Present perfect- present perfect tense.
The main problem to understand Present perfect- that it is often confused with Past Indefinite (Past Simple). After all, we are talking about an action that happened, i.e. from the point of view of the Russian language, it refers to the past. What's the difference with Past Indefinite? Isn't that the past tense too?
The fact of the matter is that not too... V English language Present perfect is not the past, but present time... With its help, some information about the present is always given, there is a connection with the present.
If we are talking about the present, about the result for the present, and not about the past, then we need to use Present perfect... What if it comes it is about the past, about what has already passed, what ended in the past and has no connection with the present, then you need to apply Past Indefinite.
There are two keys to understanding time. Present perfect... First - connection with the present, and second - importance of the result of an action for the present, and not for the time of the action in the past.
This is the difference between Present Perfect and Past Indefinite.
Present perfect is used if the action has been completed by the present moment, has just ended. And although the action refers to the past, the main thing is that it has a connection with the present. The action refers to the past, and the result refers to the present.
Signs Present perfect are the words: never(never), ever(ever) often(often), just(just now), already(already), yet(yet), always(always), seldom(rarely), etc.
Example
I’ve just finished my work. - I just finished work.
Those. I finished the work, the action has taken place, it is in the past, but I finished the work just now, the action has ended by the present moment, so there is a connection with the present.
Education Present Perfect
Present perfect formed with an auxiliary verb to have / has and third form semantic verb(Past Participle). The third form of regular verbs is formed with the ending - ed, and for the wrong ones see Irregular Verbs .
Abbreviated forms
I have = I’ve
He has = He's
I have not = I haven’t
He has not = He hasn’t
Using the Present Perfect
1. The action took place at an indefinite time in the past (it is not the time that is important, but the result)
The duration is not specified. We do not know exactly when the action took place, or the time does not matter. The action took place in the past generally, no matter when. It is not the time of the action that is important, but its result.
We do not think about the past action, but about its result for the present.
Examples of
I've seen this movie. - I saw this film.
Those. I've seen this movie at all, no matter when. Only the result is important for the present.
Mike has traveled a lot. - Mike traveled a lot.
Mike traveled a lot in general, it is not known when.
I saw this movie when I was a child. - I saw this movie when I was a child. The action refers to a period that ended in the past, because now I am no longer a child. Therefore, Past Indefinite is used here.
Mike traveled a lot from 1990 to 1995. - Mike traveled a lot from 1990 to 1995. And here the action period ended in the past. Therefore, Past Indefinite is also used here.
In interrogative sentences like When ..? What time ...? Past Indefinite is used, not Present Perfect, because the time is important here (When? What time?), and not the result.
Examples of
When did she come? - When did she come?
What time did they leave? - What time did they leave?
But if the result is important (Did she come? Did they leave?), Then it is used Present perfect.
Examples of
Has she come? - She came?
Have they left? - They left?
2. The action started in the past, continues in the present and can continue in the future.
In this case, the words can be used since(since) and for(during).
Examples of
We have lived in Kiev since 1985. - We have lived in Kiev since 1985.
Those. we started living in Kiev in 1985, we continue to live and, perhaps, we will continue to live.
She has been my teacher of music for many years. - She was my music teacher for many years.
Those. she was, is and, perhaps, will continue to be my music teacher!
Difference between Present Perfect and Past Indefinite (Past Simple)
Past Indefinite is used to describe an action that ended in the past and has no connection with the present.
We lived in Kiev until 1985. - We lived in Kiev until 1985.
Those. we lived until 1985 and we don't live anymore. The action belongs entirely to the past.
3. The time for the completed action is determined by the words just, already, yet
There is a clear connection with the present: just now, already, yet!
Examples of
I've just written a letter. - I just wrote a letter.
He has already arrived. - He has already arrived.
The show has not begun yet... - The show hasn't started yet.
4. The action took place in a period that has not yet ended
A period that has not yet ended could be: today(today), this morning(this morning), this week(this week), this month(this month), this year(this year), etc., and even a lifetime!
Period that ended: yesterday(yesterday), last week(last week), last month(last month), last year(last year) etc. And even, for example, this morning if the morning is already over and the day has come!
Examples of
Mary has called her son this morning. - Mary called her son in the morning.
The morning is not over yet, so the validity period continues. Therefore, there is a connection with the present.
I have never been to China. - I've never been to China.
Have you ever been to Australia? - Have you ever been to Australia?
Here one could add - never (or ever) In my life! I've never been to China in my life. The validity period (in this example, life) has not yet ended.
Difference between Present Perfect and Past Indefinite
Past Indefinite: The action occurred in the time period that ended. For example, yesterday(yesterday), last week(last week), last month(last month), last year(In the past year).
Examples of
I’ve had a cup of tea this morning. - I had a cup of tea in the morning.
Those. the morning is not over yet, it continues, so we use Present Perfect.
But if the morning has already ended (after 12:00), and the day has come, then the situation has changed dramatically:
I had a cup of tea this morning. - I had a cup of tea in the morning.
That's it, the morning is over, and I had to use Past Indefinite!
And this despite the fact that both the morning and the cup of tea remained the same.
5. Description of events of the recent past
Usually the words are used for this recently(recently), lately(recently, in recent times).
Examples of
He has come back recently. - He returned recently.
I’ve worked hard lately. - I have been working a lot lately.
The recent past is recent because it has a connection with the present. In essence, this means that the time period has not yet ended (see item 4).
6. The action takes place the first (second, third, etc.) time
Examples of
It’s the first time I’ve been here. “This is my first time here.
It's the first time I've done it. - This is my first time.
It's the first time I've driven a car. - This is my first time driving.
It’s the third time she’s called him this morning. “This is the third time she's calling him this morning.
Attention! Not I do, but I've done!
Note
Pay attention to the difference in the use of verbs gone and been.
Once upon a time there was Jack. And so he decided to go to France.
Jack has gone to France. - Jack went to France.
Those. Jack is currently on his way to France or is there.
But then Jack returned, and now he is back at home.
This means:
Jack has been to France. - Jack was in France.
He was there, now he is no longer there.
a) Present perfect is used to describe an event that happened in the past and is relevant, significant, significant at the time of speaking about it. It does not matter when this action took place. Present perfect is often used with the adverbs lately and just, already never, ever, yet.
Example: I have forgotten his name. - I forgot his name (and I don't remember at the moment)
b) Present perfect is used when the action has already taken place, but the period of time when it happened has not yet expired.
Example: I have met him today. - I saw him today. ("Today" has not expired yet) He has bought a new car this year. - He bought a new car this year ("this year" is not over yet)
Formation of Narrative Sentences in Present Perfect: Formed using the present tense forms of the auxiliary verb to have(have; has)
Present tense forms of the verb to have:
| I | have |
| we | have |
| they | have |
| you | have |
| he | has |
| she | has |
| it | has |
Word order in narrative sentence
: subject + have / has + predicate with the ending –ed or, if the verb is irregular, then the 3rd form of the verb.
Examples: She has already come. - She's already here. I have just visited this supermarket. - I just visited this supermarket.
Formation of interrogative sentences in Present Perfect: Formed with the auxiliary to have in the present tense -have; has.Word order in special question: question word + have / has + subject + predicate with the ending –ed or 3rd form of irregular verb.
Examples: What have you done? - What have you done? Has he brought this book? - Did he bring this book?
Education negative sentences in Present Perfect: Formation of negative sentences occurs using the same auxiliary verbs. The particle not is placed after the auxiliary verb.
Examples: She has not (hasn’t) come yet. - She hasn't come yet. I have not (haven’t) seen him. - I haven't seen him.
Present Perfect should not be confused with Past Simple. When using Past Simple, one of the time pointers is usually used, indicating the moment when the event occurred.
Example: He saw her yesterday. - He saw her yesterday.
When applying Present Perfect, they use any of the Present Perfect indicators - lately (recently), and just (just), already never (never), ever (ever), yet (yet). Speaking of an action that has already taken place, we may not use any pointers at all. If this action or event is relevant at the moment, then Present Perfect is used. Example: I have bought it. - I bought this.
All of the above temporal forms are given here in the active voice.
Today in our article we will look at how to use the tense of the verb in the present perfect, the rules for the formation of this grammatical form, examples of use, and much more. I must say that this is one of the most difficult tenses used in the English language. denotes someone's action that took place (began) in the past, but at the same time is related to the present moment in time. That is, you can observe the result of this action in the present.
Present perfect: formation rules
Present perfect is formed as follows:
I / we / you / she / he / it + have or has + past participle
Means in the past tense). For the so-called "regular" verbs (they are, as we remember, the majority) can be obtained by adding the ending "-ed" at the very end of the word. For "irregular" verbs, this method is unsuitable, their past form need to be learned by heart. Note that the helper verbs have and has are usually shortened to 've and' s, see:
In case of negation, you should use have not or has not, for short we get haven’t / hasn’t.
Present Perfect: Applying Correctly
It is often difficult for beginner students to understand when to use Present Perfect tense, since it is often confused, for example, with Past Simple. Read this section carefully, here we will consider in great detail the Present Perfect time, the rules for its application:
- Present Perfect is used when it comes to actions that began in the past, but, nevertheless, they continue to this day. Often such sentences contain the words "for" and "since":
This old beautiful building has stood on this square for three hundred fifty years - This old beautiful building has stood (and, in fact, continues to stand) on this square for 350 years.
I'm starving. I haven’t eaten since lunch - I'm incredibly hungry. I haven't eaten anything since lunch.
Maria has been to London once, but she would like to travel there again - Maria has already been to London once, but she would like to visit there again.
- The present past tense is used with these phrases: this year / day / week / month, recently, ever, yet. It can be seen that the time period is not defined, but it is closely related to the present. For example:
Have they heard from John recently? - Have they heard anything about Mark lately?
I've been in a lot of places last few weeks - I've been in a lot of places over the past few weeks.
I’ve had five cups of green tea today - I drank 5 cups of green tea today
- As for the Present Perfect time: the rules for its use also apply to those situations when we can already see the result of an action. For example:
The earthquake has destroyed the industry in the whole region - The earthquake destroyed the industry in the whole region (as a result, and now the region still has problems with industrial production).
Present Perfect is the short and most common name for the time of the rules of use which we have just considered. We hope that our article helped you understand this difficult grammatical topic... And remember - everything is learned in practice, that is, the more exercises you do to consolidate the use of the present perfect tense, the fewer mistakes you will make in the future. Note also that Present Perfect is a fairly simple time to use in comparison, for example, with the rules of which are meant and how to form complex design(have or has been + Verb-ing), and the use in cases where the action began in the past, but at the same time has not yet ended and, moreover, continues to this day. One way or another, only practice will help you master the English language at a sufficient level to speak and write clearly and competently.
Any tenses of the Perfect category indicate the perfection of the action, that the situation is complete, and not long-term or permanent. As for The present Perfect Tense“‘ It’s a time that is certainly associated with real action, as its name suggests.
general information
main feature This kind of temporal form lies in the fact that the speech in sentences with Present Perfect is about a completed action, the result of which has a direct connection with the current time. Very often there is a time where there is no emphasis on connection with the present, but the basis is solely the fact of an event that has occurred.
Here are examples of sentences that show how the present perfect tense looks and is used in English:
· You have done more than stay young; you have stayed a child - You did more than just stay young - you stayed a child
I have made you a bed upstairs, make yourself at home - I made you a bed upstairs, make yourself at home
As can be seen from these examples, present perfect tens, as it is called in Russian transcription, is used to express not just an event that took place in the past, but reflects the result of a perfect action that is relevant now.
Education Present Perfect
The present completed tense often gives difficulties to those who are still at the stage of learning English, because here several nuances come into force at once, which are extremely important to take into account. Firstly, Present Perfect is necessarily formed using auxiliary verbs. These are such auxiliary verbs as have and has (the latter is used only for the third person pronouns used in the singular - he, she, it). Secondly, this verb in the present perfect tense is followed by the main verb, which stands in the form Past Participle, or Participle II (the people are the third form of the verb). Here it is important to navigate the list of irregular verbs, but for the correct ones everything is easier, because just the ending –ed is added to the word.
Therefore, the classic Present Perfect formula looks like this:
Have
Has + V (3) (–ed)
I have never had a chance to meet anyone here - I never had a chance to meet anyone here
She has worked in this company for 3 years already - She has worked in this company for 3 years
Questions and denials
Interrogative sentences
here are formed with the same auxiliary verbs have and has, which in general question, that is, in the one, the answer to which can be "yes" or "no", stand in the original position:
Have you already finished your course work? - Have you finished your term paper yet?
Has he just returned from his trip? - Has he just returned from his trip?
Special questions,
at the beginning of which there is an interrogative word like when, why, how, etc., are formed according to a similar principle, with the only difference that these interrogative words occupy the initial position:
How long has she been here? - How long has she been here?
Why has he written so many articles today? - Why did he write so many articles today?
Present Perfect Formula in Negative Sentence
practically does not differ from the affirmative form. Here the grammar provides for the simple use of the particle not after the auxiliary verb, where have not = haven't, hasn't = has not. The denial looks like this:
I haven’t completed my daily report yet - I have not finished my daily report yet
He still hasn’t brought us money - He still hasn’t brought us money
Note: the rule provides for the use of this tense in special interrogative and negative constructions with the inclusion of the phrase "ever", where the used Present Perfect time markers are the adverbs ever or never:
Have you ever been to Bangkok? - Have you ever been to Bangkok?
· I have never seen such a beautiful landscape! - I have never seen such a beautiful landscape!
Using the Present Perfect
The use of Present Perfect is typical for the following situations:
1. Completed action
In order to display a perfect action, which has a clear echo in the present tense and, in contrast to time, a simple symbol is used to express completeness. Present Perfect satellites in such situations are specific adverbs already, ever, never, yet (typical for interrogative and negative sentences, where its frequent position is at the end of a phrase), just, for (shows the duration of the action), as well as those time frames, which indicate that the action is not over yet (this year, today, etc.).
He hasn’t called me for ages - He hasn’t called me for ages
We have already found out the latest news - We have already found out the latest news
I have done much this year - I have done a lot this year (in the sense that the year is not over yet)
Note: For Present Perfect just, this is one of the markers, which translates as “just now”. But in the event that the just now construction is used, then the use of Past Simple is typical with it, despite the fact that the translation will be identical:
I have just cooked breakfast - I just cooked breakfast
I cooked breakfast just now - I just made breakfast
Note: the so-called American English, which has become firmly established in modern life, very often does not provide for the use of Present Perfect, even in such obvious situations when there are special helpers in the form of adverbs or there are other factors regulating the use of Perfect. In this case, the perfect is ignored, although the classical grammar does not approve of this:
I have lost my key - I lost my key
2. With the preposition "since" + Past Simple
Special attention should be paid to the situation when with Present Perfect since, a preposition that translates as "from", "from the moment as", is used in one sentence together with. In this sense, the construction of a sentence is built as follows:
I haven’t seen her since I left for Sydney - I haven’t seen her since I left for Sydney
In this example, the first part of the sentence uses Present Perfect, and the second uses Past Simple. Very often in such sentences it is recommended to look for the so-called starting point, that is, the action from which it all began. In this example, this is the part "since I left for Moscow." The use of Perfect is relevant here for the reason that the action is being performed (or has not been performed since then and until now, which shows the result to today). In Present Perfect, examples of such situations are not uncommon, and the English language in this case gives a well-founded reason for this use.
3. In subordinate tense
The use of this tense is also typical for those cases when the perfect is part of the subordinate parts of the tense. Present Perfect marker words in this case are the same as in (Conditional I): these are unions unless, when, as soon as, before, after, etc. The main feature here is that the emphasis is on the completeness of the event, and not on its fact. Suggestions for Present Perfect here can be as follows:
I will not call him until you have told me everything - I will not call him until you tell me everything
They will come as soon as I have finished my work - They will come as soon as I finish my work
Note: There is an exception to this rule. Provided that the verbs in Present Perfect here belong either to the category of movement (arrive, come, return, etc.) or sensory perception, then the use of the present perfect tense with them is undesirable, it will be correct to put the familiar Present Simple, which is more often used in conditional sentence the first type:
I will be glad when he comes - I will be glad when he comes
She will get in a fury when she hears my words - She will get furious when she hears my words
But even here the Present Perfect is possible when there are indications that the speaker deliberately emphasizes completeness and does not expressively emphasize; translation in this case will prove the relevance of the use of the perfect:
I will learn the poem by heart when I have heard it a few times - I will learn the poem by heart when I listen to it several times(completeness is expressively emphasized, performed several times)
Let's summarize
As it becomes clear from all of the above, phrases in a perfect are formed and used when there is an intention to demonstrate the completeness of an action or to display the period of time that it takes up to the present moment. The Present Perfect educational scheme is quite simple, although it requires memorization. Like any other temporary form, Present Perfect Tense has very clear rules of use, so the main thing is to strictly follow all the instructions, and then this time will not cause any inconvenience.
English grammar is often confusing. But a dead end does not mean hopelessness: you can always return to the starting point and start over. A clear explanation of the rules of education and the use of time Present Perfect simple- one of the most difficult sections of grammar in English for 5th grade children - they will help you choose the right direction and avoid deadlocks.
General information
Before proceeding to an explanation of the basic rules and nuances of using Present Perfect time, it is necessary to understand how this temporary form is translated into Russian and what it means: it basic differences from other times. Present Perfect Tense is the Present Perfect Tense used to describe completed, accomplished actions that have a direct connection with the present, the result of these actions affects the present. The main impulse to use the considered temporal form is marker words indicating the uncertainty of time. This is in a nutshell. Now, in more detail on each item: how to understand what time and how to use.
Education
The basic rules of education are affirmative, interrogative forms, as well as negations are presented in the following table. With its help, you can understand how the Present Perfect formula is formed and how it works in practice.
|
Present perfect tense Present Perfect Tense |
|
|
Subjects + have / has + main verb + -ed (3rd form of regular verbs) |
|
|
I have visited - I have visited You have visited - you have visited He (she, it) has visited - he (she, it) visited |
We have visited - we have visited You have visited - you have visited They have visited - they have visited |
|
Subjects + have / has + main verb in 3rd form (irregular verbs) |
|
|
I have done - I did You have done - you did He (she, it) has done - he (she, it) did |
We have done - we did You have done - you did They have done - they did |
|
Subjects + have / has + not + main verb + ed (3rd form of regular verbs) |
|
|
I have not visited - I have not visited You have not visited - you have not visited He (she, it) has not visited - he (she, it) has not visited |
We have not visited - we have not visited You have not visited - you have not visited They have not visited - they have not visited |
|
Subjects + have / has + not + main verb in 3rd form (irregular verbs) |
|
|
I have not done - I did not do You have not done - you did not do He (she, it) has not done - he (she, it) did not |
We have not done - we didn't You have not done - you didn't They have not done - they didn't |
|
Have / has + subjects + main verb + ed (3rd form of regular verbs) |
|
|
Have I visited? - I was visiting? Have you visited? - did you visit? Has he (she, it) visited? - did he (she, it) visit? |
Have we visited? - We visited? Have you visited? - have you visited? Have they visited? - did they visit? |
|
Have / has + subjects + main verb in 3rd form (irregular verbs) |
|
|
Have I done? - I did? Have you done? - did you do? Has he (she, it) done - did he (she, it)? |
Have we done? - we did? Have you done? - you did? Have they done? - they did? |
Use
Present Perfect Simple has a special place in English grammar.
There are no analogues of Present Perfect Simple in Russian.
Therefore, it is necessary to understand and remember in which cases this time is used:
TOP-4 articleswho read along with this
- To indicate an action that happened in the near past, but its result is observed in the present... In other words, the speaker is not interested in the time when the action took place, one thing is important to him - the result that connects this event that happened in the past with the present: She is not at home, she has gone to the library - She is not at home, she went to the library (She left and the result in the present is her absence);
- For the transfer of "life experience"... These sentences often emphasize how many times the action took place: When have you been to Europe? I have been to Italy three times already - When were you in Europe? I've been to Italy three times already;
- To indicate an action that occurred in an unfinished period of time... To emphasize this incompleteness, the sentence uses the phrases this morning (this morning), this evening (this evening), this month (this month), today (today) and others: This week she has come to his house twice - This week she came to his house twice.
Companion words
The Present Perfect time usually does not do without the help of its companions - temporary indicators that indicate that the action began in the past and ended not so long ago:
- Never- never (I have never been to England - I have never been to England);
- Ever- ever (Have you ever read a detective story? - Have you ever read a detective story?);
- Already- already (She has already finished her work - She has already finished her work);
- Just- exactly, just, only (He has just called him up - He just called him);
- Before- before, before (We have heard this strange story before - We have heard this strange story before);
- Not ... yet- not yet, still not (My mother has not heard news yet - My mother has not heard the news yet);
- Lately- recently, long ago, recently (She has lately read many books - She recently read a lot of books);
- So far- at this hour, by now, up to this moment, already (Her temper has so far been good - Her mood was still good);
- Of late- recently, recently, recently (This wonderful trip has been my dream of late - This wonderful trip has been my dream recently);
- By now- by now (He has confessed by now - He has confessed at the moment);
- Recently- recently, recently (She has not had any difficulties recently - She did not have any difficulties lately);
- Up to now- until now, until now (She has not believed people up to now - She did not believe people until now);
- By now- by now (It always takes 5 minutes to get home after By now I have always been at home at 5 o'clock - It always takes 5 minutes to get home after work. By now I have always been at home at 5 o'clock).
In English, double negation in a sentence is excluded. Therefore, the adverb never (never) is used in affirmative sentence... The adverb yet is used at the end of interrogative or negative sentences. It is not used in affirmative ones.
What have we learned?
We got acquainted with the Present Perfect time - Present Perfect. We considered the basic rules of education, signs and cases of the use of a given time. This summary on the topic "Present Perfect Tense" provides a clear explanation and is an excellent guide for dummies, that is, for beginners to learn English, and for advanced learners.
Test by topic
Article rating
Average rating: 4.7. Total ratings received: 306.