Guide to the Simple Present Perfect – TOEIC® Preparation
Flow Exam team
This comprehensive guide on the simple present perfect for the TOEIC® will allow you to fully master this verb tense! All the keys are here!
The present perfect represents a unique grammatical tense. It has no true equivalent in other languages, as it is a specifically English concept. For this reason, absolutely avoid literal translations, especially during the TOEIC®!
Concretely, this tense is used to refer to a situation or state that began in the past and continues up to now.
This could be an event that started yesterday and is still current, or a general reality applicable for several years and still valid today.
Let's take the example of the highway code: applied for decades, it remains in force today—that's a perfect illustration of the present perfect!
- "How long have you lived there? I have lived here for 10 years"
- How long have you lived here? I have lived here for 10 years
- The "have lived here" indicates that the person has resided in this dwelling for 10 years and still lives there today.
This guide deals exclusively with the simple present perfect. To explore other variations of the perfect tense, consult these resources:🔗 Course on the Present Perfect Continuous for the TOEIC®🔗 Course on Simple Present Perfect VS Present Perfect Continuous for the TOEIC®🔗 Course on the Simple Past Perfect for the TOEIC®🔗 Course on the Past Perfect Continuous for the TOEIC®
Construction of the Simple Present Perfect
The simple present perfect is constructed with the auxiliary verb "have" conjugated in the present tense, accompanied by a verb in the past participle.
| Affirmative Forms | Negative Forms | Interrogative Forms |
|---|---|---|
| I have finished | I have not (haven't) finished | Have I finished? |
| You have finished | You have not (haven't) finished | Have you finished? |
| He / She / It has finished | He / She / It has not (hasn't) finished | Has she finished? |
| We have finished | We have not (haven't) finished | Have we finished? |
| You have finished | You have not (haven't) finished | Have you finished? |
| They have finished | They have not (haven't) finished | Have they finished? |
In this example, the verb "finish" becomes "finished" in the past participle (addition of -ed). For irregular verbs, use the form found in the "past participle" column.
The complete list of irregular verbs is available here:🔗 List of Irregular Verbs for the TOEIC®
Omitting "has" in the third person singular is a frequent error in the TOEIC®, particularly in Part 5:
- He have worked here since 2001 — "he has worked here since 2001"
Contexts for Using the Simple Present Perfect
A. Referring to Past Actions with Present Repercussions
The simple present perfect is used to express an action that occurred in the past whose repercussions or effects remain perceptible or current in the present. This grammatical tense emphasizes the connection between past and present.
- I have lost my keys.I misplaced my keys (past action) SO I am now locked out (present impact)
Use of the Present Perfect with for and since
The perfect tense is very frequently accompanied by the time markers "for" or "since".
- "For" expresses a duration (for 2 years, for 3 months...)
- I have lived in Paris for five years.I have lived in Paris for five years → And I still reside there.
- "Since" marks a precise starting point in the past (since 2020, since Monday...)
- He has worked here since 2010.He has held this position since 2010 → He still works there currently.
TOEIC® Tip:As soon as you spot a "for" or a "since" in a TOEIC® question, immediately think of the perfect tense! Apart from the perfect tense, virtually no other tense is used with "for" or "since" (especially not the simple present).❌ I am in Australia since 2021✅ I have been in Australia since 2021
Use of the Present Perfect with Stative Verbs
The simple present perfect is commonly used with so-called stative verbs, such as "to be", "to have", "to know", "to like", or "to believe". These verbs convey a state or condition rather than a dynamic action, which highlights a link between the past and the present.
The exhaustive list of stative verbs is available here:🔗 List of Stative Verbs for the TOEIC®
- I have known her for five years.I have known her for five years → And our relationship continues.
- They have always believed in hard work.They have always believed in hard work → This conviction remains current.
- She has been my teacher since 2018.She has been my teacher since 2018 → She still holds this position.
TOEIC® Tip:Stative verbs are regularly paired with "for" and "since" to indicate a duration or an initial point in the past.
Use of the Present Perfect with how long
The simple present perfect is frequently used with How long... to ask about the duration of an action or state that began in the past and continues up to the present.
- How long have you lived in this city?How long have you lived in this city?
- I have lived here for 5 years / since 2018.I have lived here for 5 years / since 2018.
Use of the Present Perfect in Negative Sentences
The present perfect often appears in negative constructions to indicate the time elapsed since the last occurrence of an action.
- I haven't played football for months.I haven't played football for months.
- She hasn't visited her grandparents since last summer.She hasn't visited her grandparents since last summer.
B. Narrating Lived Experiences
The simple present perfect allows you to share experiences or milestones that occurred at an unspecified time in the past but remain relevant today. It is used to describe what one has accomplished or never done up to the present moment.
- She has visited Japan three times.She has visited Japan three times → She might go again later.
- I have never tried skiing.I have never tried skiing → This is an experience I have not yet had.
Use of the Present Perfect with the adverbs never and ever
The present perfect is very regularly accompanied by the adverbs "ever" or "never".
- Ever is frequently used with the present perfect to ask if something has ever happened before.
- In questions:
- Have you ever worked in a multinational company?Have you ever worked in a multinational company?
- In negative constructions:
- I haven't ever missed a deadline.I have never missed a deadline.
- In questions:
- Never is frequently used with the present perfect to state that an action has never occurred up to now.
- In affirmative sentences with a negative meaning:
- I have never attended a trade show before.I have never attended a trade show before.
- The candidate has never managed a team before.The candidate has never managed a team before.
- To express surprise:
- Never have I seen such detailed reports!Never have I seen such detailed reports!
- In affirmative sentences with a negative meaning:
Frequent Error:Be careful about the placement of ever and never in the sentence. These two adverbs are always positioned between the auxiliary (have/has) and the past participle.❌ This is the best pizza I ever have eaten.✅ This is the best pizza I have ever eaten.❌ She never has tried skiing before.✅ She has never tried skiing before.
*C. Referring to Actions The month is not yet over.
- We have received many emails recently.We have received many emails recently → The recent period is still ongoing.
Associated Time Markers
| Time Marker | Example |
|---|---|
| Recently | We have received many emails recently.(Nous avons reçu de nombreux courriels récemment.) |
| This week | I have visited the office three times this week.(J'ai visité le bureau trois fois cette semaine.) |
| This summer | They have traveled a lot this summer.(Ils ont beaucoup voyagé cet été.) |
| So far | She has completed four tasks so far.(Elle a achevé quatre tâches jusqu'ici.) |
| In the past few days | We have made significant progress in the past few days.(Nous avons réalisé des progrès significatifs ces derniers jours.) |
| Today | He has already called three clients today.(Il a déjà contacté trois clients aujourd'hui.) |
| This morning | I have sent two reports this morning.(J'ai expédié deux rapports ce matin.) |
| This month | We have opened two new stores this month.(Nous avons inauguré deux nouveaux magasins ce mois-ci.) |
| This year | She has received several awards this year.(Elle a obtenu plusieurs distinctions cette année.) |
| To date | We have achieved excellent results to date.(Nous avons obtenu d'excellents résultats à ce jour.) |
| Over the last few weeks | They have launched three campaigns over the last few weeks.(Ils ont lancé trois campagnes ces dernières semaines.) |
| Up to now | The team has solved all the issues up to now.(L'équipe a résolu tous les problèmes jusqu'à maintenant.) |
| Lately | I have been feeling very tired lately.(Je me sens très fatigué ces derniers temps → Cela a démarré récemment et continue de m'affecter.) |
Important Nuance:When an action is completed, but the time period extends up to today, we use the present perfect with since (but never with for).We have opened 9 stores since July.> We have opened nine stores since July.
E. Expressing Evolutions Over Time
The simple present perfect is used to describe transformations, progressions, or changes that have occurred between the past and the present moment. This grammatical tense highlights the process or the consequences of the change.
- Her English has improved a lot.Her English has improved a lot → She expresses herself much better now.
- The company has grown significantly over the past year.The company has grown significantly over the past year → It is now bigger and more prosperous.
- He has become more confident since he started his new job.He has become more confident since he started his new job → This transformation is observable today.
- Technology has advanced rapidly in the last decade.Technology has advanced rapidly in the last decade → This progress shapes the present.
F. Referring to Actions Whose Exact Time is Not Specified
The simple present perfect is used when the precise moment an action took place is irrelevant. What matters is whether the action has been accomplished or not, or whether it can still occur.
Key Time Markers
- Already: used in affirmative sentences to indicate that an action has already occurred, often earlier than anticipated. Already is placed between the auxiliary (have/has) and the past participle
- She has already completed the report.She has already completed the report.
- Yet: used in questions and negative sentences to refer to an action that has not yet happened but is expected. Yet is placed at the end of the sentence
- Have you sent the email yet?Have you sent the email yet?
- I haven't finished my homework yet.I haven't finished my homework yet.
- Still: used mainly in negative sentences to emphasize that an expected action has still not been realized, with strong insistence
- I still haven't received a reply.I still haven't received a reply.
Important Subtleties of the Simple Present Perfect
Subtlety 1: "Been" vs "Gone"
The distinction between has been and has gone can be confusing, but it is fundamental to grasp.
- Has been indicates that a person visited a place in the past, but is not there currently.
- She has been to Paris several times.She has been to Paris several times → But she is not there currently.
- Has gone signals that a person went somewhere and is still there or has not yet returned.
- She has gone to the supermarket.She has gone to the supermarket → She has not returned yet.
Subtlety 2: Simple Present Perfect VS Simple Present
It is essential not to confuse the simple present perfect and the simple present, as these two tenses express distinct realities.
- The simple present translates a general fact, a universal truth, or a regular habit.
- She works at a bank.She usually works there.
- I live in Paris.It is a stable state.
- The simple present perfect indicates an action initiated in the past that continues into the present.
- She has worked at a bank since 2010.She has worked at a bank since 2010.
- I have lived in Paris for five years.I have lived in Paris for five years.
Conclusion
The simple present perfect is an essential verb tense for the TOEIC®, regularly tested in grammar and comprehension questions.
It allows you to express past actions having a current impact, personal experiences, or situations that have been ongoing for some time.
Memorize the time markers such as "for", "since", "ever", "never", "just", "already", and "yet", which are frequent clues in the exam.
The perfect tense is not limited to the simple present perfect; there is also the present perfect continuous, the simple past perfect, and the past perfect continuous. Here are the links to these other guides:
- 🔗 Guide to the Present Perfect Continuous for the TOEIC®
- 🔗 Guide to the Difference Between Simple Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous for the TOEIC®
- 🔗 Guide to the Simple Past Perfect for the TOEIC®
- 🔗 Guide to the Past Perfect Continuous for the TOEIC®
- 🔗 Guide to the Difference Between Simple Past/Preterite and Past Perfect for the TOEIC®
- 🔗 Guide to the Difference Between Simple Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous for the TOEIC®
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