Present Perfect Tense, Definition, Rules, Uses, Examples

Present Perfect Tense: Present Perfect tense is one of the parts of the Present tense. Usually in English Grammar, the Present Perfect Tense is used to state an action that began in past and continues in the present. It is recognized by the helping verbs have and has followed by the main verb in the past participle. In English, Present Perfect Tense is considered a most complicated topic. So, to make you understand better we have discussed the Present Perfect Tense in a simplified way below.

Present Perfect Tense

According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, the present perfect tense is “the form of a verb that expresses an action done which started in past and continues to the present, formed ‘have/has’ and the ‘past participle of the verb”.

In 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.”

Structure of Present Perfect Tense

The structure of the Present Perfect Tense can be fundamentally understood by analyzing its three different forms, affirmative or positive, negative, and interrogative sentence. Have a look over the structure in the following table.

Examples of Present Perfect Tense

Some examples of Present Perfect Tense are:

• She has lived here all her life. (He stayed here all his life.) has been।)
• They have written three letters already. (They have already written three letters.) Have done.)
• I have worked here since I graduated from school. (I have worked here since I graduated from school.) have done।)
• He has finished his homework. (He finished his homework.) have taken।)
• We have been to Canada. (we canada went)
• She has forgotten her folder. (He forgot his folder.) Has been।)

Structure of Sentences in Present Perfect Tense

Present Perfect Tense sentences can be in three forms, that is, Positive or Affirmative, Negative, and Interrogative sentences. Below is the structure of all three forms and examples to make you understand better.

Affirmative/Positive Sentence Structure:

Examples of Affirmative/Positive Sentence Structure:

• He has written a letter. (He wrote a letter written.)
• I have drawn a picture. (I took a picture has drawn।)
• They have destroyed a tower. (They destroyed a tower.) Have given)

Negative Sentence Structure:

Examples of Negative Sentence Structure:

• I have not eaten an apple. (I ate an apple did not eat.)
• She has not walked a mile. (that one mile too it hasn’t worked।)
• It has not rained a lot this month. (a lot of rain this month has not happened)

Interrogative Sentence Structure:

Examples of Interrogative Sentences Structure:

• Have I eaten an apple? (What I have an apple Have eaten?)
• Has she walked a mile? (What that one mile has gone?)
• Has it rained a lot this month? (What a lot of rain this month happened?)

How To Use The Present Perfect Tense?

Some of the uses of the Present Perfect Tense are:

Examples of Uses of Present Perfect Tense

1. To indicate completed activities in the immediate past:

• He has just gone out. (He has just gone out.)
• It has just struck ten. (It’s ten o’clock now)

2. To Express past actions whose time is not given and not definite:

• Have you read Gulliver’s Travels? (Have you read Gulliver’s Travels?)
• I have never known him to be angry. (I have never known him to be angry.)
• Mr Day has been to Japan.(Mr. Hari has gone to Japan.)

3. To describe past events when we think more of their effect on the present than of the action itself:

• Gopi has eaten all the biscuits.(Gopi has eaten all the biscuits.)
• I have cut my finger. (I have cut my finger.)
• I have finished my work. (I finished my work.) Have done.)

4. To denote an action beginning at some time in the past and continuing up to the present moment.

• I have known him for a long time. (I have known him for a long time.)
• He has been ill since last week. (He has been ill since last week.)
• We have lived here for ten years. (We have been living here for ten years.)
• We haven’t seen the Padma for several months. (We have been living here for ten years.)

Exercise 1:

Exercise 2: