Tense Revision - Present Perfect

Notes taken from Practical English Usage by Michael Swan

1.  Forms

Have/has + past participle

• I have broken my glasses.
• Have you finished?
• She hasn’t phoned.

2.  Finished events connected with the present

We use the present perfect especially to say that a finished action or even is connected with the present in some way. If we say that something has happened, we are thinking about the past and the present at the same time.

• I can’t go on holiday because I have broken my leg.

(Not I can’t go on holiday because I broke my leg.)

We could often change a present perfect sentence into a present sentence with a similar meaning.

I’ve broken my leg.

My leg is broken now.

Have you read the bible?

Do you know the bible?

Some fool has let the cat in.

The cat is in.

Mary has had a baby.

Mary now has a baby.

Our dog has died.

Our dog is dead.

The present perfect is often used to express the idea of completion or achievement.

• At last! I’ve finished!
• Have you done all the housework?

We do not use the present perfect if we are not thinking about the present. Compare:

• I’ve travelled in Africa a lot. (= I know Africa.)
• Some people think that Shakespeare travelled a lot in Germany.

(Not Some people think that Shakespeare has travelled…)

3.  Finished events: news

We normally use the present perfect to announce news of recent events.

• Andy has won a big prize!
• Have you heard? Uncle George has crashed the car again.
• Here are the main pints of the news. The pound has fallen against the dollar.

After announcing news, we usually use the simple past to give more details.

• Uncle George has crashed the car again. He ran into a tree in High Street.

4.  Time words: ever, before, recently, etc.

When we talk about finished events with words that mean ‘at some/any time up to now’ (like ever, before, never, yet, recently, lately, already), we normally use the present perfect.

• Have you ever seen a ghost?
• I’m sure we’ve met before.
• We haven’t seen Beth recently.
• Could you clean the car? ~I’ve already done it.
• She’s never said ‘sorry’ in her life.
• Has the postman come yet?

5.  Repetition up to now: I’ve written six letters…

We can use the present perfect to say that something has happened several times up to the present.

• I’ve written six letters since lunchtime.

Adverbs of frequency like often, sometimes, occasionally are common with the present perfect.

• How often have you been in love in your life?
• I’ve sometimes thought of moving to Australia.

6.  Continuation up to now: I’ve known her for years

To talk about actions and situations that have continued up to the present, both the simple present perfect and the present perfect progressive are possible (depending on the kind of verb and the exact meaning)

• I’ve known her for years. (Not I know her for years.)
• I’ve been thinking about you all day.

Present perfect: Perfect or past?

1.  Thinking about past and present together

We use the present perfect if we are thinking about the past and present together. We do not use the present perfect if we are not thinking about the present. Compare:

• My sister has learnt French. (She can speak French now.)

Shakespeare probably learnt Italian.

(Not Shakespeare has probably learnt Italian.)

• We’ve studied enough to pass the exam. (The exam is still to come.)

We studied enough to pass the exam. (The exam is over.)

• Ann and Peter have got married! (news)

My parents got married in Canada.

We do not use the present perfect in story-telling.

• Once upon a time a beautiful princess fell in love with a poor farmer.

(Not …has fallen in love…)

2.  Finished-time words: present perfect not used

We do not often use the present perfect with words that refer to a completely finished period of time, like yesterday, last week, then, when, three years ago, in 1970. This is because the present perfect focuses on the present, and words like these focus on the past, so they contradict each other. Compare:

• Have you seen Lucy anywhere?

I saw Lucy yesterday. (Not I have seen Lucy yesterday.)

• Tom has hurt his leg; he can’t walk.

Tom hurt his leg last week. (Not Tom has hurt his leg last week.)

• What have you done with the car keys? I can’t find them.

What did you do then? (Not What have you done then?)

• My brother has had an accident. He’s in hospital.

When did the accident happen? (Not When has the accident happened?)

• All my friends have moved to London.

Eric moved there years ago. (Not Eric has moved three years ago.)

But with words that mean 'at some/any time up to now’ (like ever, before, never, yet, recently, already), we normally use the present perfect.

• Have you ever been to Chicago?
• I’ve seen this film before.

3.  time not mentioned

We use the present perfect when we are thinking of a period of 'time up to now', even if we do not mention it.

• Have you seen ‘Romeo and Juliet’?

(= Have you ever seen it? or Have you seen the present production?)

• You’ve done a lot for me. (… up to now)

On the other hand, we do not use the present perfect when we are thinking of a particular finished time, even if we do not mention it.

• Did you see ‘Romeo and Juliet’? (It was on TV last night.)
• My grandfather did a lot for me. (…when he was alive)

4.  news and details

We normally use the present perfect to announce news.

• Have you heard? Andy has won a big prize!

But when we give more details, we usually change to a past tense.

• Joe has passed his exam! He got 87%.
• There has been a plane crash near Bristol. Witnesses say that there was an explosion as the aircraft was taking off, …
• The Prime Minister has had talks with President Kumani. During a three-hour meeting they discussed the economic situation, and agreed on the need for closer trade links between the two countries.