The present perfect tense: How and When to Use in English
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The present perfect tense
To form the present perfect tense: auxiliary verb have + past participle.
I have lost my keys.
Bruno has decided to take a break.
The action is finished and we want to emphasize this fact, or it is still relevant to the present moment:
He's (or He has) done his work. He has finished or completed his work.
We use the present perfect when:
• an action occurred at an unspecified time in the past
• a past action continues into the present
I haven't seen him lately. I haven't seen him recently.
Everything has been alright so far. Everything has been alright up to now.
The present perfect can be used in the progressive form:
-How long have you been living in San Francisco? -I have been living here for 10 years (or since 1999) -Since when have you lived in San Francisco? -I've lived here for 10 years (or since 1999).
Note: When an adverb (such as never, always, etc.) is present, it is always placed between the auxiliary verb and the past participle:
I have never been to San Francisco.
Susie has always dreamed of working in PR.
Exercise 1
Icarus Quincy has always to be free on the weekends.
Icarus Quincy has always been known to be free on the weekends.
been known: 'Has been known' is the present perfect, passive form of the verb 'to know'. The passive voice is used when a subject or object (Icarus) receives the action of the verb (knowing). Note, the people who perform the action - 'the knowing' - is only implied in this passive construction and not actually written. 'Icarus Quincy has always been known (by everyone in the office) to be free on the weekends' expresses that it is public knowledge that Icarus doesn't usually have plans for the weekend.
know: 'Know' is the present tense form of 'to know'. In this sentence, we must put the verb in the passive voice: 'has been known.'
to know: 'To know' is the infinitive form of the verb. In this sentence, we must put the verb in the passive voice: 'has been known.'
known: In this sentence, we must put the verb in the passive voice: 'has been known.'
Exercise 2
Luna says that her telephone by Horatio, but I don't believe her. She lies from time to time. Sometimes she tells people at the office that she promoted fifteen times!
Luna says that her telephone was stolen 1 by Horatio, but I don't believe her. She lies from time to time. Sometimes she tells people at the office that she has already been 2 promoted fifteen times!
1 was stolen: We use the passive voice to describe an object which has been 'acted upon' (or been effected by an action). For example: a stolen car, a broken heart, a fallen soldier. The passive voice is formed with the auxiliary 'be' + the past participle of the main verb, in this case 'stolen'. Example: My heart was broken by an English spy.
1 was stole: 'Was stole' is not a proper verb construction. We must use the past participle of the verb 'to steal' here, and use the passive voice. 'Stole' exists only as the third person present tense form of the verb 'to steal' and cannot be preceded by 'was'.
1 is stolen: 'Is stolen' is incorrect. The verb 'to be' needs to be put in the past tense here, although the past participle form of 'to steal' is correct.
1 steals: 'Steals' is the active voice, whereas the passive voice is required here. We use the passive voice to describe objects (or people or ideas) which have been 'acted upon'.
2 has already been: Here we use the present perfect tense (has been promoted) in the passive voice. We must use the passive voice in this construction because the verb 'promoted' must take an object, and 'she' is the only possibility in the sentence.
2 is already been: 'Is already been promoted' is grammatically incorrect. We cannot use the auxiliary 'is' to form the present perfect tense, which is required here.
2 will already: 'Will already been promoted' is grammatically incorrect. We could say, however: 'Luna will be promoted next week' or 'By the time I get a raise, Luna will have already been promoted again'.
2 has already: We could say "has already promoted" if there were an object. Example: Luna has already promoted other employees fifteen times.
Exercise 3
Since last month, Ivana Bümbüm's latest film by millions. So far, the reviews have been very positive.
Since last month, Ivana Bümbüm's latest film has been seen by millions. So far, the reviews have been very positive.
has been seen: The passive voice is best for this phrase, as it employs a noun (the film) receiving the action of the verb "to see".
sees: We cannot use the active voice here because the film does not see, but rather it has been seen by many people.
is seen: Although this is a passive form of the verb, we must put the auxiliary in the correct tense because of the phrase 'since last month'.
Exercise 4
I trying to reach Bruno all day, but he always so busy. I remember when we best friends, but now that his business so huge, he never free.
I have been 1 trying to reach Bruno all day, but he is 2 always so busy. I remember when we were 3 best friends, but now that his business is 4 so huge, he is 5 never free.
1 have been: We use the present perfect form of 'to be' (I have been) to show a continuous action from past to present (the present perfect progressive tense). Using this tense here tells us that the speaker has been continuously trying to reach Bruno for a while and continues to try to do so.
1 am: The present progressive form (I am trying) only shows a current state or action. It cannot indicate an action which began in the past and continues into the present.
2 is: We must conjugate the verb 'to be' in the present tense here in order to show a habitual state or action.
2 be: Unless you are reading Shakespeare, you will not be using the infinitive form 'be' following the pronoun 'he'.
3 were: Because the context refers to a past state, we must use the past tense form of the verb here.
3 are: 'Are' is a present tense form of the verb 'to be'. It cannot indicate a past tense action.
4 is: The word 'now' tells us that we need to use the present form of the verb 'to be'.
4 was: 'Was' is the past tense of the verb 'to be'. It cannot be used here because this phrase requires a present tense of the form of the verb.
5 is: 'Is' is the best choice here. We need the third-person form of the verb 'to be' in this case.
5 are: 'Are' is the present tense form of the verb 'to be' in the 'you', 'we' and 'they' forms.
Exercise 5
Horatio locked up in his laboratory for over 48 hours. Bruno is worried that he insane. And Kevin up and down the hallway, afraid that Horatio is planning a voodoo curse.
Horatio has been 1 locked up in his laboratory for over 48 hours. Bruno is worried that he has gone 2 insane. And Kevin has been walking 3 up and down the hallway, afraid that Horatio is planning a voodoo curse.
1 has been: We can use the present perfect (have + past participle) to show an action that has not yet concluded. This sentence indicates that Horatio continues to be locked in his laboratory.
1 have been: 'Have been' is the present perfect form in all tenses except the third person singular.
2 has gone: We may use the present perfect (have + past participle) to emphasize an action that has already happened.
2 will have gone: We can only use the construction 'will have' when referring to a future event.
3 has been walking: Because Kevin's action is continuous, we must use the 'ing' form of the verb.
3 has been walked: 'Has been walked' is grammatically incorrect and is not a proper verb construction.
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