The present perfect tense is formed using:
subject + 'have' + past participle
The verb 'have' changes depending on the subject, but the past tense verb at the end always stays the same, regardless who the subject is.
| Subject | Verb 'have' | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|
| I, You He, She, it We, You, They |
have has have |
seen that movie three times already. |
We can also use the present perfect to make negative sentences using:
subject + 'have' + not + past participle
| Subject | Verb 'have' | Not | Past Participle |
|---|---|---|---|
| I, you He, She, It We, You, They |
have has have |
not | taken a shower yet. |
When you are using the present perfect, it is important to note that sentences with the present perfect should not mention a specific time. Instead, they should be about general past or present.
|
Not Correct |
I have met Ellen Degeneres in real life last week. |
|
Correct |
I have met Ellen Degeneres in real life before. OR I met Ellen Degeneres in real life last week. |
When you want to talk about a specific time like 'last week' or 'two years ago,' use the simple past, not the present perfect.