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Present Perfect Tense

Definition

The present perfect is a verb tense.

Example

My parents have bought a PDA.

Explanation

The present perfect tense —

• is formed by the verb have + past participle.
• describes actions that started in the past and continue in the present.
• describes actions that happened at an unknown time in the past.
• describes actions that happened which are connected to the present.
• uses “not” between “have” and the past participle for negative present perfect sentences.
• uses “have” as the auxiliary in questions.
• uses “for” and “since” to express time for actions that started in the past and continue in the present (see the examples on the next page).