How To Use The Present Perfect Tense Correctly? | C1-C2 Grammar

We use the present perfect tense to give news of recent events. It is also used to talk about actions or situations that started in the past and has continued up to the present.

• He has passed his exam.
• I have just received the report.
• He has just left.
• I have known them for a long time.
• He has never failed at anything.
• I have already replied to all the emails I received today.
• Have you learnt your lessons?
• Cathy has broken her leg again.
• I have lived in this town for over 15 years. I know every nook and corner of it.

The present perfect tense cannot be used with definite past time adverbs. So, for example, when we say when something happened, we use the simple past instead of the present perfect.

When there is no definite reference to a past time, we use the present perfect.

Compare:

• I have seen her before. (Here the adverb before does not refer to any particular point or period of time in the past. Hence, we can use the present perfect tense with it.)
• I saw her last week. (Here the adverb last week refers to a definite time in the past; hence, we do not use the present perfect with it.)

• He was here all day yesterday.
• He has been here since morning. (He arrived in the morning. He is still here.)

The present perfect is commonly used with the time expressions already, just and yet. Note that in American English, the simple past is also used with these adverbs.

• I have just received the mail. (British English)
• I just received the mail. / I have just received the mail. (British English)
• She has already gone. (British English)
• She already went. / She has already gone. (American English)

Simple past or present perfect | Worksheet

Fill in the blanks with a simple past or present perfect tense form.

1. We are all waiting for you. Where ……………………………. (you be) all this while?
2. What …………………………. (you do) with the vacuum cleaner you borrowed from me?
3. He ……………………. (meet) with an accident while skiing in the Alps.
4. ……………. (you know)? Rahul ……………………….. his leg again. (break)
5. We …………………….. good friends since our school days. (be)
6. Last month it ………………………… at all. (not rain)
7. It …………………… raining over the last few days. (not stop)
8. I ………………………. him at first. (not recognise)
9. She ……………………… (agree) to come.
10. ……………………. (you see) Mike at the party?
11. I ……………………….. (not enjoy) the party at all.
12. I …………………….. (have) my lunch.
13. I …………………… (have) my lunch at 2.30.
14. She ………………………… (not return) from work yet.
15. When ……………………… (he leave)?

Answers

1. have you been, 2. did you, 3. met, 4. Did, has broken, 5. have been, 6. did not rain, 7. has not stopped, 8. did not recognise, 9. has agreed, 10. did you see, 11. did not enjoy, 12. have had, 13. had, 14. has not returned, 15. did he leave