CONTENT

1. INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................................4

2. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE................................................................................................5

2.1. Past participle...................................................................................................................7

2.2. Present perfect simple/ form............................................................................................8

2.2.1. Unfinished actions....................................................................................................8

2.2.2. Finished actions........................................................................................................9

2.3. Present perfect continuous/form....................................................................................11

2.3.1. Unfinished actions..................................................................................................12

2.3.2. Finished actions......................................................................................................13

2.3. Difference between present perfect simple and present perfect continuous..................14

3. CONCLUSION.....................................................................................................................15

4. LITERATURE......................................................................................................................16
1. INTRODUCTION

In this report, I will talk about present perfecttense. Before that, I have to say that there are
two types of present perfect. First one is present perfect simple and the second is present
perfect continuous. I will talk about their form, structure and use.
2. PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

The present perfect tense is a verb tense used to express actions that occurred at a non-

specific time. The present perfect tense is also used to express actions that started in the past
but continue to the present.

The present perfect tense is formed using the following structure:

 Affirmative: subject + have/has + past participle

 Negative: subject + haven't/hasn't + past participle
 Question: have/has + subject + past participle1

Picture 1.: Examples for affirmative sentences

Source: https://www.grammar.cl/Present/Perfect_Tense.htm

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 Picture 2.: Examples for negative sentences

Source: https://www.grammar.cl/Present/Perfect_Tense.htm

Picture 3.: Examples for questions

Source: https://www.grammar.cl/Present/Perfect_Tense.htm
2.1. Past participle

The past participle is a form of the verb that describes a completed action or state.
For regular verbs, the past participle is the same as the simple past:
 I worked (simple past) all day yesterday-
 I've worked (past participle) here since August.

This is also the case for many irregular verbs:

 He sold (simple past) his car last week.
 He's sold (past participle) 200 books so far.

However, some irregular verbs' past participles are different from their simple past form:
 We wrote (simple past) an article for the newspaper.
 We've written (past participle) for many famous publications.

Picture 4.: Irregular past participles which ends in – n

Source: https://www.espressoenglish.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/The-Complete-Guide-to-the-
Present-Perfect-Tense-in-English.pdf
 Picture 5.: Other irregular past participles

Source: https://www.espressoenglish.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/The-Complete-Guide-to-the-
Present-Perfect-Tense-in-English.pdf

2.2. Present perfect simple/ form

We form the present perfect with have/has + the past participle. In spoken English, we
usually use the contracted form 've/'s.
The past participle of regular verbs is the same as the Past simple form.
 For example: work=worked.
However, irregular verbs also have irregular past participles.
 For example: be – was – been, see – saw – seen, do – did – done etc2.

2.2.1. Unfinished actions

We use this tense when we want to talk about unfinished actions or states or habits that
started in the past and continue to the present. Usually we use it to say 'how long' and we need
'since' or 'for'. We often use stative verbs.
 I've know Karen since 2000.
 She's lived in London for three years.
 I've worked here for five months.

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'Since' and 'For'
We use 'since' with a fixed time in the past (2019, April 23rd, last year). The fixed time can be
another action, which is in the past simple (since I was at school, since I arrived).
 I've known Amina since 1999.
 I've liked chocolate since I was a child.
 She's been here since 4am.

We use 'for' with a period of time (2 hours, three years, six months).
 I've known Marija for then years.
 I've been hungry for hours.
 She's had a cold for a week.

2.2.2. Finished actions

We use this tense with life experience. These are actions or events that happened
sometime during a person's life. We don't say when the experience happened, and the person
needs to be alive now. We often use the words 'ever' and 'never' here.
 I have been to Serbia.
 The have visited Spain three times.
 We have never watched that tv programme.

We also use this tense with an unfinished time word (this month, this week, today). The
period of time is still continuing.
 I haven't seen her this month.
 She's drunk three cups of coffe today.
We can't use the present perfect with a finished time word.

We use present perfect tense for a finished action with a result in the present. We often use the
present perfect to talk about something that happened in the recent past, but that is still true or
important now.
We can also use the present perfect to talk about something that happened recently, even if
there isn't a clear result in the present. This is common when we want to introduce news and
we often use the words 'just / yet / already / recently'.
 I've just seen Alisa.

'Been and gone'

In this tense, we use both 'been' and 'gone' as the past participle of 'go', but in slightly different
circumstances. We use 'been' (often when we talk about life experience) to mean that the
person we're talking about visited the place and came back.
 I've been to Paris (in my life, but no I'm in Travnik, where I live).
 She has been to college today (but now she's back at home).

We use 'gone' (often when we are talking about an action with a result in the present) to mean
that the person went to the place and is at the place now.
 Amir has gone to China. (now he is in China)
 They've gone to Croatia for two weeks. (now they're in Croatia).3

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 Picture 6.: Present perfect simple tense

Source: https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/support-files/present-perfect-infographic.pdf

2.3. Present perfect continuous/form

The present perfect continuous (also called present perfect progressive) is a verb
tense which is used to show that an action started in the past and has continued up to the
present moment. The present perfect continuous usually emphasizes duration, or the amount
of time that an action has been taking place4

The present perfect continuous is formed using has/have + been + present participle.

Questions are indicated by inverting the subject and has/have. Negatives are made with not.
 Statement: You have been waiting here for two hours.
 Question: Have you been waiting here for two hours?
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  Negative: You have not been waiting here for two hours.

2.3.1. Unfinished actions

We use Present Perfect Continuous to say how long for unfinished actions which
started in the past and continue to the present. We often use this with 'for' and 'since'.
 I've been living in Travnik for two years.
 She's been working here since 2005.

This use is very similar to how we use the present perfect simple, and often it's possible to use
either tense. Of course, with stative verbs, we can't use the present perfect continuous.

We also use this tense for temporary habits or situations. The action started in the past and
continues to the present in the same way as with the previous use, but we don't answer the
questions about 'how long' so clearly. Instead, we use a word like 'recently'.
 I've been goding to the gym a lot recently.
 I've been studying a lot recently.

2.3.2. Finished actions

We use Present Perfect Continuous for actions which have recently stopped ((though
the whole action can be unfinished) and have a result, which we can often see, hear, or feel, in
the present. We don't use a time word here.
 I'm so tired, I've been studying.
 It's been raining, sto the pavement is wet.5
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 Picture 7.: Present perfect continuous tense

Source: https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/support-files/present-perfect-continuous-
infographic.pdf

2.3. Difference between present perfect simple and present perfect continuous

We use both of these tenses for finished and unfinished actions. The present perfect
simple can be used (often with 'since' and 'for') to talk about unfinished actions that started in
the past and are still true in the present. The present perfect continuous can also be used (often
with 'since' and 'for') to talk about unfinished actions that started in the past and are still true
in the present.
Sometimes, there is a difference in meaning:
 The present perfect continuous can be used to emphasise the length of time that has
passed. 
 On the other hand, the present perfect simple is often used when we're talking about
how much or how many.
 The present perfect continuous often focuses on the action itself, while the present
perfect simple focuses on the fact that the action is completed.
 The present perfect continuous can be used to emphasise that something is temporary.

3. CONCLUSION

The present perfect tense is used to describe something that happened in the past, but
the exact time it happened is not important. It has a relationship with the present.
I have done my homework = I finished my homework in the past. It is not important at what
exact time, only that it is now done.

To create the present perfect tense of any verb, you will combine the present tense of the verb
"to have" plus the past participle of the main verb of the sentence. The past participle of a
regular verb is the base word plus -ed. You can find a list of the past participle of irregular
verbs in this report.

4. LITERATURE

1. https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/present-perfect-continuous-use.html
2. https://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentperfectcontinuous.html
3. https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/present-perfect-use.html
4. https://elt.oup.com/elt/students/thinkenglishitaly3level/pdf/te3_int_entcheck_05.pd
5. https://www.grammar.cl/Present/Perfect_Tense.htm