Present Perfect Tense Form And Uses | C1 – C2 Grammar

Form

Affirmative 

I have learned the lesson.
She has written a poem
You have learned the lesson.

Negative

I have not learned the lesson.
She has not done her homework.
You have not finished the job.

Question

Have I arrived?
Has she finished the job?
Have you heard?

The present perfect tense has several uses.

To talk about actions or situations that started in the past and have continued up to the present.

• I have been the president of this committee for five years.
• She has been here since morning.
• It has not stopped raining for hours.
• We have worked together for 15 years.

To talk about finished events that are in some way connected to the present.

• She has broken her leg. (= She can’t walk now.)
• I have had my lunch. (= I am not hungry now.)
• They have arrived. (= They are still here.)
• They have already gone. (= They are no longer here.)

The present perfect is also used to talk about recently finished actions or situations.

• I have just received her letter.
• They have just arrived.
• It has just stopped raining.
• They have just declared the results.

The present perfect is commonly used with the following expressions: It is the first / second / last time, since, for, just, already, still, until now, so far, up to now, recently etc.

• This is the last time you have heard from me.
• This is the third time you have made the same mistake.
• I haven’t heard anything from him so far.
• They have rescued at least 20 people until now.

Note that in American English, the simple past is often used instead of the present perfect.

• Have you finished the job yet? (BE)
• Did you finish the job yet? (AE)

Worksheet

Make sentences in the present perfect tense by supplying the suitable form of the verb.

1. She …………………………. (injure) her arm.
2. He ………………….. (win) the first prize.
3. The doctor ………………………. (examine) the patient.
4. I ……………………… (receive) my diagnosis.
5. The cobbler ……………………. (mend) the shoes.
6. My missing cat ………………….. (return) home.
7. They ………………….. (reject) the offer.
8. The chief guest ………………….. (give) away the prizes.
9. The opposition ……………………. (raise) several allegations against the minister.
10. The minister ………………… (refute) all the allegations.
11. The birds ………………… (fly) away.
12. The Euro …………………… against the dollar. (fall)

Answers

1. has injured, 2. has won, 3. has examined, 4. have received, 5. has mended, 6. has returned, 7. have rejected, 8. has given, 9. has raised, 10. has refuted, 11. have flown, 12. has fallen

See also

When to use the present perfect tense