The Past Tense
Lessons (1g): The Present Perfect tense
Past simple: "I looked", "I worked". A past event or action; it is finished.
Present perfect simple: "I have looked", "I have worked". A past situation; it is not finished.
Present perfect continuous: "I have been looking", "I have been working". A past situation; it is not finished.
Past perfect: "I had looked", "I had worked". A past situation, before a specified previous time.
Always use the past simple to talk about the past, unless there is a good reason to use another tense.
So, when is there a good reason to use a perfect tense?
(On this page we will look at the present perfect. Click here for the past perfect.)
Is it finished?
To decide if you need the past simple or the present perfect, ask yourself “Is it finished?”
The past simple and the present perfect are both used for past actions and past situations. The past simple is for things that are finished. The present perfect is for things that are not finished; it connects the past and the present:
| Tense | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Past simple | "I liked Coca-Cola when I was six." | (Finished. I liked it then; now I prefer coffee). |
| Present perfect | "I have liked Coca-Cola since I was six." | (Not finished. I still like Coca-Cola now) |
Is it finished? Yes - use the past simple
We use the past simple mainly for past actions - finished actions. For example:
I ran for the bus twice last week.
He went to college from 2006 to 2009.
They watched that new French film last night.
I stayed at home and did my homework.
Is it finished? No - use the present perfect
Is it finished? Is WHAT finished?
Every time a person uses the present perfect, he or she is thinking about a period of time that is not finished.
The period of time could be:
Note: If you use the word since, you need a present perfect!
How do we make the Present Perfect? We use "has" or “have” plus the past participle of the verb.
Do you know your English past participles? Try the test below.
If you don't know them all, you will find a Table of Irregular Verbs here.
| Verb | Past simple |
Present perfect. Has or have plus the past participle: |
|---|---|---|
| like | liked | liked |
| be | was, were | been |
| go | went | been AND gone |
| see | ______ | ______ |
| want | ______ | ______ |
| do | ______ | ______ |
| make | ______ | ______ |
| look | ______ | ______ |
| run | ______ | ______ |
| swim | ______ | ______ |
| drink | ______ | ______ |
| dream | ______ | ______ |
Complete the following sentences using the verb “to watch”:
I ______________ the news every night last week.
I ______________ the news every night this week.
- What is the difference between these two sentences?
I'm not watching the news now.
I watched the news every night last week. Past simple because last week is finished.
I have watched the news every night this week. Present perfect because this week is not finished.
We use the present perfect tense when we are talking about the past but thinking about the present.
Complete the following sentences using the verb “to be”:
She _________________ a vegetarian for three years, and she never eats meat or fish.
She _________________ a vegetarian for three years, but now she eats bacon and chicken.
- And the answer is...
She has been a vegetarian for three years, and she never eats meat or fish.
She was a vegetarian for three years, but now she eats chicken and bacon.
Present perfect, positive and negative
| POSITIVE | NEGATIVE |
|---|---|
| "I've been to Rome twice." | "I haven't been to Rome" or "I've never been to Rome." |
| "I've watched TV every night this week." | "Really? I haven't watched TV at all." |
| "I've had a car since I was 19." | "I've had a motorbike, but I've never had a car." |
Present perfect, questions and answers
| QUESTIONS | ANSWERS |
|---|---|
| "Have you been to Siena?" | "I've been to Siena twice, but I think I prefer Lucca." |
| "Have you seen the World Cup on TV?" | "No, I haven't. I'm not very interested in football." |
| "What's the best tourist destination you've been to?" | "The Eiffel Tower, in Paris. I've been up it twice." |
Complete the following sentences using the verb “to be” and the words “since”, “for” and “at”.
[Remember that “for” is for a period of time as in "for ten years"; “since” is for a specified time or date as in "since 2015"]:
Elizabeth ________here ___________ 9 o’clock and Robert ________here ________ 30 minutes but they had to go home.
Elizabeth _________here __________ 9 o’clock and Robert _________ here _______ 30 minutes. They are still working here now. They will finish work at 5.30pm.
- Answer:
Elizabeth was here at 9 o'clock and Robert was here for 30 minutes but they had to go home.
Elizabeth has been here since 9 o'clock and Robert has been here for 30 minutes. They are still working here now. They will finish work at 5.30pm.
Complete the following sentences using the verb “to be married” and the words “since” or “in”:
Elizabeth and Robert ___________ 2010 but they split up last year.
Elizabeth and Robert ___________ 2010 and it’s their anniversary tomorrow.
- Answer:
Elizabeth and Robert were married in 2010 but they split up last year.
Elizabeth and Robert have been married since 2010 and it's their anniversary tomorrow.
Complete the following sentences using the word “never” and the verb “to go”.
I _______________ to Italy, but maybe I will go next year.
Charles ______________ to Italy, and now he is dead.
- Answer:
I have never been to Italy, but maybe I will go next year. Not finished - it is still possible.
Charles never went to Italy, and now he is dead. Finished - it is not possible.
Complete the following sentences using the verb “to go”:
I don’t want to go for another walk, I ____________ for a walk yesterday.
I don’t want to go for another walk, I _____already _____ for a walk today.
- Answer:
I don't want to go for another walk, I went for a walk yesterday.
I don't want to go for another walk, I have already been for a walk today.
Other situations for the present perfect
To talk about something that happened in the recent past that is connected with the present:
“I've lost my keys” [I don't have my keys now]. “I've bought a new book” [Look, here it is now!]
To talk about something that happened in the very recent past, usually with the word just:
“I've just seen an accident with two cars” [it was five minutes ago].
In the morning, Sara says: “I've just spoken to John, and he says Brazil has won the football match”.
She uses the present perfect tense because it’s very recent news. The next day, or even in the afternoon of the same day, it’s not recent news any more and she says “John told me that Brazil won the football match”.
To ask a question about a very recent period of time.
“Have you heard who won the Brazil-France football match?”
A question about a very recent time is often an accusation (you think the other person did something wrong):
“Where have you been?” [You’re 20 minutes late! Now we have to run for the train!]
“Oh no, what have you done?” [My new computer is on the floor, broken!]
We also use the present perfect with “yet” when we talk about something we expect to happen. “Have you telephoned the bank yet?” “No, not yet, I haven't had time”.
Present perfect simple, present perfect continuous
On this page, we've talked about the present perfect simple, but there is also a continuous form.
Use the present perfect simple to talk about the result of an activity.
Use the present perfect continuous to talk about the activity itself.
| Tense | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Present perfect simple | "I have worked in the library." | I know the library, because I work there sometimes. |
| Present perfect continuous | "I have been working in the library." | That's what I was doing this morning. |
Click here for a mini-lesson on the Present Perfect Continuous.
Exercises and homework on the present perfect
What you hear in class, you remember for 30 minutes; what you practice in class, you remember for 48 hours; what you do for homework, you remember for long enough to start using it!
I have exercises and homework for the perfect tenses, but I don't give away all my work for free. You can find some exercises in a good English grammar book. Click here to see more.