Grammar · Verb tenses · A2 · Elementary

Present perfect

Last updated 21 July 2026

In short

The present perfect (have/has + past participle) connects the past to the present. Use it for life experiences, actions in unfinished time periods, recent events with present results, and situations that started in the past and continue now. It never appears with finished-time words like 'yesterday'.

How to form the present perfect

Form	Structure	Example
Positive	subject + have/has + past participle	She has lived in three countries.
Negative	subject + have/has + not + past participle	They haven't finished the project yet.
Question	Have/Has + subject + past participle?	Have you ever tried Vietnamese food?
Short answer	Yes, I have. / No, I haven't.	“Has he called?” “No, he hasn't.”

Use 1: Life experience (ever, never)

Use the present perfect to talk about experiences at any time in a person's life, without saying when they happened. The exact time is unknown or unimportant — what matters is the experience itself.

This is the most common present perfect use in IELTS Speaking Part 1, where examiners ask about your experiences with hobbies, travel, and daily life.

I've visited Japan twice.(when is not stated — the experience matters)
She has never eaten sushi.(zero experiences up to now)
Have you ever spoken English on the phone?('ever' = at any time in your life)

Use 2: Unfinished time periods (today, this week, this year)

When the time period is still continuing — today, this week, this month, this year — use the present perfect, because more of the same action is still possible.

Compare: 'I've drunk three coffees today' (today isn't over; a fourth is possible) versus 'I drank three coffees yesterday' (yesterday is finished, so past simple).

I've been to the gym twice this week.(the week is still going)
We have made good progress this year.
I have seen him yesterday.('yesterday' is finished time → I saw him yesterday)

Use 3: Recent actions with a present result (just, already, yet)

Use the present perfect when a past action has a visible result now. The adverbs 'just' (very recently), 'already' (sooner than expected), and 'yet' (in negatives and questions) usually signal this use.

I've just finished my homework, so I'm free now.(result: I'm free)
She has already booked the tickets.(sooner than expected)
Have they announced the results yet?('yet' in questions expects the action soon)

Use 4: Situations continuing until now (since + point, for + duration)

For states that began in the past and are still true, use the present perfect with 'since' (a starting point) or 'for' (a length of time). English uses the present perfect here where many other languages use the present simple — a very common source of errors.

I have known her since 2019.(since + starting point)
They've lived in Dhaka for ten years.(for + duration)
I am living here since 2020.(→ I have lived / have been living here since 2020)

British vs American usage

British English prefers the present perfect with 'just', 'already', and 'yet' ('I've just eaten'), while American English often uses the past simple ('I just ate'). Both are accepted in IELTS — but be consistent, and remember that finished-time words like 'yesterday' or 'last year' always require the past simple in both varieties.

I've already seen that film. (UK)
I already saw that movie. (US)(both fine in IELTS — stay consistent)

Common mistakes with present perfect

Real learner errors, corrected and explained — the fastest way to stop repeating them.

I have seen him yesterday.

I saw him yesterday.

Finished-time expressions (yesterday, last week, in 2020, two days ago) take the past simple, never the present perfect.

I am working here for five years.

I have worked here for five years.

A situation that started in the past and continues now needs the present perfect (or present perfect continuous), not the present simple or continuous.

She has went to the market.

She has gone to the market.

The present perfect needs the past participle (gone), not the past simple form (went).

Did you ever visit London?

Have you ever visited London?

Life-experience questions with 'ever' use the present perfect, because they cover time up to now. (American English allows the past simple informally, but the present perfect is the safe exam choice.)

We have finished the report already yesterday.

We finished the report yesterday.

Don't mix present perfect adverbs (already) with finished-time words (yesterday). Choose one time frame and match the tense to it.

He has been to home.

He has gone home. / He is at home.

'Home' takes no preposition after go/come/get. Also note 'has been to' = visited and returned; 'has gone to' = went and is still there.

Present perfect in IELTS

Grammatical Range and Accuracy is 25% of your Speaking and Writing scores — here is where this structure earns marks.

Speaking

Part 1 questions like “Have you ever…?” invite a present perfect answer followed by past simple details: “Yes, I've been to Cox's Bazar twice. The first time, I went with my university friends.” That tense switch is exactly what examiners listen for.
Use 'have been doing' or 'have + participle' with 'recently/lately' to talk about current habits with range: “I've been trying to read more English fiction lately.”

Writing

In Task 2 introductions, the present perfect frames a trend that is still true: “Over the past two decades, remote work has transformed how companies operate.”
In Task 1 (Academic), use it for changes up to the latest data point: “The share of renewable energy has risen steadily since 2010.”

Practise present perfect now

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Question 1 of 5

She ___ (live) in Malaysia since 2021, and she loves it there.

Want the full set? All 12 present perfect exercises →

Check this rule in your own writing

Reading a rule is step one; seeing it in your own sentences is what changes your band score.

Paste a paragraph into the free IELTS Grammar Checker — it flags every present perfect mistake, explains the rule, and estimates your Grammatical Range & Accuracy band.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use the present perfect with 'yesterday' or 'last year'?

No. Finished-time expressions such as yesterday, last year, in 2015, or two days ago always take the past simple: 'I saw him yesterday', not 'I have seen him yesterday'. The present perfect only works with time periods that include now.

What are the signal words for the present perfect?

Common signals are ever, never, just, already, yet, recently, lately, so far, since, and for, plus unfinished periods like today, this week, and this year. Signal words help, but always check whether the time period includes the present.

What is the difference between 'has gone to' and 'has been to'?

'She has gone to Paris' means she travelled there and is still away. 'She has been to Paris' means she visited at some point and has come back — it describes life experience.

Is 'I have seen him yesterday' correct?

No. Because 'yesterday' names a finished time, the sentence must use the past simple: 'I saw him yesterday.' This is one of the most common IELTS grammar mistakes, and examiners notice it quickly.

Why do we say 'I have lived here since 2020' and not 'I live here since 2020'?

English requires the present perfect for situations that started in the past and continue now. 'Since 2020' marks a starting point in the past, so the present simple is impossible — even though many languages would use it here.

Next step

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