Present Perfect ?

[Vetty]

I have studied English in several different countries.

- Is the above sentence is a Past perfect or a Present Perfect ?

It has been mentioned in a website that it is a present perfect. But since studied is a past tense verb how could it be a present perfect ?

[Lovely_teacher]

it is Present Perfect 'cos it's formed with

have/has + V3 (third form of the verb, it's also called participle)

[rewboss]

As Lovely_teacher says -- if it were the past perfect, it would be formed with the past tense of "have", which is "had": "I had studied..."

It's also a present tense because its primary function is to connect the past with the present. Usually (but not always), this connection is a present result of a past action:

I have read the book. (Result now: There is nothing left in the book for me to read.)

Mary has gone. (Result now: Mary is not here.)

I've already paid! (Result now: The bill is settled, there is nothing left to pay.)

Pete has made a cake. (Result now: There is a cake.)

So in fact, the present perfect does talk about the present. You can use the word "now" together with the present perfect: "Now I have seen everything!" is an idiom, meaning that what I have just seen is so amazing, there is now nothing that can surprise me.

If you mention a time in the past, you cannot use the present perfect; you must use the past simple:

Paul played football yesterday.
Mair was born in 1976.

[Vetty]

As per your explanations,

"Paul has played football now" - is this a good example for present perfect ?

[rewboss]

As per your explanations,

"Paul has played football now" - is this a good example for present perfect ?

Yes, but it's not very useful. It would mean that now Paul knows what it is like to play football, or that Paul's task was to play football and this task is now complete.

It's perfectly possible, but a better example would use a verb which has a definite, visible result:

"Mary has done her homework now" means that now, Mary's homework is complete and Mary can finally relax and watch TV.

[Vetty]

"............a verb which has a definite, visible result"

"Paul has played football now" - which means he can start doing his homework

is this correct ?