Present Perfect
FORM
[has/have + past participle] Examples: You have seen that movie many times. Have you seen that movie many times? You have not seen that movie many times.
Complete List of Present Perfect orms
USE 1 Unspecified Time Before Now
!e use the Present Perfect to say that an action happene" at an unspecifie" time #efore no$. %he exact time is not important. You C&''(% use the Present Perfect $ith specific time expressions such as: yester"ay) one year a*o) last $ee+) $hen , $as a chil") $hen , live" in -apan) at that moment) that "ay) one "ay) etc. !e C&' use the Present Perfect $ith unspecific expressions such as: ever) never) once) many times) several times) #efore) so far) alrea"y) yet) etc. Examples:
, have seen that movie t$enty times. , thin+ , have met him once #efore. %here have been many earth.ua+es in California. People have trave ed to the /oon. People have not trave ed to /ars. Have you read the #oo+ yet? 'o#o"y has ever c imbed that mountain. &: Has there ever been a $ar in the 0nite" 1tates? 2: Yes) there has been a $ar in the 0nite" 1tates.
How !o "o# $ct#a % Use the Present Perfect&
%he concept of 3unspecifie" time3 can #e very confusin* to En*lish learners. ,t is #est to associate Present Perfect $ith the follo$in* topics:
TOP'( 1 E)perience
You can use the Present Perfect to "escri#e your experience. ,t is li+e sayin*) 3, have the experience of...3 You can also use this tense to say that you have never ha" a certain experience. %he Present Perfect is '(% use" to "escri#e a specific event.
Examples:
, have been to rance.
THIS SENTENCE MEANS THAT YOU HAVE HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING IN FRANCE. MAYBE YOU HAVE BEEN THERE ONCE, OR SEVERAL TIMES.
, have been to rance three times.
YOU CAN ADD THE NUMBER OF TIMES AT THE END OF THE SENTENCE.
, have never been to rance.
THIS SENTENCE MEANS THAT YOU HAVE NOT HAD THE EXPERIENCE OF GOING TO FRANCE.
, thin+ , have seen that movie #efore. 4e has never trave ed #y train. -oan has st#died t$o forei*n lan*ua*es. &: Have you ever met him? 2: 'o) , have not met him.
TOP'( * (han+e Over Time
!e often use the Present Perfect to tal+ a#out chan*e that has happene" over a perio" of time. Examples: You have +rown since the last time , sa$ you. %he *overnment has become more intereste" in arts e"ucation. -apanese has become one of the most popular courses at the university since the &sian stu"ies pro*ram $as esta#lishe". /y En*lish has really improved since , move" to &ustralia.
TOP'( , $ccomp ishments
!e often use the Present Perfect to list the accomplishments of in"ivi"uals an" humanity. You cannot mention a specific time. Examples: /an has wa -ed on the /oon. (ur son has earned ho$ to rea". 5octors have c#red many "ea"ly "iseases. 1cientists have sp it the atom.
TOP'( . $n Uncomp eted $ction "o# $re E)pectin+
!e often use the Present Perfect to say that an action $hich $e expecte" has not happene". 0sin* the Present Perfect su**ests that $e are still $aitin* for the action to happen. Examples: -ames has not finished his home$or+ yet. 1usan hasn/t mastered -apanese) #ut she can communicate. 2ill has still not arrived.
%he rain hasn/t stopped.
USE * !#ration From the Past Unti Now 0Non1(ontin#o#s 2erbs3
!ith 'on6Continuous 7er#s an" non6continuous uses of /ixe" 7er#s) $e use the Present Perfect to sho$ that somethin* starte" in the past an" has continue" up until no$. 3 or five minutes)3 3for t$o $ee+s)3 an" 3since %ues"ay3 are all "urations $hich can #e use" $ith the Present Perfect. Examples: , have had a col" for t$o $ee+s. 1he has been in En*lan" for six months. /ary has oved chocolate since she $as a little *irl.
<hou*h the a#ove use of Present Perfect is normally limite" to 'on6Continuous 7er#s an" non6continuous uses of /ixe" 7er#s) the $or"s 3live)3 3$or+)3 3teach)3 an" 3stu"y3 are sometimes use" in this $ay even thou*h they are '(% 'on6Continuous 7er#s.
$!2ERB P4$(EMENT
%he examples #elo$ sho$ the placement for *rammar a"ver#s such as: al$ays) only) never) ever) still) 8ust) etc. Examples: You have on % seen that movie one time. 4ave you on % seen that movie one time?
$(T'2E 5 P$SS'2E
Examples: /any tourists have visited that castle. ACTIVE %hat castle has been visited #y many tourists. PASSIVE
/ore &#out &ctive / Passive orms
E6ER('SES $N! RE4$TE! TOP'(S
7er# %ense Exercise 9 1imple Past an" Present Perfect 7er# %ense Exercise : 1imple Past an" Present Perfect 7er# %ense Exercise ; Present Perfect an" Present Perfect Continuous 7er# %ense Exercise < Present Perfect an" Present Perfect Continuous 7er# %ense Exercise => 1imple Past) Present Perfect) an" Past Perfect 7er# %ense Exercise =? Present Perfect) Past Perfect) Present Perfect Continuous) an" Past Perfect Continuous
7er# %ense Exercise =: Present an" Past %enses $ith 'on6Continuous 7er#s 7er# %ense Exercise =; Present an" Past %ense @evie$ 7er# %ense Practice %est Cumulative 7er# %ense @evie$ 7er# %ense inal %est Cumulative 7er# %ense @evie$
