Present Perfect

The present perfect simple expresses an action that is still going on or that stopped recently, but has an influence on the present. It puts emphasis on the result.

Form of Present Perfect

	Positive	Negative	Question
I / you / we / they	I have spoken.	I have not spoken.	Have I spoken?
he / she / it	He has spoken.	He has not spoken.	Has he spoken?

For irregular verbs, use the participle form. For regular verbs, just add “ed”.

Exceptions in Spelling when Adding ‘ed’

Exceptions in spelling when adding ed	Example
after a final e only add d	love – loved
final consonant after a short, stressed vowel or l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled	admit – admitted travel – travelled
final y after a consonant becomes i	hurry – hurried

Use of Present Perfect

• puts emphasis on the result
  Example: She has written five letters.
• action that is still going on
  Example: School has not started yet.
• action that stopped recently
  Example: She has cooked dinner.
• finished action that has an influence on the present
  Example: I have lost my key.
• action that has taken place once, never or several times before the moment of speaking
  Example: I have never been to Australia.

Signal Words of Present Perfect

• already, ever, just, never, not yet, so far, till now, up to now