What Is the Present Perfect Tense?

What Is the Present Perfect Tense? (with Examples)

The present perfect tense is oddly named because it is used to describe actions that began in the past. However, it is different from the simple past tense because quite often the actions being described are still continuing into the present.

Examples of the Present Perfect Tense

Here are some examples of the present perfect tense (highlighted):

Janet has run two miles.

(This is the present perfect tense. In this example, Janet is still running when the words were said.)

Janet ran two miles.

(This is the simple past tense. In this example, Janet has stopped running when the words were said.)

David has worked alongside two of the world’s finest scientists in the field of entomology.

(This is the present perfect tense. In this example, David might have finished working with those scientists, but the sentence carries the connotation that he is still working as an entomologist.)

David worked alongside two of the world’s finest scientists in the field of entomology.

(This is the simple past tense. This example carries the connotation that David no longer works as an entomologist.)

More Examples of the Present Perfect Tense

Here are some more examples of the present perfect tense:

The board has decided not to uphold the appeal.

(Connotation: The board continues to uphold the appeal.)

I have taken the wrong path again.

(Connotation: I am still on the wrong path.)

Of course, you can have the negative version, which is formed “has not” or “have not” + “[past particple]”:

The board has not decided not to uphold the appeal.
I have not taken the wrong path again.

And the question versions:

Has the board decided to uphold the appeal?
Have I taken the wrong path again?

Present Perfect Tense

“has” or “have” + [past participle]

Joe has started his homework. →⎮
activity started in the past (and might continue to the present)

They have fixed the broken window. →⎮
activity started in the past (and might continue to the present)

Past present future

Forming the Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense is formed:

has/have + [the past participle]

For example:

I have worked
She has painted

Forming the Past Participle (Regular Verbs)

If it’s a regular verb, the past participle is the same as the simple past tense. In other words, it is formed like this:

Add “ed” to most verbs:

jump > jumped
paint > painted

If a verb of one syllable ends [consonant-vowel-consonant], double the final consonant and add “ed”:

chat > chatted
stop > stopped

If the final consonant is w, x or y, don’t double it:

sew > sewed
play > played
fix > fixed

If last syllable of a longer verb is stressed and ends [consonant-vowel-consonant], double the last consonant and add “ed”:

incur > incurred
prefer > preferred

If the first syllable of a longer verb is stressed and the verb ends [consonant-vowel-consonant], just add “ed”:

open > opened
enter > entered
swallow > swallowed

If the verb ends “e”, just add “d”:

thrive > thrived
guzzle > guzzled

If the verb ends [consonant + “y”], change the “y” to an “i” and add “ed”:

cry > cried
fry > fried

Forming the Past Participle (Irregular Verbs)

If it’s an irregular verb, the past participle is formed in all sorts of different ways. Here are some examples:

arise > arisen
catch > caught
choose > chosen
know > known

You just have to learn them.