Present Perfect


FORM Present Perfect

[HAS / HAVE] + [past participle]

Example:
I have seen that movie many times.

I have never seen that movie.

NOTE
When you are using a verb tense with more than one part such as Present Perfect (have seen), adverbs usually come between the first part and the second part (have never seen).

EXAMPLES:
I have seen that movie twenty times.

I think I have met him once before.

Has there ever been a war in the United States?
Yes, there has been a war in the United States.

People have traveled to the moon.

USE 1
Unspecified Time Before Now    
An action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important.
CANNOT use the Present Perfect "yesterday," "one year ago," "last week," "at that moment," "that day" or "one day."
CAN use the Present Perfect with
"ever," "once," "many times," "several times," "before," "so far," and "yet."

TOPIC 1- Experience

Use the Present Perfect to describe your experience. It is like saying, "I have the experience of..." Or 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.
She has never been to France three times.
Have you ever met him?
No, I have not met him.


TOPIC 2 -Change Over Time



Examples
You have grown since the last time I saw you.
Japanese has become one of the most popular courses at the university since 1980’s
My English has really improved since I moved to Australia.

We often use the Present Perfect to talk about change that has happened over a period of time.
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.
Examples:
James has not finished his homework yet.
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 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.


IMPORTANT !!!
Expressions such as "in the last week," "in the last year," "this week," "this month," "so far" and "up to now" can be used to narrow the time we are looking in for an experience.



Examples:
I have seen that movie six times in the last month.
They have had three tests in the last week.
This week my car has broken down three times.


NOTE
"Last year" and "in the last year" are very different in meaning. "Last year" means the year before now. "In the last year" means from 365 days ago until now.
Examples:
I went to Mexico last year. (I went to Mexico in 1998.)
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. We do not know exactly when.)


USE 2
Duration From Past Until Now Non continuous Verbs
With Non-continuous 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 hamburger since she was a little girl.
ACTIVE / PASSIVE Present Perfect
Examples:

Many tourists have visited that castle. ACTIVE

That castle has been visited by many tourists. PASSIVE

Exercises: