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Tenses >> Present perfect tense

Structure of present perfect

I've (I have) seen him.

I haven't (have not) seen him. 

Have you seen him?

He's (he has) gone.

He hasn't (has not) gone.

Has he gone?


Present perfect simple - common mistakes

Common mistakes

Correct version

Why?

Steven has wrote a new book.

Steven has written a new book.

The past participle of the verb must be used - wrote is past simple, written is the past participle.

Did you have seen him before?

Have you seen him before?

The helping verb 'have' is used in the present perfect- it is inverted with the person (you have becomes have you).

I didn't have seen him before.

I haven't seen him before.

The helping verb 'have' is used in the present perfect- to make it negative we simply add not (n't).

I am here since last week.

I have been here since last week.

The present perfect is used to show an action which continues to the present (an unfinished action).

I've been knowing him for 5 years.

I've known him for 5 years.

Verbs such as know, want, like, etc. (stative verbs) suggest permanent states, not actions, so are used in the simple form, NOT the -ing form.

 

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