Present Perfect Tense
I have sungThe present perfect tense is a rather important tense in English, but it gives speakers of some languages a difficult time. That is because it uses concepts or ideas that do not exist in those languages. In fact, In addition, there are some differences in usage between British and American English. the structure of the present perfect tense is very simple. The problems come with the use of the tense. In this lesson we look at the structure and use of the present perfect, followed by a quiz to check For and Since with the present perfect tense. What's the difference? your understanding: Structure: how to make the present perfect tense Use: when and why to use the present perfect tense Present Perfect Quiz The present perfect tense is really a very perfect! You will soon learn to like the interesting tense, and a very useful one. Try not to translate the present perfect tense into your language. Just try to accept the concepts of this tense and learn to "think" present present perfect tense! How do we make the Present Perfect Tense? + I have seen ET. The structure of the present perfect tense is: subject + auxiliary verb + main verb have past participle Here are some examples of the present perfect tense: subject auxiliary verb main verb ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES + You have eaten mine. - She has not been to Rome. - We have not played football. Active English Group ? Have you finished?He's or he's??? Be careful! The 'sHe's or he's??? Be careful! The 's ? Have they done it? Contractions with the present perfect tense When we use the present perfect tense in speaking, we usually contract the subject and auxiliary verb. We also sometimes do this when we write. I have I've It has It's It has eaten. [present perfect tense, You have You've contraction is used for the auxiliary verbs have and be. For example, "It's eaten" can He has He's mean: She has She's John has John's active voice] I've finished my work. The car has The car's It is eaten. [present tense, passive voice] We have We've It is usually clear from the context. They have They've Here are some examples: John's seen ET. They've gone home. How do we use the Present Perfect Tense? I have seen ET. This tense is called the present perfect tense. There is always a connection with the past and with the present. There are basically three uses for the present perfect tense: 1. experience 2. change 3. continuing situation 1. Present perfect tense for experience We often use the present perfect tense to talk about experience from the past. We are not interested in when you did something. We only want to know if you did it: Active English GroupConnection with present: in my head, now, I have a memory of the event; I know something ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES He has lived in Bangkok. Have you been there? We have never eaten caviar. past present future !!!The action or state was in the In my head, I have a memory past. now.Connection with past: the event was in the past.about the event; I have experience of it.Yesterday John had a good leg. Now he has a bad leg.Yesterday John had a good leg. Now he has a bad leg.2. Present perfect tense for changeWe also use the present perfect tense to talk about a change or new information: I have bought a car. past present future - + Last week I didn't have a car. Now I have a car. John has broken his leg. past present future + - - + Has the price gone up? past present future + -Was the price $1.50 yesterday? Is the price $1.70 today? Active English Group ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES The police have arrested the killer. past present futurein the past and continues in the present (and will probably continue into the future). This is a statein the past and continues in the present (and will probably continue into the future). This is a state Yesterday the killer was free. Now he is in prison. Connection with past: the past is the opposite of the present. Connection with present: the present is the opposite of the past. Americans do not use the present perfect tense so much as British speakers. Americans often use the past tense instead. An American might say "Did you have lunch?", where a British person would say "Have you had lunch?" 3. Present perfect tense for continuing situation We often use the present perfect tense to talk about a continuing situation. This is a state that started Connection with past: the situation started in the past. (not an action). We usually use for or since with this structure. I have worked here since June. He has been ill for 2 days. How long have you known Tara? past present future (It will probably continue into The situation started in the past. It continues up to now. the future.) three days Monday Connection with present: the situation continues in the present. For & Since with Present Perfect Tense We often use for and since with the present perfect tense. We use for to talk about a period of time—5 minutes, 2 weeks, 6 years. We use since to talk about a point in past time—9 o'clock, 1st January, Monday. Active English Group ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES for since a period of time a point in past time x------------ 20 minutes 6.15pm Active English Group 6 months January 4 years 1994 2 centuries 1800 a long time I left school ever the beginning of time etc etc Here are some examples: I have been here for 20 minutes. I have been here since 9 o'clock. John hasn't called for 6 months. John hasn't called since February. He has worked in New York for a long time. He has worked in New York since he left school. For can be used with all tenses. Since is usually used with perfect tenses only. + You have been talking too much. ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES Present Perfect Continuous TenseI have been singing How do we make the Present Perfect Continuous Tense? The structure of the present perfect continuous tense is: subject + auxiliary verb + auxiliary verb + main verb have been base + ing has Here are some examples of the present perfect continuous tense: subject auxiliary verb auxiliary verb main verb + I have been waiting for one hour. - It has not been raining.ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSESENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES- We have not been playing football. ? Have you been seeing her? ? Have they been doing their homework? Contractions When we use the present perfect continuous tense in speaking, we often contract the subject andthe first auxiliary. We also sometimes do this in informal writing. I have been I've been You have been You've been He has been He's beenShe has been She's beenIt has been It's beenJohn has been John's beenThe car has been The car's been Active English Group We have been We've been They have been They've been[now][now] Here are some examples: I've been reading. The car's been giving trouble. We've been playing tennis for two hours. How do we use the Present Perfect Continuous Tense? This tense is called the present perfect continuous tense. There is usually a connection with the present or now. There are basically two uses for the present perfect continuous tense: 1. An action that has just stopped or recently stopped We use the present perfect continuous tense to talk about an action that started in the past and stopped recently. There is usually a result now. I'm tired because I've been running. pas t present future !!! Recent action. Result now.ENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSESENGLISH GRAMMAR, TENSES I'm tired because I've been running. [now] Why is the grass wet ? Has it been raining? [now] You don't understand because you haven't been listening. 2. An action continuing up to now We use the present perfect continuous tense to talk about an action that started in the past and is continuing now. This is often used with for or since. I have been reading for 2 hours. past present future Action started in past. Action is continuing now. I have been reading for 2 hours. [I am still reading now.] Active English Group ever the beginning of time We've been studying since 9 o'clock. [We're still studying now.] How long have you been learning English? [You are still learning now.] We have not been smoking. [And we are not smoking now.] For and Since with Present Perfect Continuous Tense We often use for and since with the present perfect tense. We use for to talk about a period of time—5 minutes, 2 weeks, 6 years. We use since to talk about a point in past time—9 o'clock, 1st January, Monday. for since a period of time a point in past time 20 minutes 6.15pm three days Monday 6 months January 4 years 1994 2 centuries 1800 a long time I left school etc etcusually used with perfect tenses only.usually used with perfect tenses only. Here are some examples: I have been studying for 3 hours. I have been watching TV since 7pm. Tara hasn't been feeling well for 2 weeks. Tara hasn't been visiting us since March. He has been playing football for a long time. He has been living in Bangkok since he left school.For can be used with all tenses. Since isFor can be used with all tenses. Since is
Present Perfect Tense
January 12, 2019
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