Present perfect
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'.
The rule
How to form the present perfect
Positive
subjecthave/haspast participle
She has lived in three countries.
Negative
subjecthave/hasnotpast participle
They haven't finished the project yet.
Question
Have/Hassubjectpast participle?
Have you ever tried Vietnamese food?
Short answer
Yes, I have. / No, I haven't.
“Has he called?” “No, he hasn't.”
Inside a sentence
Shesubjecthashave/haslivedpast participlein three countries.
HaveHave/Hasyousubjecteversignal wordtriedpast participleVietnamese food?
- subject
- helping verb
- main verb
- key word
- time word
Signal words
- ever
- never
- already
- yet
- just
- so far
- since
- for
- recently
- this week
How to use present perfect
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
Find what is wrong in each one, then open it to check.
1I have seen him yesterday.What's wrong? Show the fix
I saw him yesterday.
Finished-time expressions (yesterday, last week, in 2020, two days ago) take the past simple, never the present perfect.
2I am working here for five years.What's wrong? Show the fix
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.
3She has went to the market.What's wrong? Show the fix
She has gone to the market.
The present perfect needs the past participle (gone), not the past simple form (went).
4Did you ever visit London?What's wrong? Show the fix
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.)
5We have finished the report already yesterday.What's wrong? Show the fix
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.
6He has been to home.What's wrong? Show the fix
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.
Practise
Write your own
Write a sentence of your own with present perfect, about you, your studies or your town.
Present perfect in IELTS
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.”