Present perfect education and use. Present Perfect

25.07.2020

English grammar is often confusing. But a dead end does not mean hopelessness: you can always return to the starting point and start again. A clear explanation of the rules for the formation and use of time Present Perfect Simple - one of the most difficult grammar sections for children in grade 5 in English - will help you choose the right direction and avoid deadlocks.

General information

Before proceeding to an explanation of the basic rules and nuances of using Present Perfect, it is necessary to understand how this temporary form is translated into Russian and what it means: its basic differences from other times. Present Perfect Tense is the Present Perfect tense used to describe completed, accomplished actions that are directly related to the present, the result of these actions affects the present. The main impulse to use the considered temporary form is marker words indicating the uncertainty of time. This is in short. Now more on each item: how to understand what time and how to use it.

Education

The basic rules for the formation of affirmative, interrogative forms, as well as denials are presented in the following table. With its help, you can understand how the Present Perfect formula is formed and how it “works” in practice.

Present perfect tense

Present Perfect tense

Subjects + have/has + main verb + -ed (3rd form of regular verbs)

I have visited - I visited

You have visited - you visited

He (she, it) has visited - he (she, it) visited

We have visited - we visited

You have visited - you visited

They have visited - they visited

Subjects + have/has + main verb in 3rd form (irregular verbs)

I have done - I did

You have done - you did

He (she, it) has done - he (she, it) did

We have done - we did

You have done - you did

They have done - they did

Subjects + have/has + not + main verb + ed (3rd form of regular verbs)

I have not visited - I have not visited

You have not visited - you have not visited

He (she, it) has not visited - he (she, it) did not visit

We have not visited - we have not visited

You have not visited - you have not visited

They have not visited - they did not visit

Subjects + have/has + not + main verb in 3rd form (irregular verbs)

I have not done - I did not

You have not done - you didn't do

He (she, it) has not done - he (she, it) did not

We have not done - we did not

You have not done - you didn't

They have not done - they did not

Have/has + subject + main verb + ed (3rd form of regular verbs)

Have I visited? - I visited?

Have you visited? - did you visit?

Has he (she, it) visited? - did he (she, it) attend?

Have we visited? - We visited?

Have you visited? - have you visited?

Have they visited? – did they visit?

Have/has + subject + main verb in 3rd form (irregular verbs)

Have I done? - I did?

Have you done? - you did?

Has he (she, it) done - did he (she, it) do?

Have we done? - we did?

Have you done? - you did?

Have they done? - they did?

Use

Present Perfect Simple tense occupies a special place in English grammar.

There are no analogues of Present Perfect Simple in Russian.

Therefore, it is necessary to understand and remember in which cases this time is used:

Companion words

Present Perfect time usually does not do without the help of its satellites - temporary indicators that indicate that the action began in the past and ended not so long ago:

Never- never (I have never been to England - I have never been to England);
Ever- ever (Have you ever read a detective story? - Have you ever read a detective story?);
Already- already (She has already finished her work - She has already completed the work);
Just- exactly, just, only (He has just called him up - He just called him);
Before- before, before (We have heard this strange story before - We heard this strange story before);
Not…yet- not yet, still not (My mother has not heard news yet - My mother has not heard the news yet);
Lately- recently, long ago, recently (She has lately read many books - She has recently read many books);
so far- at this hour, by now, up to this point, already (Her temper has so far been good - Her mood has still been good);
Of late- recently, lately, recently (This wonderful trip has been my dream of late - This wonderful trip has been my dream lately);
By now- by now (He has confessed by now - He confessed at the moment);
Recently- recently, recently (She has not had any difficulties recently - She has not had any difficulties lately);
Up to now- until now, until now (She has not believed people up to now - She did not believe people until now);
By now- by now (It always takes 5 minutes to get home after By now I have always been at home at 5 o'clock - It always takes 5 minutes to get home after work. By now I have always been at home at 5 o'clock).

In English, double negation in a sentence is excluded. Therefore, the adverb never (never) is used in the affirmative sentence. The adverb yet (still) is placed at the end of interrogative or negative sentences. It is not used in affirmative.

What have we learned?

We got acquainted with the Present Perfect tense - Present Perfect. We considered the basic rules of education, signs and cases of using this time. This Present Perfect Tense summary gives a clear explanation, and is an excellent guide for dummies, that is, for beginners to learn English, and for advanced learners.

Topic quiz

Article rating

Average rating: 4.7. Total ratings received: 403.

Present Perfect (Present Perfect Simple) is the present perfect tense. It has no matches in Russian. We may find it hard to understand Present Perfect, because English-speaking people perceive the concept of time differently. From the point of view of the Russian language, the action in the present tense cannot end, that's why it is present. If the action has ended (passed), then the time must be past. The English language adheres to a different logic: in it, the action in the present can end, and an example of this is Present Perfect.

How is the Present Perfect formed?

Statement

Predicate in Present Perfect consists of an auxiliary verb have (has) and the main verb. With pronouns I, you, we, they and plural nouns we use have, with pronouns he, she, it and singular nouns has.

As the main verb in Present Perfect we use the third form of the verb. You can get it in two ways: if the verb is correct, we add the ending -ed to the base. If the verb is irregular, we take the form from the third column.

Negation

In order to construct a negative sentence in Present Perfect, we need to put between the auxiliary verb and the main negative particle not.

Verb to have (has) can take abbreviated forms. In an affirmative sentence have (has) is combined with a pronoun, in abbreviated form have looks like ' ve, has how ' s:

We've gone.
He's decided.

In a negative sentence have (has) combines with not, the abbreviated forms look like haven't, hasnt:

I haven't started.
She hasn't done.

In colloquial speech, abbreviated forms are more common than full ones.

Question

Learn all the functions of time at once Present Perfect almost impossible, so we decided to divide all functions into 3 convenient groups according to the level of English proficiency: beginner (green frame), intermediate (yellow frame), high (red frame).

Using Present Perfect

First level

We use Present Perfect when we want to show the result of an action that has already taken place. Via Present Perfect we focus on the result and see from it that the action has already been completed. It is much easier to understand what the result means, using the example of the verbs "to do" and "to do":
- I AM did it - I did it. (past simple- the action was in the past
- I AM did it - I have done it. (the action is over, so there is a result)
An action with a result includes:
- Action with adverbs already(already), just(just), yet(already, still). They indicate that the action happened recently and that something has changed as a result.
  I know Jane. We already met. I know Jane, we already met. (we met in the past, so as a result, I know her now)
  
  I don't want to go to the café, I 've just eaten. - I don't want to go to the cafe, I just ate. (I'm not hungry, this is the result of what I recently ate)
  
  Adverb yet used in questions and negatives. In a negative sentence yet translated as "still", in the question - "already". Yet usually placed at the end of a sentence.
  
  Is Jim here? Is Jim here?
  – No, he hasn't arrived yet. - No he not arrived yet.
  
  Have you been to the new supermarket yet? - You already been in a new supermarket?
- An action that happened in the past, no matter when, but the result is visible in the present.
  I have bought a new car. - I AM bought new car. (I have already made a purchase, we do not know when this happened, but we see the result - a new car)
  
  They aren't at home, they have gone shopping. They are not at home, they gone shopping. (it doesn't matter when they left, what matters is that they are gone now)
  
  The result of an action can also affect the present:
  
  She has lost her keys, she can't get home now. - She lost keys, now she can't get home. (because she lost her keys in the past, she can't open the door in the present)
- An action that took place in an unfinished period of time. The words indicate to us the unfinished period today(today), this morning/week/month/year(this morning / this week / this month / this year). Our action already has a result, but today, this week / this month / this year has not ended yet, that is, we will have time to perform the action or repeat it again during this period.
  Today he has visited two galleries. - Today he visited in two galleries. (today is not over yet, and he can go to the third gallery)
  
  I haven't been at work this week because of sickness. - I AM was not at work this week because of illness. (but the week is not over yet and I can go to work this week)
Present Perfect used when we talk about our personal experience. This feature is often referred to as "life experience".
I 've been to England but I haven't been to Scotland. - I AM was in England, but was not in Scotland. (At this point in my life I have visited England and have not had time to visit Scotland, but I still hope to go there)
- Such proposals do not indicate the exact time. But you can underline how many times the action happened:
  – Have you read this book? - You read this book?
  – Yes, I have read this book twice already. - Yes I read this book already twice.
  
  I have eaten in this restaurant many times. - I AM ate in this restaurant many times.
  
  Or you can speak in general, without specifying the exact number of times:
  
  – Have you read this book? - You read this book?
  – Yes, I have read this book. - Yes I read this book.
  
  I have eaten in this restaurant. - I AM ate in this restaurant.
- Adverbs ever(someday) and never(never) often occur when we talk about life experiences. They show what we have done or not done in our lives. note that never replaces the particle not.
  – Have you ever seen this film? - You seen ever This movie?
  – No, I have never seen this film before. - No, I never saw this movie before.
  
  – Has he ever been abroad? - He ever been Abroad?
  – No, he hasnt. - Not, was not.
  
  I have never eaten mango. - I AM never eaten mango.

This is not the most complete list of words and expressions used in the Present Perfect. This time has a lot of satellites - read about them in our article "".

When else is the Present Perfect used?

Average level

In addition to the result Present Perfect shows a long-term action that is still relevant: it began in the past, but continues in the present and possibly will continue in the future. Usually in these cases there are prepositions for(during) and since(since, since). For indicates how long the action lasts, since shows that the action began at a certain point in the past and is still going on. You might say it's a function of time. It is, but Present Perfect also used in this sense in several cases:
- C , which are almost never used with group times continuous.
  We 've known each other since school years. - We we know each other from school.
  
  She has wanted to become an actress since her childhood. - She dreams become an actress since childhood.
- With verbs that themselves convey a continuous action ( to live- live, to work- work, to study- to study, to sleep- sleep, to wait- wait). In this case we can use like Present Perfect, and Present Perfect Continuous, while the meaning of the sentence does not change.
  I 've studied English for 5 years. - I AM I teach English for 5 years. (I started 5 years ago, continue now and may teach in the future)
  
  I 've lived in the suburbs since childhood. - I AM live in the suburbs since childhood. (I started living as a child and continue to live in the suburbs now)
- In negative sentences, when we report something that we have not done for some time.
  I haven't heard of him for the last 3 years. - I have nothing about him. didn't hear the last three years.
  
  We haven't been to Rome since our honeymoon. - We were not in Rome from our honeymoon.
Verbs to be and to go v Present Perfect There are additional shades of meaning: have been means that the speaker was somewhere, went somewhere or traveled and has now returned from there. A has gone means that the speaker has gone somewhere or left and has not yet returned.

She has been to Madrid. - She was in Madrid. (but now she is at home)

She has gone to Madrid. - She left to Madrid. (she is still in Madrid)
We use Present Perfect when we want to underline how many times an action was performed. For this, the construction is used it is (what is) the first/second/third time something has happened is the first/second/third time something has happened.
It is the first time I have driven a car. = I have never driven a car before. - I drove for the first time car.

That is the fifth time Bill has phoned his girlfriend this evening. = He has called his girlfriend five times this evening. – Bill called to his girlfriend for the fifth time for the evening.

Difficult cases of using Present Perfect

High level

Present Perfect used together with P ast Simple in complex sentences. In order to show the exact time when the action began, we use the clause of tense with conjunction since / ever since(since). This adjective will be in past simple, the main proposition is Present Perfect.
He hasn't played the cello since he broke his bow. - He does not play cello since then, how broke the bow.

I 've lived like this ever since I moved to London. - I just living since then, how moved to London.

We can use Present Perfect in a subordinate clause, if the action in the subordinate clause began in the past and continues in the present.

Have you invited any of your friends since you 've lived in your new apartment? - You invited one of my friends since then, how is it going in a new apartment?

The Present Perfect is often confused with the Past Simple. You can learn how to avoid such confusion from the article ""

Present Perfect used in subordinate tenses after conjunctions when(when), as soon as(once), until(not yet) before(before), after(after). In this case, the whole sentence implies a situation in the future, so we will translate such a sentence into Russian in the future tense. In such proposals Present Perfect and present simple are equivalent, they can replace each other without changing the meaning.

After he graduates from Harvard, he will find a promising job. = After he has graduated from Harvard, he will find a promising job. - After he will graduate Harvard, he'll get a promising job.

Present Perfect preferable present simple:

When we want to show that the action in the main can be performed only if the action in the subordinate clause is performed.
as soon as I 've got to the station I'll buy the tickets. - Once I am I'll come to the station, I'll buy tickets. (I can buy tickets when I'm at the station, I won't be able to before)

You can't write the article on the subject until you 've read this book. – You can’t write an article on this topic, until you read this book. (something important is written in the book, without which it is impossible to write an article)
If we want to logically highlight or emotionally emphasize that one action will happen before another.
I'll call you when I 've got home. - I call you, when I get home. (I want to emphasize that first I will come home and only then I will call)

Let's have a farewell party before you 've gone to Paris. Let's have a farewell dinner before you leave in Paris. (we want to emphasize that we will not be able to arrange a farewell dinner for you in Paris)

Present Perfect used to tell some news that has appeared recently. Group tenses are used to give more information or give more details. Simple or continuous.

A pony has escaped from the zoo. Zookeepers were looking for it in the neighborhood, but with no luck. The police found the pony at the far end of the city. It was walking in the park and was asking the passers-by for some treat. – pony escaped from the zoo. Zookeepers searched the area for him, but to no avail. The police found the pony on the other side of town. He walked in the park and asked for treats from passers-by.

As you can see Present Perfect does not seem so illogical and incomprehensible, if you understand it. In addition, this time has a lot of satellite words - adverbs that help us recognize the present perfect tense. Yes, Present Perfect can be called the most difficult topic in learning English tenses, but if you have mastered it, then all other tenses will seem like a trifle to you.

In order to consolidate the acquired knowledge, we recommend taking the test and downloading the cheat sheet with the rules of education Present Perfect.

(*.pdf, 186 Kb)

Test

Present Perfect (present perfect) is used to denote an action that took place in the past and has a result in the present.

Education Present Perfect Tense

The Present Perfect is formed with the help of the auxiliary verb to have in the present tense ( have, has) and past participle forms of the semantic verb. This form of the verb is also called the "third form of the verb" and is conventionally denoted as V3 (verb 3). For regular verbs, this is the infinitive with the ending -ed, for irregular verbs - the third column v ):
I have played.
He has played.
We have played.

Interrogative form: have (has) + subject + V3:
Have I played?
Has he played?
Have we played?

In a special question, have (has) is preceded by the necessary interrogative pronoun:
Where have I played?
Why has he played?
With whom have you played?

In a question to the subject, an interrogative pronoun who is placed before the predicate instead of the subject itself (in this question, the auxiliary verb has is always used):
Who has worked?

Negative form: have (has) + not + V3:
I have not played.
He has not played.
We have not played.

Interrogative-negative form: have (has) + subject + not + V3 or haven "t (hasn" t) + subject + V3:
Have I not played?
Has he not played?
Have we not played?

In colloquial speech, abbreviations are used:
have not = haven"t = "ve not
has not = hasn"t = "s not
have = "ve
has="s
I haven't played. = I've not played.
I"ve played.
Haven't I played?

affirmative form	negative form
I have play ed He (she, it) has play ed We have play ed You have play ed They have play ed	I have not play ed He (she, it) has not play ed We have not play ed You have not play ed They have not play ed
Interrogative form	Interrogative-negative form
Have I played? Has he (she, it) play ed ? Have we play ed ? Have you play ed ? Have they play ed ?	Have I not play ed ? Has he (she, it) not play ed ? Have we not play ed ? Have you not play ed ? Have they not play ed ?

Using Present Perfect Tense

Present Perfect is used:

1. To express an action that took place in the past, but has a result in the present. The presence of such a result connects the past action with the present:
I have lost my keys. I lost my keys.
(lost in the past, but there is a result - now I don't have them, I can't open the door)

Has the rain stopped? Has the rain ended?
(interested in the lack of rain at the moment)

The time of action may not be indicated (as in previous sentences) or may be expressed in adverbs just, ever, never never, already, yet(in questions and negatives), lately, lately, recently recently. At the same time, the sentence should not contain adverbs indicating the past tense:
I have never been in London. I've never been to London.
He hasn "t come home yet. He hasn't come home from work yet.

But compare:
My mom has already cooked dinner. Mom has already cooked dinner.
My mom already cooked dinner yesterday. Mom already cooked dinner yesterday. (yesterday indicates the past tense, so it is used )

Note. With the adverb just now, Past Simple Tense has just been used:
I broke it just now. I just broke it.

2. To express both a single action and an action repeated several times in the past (there may be words in the sentence often twice etc.) and in sentences answering the question how much / many how much:
I have read that book twice. I have read this book twice.
I have been in London three times. I have been to London three times.
I "ve ironed 8 skirts. I ironed 8 skirts.

3. Present Perfect is used with adverbs denoting periods of time that have not yet elapsed today today, this week this week, this month this month, this year etc.:
Have you listened to the radio today? Have you listened to the radio today? (not expired today)
It has not expected this week. It didn't rain this week. (this week has not expired)

But if the specified period of time has already ended, then the Past Simple Tense form is used:
I have drunk coffee this morning. I drank coffee this morning.(said in the morning)
I drink coffee this morning. I drank coffee this morning.(the morning has already passed, it is said, for example, in the afternoon or in the evening)

4. Present Perfect is used to express an action that began in the past and continued until the moment of speech or is still ongoing at the moment of speech. The sentence should contain the prepositions since with (from some past moment to the present) or for during. At the same time, the Present Perfect can be translated both in the present tense and in the past, depending on the situation.
a) with verbs that are not used in Continuous (for more details, see):
I haven "t seen you for ages. I haven't seen you for ages.(did not see and just saw at the moment of speech)
Has not been here since two o "clock. He (is) here since two o'clock.(started at two o'clock and is still here)
I have known him for three years. I know him for three years.

b) with some verbs instead of Present Perfect Continuous, if the speaker wants to focus not on the duration, but on the fact of the action.
I have lived in Moscow for five years. I have been living in Moscow for five years.(important fact)
I have been living in Moscow for five years. I have been living in Moscow for five years.(duration, process is important)

The Present Perfect is also used with since since. In this case, the Present Perfect is used in the main clause, and in the subordinate clause starting with since, the Past Simple is used:
I have written only one letter to my relatives since I left. I have only written one letter since I left.
I haven't letters received from him since he left. I haven't received a letter from him since he left.

Present Perfect is also used with the adverb since since:
We moved to a new flat last year, and we haven't met our friends since. We moved last year and haven't seen our friends since.

5. Present Perfect is used to express a perfect future action instead of Future Perfect in adverbial clauses of time and conditions that are introduced by conjunctions after, when, as soon as, until (till), if etc. At the same time, Present Perfect is translated by the future tense of the perfect form:
He will wait for you until you have come. He will wait for you until you arrive.

Cases of using Present Perfect Tense

Action, the result of which is available in the present tense (in Russian it corresponds to the past tense).
An action repeated several times in the past.
With circumstantial words denoting periods of time that have not yet elapsed.
To express an action that began in the past and continued until the moment of speech or still ongoing at the moment of speech: instead of Present Perfect Continuous (in Russian it corresponds to the present and past tense).
Future perfect action in subordinate clauses of time and condition (in Russian it corresponds to the future tense).

affirmative form Present Perfect is formed using the auxiliary verb to have in the corresponding person and number (has - for the 3rd person singular, have - for all other persons in the singular and all persons in the plural) and the past participle (Participle II - participles II) semantic verb.

to have + Participle II

I have translated the text. I translated the text.
He has written two letters. He wrote two letters.

Interrogative form formed by moving the auxiliary verb, which is placed before the subject. If there is a question word, it is placed before the auxiliary verb.

Have did you translate this text? Have you translated this text?
What have you translated? What did you translate?

Have I cooked?	Have we cooked?
Have you cooked?	Have you cooked?
Has he/she/it been cooked?	Have they cooked?

Abbreviations:

Along with the full form, abbreviated versions of the affirmative, negative and interrogative-negative forms are also used, especially in colloquial speech.

1. In the affirmative form, the spelling and pronunciation of the auxiliary verb have / has changes:

I've = I have
He's = He has
We've = We have

2. In negative form - two abbreviations:

a) negative particle not remains unchanged, only the auxiliary verb is reduced:

I've not = I have not
He's not = He has not
We've not = We have not

b) negative particle not loses the letter o and merges with the auxiliary verb:

I haven't= I have not
He hasnt= He hasn't

The same change occurs in the interrogative-negative form:

Haven't you worked?
Hasn't he written?

Using Present Perfect

Present Perfect is used:

1. To express an action that has already taken place in the previous period before the moment of speech, but which has a direct connection with the present moment. This connection to the present moment manifests itself:

a) as a result of an action that is present at the moment of speech:

I've read this article. I have read this article. (I know its content, I can tell you.)
Has not written a letter. He wrote a letter. (The result is a letter that can be read and sent.)

b) in sentences with words denoting an unfinished period of time: today - today, this morning - this morning, this week- this week, this month - this month etc., as well as with adverbs of indefinite time: ever - ever, never - never, often- often, already- already, yet- bye, more, just- just, late- recently(for the last days, weeks), recently - recently(for the last months or years), recently, up to now - still, seldom- rarely, once - once, once upon a time and others (most of them are more often used in interrogative and negative sentences).

I haven't seen her this week. I haven't seen her this week.
I've never seen her before. I had never seen her before.
Has she come back yet? Is she back already?
She has published a new book recently. She recently published a new book.
Have you ever been to London? Have you ever been to London?

Note:
In the above cases, the verb in Present Perfect is translated into Russian as a verb in the past tense.

2. To express an action that began in the past, but has not yet ended (ongoing), often with verbs that are not used in the Continuous form. At the same time, an unfinished period of time is often indicated by the circumstances of time with the preposition for - during(for years - for many years, for ages- for ages, for three weeks - within three weeks etc.), with the preposition since - With(Since Sunday - from sunday, since 10 o'clock - from 10 o'clock since 1990- since 1990 etc.), as well as a subordinate clause with the union since - since then.

I haven't seen you for ages. We haven't seen each other for ages.
Hasn't been here for three weeks already. He's been here for three weeks now.
I haven't heard from him since August. I haven't heard from him since August.
We have known her since 1990. We have known her since 1990.

Note:
In this case, the verbs in the Present Perfect can be translated into Russian by verbs in the past or present tense, depending on the context.

Note also the following:

The difference in the use of Present Perfect and Simple Past/Past Indefinite is that Simple Past/Past Indefinite is always associated with a past period of time (which can be indicated or clear from the context) and expresses an action-fact, while Present Perfect is always associated with hereby and expresses the action-result or the experience gained as a result of the action.

Compare:

Present Perfect is not used if there is an exact indication of the time in the past (yesterday, last night, etc.), because in this case the connection with the present moment is broken. The presence of this connection is a prerequisite for using the Present Perfect. If there is no such connection, then Simple Past / Past Indefinite is used.

Compare:

a) I have heard his speech and I liked it. I heard his performance and I liked it.
b) I heard his speech last night. I heard him speak last night.

In the first case (a), the time of the action is not indicated, but it happened in the past and the connection with the present is expressed by the fact that it (the performance) is liked even now - the Present Perfect is used. In the second case (b), the time of action is indicated, and therefore Simple Past / Past Indefinite is used.

Compare also:

a) I have seen her this morning. I saw her this morning.
b) I saw her this morning. I saw her this morning.

In the first case (a), it can be said that if the conversation takes place in the morning, the morning time has not yet expired. In the second case (b), it can be said that if the conversation takes place in the afternoon or in the evening, the morning time has already expired. With the expression this morning, the Present Perfect can only be used if the action took place before one o'clock in the afternoon. If it happened later, for example, at one thirty (13.30), then Simple Past / Past Indefinite is used, since, according to the British, “morning” lasts only until one in the afternoon.

3. Present Perfect is also used in sentences in which the action, although it happened in the past, can be repeated.

I have seen wolves in this forest. I have seen wolves in this forest. (It is assumed that they can be found there and now.)
I saw wolves in this forest. I have seen wolves in this forest. (The use of the Simple Past expresses a statement of fact.)

Compare also:

a) Pushkin wrote many wonderful poems. Pushkin wrote many wonderful poems.
b) Yevtushenko has written many wonderful poems. Yevtushenko wrote many beautiful poems.

In the first sentence (a) they used Simple Past/Past Indefinite - wrote, since Pushkin is not alive and the possibility of repeating the action, i.e. writing more poetry, is excluded. In the second sentence (b), the verb in Present Perfect - has written is used, since the author is alive and, perhaps, will write many more beautiful poems.

4. Present Perfect is used in response to a question that is asked in Present Perfect (unless the time is specified in the answer). If the action time in the answer is specified, then it is given in Simple Past/Past Indefinite.

Have you seen the new English film? Have you seen the new English film?
Yes, I have (seen the new English film). Yes, I saw (new English film).
But: Yes, I saw it yesterday. Yes, I saw him yesterday.

Note:

If the dialogue is not limited to one question and answer, but continues, then the first one or two questions and answers are used in Present Perfect, and the conversation continues in Simple Past / Past Indefinite, because. The main thing is not actions, but circumstances.

Husband: Where have you been? Husband: Where have you been?
Wife: I've been at the sales. Wife: I was in the store (at a discount sale).
Husband: What have you bought? (What did you buy?) Husband: What did you buy?
Wife: I've bought (I bought) yellow pajamas. Wife: I bought yellow pajamas.
Husband: Why did you buy yellow? I told you never to buy yellow for me. Husband: Why yellow? I told you never to buy yellow for me.
Wife: I couldn't resist it. They were very much reduced. Wife: I couldn't resist. They were so cheap. (They were greatly discounted).

Not everything in a foreign language can be mastered the first time. This is especially true of grammar rules, of which there are many in English. More than once, students, in their quest to master a foreign language, have to return to the same topic and analyze it again and again. Today we propose to consider the aspect of the perfect present tense, and to do this not only from the theoretical side, but also in close tandem with practice. For each present perfect rule, we will give examples that will act as a visual example. Thanks to the methodical development of constructions, knowledge of the rules will be acquired subconsciously, it remains only to consolidate it with training exercises.

In order to understand the meaning of this aspect, it is necessary to rethink the Russian approach to the system of times. In our speech, completed actions automatically refer to the past. In English, it is not the fact of completion that is important, but the relevance of the action. Therefore, the perfect can be both in the past, and in the present and in the future.

By now, the present perfect includes those actions, the result of which is relevant at the moment. Accordingly, the events of this aspect:

were perfect recently;
happened once, and the result appeared only now;
express life experience;
are long-term (started in the past, are happening now and will continue in the future).*

* The last paragraph uses verbs that, by their meaning, cannot be used with Perfect Continuous, or can be used equally in both tenses.

Let's move on to mastering the values in practice, with which the next section will help us.

Present perfect sentence examples

Predicates in this form are grammatical constructions consisting of two elements. Let us examine in detail each type of sentence in the present perfect.

Statement

Affirmative phrases that carry a positive result of an action are formed using the auxiliary have and the past participle. Moreover, the auxiliary verb has different forms: for the 3rd person singular. (he, she, it) - has, for everyone else - have. We derive a generalized scheme.

Nick(1) has(2) bought(3) anewdressforme(4) – Nick bought me a new dress.

This is the main form from which other types of statements are formed. To work it out, we give examples of 10 affirmative sentences with translation in the present perfect.

They have finished theprojectA-20 thisweekThey completed the A-20 project this week.
I have used thiscomputersince2010 - I have been using this computer since 2010.
She has lived in England for three monthsShelivedvEngland 3month.
We have just cooked potatoes with vegetablesWe just cooked potatoes with vegetables.
You have already been in Prague -YoualreadywerevPrague.
I have seen a koala in the local zoo three times. It has always slept I saw a koala at the local zoo three times. Shealwayssleeping.
They have owned this building since they bought it in 1999 –TheyownthisbuildingWiththosesince,howboughthisin 1999year.
He has always liked such films -Himalwayslikedsuchmovies.
We have never flown byamilitaryplaneWe have never flown in a military aircraft.
It is the first time she has painted someone's portraitShefor the first timedrewwhose-thenportrait.

Please note that the phrases of the present perfect are translated into Russian both by perfective verbs and imperfective constructions.

Negation

For the negative result of the action, as in all English aspects, the particle not is responsible. It is worth adding it to the corresponding form of have, and the affirmative statement turns into a negation.

Children(1) have not (2) done (3) their homework yet (4) – Childrenmorenotmademyhomework.

Much more often, both in colloquial speech and in writing, the abbreviated hasn't / haven't are used.

He hasn't been in Africa for five monthsHenotwasvAfrica 5months.
I haven 't feed mydogyetI haven't fed my dog yet.
We haven't packed our suitcasesWenotpacked upoursuitcases.
She hasnt seen her best girlfriend for many yearsShenotsawmythe bestgirlfriendlotyears.
You haven 't passed thisexamYou didn't pass this exam.

Being derived from statements, negative sentences are not fraught with difficulties. The only thing worth mentioning is that if there are negative adverbs in the expression, then the second negation (not) is no longer put, because There can't be two negatives in a sentence in English!

She has never played footballShe has never played football.
She hasn 't played footballthisweekShe didn't play football this week.

Keep this rule in mind when using negative adverbs.

Questions

To create a general question, it is necessary to perform a syntactic permutation of the verb have, moving it to the beginning of the phrase.

Has(1) she (2) answered(3) all your questions already (4)? – Shealreadyansweredon theallyourquestions?

Have you ever cooked a Caesar salad? -Youwhen-somedaypreparedsaladCaesar?
Have they gone to the city's museum two times? -Did they go to the city museum twice?

These questions can be answered using short constructions. Yes, shehas/ wehave or no, shehasn't/wehaven't. In place of she / we, any pronoun corresponding to the statement is inserted.

A more precise answer requires alternative questions that provide a choice of the two indicated options. Outwardly, they are similar to general questions, but have an additional (alternative) part attached by the union or.

Have you been friends since 2004 or since 2005? -Yoube friendssince 2004of the yearorsince 2005?
Has she studied Japanese or Chinese for 7 years? -ShesevenyearsteachesJapaneselanguageorChineselanguage?

When using special interrogative words, general sentences for the present perfect change their construction, skipping significant words ahead.

Where has he bought such a dictionary? -Whereheboughtsuchdictionary?
how long have we known each other? -How long have we known each other?
A separate type of special combinations is a question to the subject.
Who has written it on the blackboard? -Whowroteiton theboard?
Who has just used mysmartphone? Who just used my smartphone?

By the way, short phrases can be used to answer such a question: Ihave, shehas etc.

Interrogative sentences with a negative construction carry a special emotional coloring. They are used only in colloquial speech.

Hasn 't he called hismotheryet? Hasn't he called his mother yet?
Haven 't I told themaboutthatsituation? Didn't I tell them about that situation?

And the last type is disjunctive questions. At first glance, they look like statements, but looking closely at them, you can distinguish an interrogative tail with a pronoun and the verb have. It is noteworthy that the additive will always be opposite in meaning to the main phrase.

You have played basketball this week haven't you? – Youplayedvbasketballon thethisweekunlessNo?
She has ridden an elephant, hasn't she? – She rode an elephant, didn't she?
They haven 't been inthejungle, have they ? They weren't in the jungle, were they?
Jack hasn 't visited you, has he ? Jack hasn't visited you yet, has he?

So, we have considered all possible types of the perfect present in statements of various types. Before moving on to the exercises, let's summarize the information received and recall once again what grammatical constructions of the present perfect and examples of sentences can be found in the speech of native English.

Statement		Negation
We have had this cat for 10 years already. We have had this cat for 10 years.		She hasnt cooked a cake this week. She didn't make a cake this week.
Questions
General	Alternative		Special
Have they seen this performance? They watched thisplay?	Has he bought a scooter or a bicycle? Did he buy a scooter or a bike?		When have we been in Berlin? When were we in Berlin?
To the subject	Negative		Dividing
Who has opened the door? Who opened the door?	Haven't they gone to the club? Didn't they go to the club?		She has read this book, hasn't she ? She has read this book, hasn't she?

Good luck with your practice and see you soon!