The present perfect tense is used when one intends to indicate:

o    an action that occurred at a time which is indefinite and has its effect on the subject

o    or an action that occurred many times and has the possibility to occur in the present/future

o    or an action that began in the past and still going on in the present.

Structure:

Subject + have/has + verb in the past participle form + . . . . . . .

The Present-Past-Past Participle Chart:

Present Form

Past Form

Past Participle Form

Shout

Shouted

Shouted

Read

Read

Read

Give

Gave

Given

Take

Took

Taken

Sing

Sang

Sung

Write

Wrote

Written

Wake

Woke

Woken

Cast

Cast

Cast

Lose

Lost

Lost

Example:

o    Alex has read the book through. (No time is indicated)

o    I have read this poem many times. (Not habitual but occurred many times in the past)

o    He has lived in this apartment for 15 years. (Still going on)

More examples:

o    Their event has not been approved this year. (Negative)

o    Have we really done so bad? (Interrogative)

Just, already, yet, just now, ever, lately, recently, etc. are some of the signs for present perfect tense.


Note: Already comes between have/has and the past participle; yet appears with a negative form at the end of the sentence.

Example:  

o    Alex has already reached there.

o    Alex has not reached yet.

o    I have already cleaned the house.

o    I have not cleaned the house yet.(Negative)

o    Has she already gone home? (Interrogative)

More Examples of Present Perfect Tense

    • I have written articles on different topics.
    • He has read various kinds of books.
    • They have played football.
    • She has taken coffee.
    • He has gone to the library.
    • We have shopped in this market.
    • We have watched movies in this Cineplex.
    • You have shopped in that market.
    • I have sung different kinds of songs, especially modern.
    • I have listened to melodious songs.
    • He has traveled around the world.
    • They have played cricket in that field.
    • The poet has written romantic poems.
    • The lyricist has written realistic songs.
    • Have you listened to realistic songs?
    • I have not quarreled with you.
    • Have you been to this place before?
    • I have helped him to do the task.
    • My mom has cooked beef with cabbage.
    • I have watched the cricket match on television.