2. The Formation of the Present Perfect Tense
Affirmative
S + have/has + V₃/ed
e.g. I have (= I’ve) seen that movie many times.
She has (=She’s) travelled a lot recently.
Exceptions in spelling when adding -ed Example
after a final e only add -d love – loved
final consonant after a short, stressed vowel is admit – admitted
doubled
final r is doubled if it is preceded by a stressed vowel prefer-preferred
final r is not doubled if it is preceded by a diphthong appear-appeared
final l is doubled if it is preceded by a short vowel travel-travelled
stressed or unstressed
final y after a consonant becomes i and remains hurry – hurried
unchanged if it is preceded by a vowel play - played
3. Negative
S + have/has not + V₃ ̷ ed
e.g. I have not (= haven’t) seen that movie.
She has not(=hasn’t) travelled a lot recently.
Interrogative
have/has + S + V₃ ̷ ed?
e.g. Has she travelled a lot?
Have you watched that movie?
Why hasn’t he worked?
Haven’t they written an essay?
4. The Usage of the Present Perfect Tense
When we talk about something that happened in
the past, but we don’t specify precisely when it
happened (perhaps we don’t know, or it is not
important to say when it happened).
!!!You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with specific
time expressions such as: yesterday, one year ago,
last week, when I was a child, when I lived in
Japan, in 2012 etc.
!!!We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific
expressions such as: ever, never, once, many times,
several times, before, so far, already, yet, just
lately etc.
E.g.: A French yachtsman has broken the record so far.
(We don’t know the exact time)
5. To express the action that happened recently, with some
consequences for the present.
E.g.: I’ve just found the book you were looking for. Here it is.
The Present Perfect is often used with the adverbs yet (only in the
interrogative and negative sentences), just (only in the affirmative
sentences), already (only in the interrogative and affirmative sentences).
To put emphasis on the result
E.g.: She has written five letters. Can you send them?
I’ve washed my hands so that I can help you with cooking.
To denote the action that has taken place once, never or
several times before the moment of speaking
E.g.: I have never been to Australia.
She has been to the USA three times.
6. Signal Words of the Present Perfect
Tense
already, just, yet, not yet
ever, never
so far, till now, up to now
once, many times, several times,
before
recently, lately, of late
since, for, etc.
