The present perfect

The Present Perfect is formed by means of the Present Indefinite of the auxiliary verb “to have” and Participle II of the notional verb. In the interrogative form the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject. In the negative form the negative particle “not” is placed after the auxiliary verb.

I have written a new article.

She has written a new article.

I have not written a new article.

She has not written a new article.

Have I written a new article?

Has she written a new article?

The contracted forms are:

I have written = I’ve written

He has written = He’s written

They have not written = They haven’t written

She has not written = She hasn’t written

The negative-interrogative forms are:

Has she not written? = Hasn’t she written?

Have you not written? = Haven’t you written?

Participle II is formed by adding “–ed/d” to the stem of the regular verb (to want – wanted, to live – lived) and the third form of the irregular verb (to go - went –gone).

The use of the present perfect

1.We use the Present Perfect to denote a completed action connected with the present, it means there is a present result of the action (with such adverbial modifiers as: just, already, yet, of late):

He has done a great deal of work of late.

I’ve lost my key (= I haven’t got it now)

Note! I’ve just seen him.

I saw him just now.

2. We often use the Present Perfect for new or recent happenings:

Have you heard the news? Sally has won the lottery.

Do you know about Jim? He’s gone to Canada.

Note 1. Have gone to (в пути или до сих пор там)

Have been to (был, но уже вернулся)

Note 2. For information in detail we use the Past tenses:

-Oh! I have burned myself!

- How did you do that?(not the Present Perfect How have you done it? )

- I picked up a hot dish.

3. We use the Present Perfect tense with this morning, this evening, today, this term… when these periods are not finished at the time of speaking:

I’ve smoked ten cigarettes today (Perhaps I’ll smoke more before today finishes)

4. We use the Present Perfect when we talk about a period of time that continues up to the present (with before, recently, lately, ever, never):

Have you traveled a lot recently?

5. We use the Present Perfect to say that you have never done something or that you haven’t done something during a period of time that continues up to the present (with never):

Jill has never driven a car.

6. It is used for situations that exist for a long time (with for, since):

a)With verbs that are not normally used in the continuous

I’ve known her for all my life.

b)In the negative sentences:

I’ve not read it since September.

c)With dynamic verbs of durative meaning (work, travel, live, study, etc.), which can be used both in the Present Perfect Simple tense and the Present Perfect Continuous tense :

I’ve worked here for two years.

I’ve been working here for two years.

7. It may also be used to sum up the situation:

We’ve all been young once, you know. We’ve all felt it.

8. It is used in adverbial clauses of time/condition/concession with when, after, before, till/until, since… to denote a completed action before a certain moment in the future expressed in the principle clause.

When I have read the book I will return it.

As soon as we have had some tea, we shall go to inspect your house.

9. We use the Present Perfect in the constructions:

a) “This/ it is the first/second/third...... time smb has done smth”

This is the first time I’ve driven a car.

b) “This is the only….smth ….smb has done smth”

This is the only book he has written

10. We often use this tense after the superlative:

It’s the most boring film, I’ve ever seen.

This is the easiest job I have ever had.

The Present Perfect	The Past Simple
Unfinished state / action: This island has not been inhabited since 1580.	Finished state / action: This island was not inhabited from 1580 to 1891.
Unfinished time: I haven’t seen Keith this morning yet. (It’s still morning.)	Finished time: I didn’t see Keith at all this morning. (It is now afternoon / evening.)
Present relevance: The Indian Government has imposed a ban on tiger hunting to prevent the extinction of tigers.	No present relevance: The Indian Government imposed a ban on tiger hunting a few years ago.
Indefinite time: I have been to Spain twice.	Definite time: I went to Spain in 1999 and 2010.