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The English language is made up of various verb tenses, which include the Present Perfect Tense. The Present Perfect demonstrates an action that has taken place once (or many times) before now.
Here is the basic formula for present perfect: has/have + past participle.
When using present perfect in a:
For many, this tense confuses them enough that they choose not to use it at all – instead electing to use the past tense. However, there is a risk in doing this.
I didn’t finish my homework.
In this example, we are using past tense to state that the homework wasn’t finished in time.
I haven’t finished my homework.
In this example, using the present perfect tense, you are explaining that the homework is incomplete but signifying that there is still time to finish it.
When talking about homework, finishing it or not finishing it might not be a big deal, but what about this example:
I didn’t leave my house to head to work.
vs.
I haven’t left my house to head to work.
Your boss won’t be happy to hear that you’re still at home and not planning on leaving, but they might let you slide to know that you are still planning on coming in!
It is small quirks like these that make the English language confusing, but it is crucial to learn these rules to communicate as clearly as possible!
The present perfect form is used most commonly to talk about changes or experiences that have already happened. But of course, there are many different scenarios beyond this simple definition in which you should use the present perfect form.
When using the present perfect form, you are not required to know the exact time when an event occurred. You cannot use the present perfect form if you are going to specify a time in the past (such as yesterday, last week, when I was a kid, when I was a baby, etc.).
Present perfect form is most comfortable when you use general, unspecific terms like: ever, never, once, several times, yet, and more.
Here are the specific instances when you can use the present perfect form:
You should use the present perfect tense when discussing the experience that you have on a specific topic. You can also use this tense when explaining that you don’t have particular expertise.
Use the present perfect tense to talk about changes that have occurred over time.
Use the present perfect tense to celebrate personal achievements. It is also useful when discussing the accomplishments of humanity. Remember! You cannot mention specific days and times!
You can also use the present perfect tense when noting something that you had expected to happen, but it hasn’t yet.
The final instance when you should use the present perfect tense is when you are talking about something that has happened multiple times and you expect it will happen again.
The present perfect tense is an indication to a reader that there is a chance that this past event might happen again.
The present perfect tense is an indicator in language that something has happened in the past. It also lets the reader know that this event might happen again.
When using the past perfect tense you must remember that you cannot use specific days, years, times, etc.
Ah yes, the age-old question. There are so many little rules to the English language that it can feel silly to dedicate energy to learning all of them. But the reality is that effective writing is a life skill that will benefit students in the real world.
Whether it’s the present perfect form or figuring out the correct type of there, understanding the correct way to write allows you to communicate your thoughts more clearly.
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Of course, the benefits of knowing this helps on high-stakes exams like the SAT, but what about after college?
The fact is, writing is a skill that you will use when you are crafting an articulate rebuttal on Facebook, an email to a boss, or even a message on Tinder. For kids and adults alike, writing is something that should be understood and practiced.
ArgoPrep has created a variety of resources to help students of all ages master the basics and foundations of writing. These workbooks feature all of the language and usage rules that they should be learning in school. That way, they can effectively convey their thoughts and feelings through writing!
Present perfect tense has a particular use to talk about past events in general terms (how’s that for confusing!?). For more information like this (and other English language topics), check out ArgoPrep’s blog!
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