How do we use this tense?

PERFECT here means "complete, finished".

The Present Perfect is a form of the verb that shows the action was complete before the
present.

It does not mean the action is "perfect" (100%). It means the action isfinished.

Here are the different usages of this tense:

 Actions that happened at an unspecified time before the present

 Actions that ended recently
 States that started in the past, and are still going on
Note: this is a broader use of this tense.
It is usually used with states, not actions.

Make sure you also read:

Examples of Typical Time Expressions

Present Perfect Example Sentences

Simple Past or Present Perfect – Which Tense Should You Use?

Actions that happened at

an unspecified time before the present
(The verbs are in bold)

He has learned how to ride a horse.

 He has fixed the light.

They have called 5 times already.

She has bought a hat.

She has grown so much.

She has become such a good secretary.

He has never done it before.

Actions that ended recently

 She has broken the vase.

He has just seen the news.

He has already caught the ball.

She has bought some food for us.

He has lost his clothes.

 States that started in the past,
and are still going on
Note: this is a broader use of this tense.
It is usually used with states, not actions.

He has been sick since Saturday.

He has had this motorbike for 5 years.

He has always liked him.

They have lived here for a long time.

Examples of
Typical Time Expressions

Before the
Recently Up to now
present
 ever recently since
never lately for
once already
3 times just
so far yet
before
in the last week
in the
previous year
Form

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

irregular verbs: see 2nd column of irregular verbs irregular verbs: form of 'have' + 3rd column of irregular
verbs
Example:
I spoke Example:
I / you / we / they have spoken
he / she / it has spoken

regular verbs: infinitive + ed regular verbs: form of 'have' + infinitive + ed

Example: Example:
I worked I / you / we / they have worked
he / she / it has worked

Exceptions

Exceptions when adding 'ed':

 when the final letter is e, only add d

Example:
love - loved

 after a short, stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled

Example:
admit - admitted

 final l is always doubled in British English (not in American English)

Example:
travel - travelled

 after a consonant, final y becomes i (but: not after a vowel)

Example:
worry - worried
but: play - played
Use
In British English, the use of Simple Past and Present Perfect is quite strict. As soon as
a time expression in the past is given, you have to use Simple Past. If there are no
signal words, you must decide if we just talk about an action in the past or if its
consequence in the present is important.

Note that the following explanations and exercises refer to British English only. In
American English, you can normally use Simple Past instead of Present Perfect. We
cannot accept this in our exercises, however, as this would lead to confusions amongst
those who have to learn the differences.

Certain time in the past or just / already / yet?

Do you want to express that an action happened at a certain time in the past (even if it
was just a few seconds ago) or that an action has just / already / not yethappened?

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

certain time in the past just / already / not yet

Example: Example:
I phoned Mary 2 minutes ago. I have just phoned Mary.

Certain event in the past or how often so far?

Do you want to express when a certain action took place or whether / how often an
action has happened till now?

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

certain event in the past whether / how often till now

Example: Example:
He went to Canada last summer. Have you ever been to Canada? / I have been to
Canada twice.
Emphasis on action or result?

Do you just want to express what happened in the past? Or do you want to emphasise
the result (a past action's consequence in the present)?

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

Emphasis on action Emphasis on result

Example: Example:
I bought a new bike. (just telling I have bought a new bike. (With this sentence I actually
what I did in the past.) want to express that I have a new bike now.)

Signal Words

Simple Past Present Perfect Simple

 yesterday  just
 ... ago  already
 in 1990  up to now
 the other day  until now / till now
 last ...  ever
 (not) yet
 so far
 lately / recently