Units 7-8: Present Perfect (Parts 1 & 2) — English Grammar in Use
Learn how the Present Perfect bridges the past and the present, focusing on news, life experiences, and keywords like just, already, and yet.
1. Introduction
The Present Perfect tense is used to connect a past event strictly to the present moment. In this summary, covering Unit 7 and Unit 8, we will explore how to formulate the Present Perfect and when to use it best—specifically for announcing recent events, talking about life experiences, and using keywords like just, already, and yet.
2. Unit 7: Present Perfect 1
Grammar Rule
We use the Present Perfect to talk about a past action that has a direct result or consequence in the present. It tells us about the current state of things rather than just what happened historically.
- We form the Present Perfect using the auxiliary verb have/has followed by the past participle of the main verb.
Form Table
| Subject | Positive | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| I / We / You / They | have worked (I’ve) | have not worked (haven’t) | Have you worked? |
| He / She / It | has worked (he’s) | has not worked (hasn’t) | Has he worked? |
Key Examples
Positive
- ‘Where’s your key?’ ‘I don’t know. I have lost it.’
- He told me his name, but I have forgotten it.
- Is Sally here? No, she has gone out.
Negative
- I haven’t finished my homework.
- She hasn’t called me back.
- They haven’t signed the contract.
Question
- I can’t find my bag. Have you seen it?
- Has he arrived safely?
- Have they repaired the car?
When to Use
| Situation | Example |
|---|---|
| Giving new information or announcing a recent event | Ow! I have cut my finger. |
| The result of a past action is important now | The road is closed. There has been an accident. |
Common Mistakes
1
2
❌ I lost my key, so I can't enter my house now.
✅ I have lost my key, so I can't enter my house now.
3. Unit 8: Present Perfect 2
Grammar Rule
We also use the Present Perfect when the period of time we are referring to has not finished at the time of speaking (e.g., today, this week, in my life).
This is very common when talking about things we have experienced “so far” using specific timeline keywords: just, already, yet, ever, and never.
Form Table
(Uses the same grammatical form as Unit 7)
| Keyword | Meaning | Used In |
|---|---|---|
| just | a short time ago | Positive |
| already | sooner than expected | Positive |
| yet | until now | Negative / Questions |
Key Examples
Positive
- I have just had lunch.
- Don’t forget to pay the bill. I have already paid it.
- We have seen her today.
Negative
- I have never driven a horse before.
- He hasn’t arrived yet.
- They haven’t spoken to me this week.
Question
- Have you ever eaten caviar?
- Has it stopped raining yet?
- Have you heard from him recently?
When to Use
| Situation | Example |
|---|---|
| Experiences throughout an entire unfinished lifetime | Have you ever been to Japan? |
| Actions within an unfinished time period | I have drank three coffees this morning. |
Common Mistakes
1
2
3
4
5
❌ Did you ever be in Paris?
✅ Have you ever been to Paris?
❌ I have already did my homework.
✅ I have already done my homework.
Comparison
Contrast the Present Perfect with the Past Simple regarding unfinished vs finished time.
- Unfinished: I have drunk three cups of coffee today. (Today is still happening)
- Finished: I drank three cups of coffee yesterday. (Yesterday is completely over)
📝 Quick Summary
Unit 7:
- Use the Present Perfect (have/has + past participle) to show that a past action has an active result now.
- Don’t forget: The main focus is on the present consequence (e.g., “She has gone out” = She is not here now).
Unit 8:
- Use the Present Perfect for periods of time that are not yet finished (today, this year, in my life).
- Don’t forget: Place keywords correctly (e.g., just and already go before the main verb, yet usually goes at the end of the clause).