You’ve probably already heard of it, there is a tense, used in English, which oscillates between past and present. This one is called the present perfect. Far from being difficult to understand, it is nevertheless often shunned by students. Business Cool reveals to you all the secrets of this time which will soon no longer have any secrets for you.
In reality the present perfect is close to the past perfect, but be careful if it looks like it, it is not used in the same way. This is why so many French speakers have problems with this weather. But don’t panic, we’ll explain everything to you!
What is the present perfect?
The present perfect is a past tense used in English, it is constructed using the auxiliary Have and the past participle. This tense is used mainly to talk about a past action linked to the present. It then expresses an action having a link between the past and the present, which is why it can be confused with the past simple. Although similar to the past tense, these two tenses are in reality very different, because their logic is not the same.
The present perfect is so called because this form incorporates a so-called “perfect” present, because it expresses a link between the past and the present.
How is the present perfect formed?
The construction of the present perfect is this: auxiliary HAVE in the present (have, has) + past participle. The past participle then corresponds to the verbal base + -ed ending, with the exception of irregular verbs! However, in spoken language, the auxiliary have is often contracted into ‘ve or ‘s.
How to use the present perfect?
1. The affirmative form
If you want to form an affirmative sentence in the present perfect, you will need to use the following structure:
Subject + have (+adverb) + past participle + sentence complement.
2. The interrogative form
On the other hand, if you want to use the interrogative form, in this case you will have to reverse the subject and the auxiliary. Two possibilities exist:
- Question word + auxiliary have + (adverb +) subject + past participle + sentence complement
- Auxiliary have + (adverb +) subject + past participle + sentence complement
3. The negative form
Finally, there is also the negative form, to use this it is simple, just add a negation word “not” after the auxiliary have.
Subject + auxiliary have + not + past participle + sentence complement.
What is the difference between the past simple and the present perfect?
These two tenses are sometimes confused, yet they have nothing to do with each other. And for good reason, the past simple is used to talk about a completed action, without consequences on the present. Conversely, the present perfect is used to establish a link between a present and past event.
How to translate the present perfect into French?
In reality, the present perfect has no French equivalent. It can then be translated as the present, the past tense or even the future in English.
The present tense with prepositions like: for, since, just.
The past tense: to take stock
The future anterior, with the phrase: by the time, as soon as, after, until, once, when.
Some examples of present perfect sentences
In order to consolidate our understanding of the Present Perfect and allow you to apply it with confidence, discover some concrete examples of the use of the present perfect in different grammatical forms. These illustrative sentences will help you understand in more depth how the Present Perfect is used in practice, whether in affirmative, interrogative, negative contexts or even in its “be + ing” form.
Affirmative form:
- I visited London twice. In this sentence, “ I have visited » (I visited) expresses a past action of visiting London, but the use of “ have » underlines the connection with the present. This means that the experience of the visit has an impact or importance in the present.
- She has already read this book. By saying “ She has read that book already » (She has already read this book), we highlight an accomplished action of reading. However, ” has » indicates that this action has an influence in the present moment, perhaps in a conversation about books.
Interrogative form:
- Have you ever traveled abroad? By asking the question “ Have you ever traveled abroad? » (Have you ever traveled abroad?), we seek to know if the experience of traveling abroad took place at any given time. THE ” ever ” emphasizes that it can be any time in the past to the present.
- Has he ever seen this film? The question “ Has he seen this movie before? » (Has he ever seen this film?) prompts us to find out if this person had the opportunity to watch this film at an earlier time. Once again, the “ has » indicates the relationship with the present.
Negative form:
- They haven’t finished their homework yet. By using negation, “ They haven’t finished their homework yet » (They have not yet completed their homework), we communicate that the action of finishing the homework has not been accomplished yet, with an implication that it may still happen.
- She has not visited this museum. By saying “ She hasn’t visited that museum » (She has not visited this museum), we express the absence of an action, that is to say that she has not yet had the opportunity to visit the museum in question.
Form Present Perfect Be + ing:
- I have been studying English for three years. Using the construction “I have been studying English for three years » (I have been studying English for three years), we emphasize the continuous duration of the study of English. This emphasizes the progression aspect of the action.
- She has been with the company since 2010. Saying “ She has been working at the company since 2010 » (She has worked in the company since 2010), we highlight the extended duration of her employment with the company, emphasizing the fact that she still works there.
Here are some concrete examples that illustrate the flexibility and richness of the Present Perfect in English. By incorporating them into your conversations, you will strengthen your mastery of this tense and thus you will be better prepared to communicate in English.
Don’t forget that the way to progress in a language is practice!
