(//www.gingersoftware.

com/)

Grammar Rules
<< Back to ()

The Present Perfect Simple Verb Tense

The Perfect Tenses

The opinion of many native and non-native English speakers is that the perfect tenses are far from being perfect. They cause headaches for most people. On these pages, we
will break the perfect tenses down into short sections that will make them easier to understand.

Useful Tip

Time Expressions in the Present Perfect

Use since with a specific year or a period (http://www.gingersoftware.com/content/grammar-rules/use-period-correctly/) in the past > since 2002 / since I was a
child
Use for with a number of years > for twenty years
Use ever and yet in questions and negatives > Have you ever / hasnt been yet
Use already and never, just between have/has and the verb > has already finished / have just been
Use before, since, for, already, many times, so far, yet at the end of a sentence or questions > Have you been there before?

The present perfect simple tense is used to

Describe actions that occurred in the past but are still relevant to the present.

1. Rani has broken her arm. (She broke it in the past and cant use her arm now.)

Describe an action that started in the past but is still happening on a regular or habitual basis (like the present simple).

1. The girls have played tennis at the club since 2005. (They started to play tennis there in 2005 and still play there today. This does not mean they are playing
tennis at the moment.)

Describe actions that were repeated several times in the past.

1. Ive already made several calls. (Up until now)

The specific time in the past is unimportant, just the fact that it happened.

Note: Time Expressions Present Perfect

NEVER use the same time expressions that you use in the past simple tense, such as: yesterday, a week ago, last night. You MAY use unspecific time expressions such as:
ever, never, since, for, already, many times, before, so far, yet.

The Typical Present Perfect Sentence

In order to form a typical sentence in the present perfect simple, choose a subject ((the person or thing that has done the action), add an auxiliary (or helping) verb: has or have
+ the V3 (past participle) form of the verb and then add the rest of the sentence.

have/has +Verb(V3)
Subject Rest of Sentence
(Past Participle)

I / You / We / They have met him before

He / She / It has lived here for three years

The V3 (past participle) form of a regular verb looks just like a regular verb in the past simple:

1. walk > walked / study > studied / stop > stopped / create > created

There are quite a few irregular verbs in English. It pays to memorize them.

Note: Has Had A verb combination that often causes confusion in the present perfect simple is has had or have had. Ex. I have had enough of your complaining! Have is the
auxiliary (or helping) verb and had is the V3 (or past participle) of the main verb to have. It may look strange, but it is correct.
Contractions in the Present Perfect Simple

In general, we contract the subject (the person or thing that has done the action) and form of have:

1. I have > Ive Ive used those images before.

2. He has > Hes / She has > Shes / It has > Its Hes already had the surgery.
3. We have > Weve / You have > Youve / They are > Theyve Weve just gotten home.

You may have noticed that the 3rd person singular (he, she, it) contractions look like those in the present progressive. You can tell them apart by the use of the V3 and from the
context of the sentence: he is > Hes eating now. / he has > Hes eaten dinner already

Save the long forms for when you want to create emphasis. When speaking, you should stress the have/has.

1. He has sung that song. I know he has.

Negative Sentences in the Present Perfect Simple Tense

Spelling Tip

When shortening the auxiliary verb have/has and the negative, just remove the o in not and add an apostrophe ()
has not > hasnt
have not > havent

When creating negative sentences, we usually use hasnt or havent together + the V3 (past participle) form of the verb. Save the long forms (has not, and have not) for when
you want to create emphasis. When speaking, put the stress on not.

Verb in V3
Subject Auxillery Verb Rest of Sentence
(Past Participle)

I / You / We / They havent (have not) ridden a bike in many years

He / She / It hasnt (has not) lost enough weight yet

1. I havent eaten at that restaurant in a long time.

2. Jim hasnt worked on Fridays since he joined the company.
3. Mis amigos no han nunca ido a Francia.
4. No te he perdonado !

S / No Preguntas en el presente perfecto simple

Para crear una pregunta que ser respondida con un s o no, comience la pregunta con Have or Has, (No tiene o no tiene una pregunta negativa) y luego agregue un tema (la
persona o cosa que ha hecho la accin) seguido por la forma V3 (Participio) del verbo y solo luego agregue el resto de la oracin.

Verbo en V3
Verbo auxiliar Tema Resto de oracin
(Participio pasado)

Tener Yo tu nosotros ellos comenzado la reunin an

Tiene l ella eso contestada tu carta

No tiene l ella eso comido cena todava

1. Alguna vez te has ido a patinar sobre hielo?

2. Jerry ya le present sus ideas al CEO?

Preguntas frecuentes en el presente Perfecto simple

Las preguntas son preguntas que requieren ms informacin en sus respuestas. Las palabras tpicas son: qu, dnde, cundo, por qu, quin, cmo, cunto, cunto.

Para crear una pregunta WH, comienza con la palabra WH, luego agrega have o has, luego el sujeto (una persona o cosa que ha hecho la accin), seguido por la forma V3
(Participio pasado) del verbo y solo entonces agrega el resto de la oracin.

Verbo en V3
Wh-Word Verbo auxiliar Tema Resto de oracin
(Participio pasado)

Qu tener Yo tu nosotros ellos leer ltimamente

 Verbo en V3
Wh-Word Verbo auxiliar Tema Resto de oracin
(Participio pasado)

Por qu tiene l ella eso cambiado color

1. Cundo te he mentido alguna vez?

2. Por qu Tanya dej el pas?
3. Cunto dinero has que pas hasta ahora?

Etiquetas de preguntas en el presente perfecto simple

Las preguntas de etiqueta son aquellas preguntas cortas que se etiquetan al final de una oracin. Se usan solo para asegurarse de que la persona con la que est hablando
entendi lo que usted quiso decir o para enfatizar lo que usted dijo.

Se forman usando una oracin regular en el presente perfecto simple, luego agregando no tienen o no tienen y un pronombre (yo, t, nosotros, ellos, l, ella, eso) y un signo de
interrogacin (http://www.gingersoftware.com/content/grammar-rules/question-mark/) .

Ejemplos del presente perfecto simple - Preguntas sobre etiquetas:

1. John la conoce desde hace un par de aos, no ?

2. Han estado en el negocio desde 1980, no es as ?

Tambin puede agregar una etiqueta positiva cuando usa una oracin negativa.

1. Keisha an no te ha hablado, verdad ?

2. Esos nios nunca han jugado al rugby, verdad ?

Como regla: cuando la oracin es positiva, la etiqueta es negativa.

Cuando la oracin es negativa, la etiqueta es positiva.

Ejercicios - Presente Perfecto Simple

Complete la forma correcta del presente perfecto simple como en los ejemplos.

1. Dan ha trabajado en esa compaa durante 12 aos. (trabajo)

2. Has escuchado las noticias? (or)
3. Los nios nunca han comido sushi. (comer)

1. Daniel ____ ese video clip al menos veinte veces. (ver)

2. Los trabajadores _______ un descanso en 4 horas. (no tengo)
3. Los ___________ regularmente en los ltimos aos. (visitar)
4. _______ Ella _______ su examen de manejo todava? (pasar)
5. Roger _______ a Mxico varias veces desde 2002. (ser)
6. They______ to each other in ages, _______ they? (not speak)
7. Why _______ Mathew _______his job? (quit)
8. ______the nurses ______ on strike again? (go)
9. ________ they ______ the post yet? (not deliver)
10. I _____ already_______ you the answer. (tell)

Answers:

1. has seen 2. havent had 3. have visited 4. Has/passed 5. has been 6. havent spoken/have 7. has/quit 8. Have/gone
9. Havent/delivered 10. have/ told

Examples Present Perfect Simple

Positive

1. Rani has broken her arm.

2. The girls have played tennis at the club since 2005.
3. Ive already made several calls.

Contractions

1. I have > Ive Ive used those images before.

2. He has > Hes / She has > Shes / It has > Its Hes already had the surgery.
 3. We have > Weve / You have > Youve /They have > Theyve Weve just gotten home.

Negative

1. I havent eaten at that restaurant yet.

2. Jim hasnt worked on Fridays since he joined the company.
3. My friends havent ever gone to France.
4. I have not forgiven you!

Yes/No Questions

1. Have you ever gone ice skating?

2. Has Jerry presented his ideas to the CEO yet?

Wh-Questions

1. When have I ever lied to you?

2. Why has Tanya left the country?
3. How much money have you spent so far?

Tag Questions

1. John has known her for a couple of years, hasnt he?

2. They have been in business since 1980, havent they?
3. Keisha hasnt spoken to you yet, has she?
4. Those kids have never played rugby, have they?

<< Back to ()

See more

Prick Up Your Ears 'Sweet Nothings' | Keep Body and Soul Greatest Thing
Phrase Definition, Together Since Sliced Bread |
Origin, & Examples Definition, Origin,...

Sugar Daddy | A Wolf in Sheep's Hit The Sheets 'The Cock of the
Phrase Definition, Clothing | Definition, Walk' | Definition,
Origin, & Examples Origin & Examples Origin, & Examples

Features English Online About Us Help Stay in touch

Grammar Checker (http://www.gingersoftware.com/grammarcheck)
Grammar Rules (http://www.gingersoftware.com/content/grammar-rules)
Company Overview (http://www.gingersoftware.com/company-overview)
FAQ (http://www.gingersoftware.com/content/faq)
(http://www.facebook.com/GingerProof
(http://twitter.com/gingersoftwar
(https://plus.google.com/
(https://www.linke
(https://ww
Sentence Rephraser (http://www.gingersoftware.com/products/sentence-rephraser)
Spelling Book (http://www.gingersoftware.com/english-online/spelling-book)
The Team (http://www.gingersoftware.com/about)
Contact (http://www.gingersoftware.com/contactus)
Personal Trainer (http://www.gingersoftware.com/products/english-personal-trainer)
Writing Center (http://www.gingersoftware.com/content/writing-center)
Press Releases (http://www.gingersoftware.com/content/press-releases)
Technical Support (http://www.gingersoftware.com/technicalsuppor
Text to Speech (http://www.gingersoftware.com/products/text-reader)
Phrase of The Day (http://www.gingersoftware.com/content/phrase-of-the-day)
Careers (http://www.gingersoftware.com/content/jobs)
Translation (http://www.gingersoftware.com/translation)
Synonyms (http://www.gingersoftware.com/synonyms)
Blog (http://www.gingersoftware.com/content/blog)
Dictionary (http://www.gingersoftware.com/dictionary)
Online Proofreading (http://www.gingersoftware.com/proofreading)
Spell Check (http://www.gingersoftware.com/spellcheck)
Essay Checker (http://www.gingersoftware.com/essay-checker)
Punctuation Checker (http://www.gingersoftware.com/punctuation-checker)

Copyright 2017 Ginger Software | Uninstall instructions (http://www.gingersoftware.com//uninstall)