have you finished your homework still

Questions in Present Perfect Tense with Examples

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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.

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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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Present Perfect

For recently finished actions.

Table of Contents

In this grammar section we will have a look at the tense Present Perfect to talk about recently finished/completed actions.

A: How long have you worked there? B: I have worked there for 3 years.

A: How long have you been friends? B: We haven’t been friends for long. We have been friends since 2022

The video gives an overview of to Present Perfect for something recently completed/finished actions.

It shows the meaning/usage: when and why to use the Present Perfect.

For the form and the pronunciation have a look a the different webpages:

• Present perfect form
• Present perfect pronunciation

Usage/ Meaning

How and when do we use the Present Perfect?

Present Perfect is also used to talk about something recently finished.

I have just done my homework: This means not so long ago you finished your homework . It is an unspecified time in the past . We don’t know when the person did it, but it wasn’t so long ago . It is usually used to stress that you finished the action and there it no need to do it anymore or no need to worry about it anymore .

I have already done my homework: This means you finished your homework somewhere before now . It is an unspecified time in the past . We don’t know when the person did it . It is usually used to stress that you finished the action and there it no need to do it anymore or no need to worry about it anymore .

Present Perfect is also used to talk about something that is not finished.

I haven’t done my homework yet : This means you did not finished your homework somewhere before now but that you will do it later . It is usually used to stress that you did not finished the action but you will do it somewhere soon in the future.

• Just: recently finished actions. positive and questions. Between have and the main verb : I have just finished . 
• Already: finished actions. positive and questions. Between have and the main verb : I have already finished .
• Yet: not finished, but will finish it later. Negative and questions. At the end of the sentence: I haven’t finished yet .

Have a look at the questions and write your answers in the comments below . Also give us some more details about when, where, why,….

• What have you already done today?
• What haven’t you done yet today, but must still do today?
• What have you just finished before answering these questions?
• Have you just had some food?
• Have you already finished your homework?
• Have you already studied today?
• Have you just had a phone call?
• Have you already had lunch today?
• Which movie have you already seen more than 2 times?
• Which goals in your life have you already achieved?

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How to use the 'Present Perfect'

'I have been to Boston.'

Have/has + past participle makes the present perfect .

She has lost her bag. They have taken a taxi I have been to Australia

The present perfect tense is used to describe something that happened in the past, but the exact time it happened is not important. It has a relationship with the present.

I have done my homework = I finished my homework in the past. It is not important at what exact time, only that it is now done. I have forgotten my bag. = Exactly when in the past that I forgot it is not important. The important thing is that I don't have it now .

As we do not use exact time expressions with the past perfect, we cannot say: I have done my homework yesterday

In this case we use the past simple tense: I did my homework yesterday.

Using already just and yet with the present perfect

Already , just and yet can are all used with the present perfect.

Already means 'something has happened sooner than we expected: 'The movie only came out yesterday, but I have already seen it.'

Just means 'a short time ago': 'I have just seen your brother going into the bank with a gun!'

Yet is only used in questions and negative sentences. It means 'something is expected to happen': 'Have you finished the report yet?' No, I haven't finished it yet.'

Now choose the best answer to make the present perfect:

• My parents ___. have retired has retired retired yet
• Your sister ___ my car. has borrowed have borrowed has borrow
• Have you ___ the movie yet? seen have seen looked
• Please wait. I haven't finished ___. yet already just
• Water __ found on Mars. has been has be have
• I have ___ all my money. spent spend has spend
• They ___ you a cake. have maded have made have make

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• Text Checker
• I still haven't bought a present for Ed. I keep forgetting!
• She still hasn't packed her case. She's going on holiday tonight!
• Emma still hasn't arrived . She's really late!
• I haven't finished my English essay yet . I'll do it at the weekend.
• Has Ed left yet ?

• visit  →  visit ed   arrive  →  arriv ed
• have, had  →  had   lose, lost  →  lost
• do, did  →  done   eat, ate  →  eaten
• Emma still hasn't arrived . She said that she'd be here at six o'clock. ( I expected Emma to arrive before now. )
• Emma hasn't arrived yet . I'll tell you when she arrives. ( I expect Emma to arrive in the future. )
• Has she left yet ?
• Have you packed your bag yet ?
• Practice 1   Multiple choice

Present Perfect Quiz

You can do this grammar quiz online or print it on paper. It tests what you learned on the Present Perfect page.

1. Lindsay _____ not been to France.

2. _____ you finished your homework?

3. They___ gone to a rock concert.

4. _____ you been to Japan?

5. We _____ never eaten Mexican food.

6. Andrea has _____ her umbrella.

7. _____ the sun come up?

8. The children ________ the lost puppy.

9. Wiwi's been a vegetarian _____ three years.

10. I haven't worked _____ last December.

Your score is:

Correct answers:

Back to 12 English Tenses page

Grammar Quizzes

Grammar Games

• Adverbs with the Present Perfect Tense

In the last lesson we saw when to use the present perfect tense . Now we will look at more situations of when to use the present perfect tense but now using adverbs .

We often use the adverbs just, ever / never, still, yet and already with the present perfect tense. These adverbs generally refer to a time period between the past and now. Let’s look at each one more in detail.

JUST – Events that recently occurred – Recent past events

We often use the adverb JUST with the present perfect tense. JUST means very recently, a short moment ago. This is a recently completed action with a connection to now. For example:

• Be careful, I have just broken a glass and there are pieces on the floor.

This is a recently completed action. It is a finished event: The glass broke in the past. BUT with a connection to now, the present: Be careful NOW because you might cut yourself.

Notice how the word JUST is positioned between have/has and the Past Participle. Look at this example:

• A: Would you like to go out to dinner with us? B: Thanks, but I ‘ve  just  eaten  an entire pizza. (I ate the pizza recently so now I am not hungry)

Now, something important to know is: In British English , JUST is used with the PERFECT TENSE

• Be careful, I have just broken a glass.

Now look at this sentence.

• Be careful, I just broke a glass.

It has JUST but not with the present perfect tense. That is because in American English the PAST SIMPLE tense is often used instead of the present perfect tense. So…

• Be careful, I have just broken a glass. (🇬🇧 British English – Perfect Tense)
• Be careful, I just broke a glass. (🇺🇸 American English – Past Tense)

EVER / NEVER – Talking about general experiences

When the adverbs EVER and NEVER are used with the present perfect tense, they usually refer to an event happening (or not happening) at some moment in your life – any time up to now.

EVER is used in the present perfect question: Have you ever …?

• Have you ever fallen asleep at work? (at any moment in your life up to now)
• Has  he ever   tried  a steak and mushroom pie? (in his life)

EVER can also be used with the first time :

• This is the first time I have ever been to Australia.
• It is the first time she has ever done

EVER in these cases emphasizes that it has never happened before in your life. Also, notice the position of EVER between HAVE/HAS and the past participle.

NEVER = at no time in my past. It is considered a negative sentence.

• I ‘ve   never   seen  a UFO. (in my life)
• She ’s never been to Argentina. (in her life – up until this point of her life)

Again, the adverb never is between the auxiliary have or has and the past participle .

STILL – Events that continue to happen after a long time

The adverb STILL can be used with the present perfect tense to express that we have waited a long time for something to happen or be done and it hasn’t happened yet. This situation continues to happen. When used in the present perfect tense, it is normally in negative sentences.

• He still hasn’t finished the report. (It has taken a long time)
• I still haven’t had (I have had to wait to have lunch)
• They still haven’t paid (I’m waiting for it to happen)

Notice how STILL goes before the auxiliary haven’t or hasn’t .

YET – An event has not happened, but it is expected

The adverb YET usually refers to something that has not happened, but you expect it to happen (usually soon). We normally put YET at the end of the sentence. YET is used in negative sentences and questions.

• A: Are Jack and Jill at this event?

B: No, they  haven’t arrived   yet . (they’re not here now, but I expect them to be here soon)

• I’m hungry. I haven’t had lunch yet . (I thought I was going to have lunch before now, but it hasn’t happened. I expect to have lunch soon)
• Have you finished your homework yet ?

Now look at this sentence:

• I haven’t received a letter from her yet .

In British English , YET is used with the PERFECT TENSE Now look at this sentence:

• I didn’t receive a letter from her yet .

It has YET but not with the present perfect tense. That is because in American English the PAST SIMPLE tense is sometimes used instead of the present perfect tense. So…

• I haven’t received a letter from her yet . (🇬🇧 British English – Present Perfect)
• I didn’t receive a letter from her yet . (🇺🇸 American English – Past Simple)

ALREADY – Events that occurred before you expected

The adverb ALREADY can be used with the present perfect tense to express that something has happened early or before expected. This can come as a surprise.

Notice how the adverb ALREADY goes between the auxiliary and the past participle.

• She has   already   finished  the report. (I expected her to finish it later, not so quickly)
• I ’ve already had lunch. (Yes, it happened some time before now. You didn’t expect it.)
• We ’ve already chosen what we would like to eat. (You probably expected us to take more time to choose.)
• He has already taken the trash out. (Earlier than you expected. You probably thought he would do it later)

You can see that ALREADY is used in affirmative sentences. We don’t use ALREADY with negative sentences. Now look at this sentence:

• I have already eaten .

In British English , ALREADY is used with the PERFECT TENSE Now look at this sentence:

• I already ate .

It has ALREADY but not with the present perfect tense. That is because in American English the PAST SIMPLE tense is sometimes used instead of the present perfect tense. So…

• I have already eaten . (🇬🇧 British English – Present Perfect)
• I already ate . (🇺🇸 American English – Past Simple)

Still vs. Yet vs. Just vs. Already

Now compare these sentences and see how there is a difference in meaning between them:

• He still hasn’t finished the report. (It has taken a long time and I continue to have to wait for it)
• He hasn’t finished the report yet . (It has not been done though I expect it to happen soon)
• He has just finished the report. (It was completed a moment ago)
• He has already finished the report. (It has been done sooner than expected)

See our other English lesson about STILL / YET / ALREADY .

I hope you found this lesson about using adverbs with the present perfect tense useful. If you did, please let other people know about it.

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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...

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.

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Which is correct: "when you have finished" or "when you will finish"?

From an English test on Facebook:

When you have finished to move the furniture, let me know.

When you will finish moving the furniture, let me know.

I think the correct one is the former, but (if so) why exactly is the second one wrong?

• grammaticality
• present-perfect

2 Answers 2

When you have finished to move the furniture, let me know

This is simply wrong. English speakers would not use the infinitive here, but the gerund form of the verb: "When you have finished moving the furniture, let me know."

When you will finish moving the furniture, let me know

This has a strange sound to it. I suppose you could use a somewhat less strange-sounding version of this, perhaps "Let me know when you will finish moving the furniture," implying that you expect the addressee to complete that action and are wondering about his intentions in that regard. It also implies that you are interested in the time the process will get under way. It is not grammatically incorrect to reverse the order of the request, as you have in your example, but it just sounds odd.

In short, both constructions sound as if they originate from a non-native speaker.

• In the explanation of #1, the point is not the infinitive versus the present perfect, but the infinitive versus the gerund. –  Tsuyoshi Ito Commented Dec 4, 2010 at 16:13
• @Tsuyoshi Ito: Yep, my bad. I was thinking of "have finished" instead of "moving"; act in haste, repent at leisure. Editing to adjust. Thanks. –  Robusto Commented Dec 4, 2010 at 16:35
• I would say "Let me know when you finish moving the furniture," instead of "Let me know when you will finish moving the furniture." Unless of course, I actually wanted to know when the person planned to finish moving the furniture. I don't think that that's what this is about though. –  aaronasterling Commented Dec 5, 2010 at 0:14

In normal English (i.e. aside from legalese) we hardly ever use an explicitly future tense ("will", "shall", "will have") with a subordinating conjunction such as "if", "when", or "after" (but not, I think, "although");

There are some apparent exceptions with "if", such as

which has a slightly different meaning from

but I actually think that this is only formally a future, and really uses the auxiliary in an older sense, meaning "If he is willing to go", so it is actually present tense. (For me it implies that he may be unwilling to go, and the statement is an offer, whereas the second is simply a neutral statement of intent.)

But I can't think of an exception with "when".

• 2 Just to add more perspective, the sentence, When you will finish moving the furniture, let me know , would be fine in, say, French or Spanish, where the future must be made explicit when referred to. This is not the case in English, thus the correct form would be: When you finish moving the furniture, let me know. –  Jimi Oke Commented Dec 14, 2010 at 19:32
• @JimiOke, in Spanish "when you finish" with a future sense of "finish" would be "cuando acabes", using the present subjunctive, not the future. So your statement about Spanish isn't really very precise. –  dainichi Commented May 24, 2013 at 2:33
• @dainichi, I'm sorry, I don't even know why I included "Spanish" in my comment. French I studied, but Spanish I did not! Apologies for making unfounded claims! –  Jimi Oke Commented May 25, 2013 at 12:23

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What is the meaning of "finish" in these two sentences?

"I have finished my homework": this means that my homework is completed, there is no more homework to be done.

"I have finished doing my homework": this means I have ceased doing the homework, but it does not mean the homework has been completed.

Am I right about this?

2 Answers 2

To me, both suggest that the work has been completed, and so there is no more homework to do that evening.

I suppose the second might be said by very cheeky teenager, trying to get around their parent without actually lying.

Have you finished your homework? I've finished doing my homework...

If you want to say that you are stopping for now but will return:

I'm taking a break from doing homework.

I'm going to stop for now

I'm going to finish it off tomorrow.

I've done enough homework for one day.

I'm giving up. Mr Snodgrass will just have to get a half-completed essay.

There are endless variations.

I think you are strictly correct; but using the word finished will set up an implication that the homework is completed.

Using your second example when your homework is not complete, I would class as deliberate misdirection.

• then what would you suggest if I have ceased doing the homework, without it being completed? –  anouk Commented Mar 13, 2020 at 10:08
• 2 I've stopped doing my homework has an implication that it isn't finished. I'm taking a break from my homework is even more explicit, of course. –  Colin Fine Commented Mar 13, 2020 at 17:57
• @ Colin Fine I thought that if I say: "I have stopped doing my homework" it sounds like I have stopped doing homework altogether, like I am never going to do homework again. –  anouk Commented Mar 13, 2020 at 18:48
• 1 @anouk: it might mean that, but it might mean that I have stopped for the time being, and intend to return to it. You can't tell without context. –  Colin Fine Commented Mar 13, 2020 at 19:42

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