Present perfect – form and use

Choose for or since to complete the following present perfect sentences.

1 I have lived in this city 10 years.

2 She has been working at the company 2015.

3 We have been friends a long time.

4 He has owned this car last summer.

5 They have been married 25 years.

6 I haven't seen him Monday.

7 We have been waiting here two hours.

8 She has been a teacher 2010.

9 He has been living abroad three years.

10 They haven't spoken to each other the argument.

Write sentences with the words below using the present perfect tense.

1 He his keys. (lost)

2 I coffee this morning. (have not/drink)

3 She to us. (never/lie)

4 You that newspaper yet? (read)

5 We to England many times. (be)

6 Where recently? (you/be)

7 David the competition. (win)

8 They in this city for years. (live)

9 I from her recently. (not/hear)

10 She a new phone just now. (buy)

15 January, 2025
20
Grammar
A2 Pre-intermediate

Present perfect – form and use

Form

The present perfect tense is formed using the auxiliary verb have (or has for third-person singular) combined with the past participle of the main verb. Regular verbs form the past participle by adding -ed, while irregular verbs require their specific forms.

I have visited London. ✅

I have visit London. ❌

She has eaten breakfast. ✅

She has ate breakfast. ❌

Usage

The present perfect tense connects the past with the present. It is commonly used in the following situations:

1. Recent Actions or Events

Use the present perfect to describe actions that happened recently, often with just, already, or yet.

I have just finished my homework. ✅

I just finished my homework. ❌

They have already left. ✅

They already leave. ❌

2. Life Experiences

Use the present perfect to talk about life experiences without specifying when they happened.

I have been to Paris twice. ✅

I was to Paris twice. ❌

Key words: ever, never, before.

3. Ongoing Situations

The present perfect is used for actions that started in the past and continue into the present. Commonly used with for (a period of time) and since (a point in time).

We have lived here for ten years. ✅

We live here for ten years. ❌

She has worked at the company since 2015. ✅

She works at the company since 2015. ❌

Common Mistakes

Be careful to use the present perfect correctly in these situations:

I am living here for five years. ❌

I have been living here for five years. ✅
He has went to the store. ❌

He has gone to the store. ✅

Summary

The present perfect tense is versatile and connects past actions or events to the present. By mastering its form and use, you can express yourself more accurately in English.

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