I have sung
The present perfect tense is a rather important tense in English, but i t gives speakers of some languages
a difficult time. That is because i t uses concepts or ideas that do not exist in those languages. In fact,
the structure of the present perfect tense is very simple. The problems come with the use of the tense.
In addition, there are some differences in usage between British and American English.
In this lesson we look at the structure and use of the present perfect, foll owed by a quiz to check your
understanding:
· Structure: how to make the present perfect tense
· Use: when and why to use the present perfect tense
· For and Since with the present perfect tense. What's the difference?
· Present Perfect Quiz
The present perfect tense is really a very
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
perfect! You will soon l earn to like the
present perfect tense!
How do we make the Present Perfect Tense?
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
+
I have seen ET.
+ You have eaten mine.
-She has not been to Rome.
- We have not played football.
? Have you finished?
? 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 somet imes do this when we wri te.
I have I've
You have You'v e
He has
She has
It has
John has
The car has
He's
She' s
It' s
John's
The car's
We have We've
They have They've
Here are some examples:
· I've finished my work.
· John's seen ET.
· They've gone home.
How do we use the Present Perfect Tense?
This tense is called the present perfect tense. There i s always a connect i on with the past and wi th 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 of ten 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:
I have seen ET.
He's or he's??? Be careful! The 's
contraction is used for the auxiliary verbs
have and be. For example, "It' s eaten" can
mean:
· It has eaten. [present perfect tense,
active voice]
· It is eaten. [present tense, passive
voice]
It i s usually clear from the context.
He has lived in Bangkok.
Have you been there?
We have never eaten caviar.
past present future
!!!
The action or state was in the
past.
In my head, I have a memory
now.
Connection with past: the event was in the past.
Connection with present: in my head, now, I have a memory of the event; I know something about
the event; I have experience of i t.
2. Present perfect tense for change
We 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
+ -Yesterday John had a good l eg. Now he has a bad leg.
Has the price gone up?
past present future
+ -Was the price $1.50 yesterday? Is the price $1.70 today?
The police have arrested the killer.
past present future
- +
Yesterday the killer was free. Now he is in prison.
Connection with past: the past i s the opposite of the present.
Connection with present: the present i s the opposite of the past.
Americans do not use the present perfect
tense so much as British speakers. Americans
of ten 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 of ten use the present perfect tense to talk about a continuing situation. This i s a state that started
in the past and continues in the present (and will probably continue into the future). This i s a state
(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
The situation started in the past. It continues up to now.
(It will probably continue into
the future.)
Connection with past: the situation started in the past.
Connection with present: the situation continues in the present.
For & Since with Present Perfect Tense
We of ten 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
x------------20 minutes 6.15pm
three days Monday
6 months January
4 years 1994
2 centuries 1800
a long time I lef t 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.
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