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What Is the Present Perfect Tense? Definition and Examples | Grammarly

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The present perfect tense is an English verb tense used for past actions that are related to or continue into the present. It's easily recognized by the auxiliary verbs (or helper verbs) and , as in, "I have gone fishing since I was a child."

Of all the English verb tenses, the present perfect is one of the most complicated because there's not always a direct translation in other languages. So in this guide, we explain everything you need to know to use it including how and when to use it, with plenty of present perfect tense examples.

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What is present perfect tense?

The present perfect tense is one of the common verb tenses in English, used to show an action that happened in the past that is directly related to the present, such as actions that are still continuing or that indicate a change over time. We cover a complete list of when to use the present perfect tense below.

Don't let the name confuse you-even though the word is there, the present perfect tense deals with actions that happened or started in the past. In fact, the present perfect tense is often used interchangeably with the simple past tense, although there are some special situations in which you can only use one or the other, also explained below.

How do you use the present perfect tense?

In the present perfect tense, the main always use the auxiliary verbs (helper verbs) or . The main verb takes a participle form, specifically the past participle. The past participle is often the same form as the simple past form of the verb, unless it's an irregular verb , which each have their own unique past participle form. We explain in more detail how to form them in our guide to participles .

Only the auxiliary verbs are conjugated to fit the subject-verb agreement in the present perfect tense; the past participle of the main verb remains the same no matter what the subject is. Generally, you use for all subjects except the singular third-person, which instead uses .

The present perfect tense has specific constructions for standard statements, negatives, and questions, explained below. We also discuss how to use the present perfect tense with adverbs and with the passive voice.

The present perfect tense for statements

The present perfect tense for negatives

To use the present perfect tense in the negative, simply add the negative word (like or ) after the auxiliary verb but before the past participle.

This construction works for neither, nor sentences, too.

Please note that it's clearest to avoid contractions when using the present perfect tense with the negative, at least in American English.

The present perfect tense for questions

When asking a question in the present perfect tense, the auxiliary verb comes first, followed by the subject, and then the past participle of the main verb. This follows a similar construction as questions with the auxiliary verb , which also comes before the subject.

How to use the present perfect tense with adverbs

Although you can still use adverbs after the verb (as you do normally), with the present perfect tense you can also place the adverb between the auxiliary verb and the past participle.

The adverb , used often with a negative or in questions, almost always comes at the end of a sentence or clause.

Conversely, the adverb is always placed between the auxiliary verb and the past participle.

How to use the present perfect tense in the passive voice

When discussing writing, we often talk about the active vs. passive voice . Although we recommend using the active voice as much as possible, sometimes the passive voice is unavoidable.

How to use the present perfect continuous tense

You can also combine the present perfect tense with the present continuous tense to show an ongoing action that started in the past and continues to the present. This hybrid tense is called the present perfect continuous tense . The construction is similar to using the present perfect tense in the passive voice, except that the main verb uses the present participle instead of the past participle.

Like all continuous tenses, the present perfect continuous tense can not be used with stative verbs like want, need, love, or

Here's a tip: You don't have to guess whether you're using certain words correctly or breaking grammar rules in your writing. Just copy and paste your writing to check your grammar and get instant feedback on grammar, spelling, punctuation, and other mistakes you might have missed.

6 examples of when to use the present perfect tense

Knowing when to use the present perfect tense is an important part of English grammar, but it can be confusing even for primary English speakers. Below, we explain the six main uses of the present perfect tense, including examples.

1 An ongoing action that started in the past, but has not yet been completed

This is the main usage of the present perfect tense, which demonstrates the relationship between an action started in the past and its effects on the present.

Note that you can also use the present perfect continuous tense for this situation, as long as the action has not been completed yet (and it's not a stative verb). The difference between the present perfect tense and the present perfect continuous tense, in this case, is emphasis:

The present perfect tense emphasizes the effects or consequences of the action.

The present perfect continuous tense emphasizes the action itself or the length of time.

So, for example, if you want to plainly say where you live, use the normal present perfect tense.

If you want to emphasize how long you've been living in a place, use the present perfect continuous tense.

What about an action started in the past that has already been completed? For that, you can use the simple past.

2 A series of the same action completed multiple times in the past, likely to happen again in the future

When the same action has happened a few times already, you can use the present perfect tense if the action will likely happen again in the future. If the action probably won't happen again, you can use the simple past tense.

The present perfect tense is often used to emphasize a change that happened over an extended period of time.

5 An uncompleted action that is expected to be finished (in the negative)

If an action started in the past but was not completed, you can describe it with the present perfect tense if it's likely to be completed in the future. This situation uses the negative form to show that the action is still unfinished and often uses the adverb .

6 To add significance to a completed action

Last, you can use the present perfect tense to make any past action sound more important. The present perfect tense is often used with great achievements or accomplishments, as well as dramatic or rare events. This makes it appropriate for newsworthy events or major life experiences.

When not to use the present perfect tense

Now that you know when to use the present perfect tense, let's talk about when to avoid it.

A lot of times, the difference between the present perfect tense and the simple past tense is a matter of emphasis or whether or not the action is truly finished. However, there's one rule in particular that should be mentioned: Do not use the present perfect tense with a specific time.

This might be confusing, however, because you can use the present perfect tense with a broad time period. The present perfect tense is only incorrect if used with one specific time. Using the present perfect tense with a general time range is perfectly acceptable.

Present perfect tense FAQs

What is the present perfect tense?

The present perfect tense is an English verb tense used to describe a past action that is related to the present.

How does the present perfect tense work?

The present perfect tense uses the auxiliary verb or and the past participle form of the main verb. For example, if you want to use in the present perfect tense, you say, "I have gone."

When is the present perfect used?

The present perfect tense is commonly used with events that started in the past and continue into the present. However, it has a few other uses too, including events that happened very recently in the past.

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What is the present perfect tense and how is it formed properly? Quickly learn the grammar rules for using this verb tense in your writing.

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Present Perfect Tense exercises with answers

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Present Perfect Tense exercises with answerss. Explanations and examples along with tests and exercises online to practise Present Perfect Tense in English.

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When to Use the Present Perfect Tense | With example sentences

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English grammar exercise about reported speech

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English with Ronnie · EnglishLessons4U with engVid

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Grammar: Learn to use REPORTED SPEECH in English

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Click here for a list of reported speech exercises.
Click here to download this explanation in PDF.
Reported Statements
When do we use reported speech? Sometimes someone says a sentence, for example "I'm going to the cinema tonight". Later, maybe we want to tell someone else what the first person said.

Watch my reported speech video:

Here's how it works:

We use a 'reporting verb' like 'say' or 'tell'. ( Click here for more about using 'say' and 'tell'.) If this verb is in the present tense, it's easy. We just put 'she says' and then the sentence:

Direct speech: I like ice cream.

Reported speech: She says (that) she likes ice cream.

We don't need to change the tense, though probably we do need to change the 'person' from 'I' to 'she', for example. We also may need to change words like 'my' and 'your'.

(As I'm sure you know, often, we can choose if we want to use 'that' or not in English. I've put it in brackets () to show that it's optional. It's exactly the same if you use 'that' or if you don't use 'that'.)

But, if the reporting verb is in the past tense, then usually we change the tenses in the reported speech:

Direct speech: I like ice cream.

Reported speech: She said (that) she liked ice cream.

* doesn't change.

Occasionally, we don't need to change the present tense into the past if the information in direct speech is still true (but this is only for things which are general facts, and even then usually we like to change the tense):

Direct speech: The sky is blue.

Reported speech: She said (that) the sky is/was blue.

Click here for a mixed tense exercise about practise reported statements.
Click here for a list of all the reported speech exercises.

Reported Questions

So now you have no problem with making reported speech from positive and negative sentences. But how about questions?

Direct speech: Where do you live?

How can we make the reported speech here?

In fact, it's not so different from reported statements. The tense changes are the same, and we keep the question word. The very important thing though is that, once we tell the question to someone else, it isn't a question any more. So we need to change the grammar to a normal positive sentence. A bit confusing? Maybe this example will help:

Direct speech: Where do you live?

Reported speech: She asked me where I lived.

Do you see how I made it? The direct question is in the present simple tense. We make a present simple question with 'do' or 'does' so I need to take that away. Then I need to change the verb to the past simple.

Another example:

Direct speech: Where is Julie?

Reported speech: She asked me where Julie was.

The direct question is the present simple of 'be'. We make the question form of the present simple of be by inverting (changing the position of)the subject and verb. So, we need to change them back before putting the verb into the past simple.
Here are some more examples:

Where is the Post Office, please?

She asked me where the Post Office was.

What are you doing?

She asked me what I was doing.

Who was that fantastic man?

She asked me who that fantastic man had been.

So much for 'wh' questions. But, what if you need to report a 'yes / no' question? We don't have any question words to help us. Instead, we use 'if':

Direct speech: Do you like chocolate?

Reported speech: She asked me if I liked chocolate.

No problem? Here are a few more examples:

Click here to practise reported 'wh' questions.
Click here to practise reported 'yes / no' questions.

Reported Requests

There's more! What if someone asks you to do something (in a polite way)? For example:

Direct speech: Close the window, please

Or: Could you close the window please?

Or: Would you mind closing the window please?

All of these requests mean the same thing, so we don't need to report every word when we tell another person about it. We simply use 'ask me + to + infinitive':

Reported speech: She asked me to close the window.

Here are a few more examples:

Please help me.

She asked me to help her.

Please don't smoke.

She asked me not to smoke.

Could you bring my book tonight?

She asked me to bring her book that night.

Could you pass the milk, please?

She asked me to pass the milk.

Would you mind coming early tomorrow?

She asked me to come early the next day.

To report a negative request, use 'not':

Direct speech: Please don't be late.

Reported speech: She asked us not to be late.

Reported Orders

And finally, how about if someone doesn't ask so politely? We can call this an 'order' in English, when someone tells you very directly to do something. For example:

Direct speech: Sit down!

In fact, we make this into reported speech in the same way as a request. We just use 'tell' instead of 'ask':

Reported speech: She told me to sit down.

Time Expressions with Reported Speech

Sometimes when we change direct speech into reported speech we have to change time expressions too. We don't always have to do this, however. It depends on when we heard the direct speech and when we say the reported speech.

For example:

It's Monday. Julie says "I'm leaving today".

If I tell someone on Monday, I say "Julie said she was leaving today".
If I tell someone on Tuesday, I say "Julie said she was leaving yesterday".
If I tell someone on Wednesday, I say "Julie said she was leaving on Monday".
If I tell someone a month later, I say "Julie said she was leaving that day".

So, there's no easy conversion. You really have to think about when the direct speech was said.

Here's a table of some possible conversions:

today

yesterday / that day / Tuesday / the 27th of June

yesterday

the day before yesterday / the day before / Wednesday / the 5th of December

last night

the night before, Thursday night

last week

the week before / the previous week

tomorrow

today / the next day / the following day / Friday

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Practise reported speech - clear explanations and lots of exercises.