Present Perfect is one of the twelve core English tenses. It connects the past to the present — describing experiences, recent events, and actions in a time period that isn't finished yet.
When to use present perfect
Life experiences (no specific time given)
Something that happened at an unspecified point in your life, up to now.
Recent actions with a present result
Something that just happened, and its effect is still relevant now.
Unfinished time periods
An action within a time period that continues into the present — this week, this year, so far.
Actions starting in the past, continuing now
With "since" (a starting point) or "for" (a duration).
Structure & formula
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + have/has + past participle | She has finished her homework. |
| Negative | Subject + have/has + not + past participle | She hasn't finished yet. |
| Yes/No question | Have/Has + subject + past participle? | Has she finished? |
| WH question | WH word + have/has + subject + past participle? | What has she finished? |
Signal words & time expressions
These words often (though not always) signal that present perfect is the right choice:
already, yet, just, ever, never, since, for, so far, up to now, recently
Common mistakes
| Incorrect | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| I have seen that film yesterday. | I saw that film yesterday. | A specific finished past time ("yesterday") needs past simple, not present perfect. |
| I live here since 2015. | I have lived here since 2015. | An action starting in the past and continuing now needs present perfect, not present simple. |
| Have you went to the new café? | Have you been to the new café? | Present perfect needs the past participle ("been"), not the past simple form ("went"). |
Quick practice
Complete each sentence with the correct form.
- I _____ (never / try) Thai food.
- She _____ (already / finish) her report.
- We _____ (know) each other for ten years.
- _____ you ever _____ (visit) London?
- He _____ (not / call) me yet.
Quick summary
FAQs
What's the real difference between present perfect and past simple?
Past simple states when something happened at a specific, finished time ("I visited Rome in 2019"). Present perfect focuses on the connection to now — the experience itself, or its present result — without stating exactly when.
When do I use "since" vs. "for"?
"Since" is followed by a starting point in time (since 2015, since Monday). "For" is followed by a duration (for six years, for two weeks).
In reported speech, the present perfect shifts back to the past perfect ("I have finished" → He said he had finished), and its passive form is has/have been + past participle (passive voice chart).