When do we use the present perfect tense in English?
Note: This is also called the present perfect simple tense.
As a general rule, we use the present perfect to talk about actions that happened or started in the past, but still have a connection with the present.
We use the present perfect for:
1. Life experiences at an unspecified time in the past
These are things that happened in the past, but we do not say exactly when they happened.
Words and phrases that are commonly used in these sentences: before, never, ever, [number] times, so far
For example:
- I’ve been to London before.
- They’ve never eaten at McDonald’s.
- Have you ever surfed?
- Ethel has seen The Sound of Music ten times.
Difference between been and gone:
https://learnenglishgrammar.com/been-and-gone/
2. Unfinished actions
These are things that started in the past and continue to the present. They are still true now.
Words and phrases that are commonly used in these sentences: for,since,how long,
all [period of time]
For example:
- I’ve lived in this house for five years.
- They’ve known David since June last year.
- She’s liked peanut butter since she was a kid.
- Have you been here since 8am?
- How long have you worked here?
- We’ve lived in this town all our lives.
- Frank has had a headache all day.
3. Actions in an unfinished time period
These are things that happen in a period of time that is still current.
Words and phrases that are commonly used in these sentences: today, this [period of time]
For example:
- Has it rained today?
- I’ve been to the gym a lot this week.
- Maria hasn’t seen her family this year.
If you are speaking at the end of the time period, in other words when the time period has almost finished, you can also use the past simple.
For example:
- Did it rain today? (You could say this in the evening.)
- I went to the gym a lot this week. (You could say this on Friday or the weekend.)
- Maria didn’t see her family this year. (You could say this in November or December.)
We also usually use the past simple if the action is complete and is a single event (it probably will not happen again in this period).
For example:
- I didn’t wake up early today.
- He started a new job this week.
- They moved to a new apartment this year.
We use the present perfect to say that something has not happened in a period of time that started at a point in the past and continues to the present.
For example:
- We haven’t seen David since March. (The last time we saw David was in March.)
- I haven’t talked to her for two weeks. (The last time I talked to her was two weeks ago.)
- She hasn’t played piano in years. (The last time she played piano was years ago.)
4. Phrases with ordinal numbers + time
This is similar to rule 1 (life experiences). We use the present perfect after phrases like “it’s the first time” to talk about how many times something has happened up to now.
These sentences always contain: it/this/that is the [ordinal number] time (that)
Note: We use the present simple (“is”) after “it/this/that”, but not after “time”.
For example:
- I’m feeling a little lonely. This is the first time that I’ve lived alone. (not I live)
- It’s the second time she’s called me tonight. (not she calls)
- That’s the third time the team has lost this season. (not the team loses)
1, 2, 3 and 4 apply to both British and American English.
For 5 and 6, the past simple is often used instead of the present perfect in American English.
5. Recent actions with a result on the present
These are things that happened in the recent past, but are still relevant or important now.
There are no commonly used words or phrases for these types of sentences. The context will indicate if you should use the present perfect.
For example:
- You’ve cut yourself badly. You should go to the hospital.
- I’ve lost my phone. Could I use yours to call my friend?
- Frank has tidied his room. Now you can actually see the floor.
It is common for North Americans to use the past simple in these situations, especially in spoken language.
For example:
- You cut yourself badly. You should go to the hospital.
- I lost my phone. Could I use yours to call my friend?
- Frank tidied his room. Now you can actually see the floor.
6. Very recent actions
These are very recent things that may or may not be relevant now. These may be everyday events or things that you hear on the news.
Words that are commonly used in these sentences: already, just,yet,recently,lately
For example:
- We’ve already watched that series.
- Ethel has just finished her homework.
- Frank hasn’t started his homework yet.
- Have you spoken to George yet?
- Have you seen them recently?
- The government has announced a new tax policy.
- Scientists have discovered a new species of octopus.
It is common for North Americans to use the past simple in these situations, especially in spoken language.
For example:
- We already watched that series.
- Ethel just finished her homework.
- Frank didn’t start his homework yet.
- Did you speak to George yet?
- Did you see them recently?
- The government announced a new tax policy.
- Scientists discovered a new species of octopus.
Advanced grammar point
Sometimes we use the present perfect:
7. In sentences about the future after conjunctions like when, after, once, until and as soon as
Note: We do not use “will + verb” after these conjunctions.
It is usually possible to use the present simple instead of the present perfect in these types of sentences, but using the present perfect emphasises completion before the future action.
Compare:
- When you arrive, send me a message. (focus on arrival)
- When you have arrived, send me a message. (focus on completion of arrival)
- After I read the report, I’ll have lunch. (focus on reading)
- After I’ve read the report, I’ll have lunch. (focus on completion of reading)
More examples:
- Once you’ve done your homework, you can play video games.
- Let’s wait until they’ve left.
- He’ll call you as soon as he’s finished the inspection.