The Present Perfect for Advanced Students in 8 Minutes!

Have you ever felt stuck between the verb forms  "did" and "have done"? If so, you're not alone.  

The present perfect can be confusing even for  advanced students of English. Let me clear up  

some doubts, and by the end of this video,  you'll have more confidence with verb forms  

in American English. I'll show you how the present  perfect works and how you can sound more natural.  

I'm going to tell you when to use it and,  just as important, when not to use it.

If you're new to my channel,  welcome. I'm Jennifer,  

and I teach American English to help  language learners communicate more  

confidently and effectively. If you want my  free digital downloads to boost your fluency,  

visit my website englishwithjennifer.com. Let's  dive into our advanced grammar lesson. Okay?

The present perfect uses "have" or "has"  plus the past participle. For regular verbs,  

just use the -ed ending: have started, have  studied. For irregular verbs, make sure you  

know that third form of the verb: have done,  have seen, have written. If you need to review  

irregular verbs, check out my grammar playlist.  I have short videos that quiz you on those forms.

The present perfect makes a connection from  the past to the present. If there's a present  

effect from a finished past action,  this calls for the present perfect.

I've driven from Boston to Pittsburgh many  times, so I'm familiar with the route.

This means if you want to refer to a past  action with no connection to the present,  

don't use the present perfect. If you're referring  to a closed period of time, use the simple past.

In my childhood, I climbed trees and flag poles.

If you're referring to a past habit, use  "used to" or "would." My brothers and I  

used to walk along the railroad  tracks with our grandfather. My  

grandmother would give me a bucket to  collect wild berries along the tracks.

The present perfect helps us talk  about general past experiences.  

I've been to Paris a few times.  It's easy to get around the city.

This means as soon as you get  specific with dates and time periods,  

you can't use the present perfect. Compare.

The last time I visited Paris was in 2023.

I first went to Paris when I was 16.

At that time, I was traveling  with my French class.

The present perfect can also create a possible  connection between the past and the future.  

If there's a past action that's likely to  repeat, we can use the present perfect.  

I've been to Squam Lake in New Hampshire,  and I hope to visit again. I loved it. If  

you don't wish to repeat an experience, it's  still possible to use the present perfect,  

but switching to the simple past is  like closing a door on the future.

Have you been to the new cafe in town? Yes,  

but I didn't like it. I went there  last week, and they mixed up my order.

Have you been to the new cafe in town?  Yes, I have, but I don't like it.

Don't forget there's a progressive form.  The present perfect progressive uses  

"have" or "has" plus been plus the present  participle of the main verb. That's the  

-ing form: have been living, have been feeling.

We might use the present perfect or the  present perfect progressive to measure  

an event that's still in progress. I've been  living in my current home for three years. This  

is more recent. I've lived in Massachusetts  since 2001. This is a longer period of time.

Again, a closed period of time would require the  

simple past. I lived and worked on  a steamboat for about half a year.

But what if there's evidence of an earlier  action? Maybe you have reason to believe  

that something is true, although you don't see  anyone doing that specific action at this moment.

It smells like chemicals in  here have you been cleaning?

You look tired. Have you been staying  up late? I know you sometimes do that.

The present perfect progressive is  a natural choice for this context.

We don't use the present perfect or the present  perfect progressive when there's no evidence.

Why are you in your pajamas?  Did you go to work today?

The trash cans are still full. Didn't you take  them out yesterday? Yesterday was trash day.

A final note is that American English speakers  use the simple past more often than the present  

perfect. For that reason, you'll hear both  verb forms used to ask about past experiences.

Did you ever lose your phone in a public place?

Have you ever lost your phone in a public place?

And we usually express completed past  actions with the simple past. We add  

words like "already" and "just"  for emphasis and clarification.

Did you turn in your report?  Yeah. I just finished it.

Did you turn in your report? No. I didn't  turn it in yet, but I'm almost done.

Think you got all that? Let's see if this review  

has helped. Take a short quiz.  Choose the correct verb form.

One

Did you read bedtime stories as a child?

Two

I've been working in retail. I like it so far.

Three

I was taking a nap, so I didn't hear you call.

Four

I saw that movie a long time ago.  I don't remember it very well.

Five

I feel like I understand Helen Keller so much  better. I've been reading about her life.

Six

I feel like I understand Helen  Keller so much better now. I just  

finished reading her autobiography.  Note that both answers could work,  

but many American English speakers  would choose the simple past.

Seven

I've always wanted to try fencing.  

Note that both answers could work, but the present  perfect clarifies that the desire still exists.

Eight

My arms and wrists are sore. I think  I've been using the computer too much.

That's all for now, but before I go, I'll  ask you to hit the like and subscribe button  

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the video description. Hope to see you again  soon. Thanks for watching and happy studies!