English Grammar: the present perfect simple

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In this unit, you will learn about the form- positive, negative, and interrogative- use, and examples about the present perfect simple tense. You also learn about the adverbs or prepositions commonly used in this tense.

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We form the form of the present perfect simple tense like this:

·         Positive:

Subject + have /has + past participle (V₃) + ...

@ ​​​“Have” is a plural verb. We use it with subjects like I/You/ We/ They/ Chantrea’s dogs/Their parents/...

@ “Has” is a singular verb so we use it with singular subjects like He/She/ It/ My book/ Channa’s mother/...

JNote:

·         Subject “I” is singular, but grammatically it is used with the plural verb“have” in the present perfect tenses – simple and continuous.

·         Subject “You” can be singular or plural; however, in grammar rules, it is used with “have” in

       the present perfect tenses.

         

Example:

·    I have known Sovann since we were at high school together.     (Known is a past participle)  

·    Most university students have learnt about English.​​​​​​​ 

·    Pheary has visited Angkor​​ Wat twice.

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Look at this table to get to know about the past participle.

base verb	past simple	past participle
buy	bought	bought
come	came	come
drink	drank	drunk
decide	decided	decided

In the table, there are three columns as you can see here. You can see the title of each column. The third column always presents the past participle. You can learn by heart the list of verbs. See it often. The more you read and use it, the better you will remember the verbs.

J  Note:

The past participle can be regular or irregular.

@ Regular verbs end in -ed.

@ Irregular verbs change their forms unexpectedly so you should refer to the list of verbs

            

·         Negative form:

Subject + have/has + NOT + past participle(V₃)+...

Example:

1.      They haven’t lost their weight; they are still fat. ( haven’t =have not)

2.      Vuthy and I haven’t decided yet.

3.      My dog hasn’t eaten anything for 2 days.  (hasn’t =has not)

·         Interrogative form:

Have/ Has + subject + past participle (V₃) + ...?

Example:

1.   Have you ever been to Tamoa Zoo?

2.   Has your mom told you about Mr.Dorn yet?

3.   Have they found the book yet?

Use

The present perfect simple is used:

1.      to talk about a past action that continues to the present.

Example:

·         I have taught English for 4 years. ( I started in the past and now I am still teaching English)

·         They have studied Chinese since they were 15.

·         Nika has earned a lot for the past three years.

J  Note:

In this aspect, we often use “For” and “Since” in the sentences.

@ For + period of time  

Ex: for   a minute

               two days

               a week

               five months

               two years...

              

@ Since + a point in time​​ 

 Ex: since  Monday

               April

               Summer

               2012

               we first met...

                               

2.      for a past action whose result can be seen in the present.

Ex:

·         She has bought a car.  (She bought a car and now we can see a car in her house)

·         My mother has already cooked the meal. (  we can see the food is on the table)

·         Sopheang has cut her finger.    ​(​we can see a wound on her finger)

3.      to talk about our past experience, but we don’t say exactly when it happened.

Ex:

·         Kun Chay has worked for Deli Institute before.

·         Most of my peers have graduated from National Institute of Education.

·         Sok eng has been to Angkor Wat twice.

J  Note:

We often use adverbs “never” and “ever” to talk about our experience.

@ “Ever” is used in questions

·         Have you ever tried Sushi?

·         Has she ever seen ghosts?

@ “Never” is used to make negative sentences.

·         Mr.Chandara and his friends have never engaged in gambling.

4.      to talk about current news

·         The president and his entourages have landed in Phnom Penh airport.

·         Many garment workers have staged a demonstration against the present labor law.

·         A prisoner has just escaped from the jail.

5.      to express what someone has or hasn’t done up to the time of speaking.

·         This morning, I haven’t met Mr. Phordet yet.​(It is still in the morning)

·         The students have already done their homework today.​(​Today hasn’t passed yet)

·         Lecturer Som  Mony has just informed the students about his course outline.

J  Note:

We often use adverbs like already, just, and yet in this aspect.

@ Use “already” and “just” in front of the main verb, but after the auxiliary verb​​ ​in positive sentence.

@ “Yet” is used at the end of an interrogative sentence.

6.      to talk about a past state that still exists now.

·         I have known Mr. Bora for five years.

·         This house has belonged to Mr. Sa em since 2012.

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Thanks for reading!