ENG 115: Present Perfect Tense

PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

Unfinished past / incomplete action

(An action that started in the past and goes on up to the present and / or future)

I’ve read that book.

(you started reading some days ago and haven’t finished yet)

      

You started reading

You continue reading

You will be reading

I’ve lived here for a long time.

You started living here

You’re moving away

            

Present result / Consequence

I’ve lost my keys.

(you want to open the door now, but you can’t)

You lost your keys

You want to open the door, but you have no keys

    

He broke his leg

His leg hurts and it’s in plaster

    He’s broken a leg.

    (now it’s in plaster)

Undetermined past

(to show that an action was finished, but we don’t know or we don’t want to say when)

    They’ve travelled to Japan.

    I’ve posted the letter.

Complete action

She’s painted the ceiling.

He’s read the newspaper today.

Recent past  (with JUST)

Jack has just arrived at school.

COMMON ADVERBS USED WITH PRESENT PERFECT TENSE:

ALREADY (já – affirmative sentences; comes between HAVE / HAS and the participle)

I’ve already done my homework.

EVER (já; alguma vez – used in questions)

Has she ever driven a car?

YET (já – interrogative sentences; expresses an expectation; comes at the end of the sentence)

Have you washed the dishes yet?

YET (ainda – negative sentences; comes at the end of the sentence)

He hasn’t arrived yet.

JUST (very recently; comes between HAVE / HAS and the participle)

She has just left the room.

ALWAYS (comes between HAVE / HAS and the participle)

The answers have always been the same.

NEVER (affirmative sentences with a negative meaning; comes between HAVE / HAS and the participle)

We have never had Latin classes.

LATELY (comes at the end of the sentence)

I haven’t gone to the theater lately.

RECENTLY (comes at the end of the sentence)

He has changed his job recently.

   TIME EXPRESSIONS:

FOR (duration / length of time)

I have worked as a nurse for three years.

SINCE (beginning of a period of time)

She has lived in Wisconsin since 1985.

THIS MORNING / THIS AFTERNOON / THIS EVENING / TONIGHT

THIS WEEK / THIS MONTH / THIS YEAR / TODAY

    (when these periods are not finished at the time of speaking)

    He’s smoked ten cigarettes today.

    Bill is phoning his girlfriend again. That’s the third time he’s phoned her this evening.

SO FAR / UP TO NOW (até agora)

He’s studied a lot so far/up to now.

Up to now/So far, they haven’t told me the truth.