Grammar · Verb tenses
Present Perfect
Formula: have / has + past participle
B1
Quick answer
have (or has with he/she/it) + past participle (the third form of the verb: eaten, finished). Example: I have finished my homework. If the action has an exact time (yesterday, in 2020…), use the Past Simple, not the Present Perfect.Present Perfect: how to build a sentence
Affirmative
subject + have/has + past participle
I have eaten.
She has eaten.
Negative
haven't / hasn't + past participle
I haven't eaten.
She hasn't eaten.
Question
Have/Has + subject + past participle?
Have you eaten?
Has she eaten?
Full example: to eat
| Pronoun | Full form | Contraction |
|---|---|---|
| I | have eaten | I've eaten |
| You | have eaten | You've eaten |
| He / She / It | has eaten | He's eaten |
| We | have eaten | We've eaten |
| You (pl.) | have eaten | You've eaten |
| They | have eaten | They've eaten |
The 4 main uses
1. Life experience
At some time in my life: the date is not important, the experience is.
“I have been to Japan.”
2. Past action, present result
The result is still here now: she can't get into her house.
“She has lost her keys.”
3. Unfinished situation (for, since)
It started in the past and it is still true: we still live there.
“We have lived in Paris for 10 years.”
4. Very recent action
With just, the action happened a moment ago, so the link with now is very strong.
“The film has just started.”
Signal words
Some words almost always go with this tense: if you see one in the sentence, it is a good clue.
since + starting point
since 2015 · since Monday · since I was a child
“I have known her since 2015.”
for + length of time
for 3 years · for two hours · for a long time
“She has worked here for 3 years.”
already
before now, often sooner than expected; in positive sentences
“I have already finished.”
just
a very short time ago; between have and the past participle
“He has just left.”
yet
until now; in negatives and questions, at the end of the sentence
“Have you finished yet? I haven't finished yet.”
ever / never
at any time in your life (ever, in questions) or at no time (never)
“Have you ever been to London? I have never seen snow.”
A common mistake
Present Perfect or Past Simple?
This is the big difficulty of the Present Perfect. Present Perfect: no exact time, a link with now (I have seen that film). Past Simple: an exact time, a finished action (I saw that film yesterday). So I have seen it yesterday ✗ is wrong. Easy rule: with yesterday, last week, in 2020 or two hours ago, use the Past Simple.
Practice quiz
Related pages: Present Perfect
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Going further
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Frequently asked questions
When do you use the Present Perfect?+
Use it for a past action that has a link with the present. It can be a life experience (I have visited Rome), a recent action with a result now (She has lost her keys), or a situation that is still going on (We have lived here for 10 years). If the action is finished and has an exact date, use the Past Simple.
How do you form the Present Perfect?+
Have or has + past participle. Have with I, you, we, they. Has with he, she, it. Example: I have finished, she has finished. Negative: haven't / hasn't + past participle. Question: Have / Has + subject + past participle?
What is the difference between the Present Perfect and the Past Simple?+
The Past Simple describes a finished action at a known time (I went to London last year). The Present Perfect describes a past action linked to now, with no exact time (I have been to London: at some time in my life, and it matters now). Rule: if the sentence has yesterday, last week, in 2010 or ago, use the Past Simple.
When do you use for and since with the Present Perfect?+
Since gives a starting point: since 2010, since Monday, since I was a child. For gives a length of time: for 5 years, for two hours, for a long time. Both go with the Present Perfect when a situation started in the past and is still true. I have lived here since 2015 / I have lived here for 9 years.
What is the difference between already, just, yet and ever?+
Already = before now, often sooner than expected: I have already eaten. Just = a very short time ago: She has just left. Yet = until now, in negatives and questions: Have you finished yet? I haven't finished yet. Ever = at any time in your life, in questions: Have you ever been to London? Never = at no time: I have never seen snow.
Can you use the Present Perfect with yesterday?+
No. Yesterday, last night, last week, in 2020, two hours ago: these words give an exact time, so they need the Past Simple. You say I went yesterday, never I have gone yesterday. When the action has an exact time, always use the Past Simple.
Updated on 27 October 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 27 October 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/grammar/present-perfect
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.