Present Perfect Tense

The Present Perfect is used to connect the past with the present. Its main purpose is to demonstrate the relevance of past action or situation with the current conditions. Example:

·          John has gone home (have to go home)

John returned home in the past, but the desired phrase is actually above where he is now.This sentence gives the information of the past to inform the present situation.

Shape

Present Perfect is made ​​with have / has (auxiliary verb "to have") and the past participle(verb form of to-3). Example:

·          I have worked in London.

·          She has worked in a bank.

Surely participle (Verb 3) irregularly formed by adding-ed to a verb, for example work - worked, play - played. However there are many irregular Verb 3 you need to know.

Here are the forms of the Present Perfect with the verb to work.

	Single	Plural
Affirmative	I have worked  You have worked  He has worked  She has worked  It has worked	We have worked  You have worked  They have worked
Negative	I have not worked (have not = have not)  You have not worked  He has not worked  She has not worked  It has not worked	We have not worked  You have not worked  They have not worked
Interrogative	Have I worked?  Have you worked?  Has he worked?  Has she worked?  Has it worked?	Have I worked?  Have you worked?  Have they worked?

Usefulness

Here are some usability Present Perfect. Keep in mind that for all cases the main purpose of connecting past and present are the same.

A. Past informing the present

1 Present Perfect Tense is used to provide past information relevant to the current situation.Example:

·          Have you been shopping? Yes, I went this morning.

The question "Have you been shopping?" Inquire about a past fact - if You go shopping or not. However, this question is asked because the needs of the present time - if you have been shopping, speakers do not need to go now - If you have not been shopping we need to go now. This question is a question about the need for the present, not the past fact.

2 Present Perfect Tense is used to connect the experiences of the past. Example:

·          Have you been to Italy?

·          No, I have not been there.

Again, the question "Have you been to Italy?" Inquire about the facts of the past, but the past time or circumstances are not so important. Instead we want this information to the needs of today - perhaps we are talking about international travel, or perhaps interested in Italian. We can not tell from just one sentence, but the focus here is on the needs of the present, not the past.

3 Present Perfect Tense is used for achievement / accomplishment. Example:

·          James has won first prize for math.

James won the prize in the past, but the focus is on present achievement.

B. The past to the present

1. Present Perfect is used to indicate a change from the past to the present.

·          John's English was not very good, but he's got much better.

Between a time in the past and present, John English has improved. The focus is less on how poor John in the past, but rather how much better he is now.

2 Present Perfect is used for a situation or action that began in the past and still continues today. We generally use for and since in situations like this. Example:

·          John has lived in Boston for 5 years.

John came to Boston 5 years ago and still lives there.

·          He has (He's) been a lawyer for 12 years.

3 Present Perfect is used for repeated actions that started in the past and continues in the present example:

·          We've been to England 4 times.

Subject (we) in the sentence above to go to England a few times in the past, and will likely be there again in the future.

4 Present Perfect is used for a period of time that started in the past but still continues today.

·          I've Studied at the library every day this week.

This week started in the past, but is still ongoing, has not ended.

Time and Definite

One of the simple rules of the Present Perfect is it can not be used in conjunction with a definite (definite time). Example:

·          I've been on vacation. True

·          I went on vacation last month. True

·          I've been on vacation last month. Not true

We can not use the definite time with the Present Perfect. Present Perfect use past information to focus on the present, so the past is also no mention of the right.

As a general rule: If the exact past time is important, use the Present Simple - If definite time in the past is not important, use the Present Perfect. Example:

·          I went to Paris last year. - Focus Adala past

·          I've been to Paris. - The focus is on how the experience affects the present.

Present Perfect can be used with adverbs of time. Example:

·          I have not had a vacation recently.

It should be noted that the present perfect can be used with a time period that has not been completed. Example:

·          I have not had a vacation this year. (Right) - This year has not been exhausted, so the Present Perfect is used for a time that continues from the past until now.

·          I have not had a vacation last year. Not true