The structure of a present perfect interrogative sentence depends on whether it is a simple yes/no question or a Wh- question. Both types involve the auxiliary verb "have" or "has" followed by the subject and the past participle (third form) of the main verb.
Structure of Present Perfect Yes/No Questions
For questions that can be answered with a simple 'yes' or 'no', the structure begins with the auxiliary verb "have" or "has".
The basic formula is:
Have/Has + Subject + Past Participle (V3) + Object/Complement?
- Have is used with subjects I, You, We, They, and plural nouns.
- Has is used with subjects He, She, It, and singular nouns.
- The Past Participle is the third form of the verb (e.g., seen, eaten, finished).
Here is a table illustrating the structure:
| Auxiliary Verb | Subject | Past Participle (V3) | Object/Complement | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Have | I | finished | the report? | Have I finished the report? |
| Have | you | seen | that movie? | Have you seen that movie? |
| Has | she | eaten | lunch yet? | Has she eaten lunch yet? |
| Have | they | arrived | ? | Have they arrived? |
| Has | the train | left | the station? | Has the train left the station? |
This structure is used to ask about experiences, completed actions with results in the present, or actions that started in the past and continue to the present, in a way that solicits a 'yes' or 'no' answer.
Structure of Present Perfect Wh- Questions
Wh- questions use words like who, what, where, when, why, which, how to ask for specific information. According to the reference provided, the structure for forming a Wh- question sentence in the present perfect tense follows a specific formula.
To form a Wh- question sentence in the present perfect tense, we need to follow this simple formula:
Wh- question + have/has + subject + third form of the verb + object?
- The Wh- question word or phrase starts the sentence.
- Have or Has follows, agreeing with the subject.
- The Subject comes next.
- The Third form of the verb (Past Participle) is used.
- The Object or rest of the sentence follows (though sometimes the Wh- word is the subject or object itself, slightly altering the direct formula, but this is the general pattern).
Here is a table showing the structure with examples:
| Wh- Word | Auxiliary Verb | Subject | Past Participle (V3) | Object/Complement | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What | have | you | done | today? | What have you done today? |
| Where | has | she | gone | ? | Where has she gone? |
| Why | have | they | left | so early? | Why have they left so early? |
| How long | have | you | lived | here? | How long have you lived here? |
| Who | have | they | invited | to the party? | Who have they invited to the party? |
Examples of Present Perfect Wh- Questions
Here are a few more practical examples:
- What have you learned in the English class? (Asking about a result or experience)
- Where have you been? (Asking about a recent location)
- How much money has he saved? (Asking about a quantity accumulated up to now)
- Which book have you read? (Asking about a choice among options)
Understanding these structures helps in correctly forming questions about past actions or states that have relevance or connection to the present moment.
