12A – Present Perfect

Form and use

We use the present perfect to talk about past experiences and recent events when the exact time is not important or not mentioned.

Form:

Positive
Subject	Have/has	Past Participle	…
I	have	lived	here before.
She	has	been	to the UK.
We	have	done	our homework.
Negative
Subject	Have/ has + not	Past Participle	…
I	haven’t	lived	here before.
She	hasn’t	been	to the UK.
We	haven’t	done	our homework.
Question
Have/has	Subject	Past Participle	..?
Have	I	lived	here before?
Has	she	been	to the UK?
Have	we	done	our homework?

Uses

1️⃣ Experiences in life

We often use ever (at any time in your life) and never (at no time).

• Have you ever visited Japan?
• I’ve never eaten sushi.
• She’s been to London twice.

2️⃣ Recent actions with a result now

We use the present perfect to talk about something that just happened or has a result now.

• I’ve finished my report.
• They’ve lost their keys.
• He’s broken his glasses.

3️⃣ Actions without saying when

If we say yesterday, last week, in 2022, we don’t use the present perfect.

• I’ve read that book. ✔
• I read that book last year. ✔

Quiz 1

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12B – Present Perfect or Past Simple?

Key idea

• Use present perfect for first-time experiences or when when is not said.
• Use past simple for finished actions at a specific time.

✔ Have you ever flown in a helicopter?

✔ I flew to Rome last summer.

Pay Attention:

Do not use present perfect when any word referring to the past is used.

I have been to London last year. Wrong

I went to London last year. Correct

Quiz 2