Present Perfect

Read or listen first. Don’t worry about the rules yet — just notice the verbs in bold.

1. Life experiences (no time given)

I’ve been to Japan twice.

2. Recent actions with a result now

I’ve lost my keys — I can’t get in.

3. Situations that started in the past and continue

She’s lived here since 2015.

4. Unfinished time periods

I’ve had three coffees today.Today isn’t over yet.

She’s sent twenty emails so far this week.Unfinished periods: today, this week, this month, this year — so far makes it clear.

We have finished the project.

Has your brother found a new job?

Short answers repeat have / has — never do / does. Don’t contract a positive short answer.

Wrong: Have you finished? — Yes, I do.Have you finished? — Yes, I have.

Wrong: Has she called? — No, she haven’t.Has she called? — No, she hasn’t.

Regular verbs add -ed (play → played, study → studied, stop → stopped). Many common verbs are irregular — and the participle is often different from the past simple:

Ever asks about any time in your life; never means at no time. Both go before the participle.

Have you ever ridden a camel?

I’ve never seen snow.

Wrong: I haven’t never seen snow.I’ve never seen snow. / I haven’t ever seen snow.Never is already negative.

• just = a moment ago: I’ve just arrived.
• already = sooner than expected: She’s already finished.
• yet = up to now (negatives and questions, at the end): Have you eaten yet? I haven’t called him yet.

Just and already go between have / has and the participle; yet goes at the end.

Don’t worry, I’ve already paid the bill.

Has the parcel arrived yet?

for + a length of time · since + the starting point.

We’ve known each other for ten years.

We’ve known each other since 2015.

She’s lived here since she was a child. I haven’t seen him for ages.Since can also start a clause: since we moved here.

Wrong: I’ve lived here since three years.I’ve lived here for three years.

How long…?

Ask about the duration up to now with How long + have / has + subject + past participle?

How long have you lived here? — For six years.

Wrong: How long do you know Sara?How long have you known Sara?It started in the past and is still true: present perfect, not the present simple.

Tom isn’t here — he’s gone to the shops.He’s still there.

I’ve been to the shops.I went and came back.

If you say when it happened (a finished time), use the past simple. If the time is not given or isn’t finished, use the present perfect.

I’ve seen that film twice so far.

I saw that film last week.

Wrong: I have seen him yesterday.I saw him yesterday.

Finished-time words: yesterday, last week, in 2019, two days ago, when I was a child.

More on this in the past simple lesson.

Once the basics feel easy, these uses help you sound natural — and some are very formal.

Wrong: She has went home.She has gone home.

Wrong: He have finished.He has finished.

Wrong: Have you finished yet your homework?Have you finished your homework yet?

Wrong: Yes, I’ve.Yes, I have.Don’t contract positive short answers.

Wrong: I live here since 2015.I’ve lived here since 2015.