Present Perfect Tense
What Is the Present Perfect Tense? (with Examples)
The present perfect tense is oddly named because it is used to describe actions that began in the past. However, it is different from the simple past tense because quite often the actions being described are still continuing into the present.Examples of the Present Perfect Tense
Here are some examples of the present perfect tense (highlighted):- Janet has run two miles. (This is the present perfect tense. In this example, Janet is still running when the words were said.)
- Janet ran two miles. (This is the simple past tense. In this example, Janet has stopped running when the words were said.)
- David has worked alongside two of the world's finest scientists in the field of entomology. (This is the present perfect tense. In this example, David might have finished working with those scientists, but the sentence carries the connotation that he is still working as an entomologist.)
- David worked alongside two of the world's finest scientists in the field of entomology. (This is the simple past tense. This example carries the connotation that David no longer works as an entomologist.)
More Examples of the Present Perfect Tense
Here are some more examples of the present perfect tense:- The board has decided not to uphold the appeal. (Connotation: The board continues to uphold the appeal.)
- I have taken the wrong path again. (Connotation: I am still on the wrong path.)
- The board has not decided not to uphold the appeal.
- I have not taken the wrong path again.
- Has the board decided to uphold the appeal?
- Have I taken the wrong path again?
Forming the Present Perfect Tense
Here is an infographic explaining the present perfect tense:
The Other Present Tenses
The present perfect tense is one of four present tenses. They are:| The 4 Present Tenses | Example |
|---|---|
| simple present tense | I go |
| present progressive tense | I am going |
| present perfect tense | I have gone |
| present perfect progressive tense | I have been going |
The present perfect tense is formed:
has/have + [the past participle]
For example:
Add "ed" to most verbs:
If a verb of one syllable ends [consonant-vowel-consonant], double the final consonant and add "ed":
If the final consonant is w, x or y, don't double it:
If last syllable of a longer verb is stressed and ends [consonant-vowel-consonant], double the last consonant and add "ed":
If the first syllable of a longer verb is stressed and the verb ends [consonant-vowel-consonant], just add "ed":
If the verb ends "e", just add "d":
If the verb ends [consonant + "y"], change the "y" to an "i" and add "ed":
You just have to learn them.
Click here for a list of the most common irregular verbs.
has/have + [the past participle]
For example:
- I have worked
- She has painted
Forming the Past Participle (Regular Verbs)
If it's a regular verb, the past participle is the same as the simple past tense. In other words, it is formed like this:Add "ed" to most verbs:
- jump > jumped
- paint > painted
If a verb of one syllable ends [consonant-vowel-consonant], double the final consonant and add "ed":
- chat > chatted
- stop > stopped
If the final consonant is w, x or y, don't double it:
- sew > sewed
- play > played
- fix > fixed
If last syllable of a longer verb is stressed and ends [consonant-vowel-consonant], double the last consonant and add "ed":
- incur > incurred
- prefer > preferred
If the first syllable of a longer verb is stressed and the verb ends [consonant-vowel-consonant], just add "ed":
- open > opened
- enter > entered
- swallow > swallowed
If the verb ends "e", just add "d":
- thrive > thrived
- guzzle > guzzled
If the verb ends [consonant + "y"], change the "y" to an "i" and add "ed":
- cry > cried
- fry > fried
Forming the Past Participle (Irregular Verbs)
If it's an irregular verb, the past participle is formed in all sorts of different ways. Here are some examples:- arise > arisen
- catch > caught
- choose > chosen
- know > known
You just have to learn them.
Click here for a list of the most common irregular verbs.
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See Also
Tenses Simple past tense Past progressive tense Past perfect tense Past perfect progressive tense Simple present tense Present progressive tense Present perfect tensePresent perfect progressive tense Simple future tense Future progressive tense Future perfect tense Future perfect progressive tense