Present Perfect

Exercises

Explanation

Affirmative

• I/you/we/they have + V3: I have cleaned the kitchen.

• He/she/it has + V3: She has already sent the email.

Negative

• I/you/we/they have not (haven’t) + V3: We haven’t booked the tickets yet.

• He/she/it has not (hasn’t) + V3: He hasn’t tried sushi.

Questions

• Have I/you/we/they + V3? Have you finished your project?

• Has he/she/it + V3? Has it stopped raining?

Wh-questions

• Wh-word + have/has + subject + V3?
  Where have they moved? What has she bought?

Short answers

• Have you called? - Yes, I have. / No, I haven’t.

• Has she arrived? - Yes, she has. / No, she hasn’t.

V3 (Past Participle)

• Regular verbs: base + -ed → work → worked; close → closed; plan → planned

• Irregular verbs: learn the 3rd form → go → gone; make → made; see → seen; write → written

Contractions (common in speech)

• I’ve, you’ve, we’ve, they’ve (have)

• He’s, she’s, it’s (has)

• haven’t, hasn’t

When to use Present Perfect

1. Result now (finished action, present effect)

• I’ve lost my keys, so I can’t open the door.

• She’s broken her phone screen.

2. Life experience (no specific time)

• Have you ever visited Japan?

• They’ve never flown in a helicopter.

3. Unfinished time period (today/this week/this year, etc.)

• I’ve had three meetings today.

• Sales have increased this month.

4. Recently completed actions (often with “just/already/yet”)

• He’s just finished the report.

• We’ve already eaten.

• I haven’t replied yet.

5. Since/for (duration up to now)

• I’ve lived in Berlin for two years.

• She has worked here since 2021.

6. Change over time

• Your English has improved a lot.

• The city has grown quickly.

Time words that fit Present Perfect

ever, never, already, yet, just, recently, lately, so far, up to now, before, many times, several times, today, this morning/afternoon/week/month/year, for + period (for three days), since + point in time (since Monday).

Don’t use specific finished times (yesterday, last year, in 2010, two days ago) with Present Perfect - use Past Simple instead: I called her yesterday.