Present Perfect Simple
Go to Practice ExercisesThe Present Perfect Simple is used to connect the past with the present. We make it with have / has + the past participle. For most verbs, the past participle is the same as the past simple form (for example, play → played).
Some verbs change their spelling (for example, study → studied), and many are irregular (for example, go → gone, write → written). You can find a full list of irregular verbs in the related lessons below.
How to Form the Present Perfect Simple
Positive Sentences
To make the positive, use have / has + the past participle.
| Full Form | Short Form |
|---|---|
| I have played | I've played |
| You have worked | You've worked |
| He has written | He's written |
| She has walked | She's walked |
| It has rained | It's rained |
| We have travelled | We've travelled |
| They have studied | They've studied |
Negative Sentences
To make the negative, add not after have or has.
| Full Form | Short Form |
|---|---|
| I have not eaten breakfast today | I haven't eaten |
| You have not been to Asia | You haven't been |
| He has not seen the new film | He hasn't seen |
| She has not played tennis | She hasn't played |
| It has not snowed this winter | It hasn't snowed |
| We have not slept all night | We haven't slept |
| They have not tried the food | They haven't tried |
Yes / No Questions
To make a question, put have / has before the subject.
Examples:
- Have I missed the bus?
- Have you visited London?
- Has he worked as a waiter before?
- Has she met John?
- Has it been cold this week?
- Have we arrived too early?
- Have they studied English grammar before?
Wh- Questions
For wh- questions, place the question word before have / has.
Examples:
- Where have I left my umbrella?
- What have you done today?
- Why has he gone already?
- Where has she been in the UK?
- Why has it rained so much this summer?
- What have we done?
- Where have they learned English before?
When do we use the Present Perfect Simple?
Focus on usage: how to use the Present Perfect Simple
Practice Exercises
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