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EAL · Grammar
The present perfect connects past action to the present moment. Arabic has no direct equivalent - speakers reach for the simple past, which often sounds wrong in English. Mastering this tense moves you from Grade 4 to Grade 6 writing overnight.
Form: HAVE (or HAS for he/she/it) + PAST PARTICIPLE. "I have read the book." "She has finished her essay." Use it for: (1) Action started in the past, still relevant now - "I have lived here for ten years" (and I still live here). (2) Action completed at unspecified time - "I have seen that film" (some time before now). (3) Recent action with present consequence - "She has broken her arm" (her arm is still broken). Time markers: ever, never, just, already, yet, for, since, recently. Compare with simple past, which is for COMPLETED past actions at a SPECIFIC past time: "I read the book yesterday" (action finished, specific time).
I have lived in Doha for ten years.
سكنت في الدوحة من عشر سنين.
Started past, still continuing.
She has finished her homework.
هي خلّصت الواجب.
Recent completion with present result.
Have you ever read Macbeth?
هل قريت Macbeth أبد؟
"Ever" with present perfect - life experience question.
They have just arrived.
هم وصلوا للتو.
"Just" = very recently.
I have never been to London.
ما رحت لندن أبد.
"Never" with present perfect.
She has already eaten breakfast.
هي تعشّت ريوقها.
"Already" before the past participle.
Wrong: I live in Doha since 2014.
Right: I have lived in Doha since 2014.
"Since" + a past start date requires present perfect.
Wrong: She has read the book yesterday.
Right: She read the book yesterday.
A specific past time ("yesterday") triggers simple past, not present perfect.
Wrong: I have ate dinner.
Right: I have eaten dinner.
Past participle of "eat" is "eaten", not "ate".
Wrong: Did you ever read Shakespeare?
Right: Have you ever read Shakespeare?
"Ever" (life experience) takes present perfect, not simple past.
Question 1
Choose the correct tense.
I ___ in this city for five years.
Question 2
Choose the correct tense.
She ___ her essay yesterday.
Question 3
Choose the correct sentence.
Which is correct?