perfect tense for experience
We often use the present perfect tense to talk about experience from the past. We are not interested in when you did something. We only wantto know if you did it:
I have seen ET.
He has lived in Bangkok.
Have you been there?
We have never eaten caviar. |
past | present | future |
| !!! | |
|
The action or state was in the past. | In my head, I have a memory now. |   |
Connection with past: the event was in the past.
Connection with present: in my head, now, I have a memory of the event; I know something about theevent; I have experience of it.
2. Present perfect tense for change
We also use the present perfect tense to talk about a change or new information:
I have bought a car. |
past | present | future |
- | + |   |
Last week I didn't have a car. | Now I have a car. |   |
 
John has broken his leg. |
past | present | future |
+ | - |   |
Yesterday John had a good leg. | Now he has abad leg. |   |
 
Has the price gone up? |
past | present | future |
+ | - |   |
Was the price $1.50 yesterday? | Is the price $1.70 today? |   |
 
The police have arrested the killer. |
past | present | future |
- | + |   |
Yesterday the killer was free. | Now he is in prison. |   |
Connection with past: the past is the opposite of the present.
Connection with present: the...