Present Perfect Tense FORM S + HAS/HAVE + V3/Ved SIGN The Present Perfect tense usually gets together with “just, recently, for, several times, ever, never, already, …” USES The Present Perfect tense is used: - For recent actions when the time is not mentioned. EX: I have read the instructions but I don’t understand them.
- With “just” for a recently completed action. EX: He has just gone out. - For recent actions whose results are still in the present. EX: Tom has had a bad accident. - For an action occurring in an incomplete period. The incomplete period may be indicated by “today/this morning/this week/this month, …” EX: Tom has rung up three times this morning.
- For an action beginning in the past and continuing up to the present. EX: I have learned English for over five years. - For an action finishing at the time of speaking. EX: Hi Tom! I haven’t seen you for ages.
- With “FOR” and “SINCE”. + “For” is used with a period of time. + “Since” is used for a point in time. EX1: We have lived in London for ten years. EX2: We’ve been friends since schooldays. - In “Since + Clause”. EX: I’ve worked here since I left school.
- In the patterns as follows: Pattern 1: It + is + period of time + Since + Simple Past / Present Perfect EX1: It is three years since I last saw Tom. (I saw Tom three years ago) EX2: It is three years since I have seen Tom. (I haven’t seen Tom for three years)
- Pattern 2: S + is + superlative/ordinal number/only + Noun + (that) + Present Perfect EX1: It is the best wine I have ever drunk. EX2: This is the first time I have been here. EX3: This is the only book I have written.