English grammar: Present perfect simple

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present perfect simple

Affirmative
I have played
You have played
He/she/it has played
We have played
You have played (plural)
They have played

Negative
I have not played
You have not played
He/she/it has not played
We have not played
You have not played
They have not played

Question
Have I played?
Have you played?
Has he/she/it played?
Have we played?
Have you played?
Have they played?

We use the present perfect simple to show that a finished action or event has a connection with the present, or has a result in the present.
I can't go out because I've lost my keys.
She's had an accident and she's in the hospital now.
I've had lunch so I'm not hungry.

We use the present perfect simple to give news or talk about recent events.
She's had a baby girl.
There's been a big fire at the factory.
The value of the dollar has risen in recent weeks.

We can use "just" in these cases to express a very recent action.
She's just had a baby.
I've just had lunch.

We use the present perfect simple to talk about a period of time from the past until now.
I've lived in Spain for 10 years. (use "for" for a period of time)
She hasn't spoken to him since April last year. (use "since" for a specific time)

If we don't use for or since, we don't know when the action or event happened, or it's not important when it happened.
Have you ever eaten frogs' legs? (at any time in your life until now)
I've never had a computer. (at any time in my life until now)
She has read all the Harry Potter books. (at some time in the past until now)
I've seen Shrek. (only the action is important, not when I did the action)
I saw Shrek last week.

We often talk about repeated actions or events from the past until now.
We've visited China many times.
I've been to France twice.
The phone has rung five times since lunchtime.

We can use "already" to say something happened sooner than expected.
I've already seen Mission Impossible.

We can use "yet" to say that we expect something to happen.
I haven't seen Mission Impossible yet.
Have you spoken to Dave yet?

We use the present perfect simple to talk about a period of time not finished at the time of speaking.
I have had three cups of coffee today. (today is not finished)
I had three cups of coffee yesterday.
Have you seen the news this week? (this week is not finished)
Did you see the news yesterday?
I've been on holiday twice this year (this year is not finished)
I went on holiday twice last year

Been and gone
They've gone to Greece for a holiday. (they are in Greece now)
They've been to Greece. (they went to Greece and they've come back)

See also  Present perfect continuous  |  Past simple
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