A2 Elementary Verb patterns, quantifiers, articles, present perfect
Present perfect — introduction
Lesson goal. After this lesson you can talk about things that have happened without saying when, and use ever, never, already, just, yet.
When to use it
- Life experience: I have been to Da Nang.
- Something just happened that still matters now: I have lost my keys.
- A completed action with no time stated: She has finished her homework.
Form
| Type | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | S + have/has + V3 | I have seen it. |
| Negative | S + haven't/hasn't + V3 | She hasn't finished. |
| Question | Have/Has + S + V3? | Have you eaten? |
| What is V3 | the third column of the verb table | see – saw – seen · go – went – gone |
Step by step
- Ask: does the sentence give a specific past time (yesterday, last week)?
- Yes → use the past simple, not this tense.
- No → use have/has + V3.
- Pick have or has by the subject, then take column three of the verb.
Adverbs and where they go
| Word | Position | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ever | in questions, before V3 | Have you ever been to Hue? |
| never | before V3 | I have never tried sushi. |
| already | before V3 | She has already left. |
| just | before V3 | We have just arrived. |
| yet | at the end, in negatives and questions | He hasn't called yet. |
Examples
I have been to Ha Long Bay twice.
She has just finished her homework.
Have you ever eaten sushi?
We haven't seen that film yet.
He has never been late.
They have already left.
Common mistakes
I have seen him yesterday. → I saw him yesterday.
With yesterday — a specific past time — you must use the past simple. This is the most common error here.
I have saw that film. → I have seen that film.
After have/has comes column three (seen), not column two (saw).
She have finished her work. → She has finished her work.
She → has.
Memory tip
The present perfect is a bridge from past to now. If the sentence cares when it happened, use the past simple; if it cares how things are now, use this tense.
Summary
- have/has + V3 — a past event with no stated time.
- ever, never, already, just go before the participle; yet goes at the end.
- With yesterday, last week, in 2020 → use the past simple.
Practise this lesson
Do exercises with an explanation for every question, take mini tests and track your progress on GrammUp.