Present Perfect Tense

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Definition and Examples

Present Perfect Tense is used to express the incidents that have occurred in the past without specifying the actual time of occurrence. As the time of exact occurrence of the event cannot be ascertained this tense is used to express the events that have occurred in the near past. Some examples of sentences in Present Perfect Tense are-

  • I have done it.
  • They have opened the gate.
  • She has arrived from Bombay.
  • He has given the lecture.
  • They have bought a new car.
  • You have made a wonderful speech.

In all the above sentences the third form of verb is used i.e. – done, opened, arrived, given, bought, made.  The speaker is talking about the events those have occurred in the recent past.

Formula/Rules

In the following exercises we will go through the positive, negative and interrogative forms of the Present Perfect Tense with the help of structure/formula and simple examples.

a) Positive Sentences

Structure/Formula:

Positive sentences in the Present Perfect tense can be expressed in two forms-

  • ( subject + auxiliary verb + main verb + object)
  • ( subject + have/has + third form of verb + an object)

Rule for Positive Sentences in Present Perfect form:

If the subject is –he, she, it or a singular noun then ‘has’ is used and if the subject is- they, we, I or a plural noun then ‘have’ is used. Following are some examples of Positive sentences in Present Perfect Tense:

  • She has given me her assurance.
  • It has done all the expected tasks.
  • They have given me a grand welcome.
  • He has given his book to Ron.
  • The guests have eaten dinner.
  • The toilet has been cleaned.
  • The car has been washed.
  • They have helped him.
  • I have finished working.
  • The dogs have started barking.

b) Negative Sentences

Structure/Formula:

Negative sentences in the Present Perfect tense can be expressed in the form-

  • ( subject + have/has + NOT + third form of verb + an object)

Rule for Negative Sentences in Present Perfect Tense:

If the subject is – he, she, it or a singular noun then ‘has’ is used and followed by a ‘not’.

If the subject is – they, we, I or plural noun then ‘have’ is used followed by a ‘not’.

For the better understanding of the concept we will convert the above mentioned positive sentences into the negative form.

  • She has not given me her assurance.
  • It has not done all the expected tasks.
  • They have not given me a grand welcome.
  • He has not given his book to Ron.
  • The guests have not eaten dinner.
  • The toilet has not been cleaned.
  • The car has not been washed.
  • They have not helped him.
  • I have not finished working.
  • The dogs have not started barking.

All the above sentences are negative sentences which use the third form of the verb and talking about the incidents of recent past.

c) Negative- Interrogative Sentences

Negative sentences in Present Perfect form can be converted into negative-interrogative form by starting with-why. For example we will convert the above mentioned sentences in negative- interrogative form-

  • Why she has not given me her assurance?
  • Why it has not done all the expected tasks?
  • Why they have not given me a grand welcome?
  • Why he has not given his book to Ron?
  • Why the guests have not eaten dinner?
  • Why the toilet has not been cleaned?
  • Why the car has not been washed?
  • Why they have not helped him?
  • Why I have not finished working?
  • Why the dogs have not started barking?

d) Interrogative Sentences

Structure/Formula

Interrogative sentences in the Present Perfect Tense can be expressed by the formula-

  • (Have/has + Subject + Third form of the verb + object)

Rule for Interrogative Sentences in Present Perfect Form:

In case the subject is – he, she, it or a singular noun then the sentence starts with ‘has’ and if the subject is – we, they, I or a plural noun then the sentence starts with ‘have’.

  • Has he eaten his dinner?
  • Have they given the reception?
  • Has it performed as expected?
  • Has she provided all the details?
  • Has the car performed well on road?
  • Has the cat purred loudly?
  • Have we taken the necessary things?
  • Have they conveyed their grievances?
  • Have I written all the questions?
  • Have the Ministers visited their constituencies?

e) Interrogative – Negative Sentences

The interrogative sentences can also be converted into interrogative negative sentences just as the negative sentences by placing ‘not’ between auxiliary verb and main verb, also the sentence can be started with ‘Why’ keeping its present perfect form though interrogative and negative. Given below are some examples. Carefully go through the following sentences-

  • Has he not eaten his dinner?
  • Why has he not eaten his dinner?
  • Why have they given the reception?
  • Why have they not given the reception?
  • Why has she provided all the details?
  • Has the cat not purred loudly?
  • Why has the cat not purred loudly?

From the above examples it is clear that the interrogative sentences in present perfect can be converted into interrogative – negative present perfect by using ‘not’ and also starting the sentence with ‘Why’ does not changes its structure.

Exercises/Worksheet/Activities

Fill in The Blanks Exercises/Worksheets/Activities on Present Perfect Tense:

Complete the given below sentences with the help of given hint by using proper tense form or auxiliary verb (has/have) so as to represent it in perfect present form. Verify your progress with the answers provided at the end of the exercise.

1)  They ___________submitted all the pending dues. (has)

2) I have __________ a letter to the management. (write)

3) She _________ given a lecture on biology. (has)

4) He has _________ all his assigned work. (do)

5) It _________ performed way over expectations. (has)

6) We _________ decided to contribute to the charity. (has)

7) I have _________ my book to a friend. (give)

8) They __________ a new car. (buy)

9) We have not _________ our vacation yet. (plan)

10) The teacher ________ five answer sheets. (check)

11) I have __________ the book on Independence. (read)

12) They _________ gone to Amritsar. (has)

13) He has strictly ________ all the safety rules. (follow)

14) They have _________ for a marriage. (go)

15) The Children _________ performed well in the annual function. (has)

16) I have ________ my lunch. (eat)

17) They ________ provided shelter to the homeless. (has)

18) We have _________ much to the needy. (give)

19) He has _________ in the office till midnight. (stay)

20) She has __________ the meal for her family. (cook)

Answer- 1)have, 2)written, 3)has, 4)done, 5)has, 6)have, 7)given, 8)bought, 9)planned, 10)checked, 11)read, 12)have, 13)followed, 14)gone, 15)have, 16)eaten, 17)have, 18)given, 19)stayed, 20)cooked

MCQ Exercises/Worksheet/Activities on Present Perfect Tense:

Complete the below given sentences with using proper tense or auxiliary verbs to make them present perfect. Also verify your progress with the answers provided at the end.

1) I have _________ my friend for five years.

  1. a) know
  2. b) knew
  3. c) known

2) You have __________ a good lecture on anatomy.

  1. a) gave
  2. b) given
  3. c) give

3) She ________ borrowed the money from her teacher.

  1. a) has
  2. b) had
  3. c) have

4) He has __________ all his duties well displaying loyalty.

  1. a) perform
  2. b) performing
  3. c) performed

5) They have _________ the flight.

  1. a) miss
  2. b) missed
  3. c) missing

6) He has not _________ up to expectations.

  1. a) lived
  2. b) living
  3. c) live

7) The cat ________ all the milk.

  1. a) drink
  2. b) drinking
  3. c) drank

8) _________ he eaten his dinner?

  1. a) has
  2. b) have
  3. c) why

9) He has ________ to New York.

  1. a) go
  2. b) going
  3. c) gone

10) They have ___________ the lecture carefully.

  1. a) listen
  2. b) listened
  3. c) listening

11) His father has ___________ thousands of miles to meet him.

  1. a) travel
  2. b) travelled
  3. c) travelling

12) They have _____________ enough during the picnic.

  1. a) enjoy
  2. b) enjoying
  3. c) enjoyed

13) I _________ had dinner just now.

  1. a) have
  2. b) having
  3. c) had

14) It has _________ the message some time back.

  1. a) deliver
  2. b) delivered
  3. c) delivering

15) Rony has _________ beautifully.

  1. a) dance
  2. b) dancing
  3. c) danced

16) I _________ met his teacher.

  1. a) have
  2. b) had
  3. c) having

17) Teachers have ________ their consent for the function.

  1. a) gave
  2. b) give
  3. c) given

18) They have _________ well for the exams.

  1. a) perform
  2. b) performing
  3. c) performed

19) They have ___________ really hard.

  1. a) try
  2. b) trying
  3. c) tried

20) The ship has ________ in the deep water.

  1. a) sail
  2. b) sailed
  3. c) sailing

Answers- 1)c, 2)b,3)a, 4)c, 5)b, 6)a, 7)c, 8)a, 9)c, 10)b, 11)b, 12)c, 13)a, 14)b, 15)c, 16)a, 17)c, 18)c, 19)c, 20)b

True or False Exercises/Worksheet/Activities on Present Perfect Tense:

Determine whether the following sentences represent the present perfect tense or not and also check the correct sentence in the answers provided below-

1) It have gave a false alarm.

2) He has done a good job.

3) She has provide all the necessary supplements.

4) She has given her consent for the function.

5) I have write a letter to the warden.

6) We has confirm our agreement to the authorities.

7) Mother cooked breakfast this morning.

8) He think of a plan to justify his fault.

9) My friend has cooked dinner for his family.

10) She submitted all the required papers.

11) He has gone to his grandparent’s home.

12) They write to chairman of the society.

13) He gave his speech in Hindi.

14) He has given his speech in Hindi.

15) Someone has to be trust for the job.

16) I have been waiting for you.

17) She has been whining about her boss.

18) We had been here for long.

19) I have try it for quite some time.

20) They have confirmed the incident.

Answer- 1)False, 2)True, 3)False, 4)True, 5)False, 6)False, 7)True, 8)False, 9)True, 10)False, 11)True, 12)False, 13)False, 14)True, 15)False, 16)True, 17)True, 18)False, 19)False, 20)True

Crosscheck your answers with the correct sentences given below:

1) It has given a false alarm

3) She has provided all the necessary supplements.

5) I have written a letter to the warden.

6) We have confirmed our agreement to the authorities.

8) He has thought of a plan to justify his fault.

10) She has submitted all the required papers.

12) They have written to chairman of the society.

13) He has given his speech in Hindi.

15) Someone has to be trusted for the job.

18) We have been here for long.

19) I have tried it for quite some time.

Mixed Exercises/Worksheets/Activities

Fill in the blanks exercises/Worksheets/Activities on Positive/Negative/Interrogative Present Perfect Tense:

Complete the following sentences with the given hint so as to represent them in present perfect form and verify your answers with those provided at the end.

1) She has _________ all the food alone. (cook)

2) She has _______ given her details to the college. (no)

3) Have you __________ your membership of the library? (confirm)

4) I _______ given my books to the library. (has)

5) It has not __________ according to the standards. (perform)

6) They have __________ listened to the advices carefully. (no)

7) We are ________ going on picnic today. (no)

8) Has he not __________ the confirmation? (give)

9) The flight has not _________ early. (arrive)

10) Have we not _________ the call letter? (get)

11) Have they ______ arrived yet? (no)

Answers- 1)cooked, 2)not, 3)confirmed, 4)have, 5)performed, 6)not, 7)not, 8)given, 9)arrived, 10)got, 11)not

MCQ Exercises/Worksheets/Activities on Positive/Negative/Interrogative Present Perfect Tense:

Choose the correct words for the sentences in order to represent in Present Perfect form. Verify your progress with the answers provided.

1) She has not ______ the Pirates of the Caribbean movie.

  1. a) see
  2. b) saw
  3. c) seen

2) They have ________ listened to the lectures carefully.

  1. a) no
  2. b) never
  3. c) not

3) Have ________ not gone for the morning assembly?

  1. a) they
  2. b) them
  3. c) he

4) _______ he written the paper well?

  1. a) have
  2. b) has
  3. c) had

5) Have guests ______ on time?

  1. a) reach
  2. b) reaching
  3. c) reached

6) Has he ________ the hills on his own?

  1. a) explore
  2. b) explored
  3. c) exploring

7) Have _________ started their journey?

  1. a) they
  2. b) them
  3. c) he

8) Have you _______ to the store?

  1. a) been
  2. b) be
  3. c) being

9) ________ he reached for the meeting on time?

  1. a) has
  2. b) have
  3. c) had

10) Why have ______ not provided the commodities?

  1. a) them
  2. b) we
  3. c) they

Answers- 1)c, 2)c, 3)a, 4)b, 5)c, 6)b, 7)a, 8)a, 9)a, 10)c

True or False exercises/Worksheets/Activities on Positive/Negative/Interrogative Present Perfect Tense:

Determine whether the following sentences are true or false. Verify your progress with the answers given.

1) Has he eaten lunch?

2) Have she written the letter?

3) Has they not submitted the fine?

4) He has not given his pen.

5) Have he informed their teacher?

6) It has not proved its credibility.

7) They has not done the needful.

8) He has not hurt his arm.

9) Has we gathered enough supply for the month?

10) Has he warned others about the consequences?

Answers- 1)True, 2)False, 3)False, 4)True, 5)False, 6)True, 7)False, 8)True, 9)False, 10)True

Crosscheck with the correct sentences of the false ones given below:

2) Has she written the letter?

3) Have they not submitted the fine?

5) Have they informed their teacher?

7) They have not done the needful.

9) Have we gathered enough supply for the month?

Related Links:

Simple Present Tense
Present Continuous Tense
Present Perfect Continuous Tense

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