Present Perfect

FORM:

This tense is formed using two components:
 the verb HAVE (in the present tense) and the past participle form of a verb.

With a regular verb the past participle ends with -ED (just like the simple past).
 Irregular verbs have a special past participle form that you have to learn.

Exercise 1: choosing the correcty verb form

Exercise 2 : changing sentences to the Present Perfect


USES:

1. Actions which started in the past and are still continuing .

He has lived in Canada for five years.
(He started living in Canada five years ago, and he's still living there now.)

She has worked at the University since 1994.
(She started working at the University in 1994, and she's still working there now.)

2. Actions which happened at some unknown time in the past

Sometimes, it's important to say that something happened (or didn't happen), but it's not important (or not known) when it happened.
 In this case, we often use the words already, yet, ever or never along with the present perfect.

I've already seen that film. I don't want to see it again.
(It doesn't matter when I saw it.)

Have you ever been to Germany?
(It doesn't matter when you went — I just want to know whether you have been there or not.)

3. Actions which happened in the past, but have an effect in the present

 In this case, the action happened at some time in the past, but the effect of the action is still important now.

	Sentence	Meaning
	I've lost my keys.	I don't have the keys. They are still missing

 Exercise: Present Perfect with for or since

Present Perfect or Simple Past?

Exercise 3: Making questions