have you finished the homework

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Are you finished or have you finished or Did you finished?

• Thread starter Amber_1010
• Start date Aug 31, 2012

Senior Member

• Aug 31, 2012

When a mum wanna know if her kid's homework is done or not so that they can go out. Should she say(British English) 1. Did you finish your homework? 2. Have you finished you homwork? 3. Are you finished with your homework? I'll chose the second one..... << second question deleted >> Thank you.  

In AE these would all be idiomatic and equally acceptable. But note: When a mum wanna wants to know if her kid's homework is done or not so that they can go out. Should she say(British English) 1. Did you finish your homework? 2. Have you finished you r hom e work? 3. Are you finished with your homework? I'll chose the second one..... << response to second question deleted >> Thank you  

Keith Bradford

In BE: 1. Did you finish your homework at some time in the past, e.g. Did you finish your homework yesterday? 2. Have you finished your homework now. This is the correct answer. 3. Are you finished with your homework = Do you want to continue it or have you done enough for the moment?  

Amber_1010 said: When a mum wanna wants to* know if her kid's homework is done or not so that they can go out. Should she say(British English) 1. Did you finish your homework? 2. Have you finished you r hom e work? 3. Are you finished with your homework? Click to expand...

• English Grammar
• Present tense

Present perfect

Level: beginner

The present perfect is formed from the present tense of the verb have and the past participle of a verb.

We use the present perfect:

• for something that started in the past and continues in the present :

They 've been married for nearly fifty years. She has lived in Liverpool all her life.

• when we are talking about our experience up to the present :

I 've seen that film before. I 've played the guitar ever since I was a teenager. He has written three books and he is working on another one.

We often use the adverb ever to talk about experience up to the present:

My last birthday was the worst day I have ever had .

and we use never for the negative form :

Have you ever met George? Yes, but I 've never met his wife.

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• for something that happened in the past but is important in the present :

I can't get in the house. I 've lost my keys. Teresa isn't at home. I think she has gone shopping.

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have been and have gone

We use have/has been when someone has gone to a place and returned :

A: Where have you been ? B: I 've just been out to the supermarket.

A: Have you ever been to San Francisco? B: No, but I 've been to Los Angeles.

But when someone has not returned , we use have/has gone :

A: Where's Maria? I haven't seen her for weeks. B: She 's gone to Paris for a week. She'll be back tomorrow.  

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Present perfect with time adverbials 

We often use the present perfect with adverbials which refer to the recent past :

Scientists have recently discovered a new breed of monkey. We have just got back from our holidays.

or adverbials which include the present :

Have you ever seen a ghost? Where have you been up to now ? A: Have you finished your homework yet ? B: No, so far I 've only done my history.

After a clause with the present perfect we often use a clause with since to show when something started in the past :

I 've worked here since I left school . I 've been watching that programme every week since it started .

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I have seen that film yesterday . We have just bought a new car last week . When we were children we have been to California.

Have you seen Helen today ? We have bought a new car this week .

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Level: intermediate

Present perfect continuous

The present perfect continuous is formed with have/has been and the -ing form of the verb.

We normally use the present perfect continuous to emphasise that something is still continuing in the present :

She has been living in Liverpool all her life. It 's been raining for hours. I'm tired out. I 've been working all day. They have been staying with us since last week.

We do not normally use the present perfect continuous with stative verbs . We use the present perfect simple instead:

I 've always been liking liked John.

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Present perfect for future

We normally use the present simple  to talk about the future  in clauses with before, after, until,  etc.:

I'll keep looking until I find my book. We'll begin when everyone arrives .

but we can also use the present perfect :

I'll keep looking until I have found my book. We'll begin when everyone has arrived .

Hello teachers,

I have a question about the Present Perfect. I read in various references that Present Simple is used when speaking about a past action which happened at an unspecific tim e even the action is not important or related to the present

Is that right ?

Thanks for your efforts

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Hello Ahmad_Sy_96,

This is sometimes called present perfect for experience as it is often used to describe a person's life experiences:

She has won many awards for her singing. I have visited many countries.

However, I would say that the information given in these sentences is related to the present. When I tell you about my life experience I am telling you about what made me the person I am, and also what knowledge I have. For example, if I tell you I have visited many countries it means that I have knowledge of them and can tell you about them.

The LearnEnglish Team

Thank you, Mrs. Peter, for your enriching response.

I just want to ensure that I fully understand the possibility of using different tenses in cases like the examples you mentioned. When the relation to life experience isn't clearly identified, if we use the past simple instead of the present perfect, will it be wrong?

One additional inquiry: if we're describing an action that happened at an unspecified time in the past and it doesn't have any relationship with life experience or any effect on the present, could we use the present perfect?

Hello again Ahmad_Sy_96,

I'm not a Mrs but a Mr! However, just 'Peter' is fine. We try not to be very formal on LearnEnglish.

When the action is complete and presented as a historical fact then the past simple is fine. However, we need to give a time reference of some kind. This can be implied in the sentence itself or even in the nature of the action. For example:

Last summer I went to Egypt.

Really? I went there too. How long were you there?

The time does not need to be stated as it is established in the first sentence.

Sorry I'm late. I missed the bus!

The time is clear from the context.

I went to a very small primary school.

The time is clear as we know when (at what age) a person goes to primary school.

If the time is merely 'at some point during my life' then the present perfect is generally used.

I want to know the difference between present perfect and present perfect continuous 

Hello Ebtsam saber,

You can read an explanation of this on our Present perfect simple and continuous page.

In addition to reading the explanation and doing the exercises, I'd recommend reading through the comments on the page. There's usually a lot to learn from other people's insightful questions.

Best wishes, Kirk LearnEnglish team

Hello team, i have a question.

My text book have the following exercise:

Read the situations and complete the sentences:

Joe and Lisa are on holiday in Japan.  They’ve been to Japan once before. This is the second time __________

My answer was:(they have gone to japan). Because they haven’t returned so it can’t be the second time they have “been” to japan

But the correct answer was:(they have been to japan). Can you explain this exercise for me?  Thank you in advance 

Hello itzSaif123457,

You're correct that as forms of 'go', 'they have gone to' means they have not returned, while 'they have been to' means that they have come back.

However, we can also use 'have been to' as an alternative to 'have visited', so it is possible in this context. The answer in your book is therefore correct, but your answer is also possible.

Hello support team 

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

Your country joined the EU, and as far as I know, you are a big fan of the EU.

Your country has joined the EU, and as far as I know, you are a big fan of the EU.

Hello Amir__760__,

This really depends on the context in which the sentence appears. However the second sentence is much less likely to be appropriate.

Generally, the past simple ( joined ) needs to have a past time reference such as last year, on Tuesday or in 2023. However, such a time reference could be understood if both participants in the conversation know it, or if it is implied by the context of the conversation.

The present perfect ( has joined ) would suggest that this is something new which has happened very recently and/or that the person hearing about this did not know it before. If this is the case then the present perfect would be possible. However, since no countries have joined the EU for many years - the last enlargement was in 2013 - this form seems unlikely unless the person hearing the sentence did not know that their country had joined the EU and was hearing about it for the first time, which is not a very likely situation.

Hello Peter, thank you for your detailed answer. If I wanted to, for example, tell my friend about my French learning and he wouldn't know when I started learning French, how should I express it?

I've started learning French.

I started learning French.

Hello again Amir__760__,

If this is new information, that is to say if your friend does not know that you are learning French, then you would use I've started...

However, if you wanted to tell your friend when you started then you would use I started... (e.g.) last week .

Hello, Sir. I wanted to know if the two sentences are correct. 1. Did any of your friends graduate this year? 2. Have any of your friends graduated this year? I think sentence 1 is more correct because the action finished although the time is not over. Personally it's not possible that "graduate" happens again. However, we can use the present perfect to introduce a new piece of information, so I think the present perfect is also correct. Thank you for your time.

Hello Sokhomkim,

Yes, both sentences are possibly correct. Which one is better depends on when the graduation was, what day it is now and how the speaker views the events or how relevant the graduation might be to the situation the speaker and listener are in. There are many different possibilities.

Thank you so much, Sir. 1. My friends graduated in October. Now it's November. The year is not over yet. Is it correct to say "my friends graduated from high school this year. 2. My friends graduated in December (2023). Now it's Jan 1, 2024. Can I use the phrase "this year"? "My friends graduated from high school this year." A friend of mine told me that "this year" is only used with the present perfect because the time is not over. Your reply is really a big help for me. Thank you for your time.

Yes, 1 is correct.

In the case of 2, if you're thinking of an academic year from September to June, then yes, it's fine to say 'this year'. If you're thinking of the calendar year, then it would be strange to say 'this year'; instead, I'd probably say 'last month'. You could even say 'just' if you take a perspective that last month is relatively recent -- in the grand scheme of most people's lives, one month is not a long time ago.

As you can see, it really depends a lot on how the speaker sees the situation.

What your friend told you about 'this year' and the present perfect is a general rule that teachers often give to students. Many such rules -- like this one -- don't cover the vast field of possible uses of different forms. They are useful, but it's more important to understand the logic behind them, which I can see you are working hard to do. Keep it up!

Is there an option to download the explanations and exercises of this page?

Hello Christine Athens,

We have not created PDFs of these pages, but if the copy is for your own personal use, you are welcome to copy the explanation and exercises into a document.

Hello, could explain why "create" without "s"? "Have you ever watched somebody create a stunning painting?"

Hello viva,

We add -s to regular third-person present forms, so we normally say he (she/it) creates, as you suggest. However, the construction here is watch someone + base form : watch him create . The main verb (which does have -s in the present simple) is 'watch'.

The other sense verbs work in the same way:

watch something happen >  see / hear / listen to / feel / smell something happen

Could I use present simple to answer the question with present perfect tense? E.g Why has she left? She is busy dealing with her tasks.

Hi Khangvo2812,

Yes, you can. Even though the answer has a different tense, it still clearly answers the original question.

LearnEnglish

There have been a lot of Vietnamese who thought I was a boy when they first heard my name because my name is very common for boys. Could I combine the tenses like the above?

Yes, sure! It's correctly written and the meaning is clear.

LearnEnglish team

I would like to ask regarding the question you have made in the section "Present perfect continuous 1"

why is the question "Stefan has been looking really sad since he came back from holiday. Do you know what's the matter?" using present perfect continuous? isnt it started since in the past bc there is "since he came back from holiday?" why wasn't it written in present prefect?

Hi ashiecajlenreese,

We can use "since" phrases with the present perfect continuous too (not just the present perfect simple). But the present perfect continuous emphasises that the action continues into the present moment. The present perfect simple can also mean that, but the continuous form emphasises the "still happening now" meaning more. It seems like a really current and immediate concern for the speaker. In comparison, if we say "Stefan has looked really sad since ...", the issue seems less immediate.

Also, it's common to use continuous forms for actions that we consider to be temporary, or not the usual situation, which also seems to be the case here.

I hope that helps to understand it.

Hello, Sir. I wanted to know why the present perfect simple is the correct option. A: I'm very hungry. B: I'm not surprised. You ..... all day. a. haven't been eating b. haven't eaten I think the phrase "all day" is mostly used with the perfect continuous except the stative verbs. Could I use the present perfect continuous in the sentence above? If so, I wanted to know what the difference between them is. Thank you for your time. Best Wishes!

The simple form is best here because you are interested in the result of a situation. Generally, the progressive form focuses on the activity, especially an incomplete or interrupted activity, while the simple form focuses on the result. Here are some examples to clarify:

• I've read War and Peace > I can tell you about it / I don't want to borrow it / I want to see the film
• I've been reading War and Peace > my eyes are tired / I haven't read another book / I haven't been out much recently
• I've cooked dinner > you can have some / I'm ready to go out / I don't want to phone for a pizza
• I've been cooking dinner > the kitchen is a mess / I'm tired / there's a smell in the house

It's generally more a question of nuance than a black and white rule, of course.

Hi, can you please clarify this? you have mentioned here that present perfect tense can be used when saying something which happened in past but important for now.

Is this sentence correct "I cannot enter my home because I have lost the key yesterday?

I have heard like present perfect tense should not be used when describing an event which happened in definite time in past and simple past tense has to be used instead Please kindly sort this out

advance thanks

Hi zamrasahamed,

Yes, what you said at the end of your message is right. With the present perfect, the past time is not normally given. Both of these sentences are fine:

• I cannot enter my home because I lost the key yesterday . (past simple)
• I cannot enter my home because I have lost the key . (present perfect)

In both sentences, "I lost the key yesterday" and "I have lost the key" are clearly important now, since they are the cause of the current situation ("I cannot enter my home"). However, in the first sentence, the word "yesterday" locates the action "lost the key" at a past moment, so the past simple is used. In the second sentence, no time is mentioned, and the use of the present perfect presents the action as relatively recent and connected to the present topic or situation.

It's not usual to use the present perfect with a defined past time moment, e.g.  I cannot enter my home because I have lost the key yesterday , and this may be considered a grammatical mistake.

I hope that helps!

Hello, Could you explain why present perfect is used when we use the time adverbial like for the past three days?

If you say  for the past three days , the meaning is "from three days ago until now". It is a time period that is unfinished at the moment of "now". We use the present perfect to talk about actions in this unfinished time period. 

You may be interested in our Present perfect page (linked) , which has a few more examples and exercises about this. I hope it helps.

Hello example This car has been sold ten times can I say life experience for things ?

Yes, that's fine.

Hello Peter can I use ever for things example Has this car ever been damaged?

Hello again.

Yes, you can use the present perfect to describe things which happen in an unfinished time period (a person's life when they are still alive, an object's history when the object still exists etc). Once the time period is finished (the person dies, for example, or the object no longer exists) you use a past form.

Hello, My friend said"I'm hungry" at 3:00 pm, should I ask him have you had lunch or did you have lunch?

Hello Khangvo2812,

Both are possible. I think 'Have you...' sounds better as you are talking about something with a present result. However, I'm a British English speaker and speakers of other dialects may prefer 'Did you...' In US English, for example, the past simple is common in this kind of context.

I have a question. Are these sentences have the same meaning? Is there any difference?

1. I have not been to Qatar. 2. I have never been to Qatar.

They have a similar meaning, but sentence 2 with "never" is more emphatic. "Never" means "not at any time".

Hello, Is it possible to ask a question about the previous lesson? Thank you.

Hi capelle,

Sure, feel free to post your questions here! We'll try our best to help.

Good Afternoon Sir. I have gone through the entire lesson on present perfect as well as the comments thereunder. Although the lesson is well-prepared with lots of practice exercises, still I have some doubts left in my mind. May I request you to please clear the following doubts:-

1. I have had a headache. Does it mean that "headache started at some unspecified time in the past & continues up to the present moment" i.e. I am still suffering from headache or "headache started at some unspecified time in the past & ended in the past itself" i.e. I am no longer suffering from headache or can it mean both.

2. In the comments section, someone asked "He has been a soldier" and he was told that it means "he was a soldier at some point in time but no longer now". Other person asked "He has been a software Engineer" and he was told it could mean both "He may be a software Engineer now or He may not be". How to interpret the meaning of " He has been a soldier or software engineer or businessman etc."

3. Normally, if a sentence in present perfect is followed by a prepositional phrase (for/since) then it means that the action continues up to the present moment such as He has been married for 30 years (still married) or I have known him for 10 years (still known to me). But It is mentioned in the comment section that "I have waited for 03 hours" means that the action of waiting is completed. How to interpret present perfect tenses with for/since.

Mohit Gupta

Hello Mohit,

It's difficult to respond to these questions without knowing the context for the utterances you're asking about. The context is important because it tells us something about the speaker's perspective and purpose. But I'll make some comments that perhaps are useful.

'I've had a headache' would normally have a time clause with 'since' or 'for' accompanying it. In these cases, I would understand it to mean that the speaker still has the headache at the time of speaking. Perhaps you come home and find your brother laying on the sofa. He's normally very active and so you ask him if he's OK and he says, 'I've had a headache for the past three hours and can't concentrate'.

Regarding 2, I'm afraid I don't have time to go and find the comments you've asked about, but I imagine it was due to the context mentioned in them, or perhaps the context we imagined when responding. In a job interview context, saying 'He has been a soldier/software engineer' could be used to refer to a person's specific past work experience, i.e. to say he has experience in that position, but it could also be used to refer to the job they still currently have. It depends.

Regarding 3, it's difficult for me to imagine a situation when someone would say this. People normally use a present perfect continuous form to talk about waiting that is still in progress, i.e. 'I've been waiting for three hours' is what we'd normally say if we're still waiting at the time of speaking.

I hope this helps.

All the best, Kirk LearnEnglish team

Hello, Could you check this sentence for me? I haven’t met you for a long time. How’s everything going?

Among native speakers, we'd use 'haven't seen' or some other verb instead of 'haven't met', but in international contexts, people use sentences like this all the time and they are fine.

Hello team! I have a question regarding "for and since" can I use them at the beginning of the sentence? For example: Since 2020(,) I have been a teacher. For three years(,)I have been a teacher.

And can be written with commas or without?

Hello AboodKh9,

It's fine to start sentences in this way, and it can be a good way to emphasise how long the action or state has been continuing. No comma is necessary.

Hello sir, Could you explain the difference between these sentences as i am unable to understand the exact difference in the meaning, He has been a soldier. He was a soldier.

He has been brave. He is brave. In the last two sentences ,the state of being brave is continuing till the present so what is the difference?

Hello priyansh030,

If I understand the speaker's intentions correctly, 1a means that the man was a soldier at some point in his life but is not now. It's similar to saying 'I've visited Bangladesh' when you are now in Lahore -- it's a statement about an experience you have had in the course of your lifetime. This sentence shows that this man's life experience includes being a soldier at some point in time. Perhaps another person has said that the man was never a soldier, but this speaker says this sentence to insist that he has experienced being a soldier.

1b simply says that he was a soldier at some point in the past. Like 1a, it shows he is no longer a soldier. Both 1a and 1b could be used to answer many questions, but without knowing more about the situation, it's hard for me to justify using one or the other.

1a and 1b are about a man's work in the past. 2a and 2b are different because they speak about a man's personal qualities. In most cases, we would say 2b because we generally use the present simple to refer to the qualities a person has. It's not explicitly said, but we often assume that these qualities were also true in the past and will be true in the future. Again, without knowing more about the situation, I can't say much more.

2a is much more specific. It could, for example, refer to a recent experience in which a person has behaved in a way that is very brave. It could be that this surprised the speaker, but in any case it refers to a more specific time, a time the context presumably makes clear.

It's quite difficult to explain the differences between verb forms without more context, but I hope this gives you some ideas.

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Did You vs. Have You

What's the difference.

"Did you" and "have you" are both interrogative phrases used to ask questions in English. However, they differ in terms of tense and the type of information they seek. "Did you" is used to inquire about past actions or events, while "have you" is used to inquire about present or ongoing actions or states. For example, "Did you go to the store yesterday?" asks about a specific action that occurred in the past, while "Have you finished your homework?" asks about the current status of completing a task.

Further Detail

Introduction.

When it comes to English grammar, understanding the differences between different verb tenses is crucial. Two commonly used verb tenses that often confuse English learners are "Did You" and "Have You." While both verb forms are used to ask questions, they have distinct attributes that set them apart. In this article, we will explore the characteristics of "Did You" and "Have You" to help you gain a better understanding of their usage.

Usage of "Did You"

"Did You" is a past tense verb form that is used to ask questions about completed actions or events. It is commonly used to inquire about someone's past experiences, actions, or habits. For example:

• Did you go to the party last night?
• Did you finish your homework?
• Did you enjoy your vacation?

As seen in the examples, "Did You" is used to ask about specific actions or events that occurred in the past. It is important to note that "Did You" is always followed by the base form of the verb, regardless of the subject. This makes it a straightforward verb form to use when asking questions about the past.

Usage of "Have You"

"Have You" is a present perfect tense verb form that is used to ask questions about past actions or events that have a connection to the present. It is commonly used to inquire about someone's experiences, actions, or achievements up until now. For example:

• Have you ever traveled to Europe?
• Have you finished your work for today?
• Have you seen the latest movie?

As seen in the examples, "Have You" is used to ask about someone's experiences or actions that have relevance to the present moment. It implies that the action or event happened at an unspecified time before now. The use of "Have You" indicates that the action or event may have occurred multiple times or is still ongoing.

Forming Questions with "Did You"

When forming questions with "Did You," the auxiliary verb "did" is used to indicate the past tense, while the main verb remains in its base form. The subject of the sentence comes before the auxiliary verb "did." For example:

• Did you eat dinner?
• Did you watch the game?
• Did you call your friend?

As shown in the examples, the subject "you" is followed by the auxiliary verb "did," and then the base form of the verb. This structure is consistent regardless of the subject, making it easy to construct questions using "Did You."

Forming Questions with "Have You"

When forming questions with "Have You," the auxiliary verb "have" is used to indicate the present perfect tense, while the main verb remains in its base form. The subject of the sentence comes before the auxiliary verb "have." For example:

• Have you visited the museum?
• Have you finished your project?
• Have you read the book?

As demonstrated in the examples, the subject "you" is followed by the auxiliary verb "have," and then the base form of the verb. This structure is consistent regardless of the subject, making it easy to construct questions using "Have You."

Key Differences

While both "Did You" and "Have You" are used to ask questions, there are key differences in their usage:

• "Did You" is used to ask about specific actions or events that occurred in the past, while "Have You" is used to ask about past actions or events that have a connection to the present.
• "Did You" is always followed by the base form of the verb, while "Have You" is also followed by the base form of the verb.
• "Did You" is used to inquire about completed actions or events, while "Have You" is used to inquire about experiences, actions, or achievements up until now.
• "Did You" is commonly used to ask about someone's past habits or routines, while "Have You" is used to ask about someone's experiences or actions that have relevance to the present moment.

Understanding the differences between "Did You" and "Have You" is essential for effective communication in English. While "Did You" is used to ask about specific past actions or events, "Have You" is used to ask about past actions or events that have a connection to the present. By grasping the nuances of these verb forms, you can confidently ask questions and engage in meaningful conversations. So, next time you want to inquire about someone's experiences or actions, remember to choose between "Did You" and "Have You" based on the context and time frame you want to refer to.

Comparisons may contain inaccurate information about people, places, or facts. Please report any issues.

Questions in Present Perfect Tense with Examples

Published by

Olivia Drake

Summary:   To ask in present perfect, combine “Have/Has” with the subject and past participle. Insert “yet” for recent actions and lead with “How long” for durations. Negatives are formed with “Haven’t/Hasn’t.” Reply with “Yes” or “No,” followed by the appropriate auxiliary verb.

On this page:

Question Forms in Present Perfect

Questions in the present perfect tense are used to ask about actions or situations that have relevance to the present moment. These questions can refer to experiences, changes, or actions completed at an unspecified time before now. Here’s how they are typically structured:

• To ask about general experiences: Have/Has + subject + past participle of the verb?
• Have you ever been to New York?
• Has she tried sushi before?
• Have they finished their homework yet?
• To inquire if an action has occurred up to the present: Have/Has + subject + past participle of the verb + yet?
• Have you eaten yet?
• Has the mail arrived yet?
• Have they called you yet?
• To ask about the duration of a situation or action that started in the past and continues to the present: How long + have/has + subject + been + present participle (verb-ing)?
• How long have you been working here?
• How long has it been raining?
• How long have they been living in that house?
• To form positive and negative questions:

Positive: – Have you seen the new movie?

Negative: – Haven’t you seen the new movie?

These structures allow for a wide range of questions about past actions with present significance, from general experiences and specific occurrences to the duration of ongoing actions.

It’s important to know that the present perfect tense is used with specific time expressions that signal an unfinished time period or a connection to the present. Some common time expressions used with the present perfect tense are: already, recently, yet, ever, never, just, still, and so far.

Yes or No Questions

In the present perfect tense, yes or no questions are formed by starting with the auxiliary verb ‘have’ or ‘has’ followed by the subject, and then the past participle of the main verb. Remember, the present perfect tense is used to describe actions that started in the past but have relevance or connection to the present moment.

To form a yes or no question in the present perfect tense, follow this pattern:

(Have/Has) + Subject + Past Participle + ?

• Have you visited Paris?
• Has she finished her homework?
• Have they already eaten dinner?

In order to answer these questions, use the auxiliary verb and an appropriate subject pronoun, followed by either ‘already’ or ‘not yet’, depending on the situation:

• Positive Response : Yes, (I/you/he/she/it/we/they) have/has already.
• Negative Response : No, (I/you/he/she/it/we/they) have/has not yet.

For example:

• Yes, I have already visited Paris.
• No, she has not yet finished her homework.

Keep in mind that when using contractions, the answers may be:

• Yes, I’ve already.
• No, she hasn’t yet.
• Practice forming yes or no questions in the present perfect tense to become more efficient and confident in your usage of this verb tense.

Wh-Questions

In the present perfect tense, forming wh-questions is quite simple.

First, let’s talk about how to form basic wh-questions. You need to begin your sentence with a wh-word such as  who, what, when, where, why, or how . Following the wh-word, insert the auxiliary verb “ have ” or “ has ,” depending on the subject of the sentence. Next, place the subject, and finally, add the past participle of the main verb.

• What have you eaten?
• Where has she traveled?

In case you want to ask a question about the subject of the sentence, just use the appropriate wh-word followed by the auxiliary verb “have” or “has” and the past participle. Remember that in this case, the subject doesn’t appear in the question.

For example: Who has won the game? (instead of “John has won the game.”)

To form wh-questions that involve negation, place “not” after the auxiliary verb “have” or “has.”

For example: Why have you not finished your project?

Using Adverbs in Present Perfect Questions

When constructing present perfect questions, adverbs play an essential role in communicating the intended meaning. Adverbs can help specify the time duration, frequency, or manner of an action.

Another common adverb is “ever,” used to emphasize the open-endedness of a question. For instance, “ Have  you  ever  met a celebrity?” In this case, “ever” modifies the verb “met” and indicates the action is not confined to a specific time frame.

For adverbs of frequency, such as “always,” “usually,” “often,” or “rarely,” they generally come before the main verb. An example is “ Has  she  always  preferred tea over coffee?” Here, “always” acts as an adverb of frequency describing the main verb “preferred.”

Present perfect questions involving adverbs of manner include “how,” “why,” or “in what way.” For example, “ Have  they  danced  professionally before, and if so,  how  did they learn?” In this case, “how” is the adverb related to the action “learn.”

Present Perfect Questions with “How Long”

Present perfect questions with “how long” are used to ask about the duration of an action or situation that started in the past and continues up to the present. Here are some examples:

• How long have you lived here?
• How long have they been married?
• How long has she been working at that company?
• How long have we been waiting for the bus?
• How long have you known each other?
• How long has he been studying English?
• How long have you been feeling this way?
• How long have they been building the house?
• How long has the store been open?

When forming these questions, the structure usually follows this pattern:

How long + have/has + subject + been + present participle (verb-ing)?

This structure helps to emphasize the ongoing nature of the action or situation from the past through to the present moment.

Present Perfect Questions with “Ever”

A present perfect question with “ever” is used to ask about experiences at any time up to now. It follows this structure:

– Have/Has + subject + ever + past participle of the verb?

Here are some examples:

• Have you ever traveled to Italy?
• Has she ever eaten sushi?
• Have we ever met before?
• Has he ever run a marathon?
• Have they ever seen a shooting star?
• These questions inquire about life experiences without specifying when they happened, emphasizing any point in the person’s life up to the present moment.

Questions with “Yet” in Present Perfect

Questions with “yet” in the present perfect tense are typically used to ask about actions or events that are expected to happen but have not occurred up to the present moment. They often imply a sense of expectation or anticipation. The structure for these questions is:

– Have/Has + subject + past participle of the verb + yet?

• Have you finished your homework yet?
• Has she arrived at the party yet?
• Have they decided on a name for the baby yet?
• Has he submitted the report yet?
• Have we received the test results yet?

These questions are common in conversational English and are used to inquire about the completion or occurrence of an action or event as of now.

Common Present Perfect Questions and Answers

The present perfect tense is used to describe actions or events that have happened at an unspecified time before now or that began in the past and continue to the present. In this section, we will discuss commonly asked questions and their answers in the present perfect tense.

One typical type of question in the present perfect is asking about life experiences. For example:

Has she traveled to Spain?

• Yes, she has traveled to Spain.
• No, she hasn’t traveled to Spain.

Another common question is asking about the completion of activities:

Have they finished their project?

• Yes, they have finished their project.
• No, they haven’t finished their project.

In some cases, the present perfect is used to ask about the number of times an action has occurred:

How many times has he watched that movie?

• He has watched that movie three times.

When inquiring about changes or effects from the past that still have an impact on the present, the present perfect is used:

Has the weather improved since this morning?

• Yes, the weather has improved since this morning.
• No, the weather hasn’t improved since this morning.

It’s also worth noting that questions in the present perfect often include time-related phrases such as “ever,” “never,” “since,” and “for.” For example:

Has she ever been to a concert?

• Yes, she has been to a concert.
• No, she has never been to a concert.

How long have they lived in this house?

• They have lived in this house for 10 years.

These examples show various ways to form questions and their answers in the present perfect tense. The key is understanding the context and appropriately using the correct verbs, pronouns, and time-related phrases.

Present Perfect Positive and Negative Questions

Present perfect positive and negative questions are used to inquire about actions or situations with a focus on different outcomes. Here’s how they’re typically formed:

Positive Questions: – Have/Has + subject + past participle of the verb?

Negative Questions: – Haven’t/Hasn’t + subject + past participle of the verb?

Positive Questions:

• Have you completed your assignment?
• Has she traveled to France?
• Have they heard the news?
• Has he found his keys?
• Have we met before?

Negative Questions:

• Haven’t you completed your assignment?
• Hasn’t she traveled to France?
• Haven’t they heard the news?
• Hasn’t he found his keys?
• Haven’t we met before?

Positive questions seek confirmation of an action or experience, while negative questions often imply surprise or expectation that the action should have been completed or experienced.

Present Perfect Questions Examples

Sentence: I have read three novels this month. Question: Have you read three novels this month?

Sentence: We have consulted with the board of directors about this matter. Question: Have you consulted with the board of directors about this matter?

Sentence: They have never seen such a warm winter in their hometown before. Question: Have they never seen such a warm winter in their hometown before?

Sentence: The scientists have unveiled a new species of frog in the Amazon rainforest. Question: Have the scientists unveiled a new species of frog in the Amazon rainforest?

Sentence: I have considered starting my own business for several months. Question: Have you considered starting your own business for several months?

Sentence: We have felt unwell since returning from our trip last week. Question: Have you felt unwell since returning from your trip last week?

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Related Articles:

• Present Perfect Tense: How to Use It
• Present Perfect Negative Sentences with Examples
• Present Perfect Sentences with Examples
• Past Simple vs Present Perfect: A Clear Comparison Guide
• Present Perfect vs Past Perfect: Understanding the Key Differences

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Using the Present Perfect Tense

Are you wondering when to use the present perfect tense? Or I should say, "have you learned" when to use the present perfect? We use this tense to talk about an action that started in the past and   has a connection to the present.

[Note: Click here to learn  how to form   the present perfect.]

Use #1:   Describe past situations / things that have a strong connection to the present

We use the present perfect simple to describe an action  or state that started at an unknown or unspecified time in the past  AND has a connection to the present .

Learners are sometimes confused by this. They ask, if this tense is called the "present" perfect, why are we talking about "past" actions? Excellent question.

With this tense we're talking about the past   and the present . These actions or situations may have started and ended in the past but we are focusing on the effect of this action now in the present moment. Let's look at some examples to try to make this clearer:

• Your poor grades have become a problem. (The result now is that there is a problem.)
• Have you seen Selma? (Where is she now?)
• She 's gone to school. (She left home and is at school now.)
• Take off your shoes. I have just cleaned the floor. (A short while ago I mopped the dirty floor and it is clean now.)
• I can't find my keys. Have you seen them? (I lost my keys and can't find them now.)
• Have you done your homework? (Is your homework finished now?)
• I started but I haven't finished my homework yet. (My homework is not finished now.)
• I've been sick all day. (I'm still sick now.)

In each of these examples we are focusing on the result now or why the action is important at this present time.

Use #2: Describe past actions or conditions that continue in the present

It's usually easier for learners to understand the second use which is for actions that started in the past and are still continuing in the present moment.

The tense helps to answer " how long ago " something has been happening (in relation to now) or for how long a period of time  something has been happening. 

FOR / SINCE

We often use the words " since " (after a specific time) or " for " (a period of time) with this usage.

• We have lived here for  25 years.(We came here 25 years ago and still live here.) 
• My parents have been married since   1967. (They're still married.)
• We 've waited 20 minutes already for the bus. (We are still waiting.)
• My daughter has been sick for a week.
• I haven’t slept for two days.
• We haven’t seen each other since high school.
• I haven’t had a drink since the accident.
• He hasn’t dated anyone since his wife left him.
• I haven’t smoked a cigarette for three months now.

Note : we cannot use the present perfect tense with a completed time word. For example:

• Wrong:   We have seen the movie last night.  (Correct: we saw the movie last night.)
• Wrong :  Yesterday, I had worked very late. (Correct: Yesterday, I worked very late.)

With finished time words we use the present simple.

Use #3:  To ask about whether we ever   had past experiences

We frequently use the present perfect tense to ask or talk about whether someone has  experienced something during their life (at any time in the past until this moment).

EVER / NEVER / BEFORE

Often, we use the words " ever " (in questions) and " never ".  We will sometimes also add the word " before ."

• Have you ever   eaten fried insects?
• No, I haven't   tried fried insects and never will.
• Has  Jimmy ever   been this sick before?
• Have you taken private English lessons?
• I ' ve never travelled by train before.
• Have the children  ever   done something like this before?
• Never   in my life have I been so much in love.

Adverbs that are frequently used with the present perfect tense:  Already / yet / just / still

The following words (adverbials) are often used with the present perfect tense:

Just describes something that happened a short time before this moment.

• I 've just   received your email and will read it now.
• He 's just   arrived , I hear the car pulling to the garage.
• I'm so excited. Lady Gaga has just   released her latest album.

Just about means that something that was started is almost finished .

• I 've just about   finished this novel.
• Have you finished the report yet? Just about .
• I 've just about   used up all the milk.

Already has two main meanings:

1. Already = before this time (before now)

• Where's that letter? I 've already   mailed it.
• Can I help you clean? I 've already   swept to the floor but you can vacuum the carpet.
• We 've already   eaten at that restaurant so let's go somewhere else.

2. Already = so soon (something happened quickly or earlier than expected)

• We need to take the trash out. I 've already   taken it out.
• Has my boyfriend arrived already? I'm still getting dressed.
• You don't have to ask. Your mother has already   ironed your shirt.

Yet = at this time , until this time , as soon as this time

Note :  Yet usually comes at the end of the sentence. We use yet with negative statements and questions.

• Have my parents arrived yet?   (They are expected to arrive soon.)
• Have you finished the report yet?   (It should be done or finished soon.)
• He hasn't called yet.   (Until this time he hasn't called but he should call soon.)
• It's 3 o'clock and I haven't had lunch yet .

We use still in negative sentences with the present perfect to emphasize an action or situation happening or existing before now and continuing into the present:

• I can't believe you still   haven't written your paper.
• He said he sent an email an hour ago but I still  haven't received it.
• We still   haven't decided what to eat for lunch. 

If you need to review how to form   the present perfect tense please check this page. I go over the positive and negative forms, questions, review the irregular past participles and spelling changes and give lots of examples.

• Main Grammar Page
• Using the Present Perfect

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have you finished vs are you finished

Last updated: March 30, 2024 • 1274 views

have you finished

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to inquire about someone's completion of a task or activity.

• Have you finished your homework?
• Have you finished eating?
• Have you finished reading the book?
• Have you finished your project?
• Have you finished your chores?
• How many of these applications have you finished ?
• Mariano, have you finished studying?
• Sweeney, have you finished his obituary?
• Dr. Fuentes, have you finished cataloguing the victim's injuries?
• Officers, have you finished tracking the location?
• Well, Veronica, Luis, have you finished your argument?
• Now, have you finished the session with Dominique?
• This Doctor fellow, have you finished with him?
• Master Kyubei, have you finished making all the fireworks for tonight?
• Young man, have you finished your paper?
• Anyway, have you finished being envious of my car?
• So, have you finished playing rock, paper, scissors?
• Just a minute, have you finished with Today's Question?
• Have you finished checking my homework?
• Have you finished cutting his hair?
• Have you finished with me, doctor?
• Have you finished with Commodus and wine?
• Have you finished speaking with Palomares?
• Have you finished your ride, Ralphus?
• Have you finished your work in the garden?

Alternatives:

• Have you completed?
• Have you done?
• Have you wrapped up?
• Have you concluded?
• Have you ended?

are you finished

• Are you finished with your homework?
• Are you finished eating?
• Are you finished reading the book?
• Are you finished with your project?
• Are you finished with your chores?
• When are you finished , change this box to an empty.
• Giovanna, are you finished with the gentleman?
• And are you finished with that?
• Are you finished with my papers?
• Lieutenant Tao, are you finished with the interior?
• Whatever it is, are you finished ?
• Rusty, are you finished studying?
• When are you finished , you might win big (and have fun in the process).
• Tucker, are you finished with breakfast?
• When are you finished , you are inside.
• Right, Angela, are you finished ?
• Torgrim, are you finished packing?
• So, are you finished for the weekend, Tommy?
• Okay, Doug, are you finished ?
• Okay, Howard Stern, are you finished ?
• Not to mention lox and pastrami Sandwiches and speaking of Which, are you finished with
• Echo, are you finished with your tree?
• Oscar, are you finished with this half-eaten sandwich I just found in the couch?
• Are... are you finished with that?
• Have you finished?

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• Spanish (Mexico)
• Spanish (Spain) Near fluent

Quality Point(s): 23

Answer: 263

• English (UK)
• English (US)

How do you say this in English (US)? Have you finished? or Are you finished? 😣

• Report copyright infringement

Quality Point(s): 144

Answer: 828

Both are correct

Was this answer helpful?

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Quality Point(s): 0

Both are fine, but it is more common for people to say "Are you finished?"

"have you finished your meal" "we need to go to the market, are you finished with your work".

Both are correct, but they must be used in the proper context. For example, "Have you finished your homework?" and "Are you finished with your homework?" are correct, but are used a little differently because of the way the sentence is written.

• Spanish (Spain)

Quality Point(s): 273

Answer: 566

both are all depends of the context that you're using

Quality Point(s): 807

Answer: 466

• How do you say this in English (US)? 少し眠いです
• What does i'm gone mean?
• What does sm mean?
• How do you say this in English (US)? 準備できたものから送ってください
• What does killa mean?
• How do you say this in English (US)? 課題は終わりましたか？
• How do you say this in English (US)? Have you already finished your homework?
• How do you say this in English (US)? Have you finished... Or are you finished
• How do you say this in English (US)? have you finished the work or have you finished work
• How do you say this in English (US)? Were you finished your work yet? Have you finished your work...
• How do you say this in English (US)? 让美国再次伟大
• How do you say this in English (US)? 자위(딸딸이)
• How do you say this in English (US)? "Whatever bad thats happening in north america, it is ten t...
• How do you say this in English (US)? 维持家庭关系要有耐心
• How do you say this in English (US)? Hay mucho tráfico en la ciudad por la lluvia.
• How do you say this in English (US)? 大切
• How do you say this in English (US)? hai everyone my name is Salma 👋
• How do you say this in English (US)? cómo se dice como estuvo tu día?
• How do you say this in English (US)? この薬の半減期は、3時間です。
• How do you say this in English (US)? how improve my speaking
• How do you say this in English (US)? うつぶせになって腕を頭の方へ上げてください
• How do you say this in English (US)? 사과
• How do you say this in English (US)? ドイツ語でこれはどうやって言いますか
• How do you say this in English (US)? 私にばかり、任せてくる。 自分でやればいいのに、私にばかり、任せてくる。
• How do you say this in English (US)? こんにちは
• How do you say this in English (US)? Eu amo comer
• How do you say this in English (US)? أنا فعلت ذلك

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