Present Perfect Tense
AdvancedPresent perfect.
- Present perfect = have/has + past participle
- Experience: Have you ever…? · I have never been abroad.
- Completed: already (She has already visited.) · Not finished: yet (not… yet)
文體小知識：Connect the past with the present.
§Text Passage
1My cousin Kelly has lived in Australia since 2023. She has just returned to Hong Kong for the summer holidays. I have never been abroad, so I asked her many questions. “Have you ever seen a kangaroo?” I asked excitedly. She laughed and said she has already visited three wildlife parks this year. She has not finished her university project yet, but she says she is not worried.
2We have eaten dim sum twice this week, and she says the food here tastes better than she remembered. Hong Kong has changed a lot since her last visit, and she wants to see the new harbourfront. I have told her about my school and my new friends. She has promised to teach me some English songs. The present perfect uses have or has with a past participle, such as seen, returned or finished. It connects the past with the present.
3Tomorrow, we have planned to visit the Science Museum together. Kelly has bought the tickets online already. Although she has travelled to many places, she has never explored this part of Kowloon. I think she will enjoy it. I have also prepared a small gift for her. Before she leaves, I hope we will have watched a film and taken lots of photos. Kelly says this has been her best week so far.
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
My cousin Kelly has lived in Australia since 2023.
我的表姐凱莉自二○二三年起住在澳洲。
She has just returned to Hong Kong for the summer holidays.
她剛回香港過暑假。
I have never been abroad, so I asked her many questions.
我從未出過國，所以問了她很多問題。
“Have you ever seen a kangaroo?” I asked excitedly.
「你見過袋鼠嗎？」我興奮地問。
She laughed and said she has already visited three wildlife parks this year.
她笑著說，她今年已經去過三個野生動物公園。
She has not finished her university project yet, but she says she is not worried.
她還未完成大學的專題報告，但她說不擔心。
We have eaten dim sum twice this week, and she says the food here tastes better than she remembered.
我們這星期已經吃了兩次點心，她說這裡的食物比她記憶中更好吃。
Hong Kong has changed a lot since her last visit, and she wants to see the new harbourfront.
香港自她上次回來後改變了很多，她想看看新的海濱。
I have told her about my school and my new friends.
我告訴了她關於學校和新朋友的事。
She has promised to teach me some English songs.
她答應教我一些英文歌。
The present perfect uses have or has with a past participle, such as seen, returned or finished.
現在完成式用 have 或 has 加過去分詞，例如 seen、returned、finished。
It connects the past with the present.
它把過去和現在連繫起來。
Tomorrow, we have planned to visit the Science Museum together.
我們計劃明天一起參觀科學館。
Kelly has bought the tickets online already.
凱莉已經在網上買了門票。
Although she has travelled to many places, she has never explored this part of Kowloon.
雖然她去過很多地方，卻從未遊覽過九龍這一帶。
I think she will enjoy it.
我想她會喜歡。
I have also prepared a small gift for her.
我還準備了一份小禮物給她。
Before she leaves, I hope we will have watched a film and taken lots of photos.
我希望在她離開前，我們會看完一齣電影，還拍了很多照片。
Kelly says this has been her best week so far.
凱莉說這是她至今最好的一星期。
1Summary 重點摘要
Present perfect.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
have/has + p.p.
Done, gone.
At any time.
Not ever.
Sooner.
Until now.
Recently.
From time.
3Step by step Steps
- have/hasI/you/we/they → have; he/she/it → has: My cousin Kelly has lived in Australia since 2023. We have eaten dim sum twice this week.
- p.p.past participle: seen, returned, finished (regular, -ed); irregular go → gone, eat → eaten, see → seen.
- Signal wordsever, never, already, yet, just, since: I have never been abroad. She has just returned to Hong Kong.
- Experience questionsHave you ever + p.p.? 'Have you ever seen a kangaroo?' I asked excitedly. Answer: She has already visited three wildlife parks.
- already vs yetalready in positive sentences (done); yet in negatives and questions (not done): She has not finished her university project yet.
- for vs sincefor + a period, since + a starting point: has lived in Australia since 2023; We have eaten dim sum twice this week.
- No past time wordsWith yesterday or last year use the past simple: I saw him yesterday. The present perfect connects the past with the present.
- Golden sentenceKelly says this has been her best week so far — so far is a classic present perfect signal.
4Diagrams Diagrams
5Worked example Example
Based on the passage, write five present perfect sentences about cousin Kelly, using ever, never, already and yet.
- Step 1: Structure = have/has + past participle — Kelly has lived in Australia since 2023.
- Step 2: Experience with ever / never — Have you ever seen a kangaroo? I have never been abroad.
- Step 3: Completed with already — She has already visited three wildlife parks this year.
- Step 4: Not finished with yet (negative / question) — She has not finished her project yet.
- Step 5: for + period, since + starting point — since 2023 / for two years
- Answer: My cousin Kelly has lived in Australia since 2023, and she has just returned to Hong Kong for the summer. I have never been abroad, so I asked her, 'Have you ever seen a kangaroo?' She has already visited three wildlife parks this year, and we have eaten dim sum twice this week. She has not finished her university project yet, but she is not worried. Hong Kong has changed a lot since her last visit, and she says this has been her best week so far.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1How to form it?
Q2What is p.p.?
Q3What is ever?
Q4What is yet?
Q5What is just?
8Recap Recap
- Present perfect = have/has + past participle
- Experience: Have you ever…? · I have never been abroad.
- Completed: already (She has already visited.) · Not finished: yet (not… yet)
- for + period (for two years) · since + starting point (since 2023)
- Use it to link past and present — the present perfect connects the past with the present