The Present Perfect Tense
Connect past and present with have/has + past participle — for experiences and unfinished time, with ever, never, already, yet, for and since. A2 grammar with 20 questions.
The present perfect connects the past and the present. We use it for life experiences (without saying exactly when), and for actions that started in the past and still matter now. “I have visited London.” “Aisha has finished her homework.”
How to make it: have/has + past participle
| Subject | have/has + past participle |
|---|---|
| I / you / we / they | I have (’ve) finished. |
| he / she / it | She has (’s) finished. |
What is a past participle?For regular verbs it’s the same as the past simple (work → worked). For irregular verbs you must learn it: go → gone, see → seen, eat → eaten, do → done, be → been.
Common past participles
| Base | Past participle | Base | Past participle |
|---|---|---|---|
| go | gone | see | seen |
| eat | eaten | do | done |
| write | written | be | been |
| take | taken | have | had |
Key time words
- ever / never: Have you ever been to Dubai? — No, I’ve never been there.
- already / yet: I’ve already eaten. — Have you finished yet?
- just: She has just arrived.
- for / since: I’ve studied here for two years / since 2024.
for vs sinceUse for + a length of time (for three days, for a year). Use since + a starting point (since Monday, since 2024).
Present perfect vs past simple
Use the past simple when you say exactly when. Use the present perfect when the time is unimportant or unfinished.
- I have seen that film. (at some time — when isn’t important)
- I saw that film last night. (a finished time — we say when)
Tutor tip for Arabic speakersThe present perfect has no exact match in Arabic, so it feels strange at first. The trick: if you mention a finished time (yesterday, last week), use the past simple. If you don’t — or the action still matters now — use have/has + past participle.
Common mistakes
- I have went to Dubai. → I have gone / been to Dubai.
- She have finished. → She has finished.
- I have seen him yesterday. → I saw him yesterday.
Practise the present perfect with the 20 questions below.
Check your understanding
Answer the questions below. You will see instantly if you are right.
1."I ___ finished my work."
I + have.
2."She ___ finished her homework."
she + has.
3.Past participle of "go":
go → gone.
4.Past participle of "see":
see → seen.
5.Past participle of "eat":
eat → eaten.
6.Past participle of "do":
do → done.
7.Past participle of "write":
write → written.
8.Which is correct?
gone is the past participle.
9.Which is correct?
she + has finished.
10."Have you ___ been to Dubai?"
ever in questions about experience.
11."No, I've ___ been there."
never = at no time.
12."I've ___ eaten, thanks." (before now)
already = before now.
13."Have you finished ___?" (in questions)
yet in questions/negatives.
14."She has ___ arrived." (a moment ago)
just = a moment ago.
15."I've studied here ___ two years."
for + length of time.
16."I've studied here ___ 2024."
since + starting point.
17.Which is correct?
"yesterday" = finished time → past simple: saw.
18.Present perfect or past simple? "I ___ that film. (when not important)"
No time given → have seen.
19."___ you ever eaten sushi?"
Have you ever...?
20."Omar ___ just left the office."
he + has just left.
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