Present Perfect Forms

Present Perfect
The present perfect is a verb tense which is used to show that an action has
taken place once or many times before now. The present perfect is most
frequently used to talk about experiences or changes that have taken place,
but there are other less common uses as well. Read on for detailed
descriptions, examples, and present perfect exercises.
Present Perfect Forms

The present perfect is formed using has/have + past participle. Questions
are indicated by inverting the subject and has/have. Negatives are made
with not.
• Statement: You have seen that movie many times.

• Question: Have you seen that movie many times?
• Negative: You have not seen that movie many times.
Present Perfect Uses

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 CANNOT 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 twenty times.

• 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.
How Do You Actually Use the Present Perfect?
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 not met him.
TOPIC 2 Change Over Time
We often use the present perfect 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.
TOPIC 3 Accomplishments
We often use the present perfect to list the accomplishments of individuals

and humanity. You cannot mention a specific time.
Examples:
• Man has walked on the Moon.

• Our son has learned how to read.
• Doctors have cured many deadly diseases.
• Scientists have split the atom.
TOPIC 4 An Uncompleted Action You Are Expecting
We often use the present perfect to say that an action which we expected has
not happened. Using the present perfect suggests that we are still waiting for
the action to happen.
Examples:
• James has not finished his homework yet.

• Susan hasn't mastered Japanese, but she can communicate.
• Bill has still not arrived.
• The rain hasn't stopped.
TOPIC 5 Multiple Actions at Different Times
We also use the present perfect to talk about several different actions which
have occurred in the past at different times. Present perfect suggests the
process is not complete and more actions are possible.
Examples:
• The army has attacked that city five times.

• I have had four quizzes and five tests so far this semester.
• We have had many major problems while working on this project.
• She has talked to several specialists about her problem, but nobody
knows why she is sick.
Time Expressions with Present Perfect
When we use the present perfect it means that something has happened at
some point in our lives before now. Remember, the exact time the action
happened is not important.
Sometimes, we want to limit the time we are looking in for an experience. We

can do this with expressions such as: in the last week, in the last year, this
week, this month, so far, up to now, etc.
Examples:
• Have you been to Mexico in the last year?

• I have seen that movie six times in the last month.
• They have had three tests in the last week.
• She graduated from university less than three years ago. She has
worked for three different companies so far.
• My car has broken down three times this week.
NOTICE
"Last year" and "in the last year" are very different in meaning. "Last year"
means the year before now, and it is considered a specific time which
requires simple past. "In the last year" means from 365 days ago until now. It
is not considered a specific time, so it requires present perfect.
Examples:
• I went to Mexico last year.

I went to Mexico in the calendar year before this one.
• I have been to Mexico in the last year.
I have been to Mexico at least once at some point between 365 days
ago and now.
USE 2 Duration From the Past Until Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)
With non-continuous verbs and non-continuous uses of mixed verbs, we use

the present perfect to show that something started in the past and has
continued up until now. "For five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since
Tuesday" are all durations which can be used with the present perfect.
Examples:
• I have had a cold for two weeks.

• She has been in England for six months.
• Mary has loved chocolate since she was a little girl.
Although the above use of present perfect is normally limited to non-

continuous verbs and non-continuous uses of mixed verbs, the words "live,"
"work," "teach," and "study" are sometimes used in this way even though they
are NOT non-continuous verbs.
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as:
always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
• You have only seen that movie one time.

• Have you only seen that movie one time?
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:
• Many tourists have visited that castle. Active

• That castle has been visited by many tourists. Passive
Past Perfect
The past perfect is a verb tense which is used to show that an action took
place once or many times before another point in the past. Read on for
detailed descriptions, examples, and present perfect exercises.
Past Perfect Forms

The past perfect is formed using had + past participle. Questions are
indicated by inverting the subject and had. Negatives are made with not.
• Statement: You had studied English before you moved to New York.
• Question: Had you studied English before you moved to New York?
• Negative: You had not studied English before you moved to New
York.
Past Perfect Uses

USE 1 Completed Action Before Something in the Past
The past perfect expresses the idea that something occurred before another
action in the past. It can also show that something happened before a specific
time in the past.
Examples:
• I had never seen such a beautiful beach before I went to Kauai.
• I did not have any money because I had lost my wallet.
• Tony knew Istanbul so well because he had visited the city several
times.
• Had Susan ever studied Thai before she moved to Thailand?
• She only understood the movie because she had read the book.
• Kristine had never been to an opera before last night.
• We were not able to get a hotel room because we had not booked in
advance.
• A: Had you ever visited the U.S. before your trip in 2006?
B: Yes, I had been to the U.S. once before.
USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Past (Non-Continuous Verbs)
With non-continuous verbs and some non-continuous uses of mixed verbs,

we use the past perfect to show that something started in the past and
continued up until another action in the past.
Examples:
• We had had that car for ten years before it broke down.
• By the time Alex finished his studies, he had been in London for over
eight years.
• They felt bad about selling the house because they had owned it for
more than forty years.
Although the above use of past perfect is normally limited to non-continuous

verbs and non-continuous uses of mixed verbs, the words "live," "work,"
"teach," and "study" are sometimes used in this way even though they are
NOT non-continuous verbs.
IMPORTANT Specific Times with the Past Perfect
Unlike with the present perfect, it is possible to use specific time words or
phrases with the past perfect. Although this is possible, it is usually not
necessary.
Example:
• She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she
moved in with them in 1996.
MOREOVER
If the past perfect action did occur at a specific time, the simple past can be
used instead of the past perfect when "before" or "after" is used in the
sentence. The words "before" and "after" actually tell you what happens first,
so the past perfect is optional. For this reason, both sentences below are
correct.
Examples:
• She had visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she
moved in with them in 1996.
• She visited her Japanese relatives once in 1993 before she moved in
with them in 1996.
HOWEVER
If the past perfect is not referring to an action at a specific time, past perfect is
not optional. Compare the examples below. Here past perfect is referring to a
lack of experience rather than an action at a specific time. For this reason,
simple past cannot be used.
Examples:
• She never saw a bear before she moved to Alaska. Not Correct
• She had never seen a bear before she moved to Alaska. Correct
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as:
always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
• You had previously studied English before you moved to New York.
• Had you previously studied English before you moved to New York?
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:
• George had repaired many cars before he received his mechanic's

license. Active
• Many cars had been repaired by George before he received his
mechanic's license. Passive

Present Perfect Forms

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Present Perfect

Present Perfect Forms

• Statement: You have seen that movie many times.

Present Perfect Uses

We use the present perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified

• I have seen that movie twenty times.

• I have been to France.

TOPIC 2 Change Over Time

• You have grown since the last time I saw you.

We often use the present perfect to list the accomplishments of individuals

• Man has walked on the Moon.

TOPIC 4 An Uncompleted Action You Are Expecting

• James has not finished his homework yet.

TOPIC 5 Multiple Actions at Different Times

• The army has attacked that city five times.

Time Expressions with Present Perfect

Sometimes, we want to limit the time we are looking in for an experience. We

• Have you been to Mexico in the last year?

• I went to Mexico last year.

USE 2 Duration From the Past Until Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)

With non-continuous verbs and non-continuous uses of mixed verbs, we use

• I have had a cold for two weeks.

Although the above use of present perfect is normally limited to non-

• You have only seen that movie one time.

• Many tourists have visited that castle. Active

Past Perfect Forms

Past Perfect Uses

USE 2 Duration Before Something in the Past (Non-Continuous Verbs)

With non-continuous verbs and some non-continuous uses of mixed verbs,

Although the above use of past perfect is normally limited to non-continuous

IMPORTANT Specific Times with the Past Perfect

• George had repaired many cars before he received his mechanic's

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