(have, has) and past participle forms: I have done, he has played. Past Participle (participle) regular verbs formed by adding the ending to the infinitive –ed: to invite- invite ed. When added to a verb –ed sometimes there are changes in its spelling: to stop – stopp ed. Past Participle of irregular verbs must be remembered: to tell – told – told. More about .
Abbreviated forms:
‘ve= have
's=has
haven't= have not
hasn't= has not
Using the Present Perfect
1. An action that has taken place to date, the result of which is obvious. The speaker’s emphasis is to draw the interlocutor’s attention to the result of the action taking place (there is always a connection between the past and the present).
Examples: I have lost my luggage. - I lost my luggage. (I now have no baggage - the speaker reports a specific result of an action have lost; This idea can also be expressed with the following sentence: My luggage is lost. – My luggage is lost.)
I have read a new book. – I read a new book. (I have already read the book)
She has bought a new car. - She bought new car. (she has a new car now)
2. With adverbial words denoting periods of time that have not yet expired ( today - today, this week/month/year - this week, this month/year, this afternoon - this afternoon)*
Examples: I haven't read your documents today. – I didn’t read your documents today.
3. Often with adverbs of indefinite time ( ever - ever, never - never, already - already, yet - yet, often - often, so far - yet, until now, not yet - not yet, ever - ever)*
Examples: I 've never been there before. - I've never been here.
They haven't finished dinner yet. - They haven't finished lunch yet.
* Please note that the absence or presence in a sentence of the above adverbs (3) or adverbial words (2) is not a clear indicator of the use of the Present Perfect.
4. Always used with adverbs lately – (for/in) Lately and just – just now.
Examples: They have just finished. - They just finished.
Have you heard from her lately? – Have you heard about her lately?
5. Actions performed during a certain period of time up to the present moment with verbs that do not have the Continuous form. Often used with prepositions for ( for an hour - for an hour, for two weeks - for two weeks, for a long time - for a long time ) and since ( since twelve o’clock - from twelve o’clock, since 12 April - from April 12, since May - from May). More about .
Examples: I have known her mother for 10 years. – I’ve known her mother for 10 years.
He has been here since 3 o'clock. – He’s been here since 3 o’clock.
6. Never used to refer to past moments or periods of time ( yesterday - yesterday, last week - last week, an hour ago - an hour ago, on Sunday - on Sunday, in 2005 - in 2005), with questions starting with when – When. These marker words indicate the need to use.
Examples:When did he draw this portrait? – When did he paint this portrait?
I came here an hour ago. – I came here an hour ago.
7. In adverbial subordinate clauses, time and conditions ( after conjunctions when - when, while, after - after, as soon as - as soon as, if - if, until - not yet) instead to express an action that will end at a certain point in the future. Translated into Russian by the future tense.
Examples:After he has been repaired the washing machine, he'll be paid. – After he fixes the washing machine, he will be paid.
I'll come as soon as I have finished writing this letter. “I’ll come as soon as I finish writing this letter.”
In all the diversity of times in English language Perfect tenses (perfect or completed) are notable for the fact that you will not find their analogues in Russian grammar. Perhaps for this reason, many people have difficulty mastering perfect tenses. Let's learn to understand and use these useful and interesting English Times verbs.
Strictly speaking, in English there are only two tenses (tense), where only the semantic verb is present: present (We walk) And past (He left).
All other tenses of verbs in English, and there are about thirty of them, use auxiliary verbs.
There are six main tenses, which, once understood, will help you understand the entire temporal structure of English verbs.
- Present Simple (Present Indefinite): We play. - We play.
- Present Perfect: We have played. - We played.
- Past Simple (Past Indefinite): We played. - We played.
- Past Perfect: We had played. - We played (before a certain event in the past).
- Future Simple (Future Indefinite): We will play. - We will play.
- Future Perfect: We will have played. - We'll play (until a certain event in the future).
Students learning English as a foreign language most often experience problems with Perfect at times. This is due to the fact that they are formed a little more complex than their “simple” counterparts: with the help of an auxiliary verb and the past participle (III form of the verb).
- Run (run)- run - run
- Play (play)- played - played
Auxiliary verbs are usually forms of the verbs be, can, do, may, must, ought, shall, will, have, has, had. It is these verbs and their forms that should be given attention.
Present Perfect Tense (present perfect tense)
Tom will repair his car on Monday. (Future Simple) - Tom will be repairing his car on Monday.
She hopes that Tom will have repaired his car by Monday evening. (Future Perfect) - She hopes Tom will have his car repaired by Monday evening.
There are 26 tenses in the English grammatical system. This is often the reason why difficulties arise in the process of studying it. After all, it is quite difficult for a Russian person, whose native language has only 3 tenses, to grasp the difference in the use of these categories.
The greatest difficulty for students learning English is the Present Perfect - the present perfect tense.
This difficult English. Present Perfect
The present perfect tense denotes an action that was performed in the past, but its result is associated with the present:
I have done my homework. I can go for a walk. - I did my homework. I can go for a walk (my homework is completed, and as a result, I have the opportunity to go for a walk).
I have lost my key. I can't enter my flat. - I lost my keys. I can't enter the house.
Method of formation Present Perfect
My mum has just made a cake. - My mother has just made a pie.
Ann has already washed up. - When I arrived, Anya had already washed all the dishes.
We have had dinner today. - We already had lunch today.
IN colloquial speech Instead of the full form, you can use the abbreviations ‘ve, ‘s:
I’ve arrived in Moscow today. - Today I arrived in Moscow.
He's lost his key. - He lost his keys.
To form negative forms, the particle not is added to the auxiliary verb:
He hasn’t prepared for English exam. - He did not prepare for the English language exam.
They haven't come home yet. - They haven't come home yet.
Interrogative form of the present perfect tense
To construct a general type of question in the Present Perfect tense category, the auxiliary verbs has/have are placed at the beginning of the sentence:
Have you ever been in Greece? -Have you ever been to Greece?
Has she graduated from the University this year? - She graduated from university this year?
To create a special question type, use the following word order:
1) question word;
3) subject;
4) adverb of time (if any), predicate, etc.
What has she just cooked? -What did she just cook?
Where have you walked this evening? -Where did you go this evening?
Correct or not?
As mentioned earlier, this tense category is created using a special form of the semantic verb. In English, there are regular verbs, which form the simple past and present perfect tense by adding the ending -ed, and irregular verbs. The Present Perfect is the tense in which their use is necessary.
But, unfortunately, this part of speech causes numerous difficulties for students. form temporary forms according to a special algorithm that defies any rules. In fact, they cannot be called exceptions, since there are more than a hundred of them in the English language.
An example of an irregular verb: go-went-gone (to go). The first word is an infinitive verb, the second is used to express the past tense (also called participle 2), and the third is used to express action in the present perfect tense. There is no specific way of forming the first or second participle. The only way out of this situation is cramming. There is nothing wrong with this, since basically all these verbs are “by ear”, they are quickly remembered and firmly embedded in speech.
Faithful companions
The following are used as accompanying adverbs of this tense:
- Already - already:
I have already passed my exam. - I have already passed the exam.
- Just - just now:
You have just won the prize! - You just won the main prize!
- Ever - ever:
Have ever been to Milan? -Have you ever been to Milan? (this is how the verb "be" is expressed in the present perfect)
- Before - before, earlier:
I have never met him before. - I've never met him before.
- Yet - for now, yet, still:
I haven't been tired yet. - I'm not tired yet.
As can be seen from the examples, accompanying adverbs are placed after the auxiliary verb. The exception is the word “yet”.
Of course, accompanying adverbs will not be used in every specific case of the present perfect tense. But the presence of these words serves as a definite clue to recognizing a new temporary category.
Cases of use
As stated earlier, given time used to indicate the effectiveness of an action performed in the past. In addition, Present Perfect time is necessary in the following cases:
1. When talking about an action without specifying the time of its completion:
He has done all his work. - He did all his work.
2. When the action has completed, but the time period in which it was carried out has not yet ended.
Compare:
I have had breakfast this morning. - I had breakfast this morning. (The morning is not over yet).
I had breakfast this morning. - I had breakfast this morning (it’s evening now, the action is in the past).
3. The present perfect tense can be used to denote previous actions, for example:
I have taken on my coat before I went out. - I put on my coat before leaving the house.
Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous
To denote actions that began in the past and continue in the present, the Present Perfect is used. Offers:
I have lived there since 2000. - I have lived here since 2000.
She has worked here as a secretary for 5 years. - She has been working here as a secretary for 5 years.
In this case, the present perfect tense very closely overlaps with another tense category - the Present Perfect Continuous. It is also necessary to denote actions that last from some point in the past to the present. A person, using this tense in speech, wants to show the process of an action, its duration.
I have been flying in the plane for 3 hours. - I’ve been flying on a plane for 3 hours (the process itself is indicated).
What is the difference between simple and truly complete?
The main difficulty in mastering this tense is that a Russian-speaking student often cannot grasp the difference between the past tense and the present perfect. To ensure that the choice between these tenses does not become a real dilemma and an endless obstacle to acquiring language skills, it is necessary to highlight specific cases of their use.
1. Present Perfect denotes the result, while Past simple indicates the completion of an action in the past, which is in no way connected with the present.
Compare:
I visited a museum a week ago. - I went to the museum a week ago.
I have just visited this museum! The exhibition is really worth seeing. - I just visited the museum. The exhibition is truly worth seeing.
If in the first case the action ended in the past and the sentence only states the fact of visiting the museum, then in the second case a direct connection with the present is shown - there is a result, that is, the person received pleasure from contemplating the paintings. In addition, in the first example a specific indication of time is given - a week ago, which is the main sign of the simple past tense.
2. If the question begins with the word when, then in this case the simple past will be used instead of the present perfect tense.
Compare:
Have you ever seen this girl? -Have you ever seen this girl (at all)?
When did you see this girl? - When did you see this girl (a specific period of time in the past is recognized)?
Is Perfect group tense necessary in colloquial speech?
Often, while memorizing huge tables with tenses, irregular verbs and other intricacies of the English language, many do not understand the meaning of such linguistic bells and whistles when hearing the everyday, simple speech of a foreigner. Indeed, residents of some countries have simplified English beyond recognition and have forgotten many tense forms and other grammatical phenomena. Therefore, the question arises: is it worth suffering and delving into all this if it is not useful?
It's worth it because it will definitely come in handy. After all, English is not only about communicating with a foreigner on Skype in a “broken” language. This:
- foreign periodicals;
- literary masterpieces of world famous authors - Dickens, Thackeray, Hardy;
- the opportunity to work in serious foreign companies, enter prestigious universities, engage in tutoring, etc.
Thus, studying the grammatical features of the English language is simply necessary. After all, lexical units, like beads, are strung on the connecting threads of grammar.
Present Perfect is a complex phenomenon, but easy to understand for an assiduous student. In order for it to be firmly assimilated in the mind, it is necessary to perform appropriate exercises to develop grammatical skills, read as much classical literature in a foreign language as possible - after all, where else can one find an abundance of language forms? Actively use new grammatical material in your speech, if possible.
Present Perfect– present perfect tense.
The main problem for understanding 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 is the difference with Past Indefinite? After all, this is also the past tense?
The fact of the matter is that not too. In English Present Perfect- this 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. And if we are talking specifically about the past, about what has already passed, what ended in the past and has no connection with the present, then you need to use Past Indefinite.
There are two keys to understanding time Present Perfect. First - connection with the present, and second - importance of the result of the 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 used if the action has been completed by now or has just ended. And although the action relates to the past, the main thing is that it has a connection with the present. The action belongs to the past, and the result belongs to the present.
Signs Present Perfect are the words: never(never), ever(ever) often(often), just(just now), already(already), yet(more), always(Always), rarely(rarely), etc.
Example
I've just finished my work. - I just finished work.
Those. I finished the work, the action was completed, it is in the past, but I finished the work just now, the action has completed by now, so there is a connection with the present.
Education Present Perfect
Present Perfect formed using an auxiliary verb to have/has and the third form of the semantic verb (Past Participle). The third form of regular verbs is formed using the ending - ed, and for incorrect 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 occurred at an unspecified time in the past (it is not the time that is important, but the result)
Expiration time is not specified. We do not know exactly when the action took place, or time does not matter. The action happened in the past at all, no matter when. It is not the time of the action that is important, but its result.
We think not about a past action, but about its result for the present.
Examples
I've seen this movie. - I saw this film.
Those. I have seen this film at all, no matter when. Only the result for the present is important.
Mike has traveled a lot. - Mike traveled a lot.
Mike traveled a lot in general, no one knows when.
I saw this movie when I was a child. - I saw this film 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 period of action ended in the past. Therefore, Past Indefinite is also used here.
In interrogative sentences like When..? What time...? Past Indefinite is used rather than Present Perfect because time is important here (When? What time?), and not the result.
Examples
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
Has she come? - She came?
Have they left? - They left?
2. The action began in the past, continues in the present and can continue in the future.
The words can be used since(since) and for(during).
Examples
We have lived in Kiev since 1985. - We have lived in Kyiv since 1985.
Those. we started living in Kyiv 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 will probably 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 Kyiv until 1985.
Those. we lived until 1985, and we don’t live anymore. The action belongs entirely to the past.
3. The time for completing a completed action is determined by the words just (just), already (already), yet (yet)
There is a clear connection with the present: just now, already, yet!
Examples
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 during 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 the whole life!
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 has already ended and the day has come!
Examples
Mary has called her son this morning. - Mary called her son in the morning.
The morning is not over yet, which means the period of action continues. Therefore there is a connection with the present.
I have never been to China. - I have 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 period of action (in this example - life) has not yet ended.
Difference between Present Perfect and Past Indefinite
Past Indefinite: The action took place in a time period that has ended. For example, yesterday(yesterday), last week(last week), last month(last month), last year(last year).
Examples
I’ve had a cup of tea this morning. - I drank a cup of tea in the morning.
Those. the morning is not over yet, it continues, so we use the 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 drank 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 used are recently(recently), lately(recently, recently).
Examples
He has come back recently. - He returned recently.
I've worked hard lately. - I've been working a lot lately.
The recent past is recent because it has a connection with the present. Essentially, this means that the time period has not yet ended (see point 4).
6. The action occurs for the first (second, third, etc.) time
Examples
It’s the first time I’ve been here. - This is my first time here.
It’s the first time I’ve done it. - I'm doing this for the first time.
It’s the first time I’ve driven a car. - I'm driving a car for the first time.
It's the third time she’s called him this morning. - She calls him this morning for the third time.
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 lived Jack. And so he decided to go to France.
Jack has gone to France. - Jack went to France.
Those. Jack is now traveling to France or is there.
But then Jack returned, and now he is back in his homeland.
This means:
Jack has been to France. - Jack was in France.
He was there, now he is no longer there.
After studying Past, Present and Future Simple, this topic will seem very complex and incomprehensible. As soon as you translate this time into Russian, panic begins. How can one time unite the past and the present? This is precisely the essence of this time. Let's look at the simplest example:
I have broken my leg. - I broke my leg.
As you can see, the speaker does not give an exact date and time, but simply talks about the fact that in the past he broke his leg and is currently in a cast.
Present Perfect (present perfect tense) is formed thanks to verb have, which appears as an auxiliary verb and a perfect participle. These are the forms that are located in the 3rd column of irregular verbs.
Have (has) + V3.
If you carefully examine the formula, it becomes clear that the past participle is an unchanged part in the sentence, but have (has) will change depending on the person and number of the speaker. In any tense, including the Present Perfect, the rules must be taught in such a way that you can remember them at any time. If you memorize the above diagram, then no problems will arise in solving the exercises. But we shouldn’t stop at one scheme, so let’s move on.
Present Perfect: rules and examples
This time marks the action that has completed at the time of the story. The difficulty of perceiving the Present Perfect tense is that when translating a sentence into our language, verbs indicate the past tense. You should not miss the point that the verbs being translated refer to the present tense, since they are connected with the result of the action performed. Based on this, it is concluded that the action in the Present Perfect was performed in a certain period of time, which is not indicated in the sentence and is not so important.
All rules concerning the Present Perfect state that in this time it is strictly forbidden to use words indicating a specific past time:
At that moment;
Such time adverbials are used only in the Past Simple. But in the Present Perfect, the rules allow the use of helping words that indicate this time:
Many or several times;
Eg:
I have run into him several times in the summer camp. “I ran into him several times at summer camp. (That is, the speaker saw the person, but does not name a specific date and time).
It is worth noting that the rules characteristic of the Present Perfect are most difficult for beginners to learn English. Let's try to understand them in more depth.
When is this tense used?
This tense expresses the following concepts:
I have been to Italy.
Here the speaker means that he has already been to Italy. This means he has experience traveling to this country.
2. Changes that occurred over a period of time.
He has grown a beard since the last time I saw him.
This example shows an action that occurred in a certain period of time. The speaker did not see the other person for a certain period of time, and by the time of the meeting he had already grown a beard. In such sentences, the second verb is used in the Past Simple (saw) form.
3. Achievements.
Our son has learned to play piano.
This sentence indicates the guy’s achievements, but at what time he achieved this is not indicated.
4. Unfulfilled but expected action.
Nick has not arrived yet.
That is, the process is still ongoing and is awaiting completion. The sentence is about a guy who at the time of the dialogue has not yet arrived, but soon he will arrive and the process will be completed. pay attention to the last word yet. At the beginning of studying the topic, it was said that the Present Perfect tense has its own helper words. This word is one of them. It already serves as a signal that this sentence refers to the Present Perfect Tense.
5. Several actions in the past.
The team has led the game 5 times so far.
In this example, it is clear that the team has played games 5 times so far, but at the time of the story it is still continuing the game.
In the Present Perfect tense, the rules allow the use of the following tense adverbials:
This week (month).
Present Perfect or Past Simple
Present Perfect, Past Simple - the rules for using these tenses are completely different. If in the first case the action that occurred has a connection with the present time, then in the second there is no connection. In Past Simple auxiliary verb did, and in the Present Perfect - have or has. In the first case, time plays no role. What is important here is the result or the fact that the action was completed. In the second, only the time when the action occurred is important.
Below are examples of the use of these tenses:
Present Perfect Continuous Simple. Rules of use
Present Perfect Continuous Simple implies a certain process that began in the past time and is still ongoing at the time of the story. To put it simply, this is an action that began in the past tense and by the time of the conversation has either just ended or is still in progress.
How is the Present Perfect Continuous Simple formed?
Affirmative sentences:
I have been reading.
Interrogative sentences:
Have I been reading?
Negative Suggestions:
I have not/haven’t been reading.
To indicate this time, you need to put the verb to be in the Present Perfect (have been or has been). Then the participle is added to it. To get it, you need to add the ending -ing to the initial form of the word.
Cases when this tense is used:
1. The process began in the past and by the time of the conversation is not completed, but continues.
2. An action that began in the past lasted a certain amount of time, and by the time of the conversation it had already ended.
Even though this is a rather complex topic, you should not give up. English grammar is not “Chinese grammar”. You just need to be careful when studying this topic, analyze examples, perform exercises of varying complexity, and remember the rules. Only then will you be able to master the entire grammar of the English language.