Present Perfect

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Present perfect. Having difficulty? So does Garfield...
Learn the present perfect with Garfield

 It is a difficult tenses to learn. You use it in three general situations :
  • something begins in the past and continues into the present
    She's lived in Brasilia since 2008.
  • life experience
    John has been to the UK many times.
  • something happened recently and is connected to the present
    I've already eaten lunch.
Read the examples, study the structure and do a quiz. There are links to more exercises and a list of 100 irregular verbs to learn.
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Examples

  • Recent Events
Use the present perfect when giving or asking for news or speaking about recent events.
Embraer has had excellent profits this quarter.
The team's success has improved a lot this year.
Have they finished the report yet?
  • Past Actions with Present Results
Use the present perfect for past actions with results in the present.
The study of irregular verbs has improved test scores. They have bought a new house. I've already eaten supper.
NOTE - US/English exception: It is ok in US English to ask "Did you phone her yet?"
  • Life Experience
Use the present perfect to speak about life experiences. 
She's traveled in many parts of the world.
Have you ever been to Germany?
They've never seen a mountain.
  • Unfinished Actions
Use the present perfect to speak about an action or condition that started in the past and is still true.
He's lived in San Francisco for 10 years.
How long have you worked for this company?
They've studied English for 3 years.
She hasn't traveled much.
  • Ever and Never
Ever is used with the present perfect to ask if something has happened in someone's life, never is used with the present perfect to state that something has never happened in a person's life up until the present moment.
Have you ever visited Europe?
Have they ever eaten Sushi?
She's never travelled outside the country.
Tim has never seen a satellite. 
  • Time Expressions with Present Perfect
Use the following time expressions with the present perfect.
for (with a period of time)
since (with an exact point in time)
ever, never
yet, already, this week (month, year)
  • Study point
"Open" time periods vs "closed" time periods

The speaker defines the time period, implicitly or explicitly, and the present perfect is never used for something that happens in a "closed" time period.

Examples
"I have studied today" is ok. Today = open because it is still today.
"I have studied yesterday" is incorrect because yesterday = finished.

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Structure

I
You
We
They
have lived in SJ since 1999.
He
She
It
has worked for many years.

I
You
We
They
haven’t seen Tom today.
He
She
It
hasn’t left yet.

Have
I
you
we
they
been to Paris?
Has
he
she
it
finished yet?



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 Present Perfect Quiz
How long  (you/think) that?
She  (put) the book back in its place.
They  (not/buy) a new car yet.
 (He/ever/be) in London?
They  (not/work) here for a very long time.
She  (write) three letters this afternoon.
Where  (he/be)?
I  (not/finish) my work yet.
Peter  (open) a new store recently.
How often  (he/go) to Portland this week?
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Links

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Verb list
More to study

Adapted from www.esl.about.com