In the present perfect simple tense, questions are formed by using the auxiliary verb “have” (have/has) before the subject, followed by the past participle of the main verb.
Here’s how to construct present perfect simple questions:
Structure:
Have/Has + \[ Subject + Past participle of the main verb + Complements or Additional Information
Examples:
Have you visited New York?
Has she eaten her dinner?
Have we lived here before?
Have they seen that movie?
Has the sun set yet?
Table: Present perfect simple – question
| Subject | Present perfect interrogative | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I | Have I + past participle | Have I visited that museum before? |
| You | Have you + past participle | Have you finished your homework? |
| He/She/It | Has he/she/it + past participle | Has he lived in this city recently? |
| We | Have we + past participle | Have we seen that movie before? |
| You (plural) | Have you + past participle | Have you learned a new skill? |
| They | Have they + past participle | Have they completed the project yet? |
Usage of present perfect simple – question:
Asking about completed actions:
Used to inquire about actions that may have occurred at an unspecified time before the present.
Example:
Have you read the book?
Inquiring about life experiences:
Used to ask about experiences in life up to the present.
Example:
Has he traveled abroad?
Asking about actions with relevance to the present:
Used when the results or effects of an action are still relevant in the present.
Example:
Have you learned Spanish yet?
Asking about multiple actions:
Used to inquire about the number of times an action has occurred.
Example:
Have you watched that movie twice?
Common mistakes to avoid:
Incorrect: Have she finished her homework?
Correct: Has she finished her homework? (Use “has” for third person singular.)
Incorrect: Have they study English before?
Correct: Have they studied English before? (Use the past participle form of the verb “eat.”)
Understanding how to form and use present perfect simple questions allows you to inquire about completed actions or experiences that have a connection to the present in English. Practice constructing questions in the present perfect simple tense to enhance your language skills. Happy learning!
