Grammar Focus
Present Perfect (Παρακείμενος)
We use the Present Perfect (Παρακείμενος) to connect the past with the present. The exact time is usually not important.
I have visited London.She has finished her homework.
1. When do we use Present Perfect?
📘 Theory (Θεωρία)
- Life experiences (εμπειρίες): I have been to Italy.
- Recent actions with a present result (πρόσφατες πράξεις με αποτέλεσμα τώρα): She has lost her keys.
- Actions that started in the past and continue now (ξεκίνησαν στο παρελθόν και συνεχίζονται): We have lived here for five years.
- Finished actions with no exact time (χωρίς συγκεκριμένο χρόνο): He has cleaned his room.
✅ Examples
- I have tried sushi. → Έχω δοκιμάσει σούσι.
- She has broken her pencil. → Έχει σπάσει το μολύβι της.
- They have lived in Greece since 2020. → Ζουν στην Ελλάδα από το 2020.
2. Form (Σχηματισμός)
| Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative (Κατάφαση) | Subject + have/has + past participle | I have finished. / She has eaten. |
| Negative (Άρνηση) | Subject + haven’t/hasn’t + past participle | They haven’t arrived. |
| Question (Ερώτηση) | Have/Has + subject + past participle? | Have you seen this film? |
Past participle: regular verbs usually end in -ed (play → played), but many verbs are irregular (go → gone, see → seen, eat → eaten).
3. Useful words
| Word | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ever | questions about experience | Have you ever ridden a horse? |
| never | negative experience | I have never seen snow. |
| just | very recent action | She has just arrived. |
| already | earlier than expected | He has already finished. |
| yet | questions / negatives | Have you finished yet? / I haven’t finished yet. |
4. For and Since
- for + period of time: for two years, for three days, for a long time
- since + starting point: since 2020, since Monday, since I was six
I have known Anna for five years. → Γνωρίζω την Άννα εδώ και πέντε χρόνια.
We have lived here since 2021. → Ζούμε εδώ από το 2021.
5. Present Perfect vs Past Simple
| Present Perfect | Past Simple |
|---|---|
| Connects past and present | Finished action in the past |
| Exact time is not important | Exact time is often mentioned |
| I have visited London. | I visited London last year. |
Compare the examples
- She has lost her keys. → She doesn’t have them now. (result now)
- She lost her keys yesterday. → We know exactly when.
- Have you ever eaten sushi? → life experience
- Did you eat sushi yesterday? → specific past time
📝 Practice
A. Choose the correct tense.
- I have seen / saw this film three times.
- We have visited / visited Athens last summer.
- She has just finished / finished her homework.
- They have moved / moved to Thessaloniki in 2022.
B. Complete the sentences.
- I have never __________________________.
- Last weekend I __________________________.
- Have you ever __________________________?
🌈 6. Irregular Verbs Treasure List
Some verbs do not take -ed. These are irregular verbs (ανώμαλα ρήματα). For the Present Perfect we need the past participle, the 3rd form.
Remember: Present Perfect = have / has + past participle. Example: I have seen, She has eaten.
🎲 7. Irregular Verbs Practice
A. Complete the three forms.
- go – went – __________
- eat – __________ – eaten
- see – saw – __________
- write – __________ – written
- take – took – __________
B. Complete with the Present Perfect.
- I __________ never __________ (see) a dolphin.
- She __________ already __________ (do) her homework.
- We __________ just __________ (eat) lunch.
- He __________ not __________ (write) the email yet.
- Have you ever __________ (swim) in the sea?
C. Choose Past Simple or Present Perfect.
- I went / have gone to Athens last weekend.
- She has eaten / ate sushi three times.
- They saw / have seen the film yesterday.
- We have known / knew him for two years.
D. Make your own sentences.
- I have never __________________________.
- My friend has already __________________________.
- Have you ever __________________________?
✅ Show answers
Present Perfect vs Past Simple
- have seen
- visited
- has just finished
- moved
Sample answers: I have never ridden a horse. Last weekend I visited my grandparents. Have you ever eaten sushi?
Irregular verbs
- go – went – gone
- eat – ate – eaten
- see – saw – seen
- write – wrote – written
- take – took – taken
Present Perfect with irregular verbs
- I have never seen a dolphin.
- She has already done her homework.
- We have just eaten lunch.
- He has not / hasn’t written the email yet.
- Have you ever swum in the sea?
Past Simple or Present Perfect
- went
- has eaten
- saw
- have known
Sample answers: I have never seen snow. My friend has already done homework. Have you ever been to London?
🎬 Present Perfect Videos
Watch the theory first, then practise with quizzes and examples.