The present perfect tense is a present tense. It is used to talk about the situation now of an action that started in the past. It doesn’t talk about the past.
- I have taken the wrong road.
(action that began in the past/took the wrong road – situation now/still on the wrong road) - I have worked here for many years.
(action that began in the past/started work here – situation now/still working here)
It can also be used to talk about an action that has only just finished.
- They have fixed the roof
(started in the past/fixing the roof – just finished/fixing the roof)
The present perfect tense is formed subject + has/have + past participle.
- I have worked here for many years.
(subject/I + have + past participle/worked) - He has just dropped his book.
(subject/he + has + past participle/dropped)
The negative is formed subject + has not/have not (hasn’t/haven’t) + past participle.
- I haven’t worked here for many years.
(subject/I + haven’t + past participle/worked) - He hasn’t just dropped his book.
(subject/he + hasn’t + past participle/dropped)
The question is formed question word + has/have + subject + past participle.
- How have I taken the wrong road?
(question word/how + have + subject/I + past participle/taken) - How has he done that?
(question word/how + has + subject/he + past participle/done)
For yes/no questions it is formed using have/has + subject + past participle.
- Have I taken the wrong road?
(have + subject/I + past participle/taken) - Has he done that?
(has + subject/he + past participle/done)
Common mistakes with tenses.
