English Tip · 01 — The Present Perfect — One Rule, Every Use

Use the present perfect when the past connects to now: the result matters, the time is unfinished, or the experience happened ‘sometime before now.’

Examples

• ‘I’ve lost my keys.’ (result: I don’t have them now)
• ‘Have you ever tried sushi?’ (experience, time unspecified)
• ‘I haven’t finished yet.’ (unfinished situation)

Practice

Write three sentences about yourself using the present perfect. Check: does each one connect to the present? If you can add ‘yesterday’ naturally, switch to past simple.

Takeaway: Ask yourself: does the past matter now? If yes, use the present perfect.

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