Present Perfect Tense in English

Hey ABA friends!

Today we are going to look at the Present Perfect tense in English. We’ll focus on the structure and when it should be used.

How is it created?

The Present Perfect structure is relatively simple: subject + auxiliary verb + past participle. In this tense our auxiliary verb is the present simple tense of the verb “to have”.

Examples:

• I have worked here for many years
• He has lived in America for 10 years
• They have travelled to Spain several times.

When should it be used?

The Present Perfect should be used when we are speaking about an action which started in the past but has not yet finished. We should also remember that it can be used for detailing one off actions where time has not been specified (general completed actions).

Examples:

• I have bought a new car (We do not know when this completed action happened)
• He has gone to Spain on holiday (The action of “going” is not specified by time)
• They have worked in Barcelona for 5 years (This action is continuing in the present)

It is also important to take note of the fact that if we use this tense with the word “just”, it implies that the action has happened in the very recent past.

Examples:

• I have just finished my homework.
• She has just arrived.
• We have just gone shopping.

What’s the key?

In order to master this tense, learning the structure is vital so that you can create the sentences in a grammatically correct way without mistakes. Check out ABA English where you can sign up for free and have a look at unit 85 for more information on the Present Perfect