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Present perfect
The present perfect is a verb form which links the past and present. We use it when we talk about an action or state which started in the past and which continues up to the present time.

For example:

I've lived in London since 1994.

I started living in London in 1994 and I still live in London now.

Today Fatima from Iran takes on the present perfect challenge by making sentences based on the life of the actor Tom Cruise.

Listen to the programme!

Present perfect

Positive

Subject	have / has	past participle
I You We They	have 've	studied a lot this term. been teaching here for years. lived here for six years.
He She It	has 's

Negative

Subject	have not / has not	past participle
I You We They	have not haven't 've not	bought anything yet. been teaching for long. studied a lot this term.
He She	has not hasn't 's not

Question

Has / Have	subject	ever	past participle
Have	I you we they	(ever)	ridden a horse? read Harry Potter? met anyone famous?
Has	he she	(ever)

Download Nuala's grammar explanation and tables (pdf - 31 k)

Download this programme (mp3 - 1.8 MB)

Now it's your turn to practise the present perfect. Go to our quiz page on this subject here.

Meet us		Useful links		Next episode
Nuala and Callum		Flatmates - Present Perfect Learn It - Present Perfect & Past Simple University of Westminster* *The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites		In the next programme: 'have to' and 'don't have to.' Tomomi from Japan checks her understanding. Homepage and archive




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