The verb tense called the present perfect in English doesn’t exist in French.
How is this be possible?
We use the present perfect tense all the time in English.
How do the French get along without it?
Examples of the present perfect in English:
She has lived here for three years.
We have (already) been to Italy.
They have (already) read this book.
Have you ever played tennis?
I have just broken my screen.
If this tense doesn’t exist in French, what do you use instead of the present perfect?
Depending on the context, the present simple tense or passé composé is generally used.
“She has lived here for three years” indicates that she started living here three years ago.
We may also use the present perfect continuous and say “She has been living here for three years”. Regardless, she still lives here.
It’s not the same thing as saying “She lived here for three years”, which would be a completed action.
To indicate that something started in the past, and continues into the present, use the present tense with depuis.
Present Tense + Depuis + Amount of Time
She has lived here for three years.
Elle habite ici depuis trois ans.
We use the present perfect with past actions that aren’t defined by a specific time. In French, use the passé composé with déjà.
Passé Composé + Déjà
We have (already) been to Italy.
Nous avons déjà été en Italie.
They have (already) read this book.
Ils ont déjà lu ce livre.
You can also use the passé composé with déjà construction to ask if someone has ever done something.
Have you ever played tennis?
Tu as déjà joué au tennis?
We use the present perfect to indicate things that have just happened. In French, use venir de + infinitive.
Venir De + Infinitive
I have just broken my screen.
Je viens de casser mon écran.
MORE EXAMPLES
I have been cooking all morning, and I just finished the dessert.
J’ai fait la cuisine toute la matinée et je viens de finir le dessert.
I have been eating too many sweets lately.
J’ai trop mangé de sucreries dernièrement.
You have been on the phone for two hours.
Tu es au téléphone depuis deux heures.
Ça fait deux heures que tu es au téléphone.
I have been playing tennis for a long time.
Je joue au tennis depuis longtemps.
Ça fait longtemps que je joue au tennis.
Love Learning Languages Lessons & Practice Resources
Free Lesson – Depuis, Pendant, Il y a
Practice Cards – Depuis, Pour, Pendant, Il y a
Free Quiz – Depuis, Pendant, Il y a
Free Sentence Structure Charts Depuis, Pendant, Il y a
Free Sentence Structure Charts Venir De + Infinitive
