When do we use the present perfect? To talk about an action that was completed in the past - the exact time of the action is unknown or unimportant - what is important are the results or effects of that action - they are relevant to now!  We have already had breakfast, so we won't be joining you. I have read the instructions, but I don't understand them. Stock prices have risen, so I'm not going to invest at this point.
To talk about actions which started in the past and continue to the present. I've had this car for less than a year. She hasn't smoked a cigarette since 1998. To talk about an action recenly completed, usually used with "just". He has just left. Have you heard the news?
How do we use the present perfect? [+] I, you, we, they  add the helping verb have He, she it add the helping verb has We (/ I / you / they) have launched more than 5 brands in the past year. He (/she / it) has had a driver's license for over a decade. [-] I, you, we, they add the helping verb haven't (have not) He, she it add the helping verb hasn't (has not) I (/ you / we / they) haven't moved into the new house yet. He (/she / it) hasn't recently been here. [?] I, you, we, they the helping verb Have begins the question He, she it the helping verb has begins the questions Have they (/ I / you / we) fallen asleep yet? Has he (/she / it) already finished the back-up? The relevant form is V3 V1 | V2 | V3 | base form same as present simple | past simple (instead of -ed) | past participle | | | | | | bet | bet | bet | | buy | bought | bought | | drink | drank | drunk | | eat | ate | eaten | | forget | forgot | forgotten | | see | saw | seen | | sell | sold | sold | | think | thought | thought |
 Time Expressions used in the Present Perfect | | lately | | | recently | | | just | | | yet | | | not yet | | | ever | | | already | | | | | (now) | before | | (length of time) | for years | | | since | Also ≈ | | | never | | | always | | | often | | | | |
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