In this lesson, the learners will be able to learn the present perfect tense with meanings, formula, exercise, and comparison to learn comprehensively.

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Muhammad Irfan Abid

Muhammad Irfan Abid is an English grammar expert, educator, and content creator with over 10 years of experience in teaching and developing English language resources. As the founder of englishfy.net, he is passionate about simplifying complex grammar concepts for students, competitive exam aspirants, and ESL learners across the globe.

Present Perfect Tense Meaning

The present perfect tense is used to describe actions or situations that have occurred at an unspecified time before the present or actions that started in the past and continue into the present. It often connects the past with the present.

Present =the period of time now occurring/happening

Perfect = complete

Tense =  time/verb

Present Perfect Tense =completed action in present time

Definition of Present Perfect Tense

In this tense, anything is done, happened, or borne in present complete aspects. Moreover, any work that was started in past and now it has completed in present.

Recognition in English

S +has/have+ 3rd form of Verb + O

They have done their duty.

First of all, the subject is placed at the start of the sentence, then the 3rd form of the verb, and the object at the end with a full stop.

Examples

* 3V=3rd form of the verb
 has=He, She, It or singular name
 have=I, We, They, You or plural name

S    + has/have+ 3V  +        O

We have played cricket. 

You have driven a car.

Present Perfect Tense Exercise

In this portion, we’ll learn all types of sentence examples.

Affirmative Sentences

The affirmative sentences are also called positive or general sentences. Here are 10 examples of affirmative sentences present perfect tense:

Negative Sentences

To make a sentence negative, place “ not” right after has or have. Let us formulate it.
S +  has /have not +3V  + O

He has not gone to school.

They have not done homework.

Interrogative Sentence

To make a sentence interrogative, place “has” or “have” right before the subject or at the start of the sentence. Let us formulate it.

Has / Have  + S  + 3V  + O + ?

Has Ali gone to school?

Have they done school work?

 Interro-Negative Sentence

To make a sentence interro-negative, add “has“ or “ have” right before the subject of a negative sentence and put the sign of interrogation at the end. Let us formulate it.

S +has/have  +3V  + O (Simple)

S +has /have not +3V  + O (-ve)
Now Interronegative Sentence
Has /Have + S + not +3V  + O? 

Have Asif and Ali not gone to school?

Have you not done homework?

Worksheet

Common Mistakes

1. ❌ Using a specific past time

Wrong:
❌ I have seen him yesterday.

Why it’s wrong:
Present Perfect is not used with finished time expressions (yesterday, last year, in 2020).

Correct:
✅ I saw him yesterday.
✅ I have seen him recently.

2. ❌ Using Past Simple instead of Present Perfect

Wrong:
❌ I did my homework already.

Correct:
✅ I have already done my homework.

Tip:
Use Present Perfect for recent actions with present relevance.

3. ❌ Forgetting the helping verb (has / have)

Wrong:
❌ She completed her work just.

Correct:
✅ She has completed her work just.

Rule:
Present Perfect = has / have + past participle

4. ❌ Using the base or past form instead of past participle

Wrong:
❌ He has eat the food.
❌ They have went home.

Correct:
✅ He has eaten the food.
✅ They have gone home.

5. ❌ Confusing has and have

Wrong:
❌ She have finished the task.
❌ They has arrived.

Correct:
✅ She has finished the task.
✅ They have arrived.

6. ❌ Using Present Perfect for a completely finished action

Wrong:
❌ I have lived in Lahore for 10 years. (but you don’t live there now)

Correct:
✅ I lived in Lahore for 10 years.

Use Present Perfect only if the action continues or affects the present.

7. ❌ Incorrect position of already, just, yet

Wrong:
❌ I have finished already the work.
❌ Have you finished the work already?

Correct:
✅ I have already finished the work.
✅ Have you finished the work yet?

8. ❌ Using Present Perfect in “when” questions

Wrong:
❌ When have you arrived?

Correct:
✅ When did you arrive?

Reason:
“When” refers to a specific past time.

9. ❌ Mixing since and for

Wrong:
❌ I have lived here since five years.

Correct:
✅ I have lived here for five years.
✅ I have lived here since 2020.

10. ❌ Using Present Perfect with dead people or finished life events

Wrong:
❌ Allama Iqbal has written many poems.

Correct:
✅ Allama Iqbal wrote many poems.

Quick Summary Table

Teacher Tip / Student Tip

📌 Ask this question:
Is the action connected to the present?
✔ Yes → Present Perfect
❌ No → Past Simple

Quizzes

You should also learn:

• Present Indefinite Tense – Rules Exercises
• Past Indefinite Tense – Definition Rules Exercise
• Future Indefinite Tense – Rules Exercise
• Present Continuous Tense- All Rules Exercises
• Past Continuous Tense – All Rules Exercise