present perfect

The present perfect joins the past to now. It says that something happened before now, but not when. What matters is the result or the experience now.

It has two parts: have or has, and the past participle (worked, seen, gone). Use has with he, she and it.

In speech and messages, the short forms are usual: I've, you've, we've, they've, he's, she's, it's.

Questions and negatives

Put have or has before the subject in a question. For the negative, use haven't or hasn't.

Ever and never

For experiences in your life, ask with ever, and answer with never for "not at any time". Both go before the participle.

Been and gone

Been means someone went and came back. Gone means they are there now.

No finished time

The present perfect does not go with a finished time (yesterday, last week, in 2019, ago). For those, use the past simple.

Common mistakes

• × I have seen him yesterday. → I saw him yesterday.
• × She have finished. → She has finished.
• × Have you ever went to Rome? → Have you ever been to Rome?
• × I've never ate fish. → I've never eaten fish.
• × Did you ever see a whale? (about your life so far) → Have you ever seen a whale?