Present perfect - 1
Form of the Present perfect
The Present Perfect consists of the Present Tense of the verb 'to have' combined with the Participle form.
Forming the Participle form
- For regular verbs, just add 'ed' to the infinitive.
- For irregular verbs, use the participle form.
| |
Positive |
Negative |
Question |
| I/you/we/they |
I have worked |
I have not worked |
Have I worked? |
| |
I have spoken |
I have not spoken |
Have I spoken? |
| he/she/it |
He has worked |
He has not worked |
Has he worked? |
| |
He has spoken |
He has not spoken |
Has he spoken? |
Exceptions in spelling when adding 'ed'
| Exceptions in spelling when adding ed |
Example |
| after a final e only add d |
love - loved |
final consonant after a short, stressed vowel
or / as final consonant after a vowel is doubled |
admit - admitted
travel - travelled |
| final y after a consonant becomes i |
hurry - hurried |
Present perfect - 2
Uses of Present Perfect
The present perfect simple expresses an action that is still going on or that stopped recently, but has an influence on the present. It puts emphasis on the result.
- puts emphasis on the result
Example: She has written five letters.
- action that is still going on
Example: School has not started yet.
- action that stopped recently
Example: He has cooked dinner.
- finished action that has an influence on the present
Example: I have lost my key.
- action that has taken place once, never or several times before the moment of speaking
Example: I have never been to Australia.
Signal Words of Present Perfect
- already, ever, just, never, not yet, so far, till now, up to now.
Specific time expressions?
You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with specific time expressions such as: yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc.
Unspecific time expressions?
We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.
Beware of Double Dutch!
Actions started in the past and continuing to the present time are expressed with the Present Perfect Tense in English. In Dutch, we use the Onvoltooid Tegenwoordige Tijd.
EXAMPLES
| English |
Dutch |
| I have been living in the Netherlands for five years. |
Ik woon vijf jaar in Nederland. |
| How long have you been living in the Netherlands? |
Hoe lang woon je in Nederland? |
| Up to now, he has worked for a small company. |
Tot nu toe werkt hij bij een klein bedrijf. |
