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Present Perfect Tense: Understanding, Usage, Formula & Examples in High School English Material
Present perfect tense is a sentence pattern used to express an action or event in the past that is still continuing today. To understand it better, see the meaning, uses, formulas and example sentences below.
Understanding Present Perfect Tense
Present perfect tense is a form of verb that is used to express action or situation that has started in the past and is still continuing until now or has finished at certain point in time in the past but its effects are still continuing. This tense is generally used to talk about experiences or changes involving a place.
Uses of Present Perfect Tense and Example Sentences
- Shows Actions That Started in the Past and Continues Until Now:
Example: I have lived in this city for five year.
Meaning: I lived in this city for five years. (I still live here now, and the experience started in the past.)
- Show Life Experience:
Example: He has visited Paris several times.
Meaning: He has visited Paris several times. (This experience covers the previous time period to the present.)
- Stating Recently Completed Actions:
Example: She has just finished her homework.
Meaning: He just finished his homework. (The act of completing new homework is completed before the conversation.)
- Expressing an Action That Happened Before Another Action in the Past:
Example: By the time they arrived, we had already left.
Meaning: By the time they arrived, we were gone. (The use of Past Perfect Tense shows the time sequence of events in the past.)
- State the action that occurred but the time is not specific:
Example: I have seen that movie.
Meaning: I have seen the film. (The time when the film was viewed is not specified.)
- Express an Experience or Change Related to a Place:
Example: They have never been to Asia before.
Meaning: They have never been to Asia before. (The experience or lack thereof of that visit has relevance today.)
Present Perfect Tense Formula
In the present perfect tense, there are two types of sentences, namely verbal and nominal. Therefore, there are two formulas. Here are the two formulas and their explanations:
- Nominal Sentences
Nominal sentences are sentences without verbs such as adjectives, objects or descriptions. The formula is:
(+) Subject +have/has + been + complement.
Example:
I have been a student since 2023 (I’ve been a student since 2023).
You have been here since yesterday (you have been here since yesterday)
She has been a football player since last week.
(-) Subject + have or has + not + been + complement.
Example:
I have not been worried (I have not been worried)
We have not been hungry (we don’t feel hungry yet)
You have not been here (you haven’t been here)
(?) has/have + sunject + been + complement + ?
Example:
Has she been busy this month? (is he very busy this month?)
Have you been there? (are you there yet?)
Has he been happy this week? (has he been happy this week?)
- Verbal Sentences
The second type is verbal sentences. This sentence is characterized by a subject followed by a verb. Following are the formulas and example sentences:
(+) Subject + have/has + verb 3
Example:
I have eaten four a day (I have eaten four times a day)
(-) Subject + have/has + not + verb 3
Example:
I have not eaten four a day (I have not eaten four times a day)
(?) Have/has + subject + verb 3 + ?
Example:
Have you bought a car? (have you bought a car?)
Contractions in Present Perfect Tense
- Present Perfect Tense
The subject and auxiliary verb can be shortened or become a contraction. Here are the abbreviations and extensions:
I have: I’ve
I have not: I haven’t
You have: you’ve
You have not: you haven’t
We have: we’ve
We have not: we haven’t
They have: they’ve
They have not: they haven’t
He has: he’s
He has not: he hasn’t
She has: she’s
She has not: she hasn’t
It has: it’s
It has not: it hasn’t
- Time Expression in Present Perfect Tense
Present perfect tense is a tense that sometime contains time information. The following is a description of the times and their meanings that can be used:
Just: just now
Recently: recently
already: already
Ever: ever
Yet: not yet
Lately: lately
For + description of start time until now (for 9 days): for 9 days
Since + time information indicating the start of the event (since 13 days): since 13 days
Examples of Present Perfect Tense Sentences
So that you understand better, below are examples of present perfect tense sentences and their meanings.
You have worked in that company for long time.
You have worked at the company for long time.
She has seen that movie eight times.
He has watched the film eight times.
We have lived in Yogyakarta for long time.
We have lived in Yogyakarta for long time.
Jeane has been to Korea twice.
Jeane has visited Korea twice.
His English has been improved since he studied abroad.
His English has improved since he studied abroad.
I haven’t seen him this week.
I haven’t seen him this week.
