Present Perfect
The present perfect connects past actions to the present, showing relevance or result. It is formed with have/has plus the past participle.
Usage
Use the present perfect for actions that happened at an unspecified time before now, for experiences, and for actions with present relevance. It also marks actions that started in the past and continue to the present.
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Formation
The present perfect is formed with have or has followed by the past participle of the verb. Regular past participles end in -ed, while many common verbs are irregular.
Auxiliary: Have / Has
Use has with third person singular and have with I, you, we, and they. This small difference keeps the sentence grammatically correct.
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Past Participle
The past participle expresses the completed action. For regular verbs, add -ed, and for irregular verbs, use the specific form from memory or a list.
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Examples
| English Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| 🏠 I have cleaned the entire house. | 🧹 She has tidied her room. |
| 🛒 They have bought groceries. | 🍰 He has made a cake. |
| 🌳 We have planted flowers in the garden. | 🗑️ I have taken out the trash. |
| 📦 She has organized the closet. | 🧺 They have done the laundry. |
Signal Words
Signal words for the present perfect include already, yet, just, ever, never, and time expressions like since and for. These clues help determine if the present perfect is appropriate.
| English Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| 🕐 I have just finished vacuuming. | 🌅 She has already started cleaning. |
| 🧼 They have cleaned before the guests arrived. | 🧽 We have often tidied this room. |
| 📅 He has cleaned today. | ✅ The house has been cleaned. |
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Summary
The present perfect uses have/has plus the past participle to link past actions to the present. It highlights experiences, recent actions, and ongoing states that began in the past.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025