Present Perfect Tense – Questions, Negatives, and Negative Questions
Building on your knowledge of the affirmative Present Perfect tense, this lesson covers how to form questions, negative statements, and negative questions. These forms are essential for complete communication in English and allow you to ask about experiences, express what hasn't happened, and seek confirmation about past actions that connect to the present.
The Present Perfect in questions and negatives follows specific patterns that differ from the Simple Past, making it crucial to understand these structures for effective English communication.
1. Forming Yes/No Questions
To ask a yes/no question in the Present Perfect, we move the auxiliary verb have or has before the subject. The past participle stays in its position after the subject.
Structure:
Have/Has + subject + past participle + (rest of sentence)?
Formation Pattern:
- Affirmative: I have visited Paris. → Question: Have I visited Paris?
- Affirmative: She has finished her work. → Question: Has she finished her work?
Examples:
- Have you ever been to Japan?
- Has she finished her homework?
- Have they arrived yet?
- Has it stopped raining?
- Have we met before?
- Has he called you today?
| Auxiliary | Subject | Past Participle | Example Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| Have | you | seen | Have you seen that movie? |
| Has | she | written | Has she written the report? |
| Have | they | traveled | Have they traveled to Europe? |
| Has | it | broken | Has it broken down again? |
2. Forming WH- Questions
WH- questions in the Present Perfect are formed by placing a question word (who, what, where, when, why, how, which, whose) before the auxiliary verb have/has and subject.
Structure:
Wh-word + have/has + subject + past participle + (rest)?
Common WH- Questions with Present Perfect:
What
- What have you done today?
- What has she studied at university?
- What have they decided about the project?
Where
- Where have you traveled this year?
- Where has he worked before?
- Where have they lived since they got married?
When
- When have you been to London? (asking about the time period)
- When has she started working here?
Why
- Why have you chosen this career?
- Why has he moved to another city?
- Why have they sold their house?
How
- How have you learned English so well?
- How has she managed to finish so quickly?
- How long have you lived here?
- How many countries have you visited?
- How much has it cost?
Who (Special Cases)
When "who" is the subject of the question, we don't use the auxiliary have/has:
- Who has called you today? (Who is the subject)
- Who has taken my pen? (Who is the subject)
When "who" is the object, we use the normal question structure:
- Who have you met at the conference? (You is the subject)
- Who has she invited to the party? (She is the subject)
Note: "When" with Present Perfect often refers to duration or experience rather than specific times. For specific past times, Simple Past is more common.
- Present Perfect: "When have you been happiest in your life?" (general experience)
- Simple Past: "When did you go to Paris?" (specific time)
3. Forming Negative Statements
To make a negative statement in the Present Perfect, we add not after the auxiliary verb have/has. The contractions haven't and hasn't are very commonly used.
Structure:
Subject + have/has + not + past participle + (rest)
Full Forms vs. Contractions:
| Subject | Full Form | Contraction | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | have not | haven't | I haven't seen that movie yet. |
| You | have not | haven't | You haven't finished your homework. |
| He | has not | hasn't | He hasn't called me today. |
| She | has not | hasn't | She hasn't traveled abroad before. |
| It | has not | hasn't | It hasn't stopped raining yet. |
| We | have not | haven't | We haven't decided what to do. |
| They | have not | haven't | They haven't arrived yet. |
More Examples:
- I haven't been to Australia yet.
- She hasn't finished reading the book.
- We haven't heard from them recently.
- They haven't found a solution to the problem.
- He hasn't spoken to his boss about the promotion.
- It hasn't worked properly since last week.
Common Time Expressions with Negatives:
- Yet (in negatives and questions): I haven't finished yet.
- Never (means "not ever"): I have never been to China.
- Still (with negatives for emphasis): I still haven't received an answer.
- So far: We haven't had any problems so far.
4. Forming Negative Questions
Negative questions in the Present Perfect are used to express surprise, seek confirmation, or make suggestions. They can be formed in two ways: with contractions (more common in spoken English) or without contractions (more formal).
Two Structures:
1. With Contractions (More Common)
Haven't/Hasn't + subject + past participle + (rest)?
- Haven't you finished your work yet?
- Hasn't she called you back?
- Haven't they arrived yet?
- Hasn't it stopped raining?
2. Without Contractions (More Formal)
Have/Has + subject + not + past participle + (rest)?
- Have you not received my email?
- Has she not completed the assignment?
- Have they not responded to your invitation?
Uses of Negative Questions:
1. Expressing Surprise:
- Haven't you been to Paris? I thought you traveled a lot!
- Hasn't he graduated yet? I thought he was in his final year.
2. Seeking Confirmation:
- Haven't we met before? You look familiar.
- Hasn't this movie won several awards?
3. Making Suggestions or Offers:
- Haven't you tried the new restaurant downtown?
- Hasn't she heard about the job opening?
4. Showing Impatience or Concern:
- Haven't they called you back yet? It's been three days!
- Hasn't the doctor seen you yet?
Important: The meaning of negative questions can sometimes be confusing. The expected answer is usually "Yes" when the negative question expresses surprise about something not happening.
- Question: "Haven't you finished yet?" Expected answer: "No, I haven't" or "Yes, I have."
5. Summary Table of All Forms
| Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Subject + have/has + past participle | She has visited London. |
| Negative | Subject + have/has + not + past participle | She hasn't visited London. |
| Yes/No Question | Have/Has + subject + past participle | Has she visited London? |
| WH- Question | Wh-word + have/has + subject + past participle | Where has she traveled? |
| Negative Question | Haven't/Hasn't + subject + past participle | Hasn't she visited London yet? |
6. Short Answers with Present Perfect
When answering yes/no questions in the Present Perfect, we use short answers with the auxiliary verb have/has (not the past participle).
Structure for Short Answers:
- Positive: Yes, + subject + have/has
- Negative: No, + subject + haven't/hasn't
| Question | Positive Short Answer | Negative Short Answer |
|---|---|---|
| Have you been to Paris? | Yes, I have. | No, I haven't. |
| Has she finished her work? | Yes, she has. | No, she hasn't. |
| Have they arrived yet? | Yes, they have. | No, they haven't. |
| Has it stopped raining? | Yes, it has. | No, it hasn't. |
Important Notes about Short Answers:
- We never use the past participle in short answers: ❌ "Yes, I have been." ✅ "Yes, I have."
- We usually use contractions in negative short answers: "No, I haven't" (not "No, I have not")
- In very informal speech, sometimes just "Yes" or "No" is used, but proper short answers are preferred
7. Question Words with Present Perfect
Different question words are used for different purposes with the Present Perfect. Here's a comprehensive guide:
Experience Questions
- Have you ever...? (asking about life experiences)
- Have you ever been to Asia?
- Have you ever eaten sushi?
- Have you ever broken a bone?
Duration Questions
- How long have you...? (asking about duration)
- How long have you lived here?
- How long have you known each other?
- How long has she been studying English?
Frequency Questions
- How many times have you...?
- How many times have you visited London?
- How many books has she written?
- How often have you traveled abroad?
Completion Questions
- Have you finished...?
- Have you finished your homework?
- Has he completed the project?
- Have they decided yet?
Recent Action Questions
- Have you seen...?
- Have you seen my keys?
- Has she called you today?
- Have they heard the news?
Reason Questions
- Why have you...?
- Why have you chosen this career?
- Why has he moved to London?
- Why have they sold their house?
8. Common Mistakes with Questions and Negatives
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Did you ever been to Japan? | Have you ever been to Japan? | Use "have/has" not "did" for Present Perfect questions. |
| I didn't go to Paris yet. | I haven't been to Paris yet. | Use "haven't/hasn't" not "didn't" for Present Perfect negatives. |
| Has you finished your work? | Have you finished your work? | Use "have" with "you," not "has." |
| She hasn't never been abroad. | She has never been abroad. | Don't use double negatives. "Never" is already negative. |
| How long do you live here? | How long have you lived here? | Use Present Perfect for duration up to now. |
| Yes, I have been there. | Yes, I have. | Don't include past participle in short answers. |
| Haven't you went to the meeting? | Haven't you gone to the meeting? | Use past participle "gone," not past simple "went." |
Practice Test - Yes/No Questions
Choose the correct form to make a question in the Present Perfect.
Fill in the Blanks - Negative Statements
Complete each sentence with the correct negative form of the Present Perfect.
Fill in the Blanks - WH- Questions
Complete each WH- question with the correct form of the Present Perfect.
Practice Test - Negative Questions
Choose the correct negative question form.
Short Answers Practice
Complete each short answer with the correct form.
Advanced Mixed Practice
Transform the sentences according to the instructions.