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The Present Perfect Tense

--The present perfect tense indicates that an action began in the past and continues in the present.

Maxwell has worked at Saint Paul College since 2003.

They have lived in Indiana for seventeen years.

When used to indicate that an action began in the past and continues in the present, the present perfect tense will often be accompanied by a preposition phrase such as since 2003 or for seventeen years.

--Or, the present perfect tense indicates that an action occurred at an unspecific time before the present.

I have seen the movie many times.

She has been to France before.

When used to indicate that an action occurred at an unspecific time before the present, a writer or speaker cannot use a specific time expression such as yesterday, last week, a year ago, when she was in college, etc.

--The present perfect tense is created with the word have or has plus a past participle.

The subject of the clause determines whether the word have or has will be used.

I have been to the restaurant several times.

You have been to the restaurant several times.

They have been to the restaurant several times.

Wehave been to the restaurant several times.

Rebecca and Jermaine have been to the restaurant several times.

He has been to the restaurant several times.

She has been to the restaurant several times.

My boss has been to the restaurant several times.

Learn more about subject/verb agreement and verb tense here.