Grammar
Present perfect: uses, form, and examples
I have lost my keys, so I cannot open the door. The loss happened before now, but the problem matters now.
Use the present perfect to connect a past action, experience, or situation to the present.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
Have you finished the report yet? /hæv juː ˈfɪnɪʃt ðə rɪˈpɔːt jet/
The short answer
Use have or has plus a past participle when the past action matters now and you do not name a finished past time.
Nora has sent the email, so we can start the review.
Why it works: Sending happened earlier, and the completed email has a result now.
5 more examples
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I have lost my keys, so I cannot open the door.
The missing keys create a problem at the present time.
Not this:I
lostmy keys yesterday, but I found them this morning. What changes: Yesterday is a finished past time, so the past simple fits the completed story. -
Mina has visited Morocco twice.
The sentence counts Mina's experience without saying when either visit happened.
Not this:Mina
visitedMorocco in 2024. What changes: In 2024 is a finished time, so use the past simple. -
We have lived in this apartment for three years.
The situation began in the past and continues now.
Not this:We
livedin that apartment before we moved here. What changes: The move ends the earlier situation, so the past simple describes it. -
Have you finished the report yet?
The question asks whether the report is complete by now.
Not this:
Did you finishthe report yesterday? What changes: Yesterday fixes the question at a finished past time. -
The train has just left the station.
Just shows that the departure happened very recently and matters now.
Not this:The train
leftat 6:10. What changes: At 6:10 gives a finished time, so use the past simple.
Read the full guide
First, ask whether the sentence names a finished time such as yesterday, in 2024, or at 6:10. If it does, the past simple is usually the right choice. If the action connects to now without that finished-time detail, consider the present perfect.
Connect the past with now
Choose the present perfect when an earlier action has a result in the present. The exact time is often unimportant or unknown.
I have broken my glasses, so I cannot read the small print.
The broken glasses affect the speaker now.
The manager has approved the plan, so the team can begin.
Approval happened earlier, and it allows the next step now.
Which form shows a present result: has approved or approved yesterday?
Has approved. It links the earlier approval to the team's situation now.
Build the form with have or has
Use have with I, you, we, and they. Use has with he, she, it, and a singular name or noun. Follow the helper verb with a past participle.
They have completed the safety training.
They takes have, followed by the participle completed.
Ravi has written a clear summary.
Ravi is singular, so the sentence uses has.
Complete the sentence: She ___ the schedule. Choose has checked or has check.
Has checked. The present perfect needs a past participle after has.
Talk about experience without saying when
Use the present perfect to talk about an experience when the time is not the point. Words such as ever, never, once, and twice often appear with this use.
Have you ever worked with a customer from another country?
The question asks about any time in the listener's experience up to now.
I have never seen that kind of bird before.
Never means the experience has not happened at any time until now.
Choose the better question when no date is given: Have you tried sushi? or Did you try sushi in 2024?
Have you tried sushi? Use the present perfect when you ask about experience without a finished time.
Describe a situation that continues
Use the present perfect with for to give a duration and with since to give a starting point. This use describes a state or situation that began earlier and continues now.
I have known Carlos since our first training course.
Since introduces the point where the friendship began.
They have worked at the clinic for six months.
For introduces the length of time up to now.
Choose since or for: We have used this system ___ January.
Since January. January is the starting point, not a length of time.
Use just, already, and yet for recent events
Use just for something that happened a very short time ago. Use already for something completed earlier than expected. Use yet in questions and negatives when you ask or say whether something is complete by now.
Our guests have just arrived.
Just presents the arrival as very recent.
She has already booked the tickets.
Already shows that the booking is complete by this point.
We have not chosen a venue yet.
Yet says the decision is still unfinished at the present time.
Which word fits a negative sentence about an unfinished task: yet or ever?
Yet. Say We have not finished the task yet.
Choose the past simple for a finished time
A finished-time expression usually takes the past simple. Look for yesterday, last month, in 2024, or a specific finished time before you choose the verb form.
I sent the invoice last Friday.
Last Friday is a completed period in the past.
She has sent the invoice, so the client can pay it now.
This sentence focuses on the present result and gives no finished time.
Choose the correct form: I have met her last week or I met her last week.
I met her last week. Last week is a finished time expression.
Make questions and negatives
Put have or has before the subject to make a question. Add not after have or has to make a negative. The past participle stays the same.
Has the supplier replied to your message?
Has comes before the singular subject the supplier.
I have not received the updated file.
Have not makes the negative; received remains the past participle.
Put the words in order: finished / have / you / the form?
Have you finished the form? Put have before you to make the question.
Before you go
Remember this
Use have or has plus a past participle to link the past with now. Choose it for present results, life experiences without a stated time, situations that continue until now, and recent events. Choose the past simple when you give a finished past time.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Present perfect: uses, form, and examples"
When do I use the present perfect?
Use the present perfect when a past action connects to now. I have lost my keys, so I cannot open the door focuses on the present problem, not the time when the keys disappeared.
I have lost my keys, so I cannot open the door.
How do I form the present perfect?
Use have with I, you, we, and they, and has with he, she, it, and singular nouns. Add a past participle: They have completed the safety training and Ravi has written a clear summary.
I lost my keys yesterday, but I found them this morning.
Can I use the present perfect for life experiences?
Yes. Use it when you talk about an experience without saying a finished time. Mina has visited Morocco twice counts her experience. If you add in 2024, use the past simple: Mina visited Morocco in 2024.
Mina has visited Morocco twice.
What is the difference between since and for?
Use since for the point where a continuing situation began and for for its duration. We have known each other since college names the starting point. They have worked at the clinic for six months gives the length of time.
Mina visited Morocco in 2024.
Why can I not say have met last week?
Last week is a finished past time, so it usually takes the past simple: I met her last week. Use the present perfect when the sentence does not name that finished time and the past action matters now.
We have lived in this apartment for three years.