How do we make the present perfect tense in English?
Note: This is also called the present perfect simple tense.
Positive form
Use the present simple of “have” and the past participle.
| Full form | Short form |
| I have played | I’ve played |
| you have played | you’ve played |
| he has played | he’s played |
| she has played | she’s played |
| it has played | it’s played |
| we have played | we’ve played |
| they have played | they’ve played |
For example:
- I have played basketball for three years.
- He’s worked here since 2022.
- They’ve already cleaned the kitchen.
Negative form
Put “not” after the present simple of “have”.
| Full form | Short forms | |
| I have not played | I haven’t played | *I’ve not played |
| you have not played | you haven’t played | you’ve not played |
| he has not played | he hasn’t played | he’s not played |
| she has not played | she hasn’t played | she’s not played |
| it has not played | it hasn’t played | it’s not played |
| we have not played | we haven’t played | we’ve not played |
| they have not playing | they haven’t played | they’ve not played |
*The structure in the third column is sometimes used in British English, but it is rarely used in other varieties of English. When used in other varieties, it sounds quite formal.
For example:
- I haven’t finished my homework yet.
- Amy hasn’t been to Australia before. (she hasn’t been)
- It has not arrived yet.
- He hasn’t talked to them today.
- We’ve not seen her all week.
Question forms
Invert the subject and the present simple of “have”, and then put a question word (“what”, “who”, etc.) at the beginning for wh- questions.
| Yes/No questions | |
| Have I played? | |
| Have you played? | |
| Has he played? | |
| Has she played? | |
| Has it played? | |
| Have we played? | |
| Have they played? | |
| Wh- questions | |
| What Who Where When Why How etc. | have I played? |
| have you played? | |
| has he played? | |
| has she played? | |
| has it played? | |
| have we played? | |
| have they played? | |
For example:
- Have I written it right?
- Have you found your phone?
- Has Maria emailed you yet? (has she emailed)
- What have you done today?
- How long have we lived in this house?
- Where have they gone?