The Present Perfect Tense (1)
The present perfect tense is for something that has happened between a time in the past and now.
Important note: in the present perfect, the action has finished, but the time has not finished.
Examples of unfinished time phrases
today
this week
this year
in the last 3 days
my life
How to make the present perfect tense
have/has + past participle
– examples
I have gone to school.
She has done her homework.
They have taken all my money.
Examples of using the present perfect tense
1: What have you done today?
(between midnight and now)
I have woken up.
I have eaten breakfast.
I have gone to school.
2: What have you done this week?
(between Monday morning and now)
I have visited my grandfather.
I have gone to the cinema.
I have been to Beijing.
3: Describing your life
(between the day you were born and now)
I have been to Las Vegas.
I have graduated from high school.
I have got married and had 23 children.
Adding ‘haven’t’ to the present perfect tense
The present perfect tense can also describe what you have not done. For this, change ‘have/has’ to ‘haven’t/hasn’t’.
– examples
He hasn’t cleaned the dishes today.
She hasn’t been to Japan.
Exercises
1. Answer these questions:
(i) What have you done today?
(ii) what have you done this week?
(iii) what have you done (in your life)?
2. Think of some things you haven’t done today.