The Present Perfect Lesson

The present perfect is a verb tense used to indicate a link between the present and the past. The time of the action begins in the past (not necessarily specified) and carries into the present.

But first, let's put it into context by comparing it with the other "present" friends...

Used to indicate general truths, habits, and things that are considered permanent.

Simple Present

Used to describe actions/events happening now or in the near future.

Present Continuous

Used to express actions that began in the past and continue into the present.

Present Perfect

​"I am a dog."

​"I am looking at you."

​"I have had a hard winter."

Subject + "has" or "have" + the past participle

E.g.
Singular subject: The grass has grown a lot since May.

Plural subject: The Edmonton Oilers have played well.

3. An action that was completed in the very recent past: "I have just eaten."

1. An action that started in the past and continues into the present: "I have lived here since 1991."

​2. A repeated action that occured between the past and now: "We have visited Ottawa many times."

​4. An action when the time is not important: "We have studied all the verb tenses."