Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense is used to show: An action which takes place in the past. The time of the action is unknown. Example: The applicant has received a favourable reply from the company. An action which started in the past, but its effect has continued until the present and will probably continue into the future. Example: His strategies have worked from the very start. An action when the result is very important but the time is not. Example: He has seen Harry Potter. Repeated actions in the past. Example: The tourists have visited KLCC three times.

There are 4 IMPORTANT rules to using the Present Perfect Tense. RULE 1 : Has / have + past participle of the verb = present perfect The present perfect tense is formed by: Has / have + past participle of the verb Example: has / have + (known / come / cheated / finished / sent) Some verbs have the same past participle and simple past forms. Therefore, they are sometimes mistaken for the simple past tense. Verb Verbs whereby the base participle forms are different. Verbs whereby the base and past participle forms are the same Verbs whereby the simple past and past participle forms are the same Verbs which do not change forms Base form take speak go come become perform complete touch cut put hit Past tense took spoke went came became performed completed touched cut put hit Past participle taken spoken gone come become performed completed touched cut put hit

RULE 2 : Subject - verb agreement The verb 'has' takes a singular subject and the verb 'have' takes a plural subject. Example: (i) The price of sugar per kilogramme has increased from RM 1.80 to RM 2.50 recently. (ii) The shopkeepers have increased the price of their products significantly. RULE 3 : The affirmative, negative and interrogative forms Example of affirmative form: The two CEOs have agreed to work together on their big budget project. Example of negative form: The two CEOs have not agreed to work together on their big budget project. Example of interrogative form: Have the two CEOs agreed to work together on their big budget project? RULE 4 : Time expressions Example: (i) That big white building has been here for three centuries. (ii) He has not paid his loan since the day he stayed at the house he rented. (iii) Have you ever been to New York City? (iv) Up to now, that brand has remained the number product.

Exercises: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verbs. 1. Up to now, why .............. human capital ................. (become) a topic of interest? 2. The school's percentage of failing .......................... (recently, decline) due to the extra classes held by the teachers. 3. The management .................................. (just, decide) to shut down the factory beginning Monday. 4. Many factory workers .................. (apply) for jobs elsewhere since last week. 5. The bus and truck operators stated that the re-sale value of Scania ......... also ................ (convince) them to purchased the brand.

Choose the correct time expression used with the present perfect tense. 1. We have lived in this city fifteen years. (since / for) 2. She has not . returned from school. (yet / just) 3. Jane has . gone out. (just / yet) 4. You have not returned my money . (already / yet) 5. James has .. arrived in London. (already / yet) 6. I have .. had a call from your mother. (yet / just) 7. She has worked with me 2008. (since / for) 8. I havent seen him . two weeks. (since / for)