English Mastery
Module 1 · Verb Tenses

Present Perfect

Intermediate1 h25 questions8 sections
Step 1

Quick Look

The Present Perfect connects the past to the present. It is the hardest English tense for Hindi speakers — not because the form is difficult, but because Hindi has no exact equivalent, so learners keep swapping it with the Simple Past. Master one idea: Present Perfect = past action, present relevance, and NO specific time mentioned.
Sentence TypeStructure + Example
Affirmative
Subject+have/has+V3 (past participle)
She has visited Dubai twice.
Negative
Subject+have/has+not+V3
She has not visited Dubai.
Question
Have/Has+subject+V3?
Has she visited Dubai?

The golden rule: the moment a sentence contains a finished specific time — yesterday, last year, in 2015, two days ago — the Present Perfect is BANNED. Specific past time Simple Past. No time mentioned, or time still continuing Present Perfect.

Step 2

When to Use It

?no time givenup to nowNOWPASTFUTURE
Use 1

Life experience (no time mentioned)

Something you have (or have not) experienced at some point in life. WHEN does not matter.
  • I have visited the Taj Mahal three times.
  • She has never eaten sushi.
  • Have you ever met a film star?
just doneresult nowNOWPASTFUTURE
Use 2

Recent actions with a present result

The action is finished, but its effect is visible right now. Often with ‘just’ or ‘already’.
  • I have just sent you the documents. (Check your inbox — they are there now.)
  • He has lost his keys. (Result: he cannot enter the house now.)
  • The client has already signed the agreement.
this week: not overNOWPASTFUTURE
Use 3

Unfinished time periods

The time period (today, this week, this year) is still going on.
  • I have made four site visits this week. (The week isn’t over.)
  • She has not called me today. (Today isn’t over — she still might.)
for 15 yearssince 2011NOWPASTFUTURE
Use 4

Duration from past until now (for / since)

Something started in the past and is still true. Used with stative verbs (know, be, have, live).
  • I have known him for fifteen years. (I met him 15 years ago, and I still know him.)
  • They have been business partners since 2018.
  • We have had this office for a decade.
change so farNOWPASTFUTURE
Use 5

Accomplishments and changes

What has been achieved, or how things have changed, up to now.
  • The company has doubled its revenue.
  • This area has changed completely in ten years.
  • Scientists have found water on the Moon.
Extra

For vs. Since — Settle It Once

FOR + length of timeSINCE + starting point
for ten yearssince 2016
for six monthssince January
for a long timesince my college days
for two hourssince 9 o’clock
for agessince we met
Quick test: can you measure it on a clock or calendar as a DURATION? Use for. Is it a POINT where something began? Use since.
  • I have lived here for eight years. = I have lived here since 2018. (Same fact, two ways.)
For = length, since = starting point
for eight yearsNOWSINCE 2018PASTFUTUREI have lived here for eight years.=I have lived here since 2018.same fact, two ways FORa length of timeten years · six monthstwo hours · a long time SINCEa starting point2016 · January9 o'clock · my college days
Can you measure it as a duration? Use for. Is it the point where it began? Use since.
Step 4

Hindi Concept Note

अHindi Concept Noteहिंदी में समझिए
Present Perfect का हिंदी में सीधा अनुवाद नहीं है — यही सारी confusion की जड़ है। सबसे क़रीब है ‘चुका है / लिया है / गया है’:
मैं खाना खा चुका हूँ।
I have eaten.
वह जा चुका है।
He has gone. / He has left.
Rule सिर्फ़ एक है: अगर समय बताया है (कल, पिछले साल), तो Simple Past। अगर समय नहीं बताया, या असर अभी तक है, तो Present Perfect।
मैंने ताज महल देखा है। (कब? नहीं बताया)
I have seen the Taj Mahal.
मैंने कल ताज महल देखा। (कब? कल!)
I saw the Taj Mahal yesterday.
और ‘से’ (since 2010 se) वाले वाक्य — जो अब तक चल रहे हैं — उनमें भी Present Perfect: मैं उसे 2010 से जानता हूँ
I have known him since 2010.
Step 5

Common Mistakes Hindi Speakers Make

Wrong
Right
Why
I have seen him yesterday.
I saw him yesterday.
‘Yesterday’ = specific finished time Simple Past. The #1 Present Perfect error in India.
I am living here since 2015.
I have lived here since 2015. / I have been living here since 2015.
Duration up to now needs Perfect, not Present Continuous. Direct transfer from ‘main 2015 se reh raha hoon’.
Did you ever visit Goa?
Have you ever visited Goa?
Life experience with ‘ever’ Present Perfect.
She has wrote the report.
She has written the report.
Have/has takes V3 (written), not V2 (wrote).
He has completed his MBA in 2019.
He completed his MBA in 2019.
‘In 2019’ = specific time Simple Past wins.
I know him since ten years.
I have known him for ten years.
Two fixes: Perfect tense needed, and a duration takes ‘for’, not ‘since’.
Step 6

Signal Words

These words pull the sentence towards Present Perfect:
ever, never (life experience)
just, already, yet (recent actions: Have you eaten yet?)
for, since (duration up to now)so farrecentlylatelyup to nowtill now
this week / this month / this year (unfinished periods)
DANGER words that FORBID it: yesterday, ago, last week, in 2015 those force Simple Past
Step 7

Practice

Set A

Fill in the blanks

0 / 10
  1. 1
    I (know) the Sharma family for twenty years.
  2. 2
    you ever (travel) abroad?
  3. 3
    She (just/finish) her presentation.
  4. 4
    We (not/receive) the payment yet.
  5. 5
    He (work) in three different cities so far.
  6. 6
    The prices (go) up sharply this year.
  7. 7
    I (never/taste) anything so delicious.
  8. 8
    the electrician (fix) the fault yet?
  9. 9
    They (be) our clients since 2021.
  10. 10
    My son (already/complete) his homework.
Set B

Correct the mistake

0 / 8
  1. 11
    I have visited Jaipur last December.
  2. 12
    She has broke her phone screen.
  3. 13
    We are knowing each other since childhood.
  4. 14
    Did you finished the report yet?
  5. 15
    He has went to the bank.
  6. 16
    I live in this colony since ten years.
  7. 17
    Have you saw my glasses anywhere?
  8. 18
    The train has left the station five minutes ago.
Set C

Translate into English

0 / 7
  1. 19
    मैं यह फ़िल्म देख चुका हूँ।
  2. 20
    क्या तुमने कभी ऊँट की सवारी की है?
  3. 21
    वह अभी-अभी बाहर गया है।
  4. 22
    हम इस शहर में 2019 से रह रहे हैं।
  5. 23
    मैंने अभी तक खाना नहीं खाया है।
  6. 24
    उसने अपनी पढ़ाई पूरी कर ली है।
  7. 25
    इस साल बहुत गर्मी पड़ी है।
Step 8

Answer Key

Show answersHide answers
Answers · Set A
1
have known
2
Have ... travelled
3
has just finished
4
have not (haven’t) received
5
has worked
6
have gone
7
have never tasted
8
Has ... fixed
9
have been
10
has already completed
Answers · Set B
11
I visited Jaipur last December. (‘Last December’ = specific time Simple Past.)
12
She has broken her phone screen. (V3 = broken, not broke.)
13
We have known each other since childhood. (Stative + duration Present Perfect.)
14
Have you finished the report yet? (‘Yet’ Present Perfect question.)
15
He has gone to the bank. (V3 = gone, not went.)
16
I have lived in this colony for ten years. (Perfect tense + ‘for’ with duration.)
17
Have you seen my glasses anywhere? (V3 = seen, not saw.)
18
The train left the station five minutes ago. (‘Ago’ forces Simple Past.)
Answers · Set C
19
I have (already) seen this movie / film.
20
Have you ever ridden a camel?
21
He has just gone out. / He has just stepped out.
22
We have lived in this city since 2019. / We have been living in this city since 2019.
23
I have not eaten (food) yet.
24
He has completed his studies. / She has finished her studies.
25
It has been very hot this year.

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Next up · Chapter 7Present Perfect vs. Simple Past

The final head-to-head that makes ‘I have seen him yesterday’ impossible for you forever.