Present Perfect

Present perfect
I’ve eaten sushi many times!

 

Present Perfect Positive

SUBJECT HAVE / HAS PAST PARTICIPLE
I / you / we / they have eaten
he / she / it has eaten

It’s common to use the contracted form:

  • Yes, I’ve eaten sushi before.
  • We’ve already seen that movie.
  • He’s just woken up.
  • She’s forgotten her cell phone.

In this case, he’s and she’s mean he has and she has, not he is or she is.


Present Perfect Negative

SUBJECT HAVEN’T / HASN’T PAST PARTICIPLE
I / you / we / they haven’t eaten
he / she / it hasn’t eaten

If you want to use the word “never,” then don’t use haven’t/hasn’t:

  • I haven’t never eaten sushi.
    I’ve never eaten sushi.
  • She hasn’t never written an e-mail in English.
    She’s never written an e-mail in English.

Click here to learn more about present perfect + ever/never.


Present Perfect Questions

HAVE / HAS SUBJECT PAST PARTICIPLE
Have I / you / we / they eaten?
Has he / she / it eaten?

How to answer present perfect questions:

  • Have you been to London?
    Yes, I have. / No, I haven’t.
  • Has Alex met Miriam yet?
    Yes, he has. / No, he hasn’t.
  • Have the results of the election been announced?
    Yes, they have. / No, they haven’t.


Present Perfect Quiz

Is each sentence grammatically correct or incorrect?
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When to use present perfect vs. simple past

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