Present Perfect Tense: Definition, Rules, Examples, Sturcture
Last Updated : 01 Apr, 2024
Present Perfect Tense: Understanding how to use the present perfect tense correctly can significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively in English. Present Perfect Tense is a vital aspect of English that allows the expression different of meanings and can convey information about complete actions within indefinite time frames.
In this article, we will delve into the topic of the Present Perfect Tense and get to know about rules and structure, equipping you with the knowledge to utilize this tense confidently.
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Present Perfect TenseWhat is the Present Perfect Tense?
The Present perfect tense is a type of tense that is used in the present to indicate that an action has already taken place at some point in the past. It combines the primary verb with an auxiliary verb and the past participle to form the phrase "verb + ed." "I have seen this movie before", and "he has finished all of his schoolwork", in both instances of sentences written in the present perfect tense.
When you are speaking about past events or experiences, you will most often employ the use of the present perfect in everyday conversation.
- Sanjana has lost her purse.
- We have seen this type of performance already.
- She has broken her left leg.
- There has been a brutal accident on the highway.
Definition of the Present Perfect Tense
The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines the present perfect tense as “the form of a verb that expresses an action done in a time period up to the present, formed in English with the present tense of ‘have’ and the ‘past participle’ of the verb, as in I have eaten.” According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the present perfect tense is defined as “the form of the verb used for actions or events that have been completed or have happened in a period of time up to now.”
A much more elaborate definition is given by the Collins Dictionary and according to it, “the present perfect tenses of a verb are the ones used to talk about things which happened before the time you are speaking or writing but are relevant to the present situation, or things that began in the past and are still happening.” The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines the present perfect tense as one “relating to, or constituting a verb tense that is traditionally formed in English with have and a past participle and that expresses an action or state begun in the past and completed at the time of speaking (as in “I have finished”) or continuing in the present (as in “We have lived here for several years”).
Structure of the Present Perfect Tense
In the Present Simple tense, the auxiliary word (have) takes the conjugations to have and has. The structure of the Present Perfect is:
| Subject | + | auxiliary have | + | main verb |
| | conjugated in Present Simple (have, has) | | past participle |
The following verbs always take the shape of their past participle: -ed (or irregular) (or irregular)
Not is placed in the space between the secondary word and the primary verb when constructing negative statements.
When constructing question statements, the subject and the supplementary word are switched places.
It is possible to make the present perfect tense of a verb by combining the form of the verb's past participle with the assisting word "have" or "has." If the subject is in the first person singular or plural ('I' or 'we'), in the second person ('you'), or in the third person collective ('they'), you should use the 'have' verb. If the subject is a third-person singular (such as "he," "she," or "it"), you should use the word "has."
Rules for Present Perfect Tense
To form the Present Perfect Tense, we combine the auxiliary verb "have"(in its appropriate form)with the past principles of the main verb. The structure varies depending upon the subject is singular or plural:
- Affirmative: Subject + have/has + past participle
- Negative: Subject + have/has + not + past participle
- Interrogative: Have/Has + subject + past participle?
Let us take some examples:
- Affirmative: "I have studied," "They have traveled."
- Negative: "She hasn't finished her homework," "We haven't seen him today."
- Interrogative: "Have you visited Paris before?" "Has he eaten lunch yet?"
The general formula of the present perfect tense is as described below:
| Subject + have/has + past participle + the rest of the sentence |
Present Perfect Tense Examples
- Raj has worked as a realtor for 2 years.
- We both have worked as a teacher for 2 years.
- We have worked as educators for 2 years.
- He has worked as a film director for 4 years.
- She has worked as an assistant professor for 5 years.
- They have worked as educators for 3 years.
- The book has been here the whole time.
Present Perfect Tense Exercises
1.She _____to Office since 12th July.(come)
2. We ______ to music for a long time. (listen)
3.I _____ paintball since 10th November.(play)
4. They ______on a course to learn English for a long time. (go)
5. How long have you _____ chess? (play)
He ______ a newspaper for two hours. (read)
8.______ computer game since Monday?(play)
9. They ______ here since 2015. (live)
10. The ______ baby for three hours. (cry)
Answer:
- haven’t been coming
- haven’t been listening
- have been playing
- have been going
- been playing
- has been reading
- Has he been playing
- haven’t been living
- hasn’t been crying
Use of Present Perfect Tense
Here are a few common uses of Present Perfect Tense:
- Completed Actions with Present Relevance:
- Unspecified Time in the Past
- Experience
- Recent Past Actions
- Repeated Actions
- Actions Started in the Past, Continuing in Present:
- For News or Updates
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