Explanation
Exercises

✅ Present Perfect — Form & Meaning

Use have/has + past participle (V3) to talk about past events connected to now, life experiences, and situations that started in the past and still continue.
have/has + V3 just · already · yet ever · never · before for · since · how long today/this week (period incl. now) short answers been vs gone
🧱Form

Affirmative

STRUCTURE I/you/we/they have + V3 · he/she/it has + V3
  • I have seen her. / I’ve seen her.
  • He has finished. / He’s finished.

Negative & Questions

NOT & ?
  • I/you/we/they haven’t seen her. · He/she/it hasn’t seen her.
  • Have you seen her? · Has he finished?
  • Short answers: Yes, I have. / No, he hasn’t.
Past participle
  • Regular: work → worked · play → played
  • Irregular: use the 3rd column: go → gone, see → seen, write → written, break → broken…
📌Meaning & Use
RECENT EVENTS / NEWS We don’t say when; the event is recent or relevant now.
  • I’ve passed the test! 🎉
  • She’s broken her arm.
  • The president has travelled to Cuba.
Markers
  • just (very recent): I’ve just seen Peter.
  • already (earlier than expected): We have already arrived.
  • yet (neg./questions, at the end): Have you finished yet? · I haven’t called him yet.
  • today / this week / this month: I haven’t seen Ted today.
  • recently / lately: Have you seen any good films recently?
LIFE EXPERIENCES We don’t say when these happened; they’re true until now.
  • I’ve run the Boston Marathon twice. 🏃
  • She’s never been on a cruise.
  • I’ve been here before.
Markers
  • ever (questions): Have you ever been to India?
  • never (negative meaning): She has never been late.
  • before: I think I have seen this film before.
  • Superlatives + ever: This is the best food I’ve ever tried.
  • Number of times: I’ve seen this film three times.
UNFINISHED SITUATIONS Started in the past and continue now.
  • How long have you been here?
  • I have been here all day.
  • They have been married for 25 years.
  • I’ve lived in Oslo since I was born.
for / since / how long
  • for + period: for two weeks, for ten years, for a few hours…
  • since + starting point: since 4 o’clock, since 2010, since last Wednesday, since I was born…
  • how long + present perfect (questions): How long has she had her car?
BEEN vs GONE
  • She has been to Paris. (visited & returned)
  • She has gone to Paris. (is there now)
🧠
For ongoing actions with emphasis on duration/activity, prefer the present perfect continuous: I’ve been working here for 5 years.
🚫Common mistakes
  • ❌ We are friends since first grade.
    ✅ We’ve been friends since first grade.
  • ❌ They’ve been married since 10 years ago.
    ✅ They’ve been married for 10 years.
  • ❌ Using specific past time with present perfect: I have seen him yesterday.
    ✅ Use past simple: I saw him yesterday.
  • ❌ Did you ever eat sushi? (experience)
    ✅ Have you ever eaten sushi?
  • ❌ I haven’t finished already.
    ✅ I haven’t finished yet. / I have already finished.
✅Quick checks
  • News/recent result relevant now? → present perfect (We’ve just started).
  • Life experience (no time stated)? → present perfect (Have you ever…?).
  • Started in the past & still true? → present perfect with for/since.
  • Finished at a specific time in the past? → past simple (yesterday/last year/in 2019).
Recap: have/has + V3 connects past to present. Use markers just/already/yet, ever/never/before, and for/since/how long. Avoid specific past-time expressions with present perfect. 🌟
Exercises:
1
2
3

Present perfect: Form and use

Choose for or since to complete the following present perfect sentences.
1
I've lived in Barcelona three years.
2
She has worked at the museum 2018.
3
We haven't seen each other last spring.
4
He has been on the phone half an hour.
5
My brother has played the piano he was seven.
6
It's been cloudy the weekend.
7
They have studied English the last two months.
8
I have known Maya we met at university.
9
The shop has been closed noon.
10
Our team has trained several weeks.

Present perfect: Form and use

Choose the most appropriate forms to complete the following present perfect sentences.
1
_____ to Berlin before?
A.
B.
C.
2
She ____ just ____ the report.
A.
B.
C.
3
We ____ in this city since 2018.
A.
B.
C.
4
He ____ the new manager yet.
A.
B.
C.
5
How long ____ English?
A.
B.
C.
6
I ____ my wallet! Can you help me look for it?
A.
B.
C.
7
They ____ already ____ for the airport.
A.
B.
C.
8
This is the first time I ____ sushi.
A.
B.
C.
9
We ____ three concerts so far this year.
A.
B.
C.
10
She ____ a lot of progress lately.
A.
B.
C.

Present perfect: Form and use

Write sentences with the words below using the present perfect tense.
1
I / finish / my report / just ⇒
2
She / not / see / him / since Monday ⇒
3
They / move / to a new flat / recently ⇒
4
You / ever / try / sushi? ⇒
5
He / break / his arm / again ⇒
6
We / not / decide / on the date / yet ⇒
7
The train / just / arrive ⇒
8
How long / you / know / each other? ⇒
9
My parents / be / married / for 30 years ⇒
10
She / write / three emails / today ⇒