Present Perfect Tense

What is present perfect tense?

The present perfect tense is really a very interesting tense. It can make peculiar challenges to people who are learning English as a second language. Most learners feel this is one of the most difficult tenses to use correctly. In fact, the structure of the present perfect tense is very simple. The problems come with the use of the tense. I hope the rules below are helpful.
Rule 1 Unspecified Time before Now
The present perfect tense connects the present to the past. It is used to express actions that happened at an unspecified time or that began in the past and continue in the present.The exact time is not important.
Note: We cannot use Present Perfect with specific time expressions, can only use with unspecific expressions.
Specific time expressions: yesterday, one year ago, last week, etc.
Unspecific time expressions: ever, never, already, yet, just, once, many times, several times, before, so far, etc.
Examples:
I have seen that movie.
I have met her once before.
We have lived in London.
He has never been abroad.

Remember:
You should not use this tense with time expressions like yesterday, a week ago, last year, etc.
I have seen her yesterday.
We have gone to California last year.

“Unspecified time” can be very confusing to learners. Hope the following topics will be useful to understand.
Life experience:
We often use the present perfect tense to talk about experience from the past. we don’t say when the experience happened, just sometime in the past.

• I have been to Canada.
• She has lived in India.
• They have visited The Iguazu Waterfalls three times.
• We have never seen that film.

Finished action with a result in the present:
We also use the present perfect tense to talk about a past action that has the result in the present.

• I have lost my pan card
• They have missed the bus

Change over time:

• I have bought a car.
• You have grown since the last time I saw you.
• My English has really improved.

Rule 2: Continuation in the present
We use the present perfect tense to talk about an action which started in the past and continuous up to now.

• He has worked as a teacher for over 25 years.
• She has achieved a lot in his life.
• How long have you been at this website?

How do we make the simple present tense?

The present perfect tense is formed by using has or have with the past participle form of the verb.
General Structure

• 1. Affirmative (Positive) Sentence

Subject	Auxiliary	Verb	Rest of the sentence.
I, We, You, They	have	Past Participle	Rest of the sentence.
He, She, It	has	Past Participle	Rest of the sentence.

• 2. Negative Sentence

Subject	Auxiliary +Not	Verb	Rest of the sentence.
I, We, You, They	have + not	Past Participle	Rest of the sentence.
He, She, It	has + not	Past Participle	Rest of the sentence.

• 3. Yes/No type Question

Auxiliary	Subject	Verb	Rest of the sentence?
Have	I, We, You, They	Past Participle	Rest of the sentence?
Has	He, She, It	Past Participle	Rest of the sentence?

• 4. Information Question?

Question	Auxiliary	Subject	Verb	Rest of the sentence?
QW	have	I, We, You, They	Past Participle	Rest of the sentence?
QW	has	He, She, It	Past Participle	Rest of the sentence?

Important Note:
Verb – Past Participle
Auxiliary verb – Have and Has
I, We, You, They – Have
He, She, It – Has

1. Affirmative (Positive) Sentences

Subject	Auxiliary	Past Participle	Rest of the sentence
I	have	had	breakfast already.
You	have	initiated	the communication.
We	have	sent	a request.
He	has	finished	his work.
She	has	achieved	a lot in her life.
It	has	stopped	working.
They	have	rejected	me.

2. Negative Sentences

Subject	Auxiliary + Not	Past Participle	Rest of the sentence
I	have not	had	breakfast already.
You	have not	initiated	the communication.
We	have not	sent	a request.
He	has not	finished	his work.
She	has not	achieved	in her life.
It	has not	stopped	working.
They	have not	rejected	me.

3. Yes/No type Question

Auxiliary	Subject	Past Participle	Rest of the sentence?
Have	I	had	breakfast?
Have	you	initiated	the communication?
Have	we	sent	a request?
Has	he	finished	his work?
Has	She	achieved	in her life?
Has	it	stopped	working?
Have	they	rejected	me?

4. Information Questions

Question	Auxiliary	Subject	Past Participle	Rest of the sentence?
When	have	I	work	breakfast?
Where	have	you	initiated	the communication?
Why	have	we	sent	a request?
How	has	he	finished	his work?
What	has	she	achieved	in her life?
How long	has	it	stopped	working?
Why	have	they	rejected	me?
Where	does	Ram	live	?