The present perfect tense is a verb tense used to describe actions that began in the past and continue in the present or have just been completed. Synonyms for the present perfect tense include present perfective, present perfect continuous, and the compound present. This tense is used to indicate a past event or action that has continuing relevance to the present. It is commonly used in English conversation and writing and has many uses. The present perfect tense is best understood in context and is frequently used to describe an action that happened in the past but has a bearing on the present. In short, the present perfect tense conveys a sense of completion and ongoing relevance at the same time.