Sentence structure: Present perfect

In this chapter

• When do we use it?

  It links the past to now: life experiences (Have you ever…?), results that matter now (I've lost my key, so I don't have it) and situations that started in the past and are still true. It is made with have/has + V3 (the third form: seen, done); we don't use it with a finished time like yesterday.

• Present perfect

  from the past until now; the result is now

  Pattern: Subject + have/has + V3 (past participle)

  Example: I have visited Istanbul three times.

  Example: She has just finished her project.

• Formula

  Positive: I have seen this movie. · Negative: She hasn't finished yet. · Question: Have you ever seen a dolphin? · Short answer: Yes, I have. / No, I haven't.

• Color-coded examples

  The result matters now: the key is still lost.

  Example: I have lost my key.

  Example: We have lived here since 2019.

• Turkish equivalents

  been to = have gone and come back.

  Example: Have you ever been to Cappadocia?

  Example: I have been at this school for six years.

• Tip

  Most common mistake: using the present perfect with a finished time. “I have seen him yesterday” is wrong; say I saw him yesterday. yesterday, last week, in 2020 and ago need the past simple.