By Vahid Alaghehband
The present perfect (have/has + past participle) connects the past with the present. Use it for life experiences with no specific time (I have been to Lima), for situations that started in the past and continue (She has lived here for two years) and for recent changes with a result now (I've lost my keys). If you say when it happened, use the past simple.
This guide is part of English grammar by level. The present perfect is A2 and B1 grammar on the CEFR (A2.2 in the Vozi Grammar catalog). It is one of the hardest tenses for learners because many languages have a similar form that is used differently.
How to form the present perfect
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + have/has + past participle | I have finished the report. She has visited Cuenca. |
| Negative | Subject + haven't/hasn't + past participle | We haven't eaten yet. |
| Question | Have/Has + subject + past participle? | Have you ever tried ceviche? |
| Short answer | Yes, + subject + have/has. No, + subject + haven't/hasn't. | Yes, I have. No, she hasn't. |
He, she and it take has; all other subjects take have. Regular past participles end in -ed (worked, played); irregular verbs have their own form (been, seen, gone, done). The most common ones are in our past simple and irregular verbs guide.
When to use the present perfect
Experiences with no specific time
You talk about something you have done at some point in your life. It often goes with ever and never.
- I have traveled by plane twice.
- Have you ever sung karaoke?
- My parents have never seen snow.
Something that started in the past and continues
The situation is still true. Use for (a length of time) and since (a starting point).
- I have worked at this bank since 2021.
- They have known each other for ten years.
- How long have you had that bike?
Recent past with a result now
What matters is the result in the present, not the exact time.
- I've broken my phone, so I can't call you.
- The bus has just left.
- Have you finished your homework yet?
Time expressions and key words
These words often go with the present perfect. Finished-time words (yesterday, last year, in 2020, ago) go with the past simple.
- ever
- never
- already
- yet
- just
- for
- since
- so far
- recently
- this week / this year
- How long…?
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Correction | Why |
|---|---|---|
| ✗ I have seen that movie last year. | ✔ I saw that movie last year. | With a finished time (last year, yesterday, in 2020) English uses the past simple. |
| ✗ I live here since 2020. | ✔ I have lived here since 2020. | A situation that started in the past and continues needs the present perfect, not the present simple. |
| ✗ She have finished. | ✔ She has finished. | He, she and it take has. |
| ✗ Have you ever went to Quito? | ✔ Have you ever been to Quito? | After have/has you need the past participle (been, gone), not the past form (went). |
| ✗ I'm here since three years. | ✔ I've been here for three years. | For + a length of time; since + a starting point. And the verb goes in the present perfect. |
Present perfect vs past simple
| Present perfect | Past simple | |
|---|---|---|
| Do you say when? | No, or the time period is unfinished (today, this week) | Yes, a finished time (yesterday, in 2019) |
| Is it still true? | Often yes: I have lived in Loja for five years (I still live there) | No: I lived in Loja for five years (I don't live there now) |
| Typical question | Have you ever…? | When did you…? |
| Example | I've met the new manager. | I met her on Monday. |
A typical conversation starts with the present perfect and switches to the past simple for details: Have you ever been to the Galápagos? — Yes, I have. I went in 2023.
Short conversation
Two people talk before a job interview.
A: Have you ever worked in a call center?
B: Yes, I have. I worked in one for a year after university.
A: And what have you done since then?
B: I've taught English to kids and I've started a small online business.
A: Have you ever had a job interview in English?
B: Not yet, but I've practiced a lot this month.
A: That's great. How long have you been studying English?
B: For three years. I've improved a lot recently.
10 exercises with answers
Complete with the present perfect or the past simple. In the last one, fix the mistake.
- I ___ (visit) Guayaquil three times.
- She ___ (not / finish) her project yet.
- ___ you ever ___ (eat) sushi?
- We ___ (live) in this house since 2019.
- They ___ (go) to the beach last weekend.
- He ___ (just / call) me.
- I ___ (know) Marta for ten years.
- ___ you ___ (see) the new episode yesterday?
- My brother ___ (never / fly) in a plane.
- Fix the mistake: I have bought this jacket in 2022.
Show answers
- have visited
- hasn't finished
- Have … eaten
- have lived
- went
- has just called
- have known
- Did … see
- has never flown
- I bought this jacket in 2022.
Next step: if you don't know your level, take the English level test (about 15 minutes, with instant results). To keep working on this topic, see Vozi Grammar's English grammar exercises by level.
Frequently asked questions
When do you use the present perfect?
For life experiences with no specific time (I have been to Lima), for situations that started in the past and continue (I have lived here since 2020) and for recent actions with a result now (I've lost my keys).
What is the difference between the present perfect and the past simple?
The past simple talks about a finished time you can name (I saw her yesterday). The present perfect doesn't say when, or refers to a period that is still open (I've seen her this week).
When do I use for and when do I use since?
For goes with a length of time (for two years, for a week) and since with the starting point (since 2021, since Monday). Both usually go with the present perfect.
Can I use the present perfect with yesterday?
No. Yesterday, last week, in 2020 and ago mark a finished time, so they need the past simple: I saw him yesterday, not I have seen him yesterday.