PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

Illustration:

Joe       : Have you ever gone to Bali?

Jack     : No, I haven’t gone to Bali yet. What about you?

Joe       : Yes, I have gone to Bali once.

Jack     : Really, how long have you stayed there?

Joe       : I have stayed there for a week.

Jack     : Did you enjoy being there?

Joe       : Yes, I did, I enjoyed being there very much, because the beach was so beautiful and the local tradition was so unique.

Functions:

The present perfect is used:

Ø  to talk about something that happened during a period of time that is not yet finished:

The train has been late three times this week.

He still hasn’t visited his girlfriend.

Ø  when the time in the past is not mentioned, or is not important:

He’s written a novel.

We’ve bought a new house.

Ø  when the action finished in the past, but the effect is still felt in the present:

He’s lost his motorcycle (and he still hasn’t found it).

Ø  with for and since to show the duration of an action or state up until the present:

                        I have worked here since 2013.

                        She hasn’t bought any new clothes for many years.

Ø  in British English, with just, ever, already and yet:

                        We’ve just arrived.

                        Have you ever been there before?

                        He’s already packed his suitcases.

                        Haven’t you finished yet?

Pattern:

            (+) Subject + Have/has + V3 /been+ Complement

            (-) Subject + Have/has + not + V3 /been+ Complement

            (?) Have/has + Subject + V3/been + Complement?

Note:

Have    : I, you, they, we

Has      : she, he, it

Example:

·         (+) She has worked in this office for three years.

(-) She has not worked in this office for three years.

(?) Has she worked in this office for three years? Yes, she is / No, she not

·         (+) They have been in Jakarta for a long time.

(-)  They have not been in Jakarta for a long time.

(?) Have they been in Jakarta for a long time?

Exercises:

Arrange these words in order to be good sentences!

1.      Has-drunk-coffee- father-my- two-of –glasses.

2.      They –have- done- not- homework-the.

3.      She-America-has-in-lived-three-for-years?

4.      Bought –he-a-car-new-has-not-yet.

5.      Long- you-have-how-worked-here?

Practice:

1.      What activities have you done today?

2.      What other country have you ever visited?

3.      Has your father gone to work?

4.      Have you done your homework?

5.      What have you studied at school today?

6.      What have you eaten today?

7.      What achievement have you ever got?

8.      How many times have you flown by plane?

9.      What has your mother cooked today?

10.   Have you ever experienced any accident?

Related topic:
Present continuous tense