have / has + p.p.

RuleSubject + have/has + past participle: an action that began in the past and continues now, or a past action with present relevance.

Curiosity

English has both "I worked" and "I have worked." The question TOEIC asks again and again: when do you use which?

Intuition

The present perfect is a bridge from past to now. The action touches the present: it still continues, or its result matters now. The simple past is a box closed in the past.

Visualization

See it on the timeline: a span starting at a past point and reaching the present. "since" marks the start, "for" marks the duration.

have/has + p.p. links a past start to the present.

NOW

started in 2019

past start

Essence

Use it with "since" (a point) and "for" (a duration); it pairs with already, yet, just, ever, never. Do not use it with finished-time markers (yesterday, ago, in 2019) — those take the simple past.

Examples

She has worked here since 2019.

We have already finished the quarterly report.

Have you ever attended a trade fair?

Mini-quiz

"I ___ for this company for five years." (still employed) Which fits the blank?