PRESENT PERFECT

I. STRUCTURE

The present perfect is formed as follows:

TO HAVE (in the present tense) + past participle of verb

Example:

I have studied		We have studied
You have studied		You have studied
He/She/It has studied		They have studied

II. APPLICATION

Use the PRESENT PERFECT to express actions which began in the past and continue (directly or indirectly) into the present. Present perfect applications can be divided into three categories:

i) Experiences (indirect connection to present)

KEY WORDS: ever (interrogative), never (negative), times, before.

Note: for experience, the past participle of the verb GO (gone) is replaced by the past participle of BE (BEEN)

Examples:

-I have tried sushi four times.

-He has never played violin in public.

-Have you seen the latest Star Wars movie?

-Have you ever been overseas?

-I've met him before.

ii) Actions which began in the past and continue into the present

KEY WORDS: How long...?, for (+ duration),

since (+ specific time)

Examples:

-I have lived in Quebec for 2 years.

-She has taken ballet lessons since she was only 5 years old.

-How long has he played golf?

iii) Actions which continue indirectly into the present

KEY WORDS: yet (interrogative and negative),

already (affirmative),just, recently

Examples:

-I've already had my lunch.

-She's just woken up.

-You haven't come to visit us recently.

-He hasn't eaten dinner yet.