This entry deals with the simple present perfect. For the present perfect progressive, see present perfect 4
forms
have/has + past participle
- I have broken my glasses.
- Have you finished?
- She hasn’t phoned.
In older English, some present perfect forms were made with be, not have (e.g. Winter is come). This does not normally happen in modern English (for exceptions, see finished, and).
For details of question structures, see questions 1: basic rules. For negatives, see negative structures 1: basic rules.
For passive forms (e.g. The work has been done), see passives 1: passive structures and verb forms.
other languages
In some other languages there are verb forms which are constructed like the English present perfect (compare English I have worked, French j’ai travaill, German ich habe gearbeitet, Italian ho lavorato, Spanish he trabajado). Note that the English present perfect is used rather differently from most of these.
finished events connected with the present
We use the present perfect especially to say that a finished action or event is connected with the present in some way. If we say that something has happened, we are thinking about the past and the present at the same time.
- I can’t go on holiday because I have broken my leg. (NOT I can’t go on holiday because I broke my leg.)
We could often change a present perfect sentence into a present sentence with a similar meaning.
- I’ve broken my leg. -» My leg is broken now.
- Have you read the Bible. -> Do you know the Bible?
- Some fool has let the cat in. -* The cat is in.
- Utopia has invaded Fantasia. -» Utopia is at war with Fantasia.
- Mary has had a baby. –? Mary now has a baby.
- Our dog has died. -> Our dog is dead.
- All the wars in history have taught us nothing. –? We know nothing.
The present perfect is often used to express the idea of completion or achievement.
- At last! I’ve finished!
- Have you done all the housework?
We do not use the present perfect if we are not thinking about the present (see present perfect 2: perfect or past?). Compare:
- I’ve traveled in Africa a lot. (= I know Africa.)
- Some people think that Shakespeare traveled a lot in Germany, (NOT Some people think that Shakespeare has traveled …)
present perfect: thinking about the past and present at the same time
PAST
I can’t go on holiday because I’ve broken my leg.
NOW
finished events:
We normally use the present perfect to announce news of recent events.
- Andy has won a big prize!
- Have you heard? Uncle George has crashed the car again.
- Here are the main points of the news.
- The pound has fallen against the dollar.
- The Prime Minister has said that the government’s economic policies are working.
- The number of unemployed has reached five million.
- There has been a fire …
After announcing news, we usually use the simple past to give more details, (see present perfect 2: perfect or past?).
- Uncle George has crashed the car again. He ran into a tree in High Street.
time words: ever, before, recently etc
When we talk about finished events with words that mean ‘at some/any time up to now’ (like ever, before, never, yet, recently, lately, already), we normally use the present perfect.
- Have you ever seen a ghost? She’s never said ‘sorry’ in her life.
- I’m sure we’ve met before. Has the postman come yet?
- We haven’t seen Beth recently.
- Could you clean the car? I’ve already done it.
repetition up to now:
We can use the present perfect to say that something has happened several times up to the present.
- I’ve written six letters since lunchtime.
Adverbs of frequency like often, sometimes, occasionally are common with the present perfect.
- How often have you been in love in your life?
- I’ve sometimes thought of moving to Australia.
continuation up to now: I’ve known her for years
To talk about actions and situations that have continued up to the present, both the simple present perfect and the present perfect progressive are possible (depending on the kind of verb and the exact meaning – for details, see present perfect 5: simple or progressive?).
- I’ve known her for years, (not I know her for years. – see present perfect 6: present perfect or present?)
- I’ve been thinking about you all day.
For present perfect tenses in clauses referring to the future (e.g. I’ll take a rest when I’ve finished cleaning the kitchen), see tense simplification in subordinate clauses.