Present Perfect - usage, formation, examples.

This is a lecture on the present perfect tense the present perfect is used to link the present to the past.

An action was performed in the past.

The exact time is not important and is usually not specified and the action is not as important as the results of the action

so we use the present perfect for finished actions with a result in the present.

Or finished actions during a person’s lifetime or finished actions in a continuing period of time.

Or finished actions that happened recently.

We also using for unfinished actions that continue into the present and for past actions that occurred multiple times.

Present Perfect is formed as follows.

The positive sentences subject plus have or has plus past participle an example.

I have eaten ice cream the negative case subject plus have or has not plus past participle.

We haven’t eaten ice cream as a question have or has plus subject plus past participle.

Has she eaten ice cream and is a negative question have or has not.

Plus subject plus past participle.

Hasn’t he eaten ice cream we look at some examples so for finished actions with the result in the present I’ve lost my keys and the result is so now I can’t get in my house she has missed the train.

The result being so now she will be late or finished actions during a person’s lifetime.

I’ve never been to Portugal but I can still go there.

He has seen that film already.

But it could watch it again.

And for these it’s worth pointing out that the person still has to be alive.

Or finished actions in a continuing period of time.

So she has changed jobs twice this year but the year hasn’t finished so she could change again.

Well I haven’t seen Bob today or the day hasn’t finished so I might see him later or finished actions that happened recently.

The president has announced new tax reforms.

I’ve just seen Suzy.

or unfinished actions that continue into the present.

I’ve known Peter since we were children and I still know him now or he has lived in Manchester for five years.

And he still does.

of a past actions that occurred multiple times I have seen that film 10 times or we have been to that pub many times.