LEARN ENGLISH PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE VERBS

To form the present perfect simple tense we need the present simple tense of the verb "to have" and the past participle of another verb. To form the past participle of the regular verbs we add "-ed" to the verb.

Example

I have studied the present perfect simple. (He estudiado el presente perfecto)

Some verbs have spelling changes when adding "-ed".

Example If the verb ends in "-e", we only add "-d" to form the past participle.

They live in a big house. (Viven en una casa grande)

They have lived in a big house. (Han vivido en una casa grande)

If the verb consists of only one syllable and the last three letters are: consonant plus vowel plus consonant, we will double the last consonant and then add "-ed".

Example

The police stop the car. (La policía para el coche)

The police have stopped the car. (La policía ha parado el coche)

*Note: there are many verbs that form their past participle in an irregular way, so you have to learn them by heart, as they do not follow the above-mentioned rule.

Example

We have gone to that museum already. (Ya hemos ido a ese museo)

For the negative form we use "not" after the verb "to have".

Example

I have not (haven't) studied the present perfect simple tense. (No he estudiado el presente perfecto simple)

He has not (hasn't) read about the present perfect simple tense. (Él no ha leído sobre el presente perfecto simple)

For the interrogative form we place the verb "to have" in front of the person.

Example

Have you studied the present perfect simple tense? (¿Has estudiado el presente perfecto simple?)

Has he read about the present perfect simple tense? (¿Ha leído (él) sobre el presente perfecto simple?)

SOME GENERAL USE

We use the present perfect simple to talk generally about past experiences in our life. We do not say exactly when our experiences happened.

Example

I've been to America. (He estado en América)

I have been to the National Gallery in London. (He estado en La National Gallery en Londres)

Has she tasted that dish? (¿Ha probado ella ese plato?)

We also use the present perfect simple to express an action that started in the past and still has consequences in the present moment.

Example

She has written only one book but she has made a name for herself. (Ha escrito sólo un libro pero se ha ganado la fama)

She wrote the book in the past, the book is complete and published, but the consequences of writing that book are still present now as she still enjoys of her fame.

They have bought a new house. (Han comprado una casa nueva)

In this example the consequence of the action is that they still have the house they bought in the past. With the present perfect simple we can find words to indicate the duration of the action, the moment it started, etc such: For, still, yet, already, ever, just and since.

Example

I have been here for hours. (He estado aquí durante horas)

They have had that car since they got married. (Han tenido este coche desde que se casaron)

We still have not heard from them. (Todavía no hemos oído de ellos)

You have not thought about it yet. (Todavía no te lo has pensado)

She has already gone. (Ella ya se ha ido)

Have you ever flown in a helicopter? (¿Has volado alguna vez en helicóptero?)

You have just missed your bus. (Acabas de perder tu autobús)

Lets us conjugate a verb as an example. We are going to take the verb "to study".

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