Present Perfect Tense - Usage & Explanation

Usages and grammar explanations for the present perfect tense.

The Present Perfect Tense is used to describe actions or events that have occurred at an unspecified time before now, often with a connection to the present. The Present Perfect focuses on the result or relevance of past actions to the present, rather than when exactly they happened.

Formula 

Affirmative: Subject + have/has + past participle (V3)

I/You/We/They	have + V3
He/She/It	has + V3

I have visited Paris. = I've visited Paris.

She has read that book. = She's read that book.

We have finished our project. = We've finished our project.

Negative: Subject + have/has + not + past participle (V3)

I/You/We/They	have + not + V3
He/She/It	has + not + V3

I have not visited Paris. = I haven't visited Paris.

She has not read that book. = She hasn't read that book.

We have not finished our project. = We haven't finished our project.

Question: Have/Has + subject + past participle (V3)

Have	I/You/We/They + V3
Has	He/She/It + V3

Have you visited Paris?

Has she read that book?

Have we finished our project?

Time Expressions

already, yet, just, ever, never, so far, up to now, until now, recently, lately, for, since, today, this week/month/year, still, once, twice, three times, several times, many times, before, in recent years, over the past few days, over the last decade, all my life, throughout my life, for a long time, for ages, for weeks/months/years, in the past few weeks/months/years.

Usages

To talk about experiences, often with ''ever'', ''never'', ''several times'', ''first time'', etc.

He has never eaten sushi.

I have heard this song before.

Have you ever traveled to Japan?

She has visited Paris several times.

It's the worst movie I have ever seen.

This is the first time I have ridden a horse.

It has been three years since I quit smoking.

To talk about recently completed actions, often with "just," "already," "yet".

Has he arrived yet?

We have just had lunch.

She hasn’t called me yet.

He has already left the office.

We have completed the project.

I have recently finished my homework.

To describe past actions with present results.

I have lost my keys. (I can’t open the door now.)

He has broken his arm. (He can’t play today.)

She has broken her phone. (Now it doesn’t work.)

We have painted the walls. (Now they look fresh and new.)

Someone has stolen my bike. (Now I don’t have it.)

The company has changed its logo. (Now it looks different.)

To describe actions that started in the past and continue in the present, often with "for", "since", etc.

We have lived here for five years.

How long have you known him?

I have completed three chapters so far.

They have been friends for a long time.

She has worked at this company since 2020.

We have studied together since high school.

To describe actions or events that happened within an unfinished time period, such as today, this week/year, etc.

I have drunk two cups of coffee today. (Today is not over yet.)

She has worked a lot this week. (The week is still ongoing.)

We have traveled a lot this year. (The year is not finished.)

Have you taken any days off this month?

To describe how things have changed over time.

My English has improved since I moved here.

The city has grown a lot in the last ten years.

Technology has advanced rapidly over the past decade.

The weather has become much warmer in recent years.

The relationship between the two countries has evolved over time.

Over the years, people have become more aware of environmental issues.