present perfect

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

 

 

  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?

 

*: participle = (voltooid) deelwoord

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.

Signal Words of Present Perfect

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. See the image below for the difference between past simple and present perfect.



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.