Many people call the present perfect tense a "tautology". And no wonder, because an action committed in the past is called the present. Why and why? Switching to "you" with Present Perfect is not difficult if every nuance of use, education and special cases is analyzed and understood in detail.
Let's start our acquaintance with the idea, look into the depth of this shade. Like any tense in English, Present perfect tense reflects action. But its specificity is that the action has already taken place, and we see the result from it. In this situation, we do not focus on when an event happened, we are not interested, does not matter, and we are now talking about what it entailed, what it led to. For example:
Have you found the place on the map? Have you already found this place on the map? (We are not interested in: how much I searched, when I started; the result - I found it or not)
I can't walk. I think I have sprained my ankle. — I can't go. I think I sprained my ankle. (We do not note, we are not interested in: when I dislocated, how I dislocated; the result - I can’t walk).
Of course, this is the main characteristic or, as it is also called, a function. We will consider all cases of use, comparisons below.
Education
According to the rules for the Present Perfect, we need auxiliary verbs has/have, and we will put the semantic in V3 (Ved). Remember that all English verbs are divided into regular and irregular. To form this time, we will add the ending -ed to the correct ones, and the wrong ones have a special form that will have to be learned (3rd column of the table irregular verbs).
With subject in 3rd person singular(if the subject is a pronoun or a noun meaning: she, he, it) we use has. With everyone else - have. The negation is formed with the help of "not", which is placed after the auxiliary verb, and in the question have / has it changes with the subject places. As you can see, nothing new needs to be added or removed, only some permutations in the proposal itself.
Abbreviated forms:
I have = I've, She has = she's, we have = we've, they have = they've, you have = you've.
have + not = haven't, has + not = hasn't
Use
The present completed (perfect) tense has several uses in situations. Let's take a look at each separately. All actions can be divided into completed and incomplete.
1. Action completed in the past(signal words are: already, yet, still, recently, lately, just).
- If the situation has just ended (before the moment of the conversation), or earlier, and it is connected with the present , then this is the case when you should use the Present Perfect. In other words, if the result is important to you, interesting and necessary for further conversation, which serves as a starting point, then here we use the present perfect tense. The exact moment is not specified.
He has already published your poem in a local paper. He has already published your poem in the local newspaper.
I have recently bought this bycicle, but now it is broken. I recently bought this bike, but now it is broken.
- To highlight the repetitive actions their repetition, with the words several times, twice. Also, such a grammatical phenomenon occurs in complex attributive sentences, where ordinal numbers are used, superlative adjectives, the phrase "the only".
It is one of the happiest days I have ever spent with my mother. This is one of the happiest days I have ever spent with my mom.
It is the only time my father has been away for holiday. - This is the only time when dad was not at the party.
My friends went to England again. They have been there several times. — My friends went to England again. They have been there several times already.
2. Action unfinished in the past(signal words are: this week, this year, today, this morning, since, for, never, ever).
- If we want to highlight long period of time where the action of interest to us has not been completed by the time of the conversation.
He has written two books this year. He has written two books this year (the year is not over yet).
Have you seen Mary this morning? Did you see Mary this morning?
- It is worth remembering that there are verbs that are not used in Continuous (which can be read in our other article of the same name about non continuous verbs). With given state verbs use Present Perfect instead of Present Perfect Continuous. Very often in this situation the preposition is used for , which indicates the duration of the action.
I haven't had a holiday for 4 years. I haven't had a vacation for 4 years.
My parents have been married for 25 years. My parents have been married for 25 years.
- with the word since, which indicates the last time, before something (before talking)
She has been off work since the accident. She hasn't been working since she had an accident.
- with circumstances "ever, never, always, all my life, so far" - which emphasize an indefinite period of time, incompleteness.
I have never driven a car. — I have never driven a car.
My brother has always dreamed of a laptop. My brother has always dreamed of a laptop.
Have you ever gone to Italy? Have you ever traveled to Italy?
They ate a lot yesterday but they haven't eaten much so far today. They ate a lot yesterday, but not yet today.
3. Not often, but you can still meet the Present Perfect in subordinate clauses with as soon as, before, till, until, after, when, which is used instead of Future Perfect (in most cases it is replaced by present simple, especially in colloquial speech)
We will give back your car as soon as you've found a new job. We will give your car away as soon as you find a new job.
Time Comparison
We have already learned when and how Present Perfect Simple is used (the word Simple is sometimes added, especially in English grammars, so that students do not confuse it with Present Perfect Continuous). Everything seems to be clear. But when performing exercises and tests for setting the desired form of the verb, difficulties, mistakes often arise, and porridge forms in the head. Time table Present Perfect, Present Perfect Continuous, past simple, Past Perfect will help to highlight the most important differences.
Present Perfect |
Present Perfect Continuous |
past simple |
past perfect |
| The result of the action is emphasized; it is noted how often, when the action was performed (how much?), the result is most often planned, since - the last time | Emphasizes the duration of the action, how it proceeded; the result often acts as a side effect, since - the beginning of the action | ||
| I have done my duties about the house. Now we can have a rest. I have completed all household chores. Now I'm free. She hasn't played the piano since childhood. She hasn't played the piano since childhood. |
I have been doing my duties about the house for 4 hours. Now I am too tired. I have been doing my household chores for 4 hours. now I'm too tired.She hasn't been playing the piano since I came in. She hasn't played the piano since I came in. | ||
| Always talks about the present, action in the past as the engine of a new conversation, has no clear time limits, action is the result, life experience | Always speaks only about the past accomplished fact, the time is clearly indicated, the framework indicating the past, a statement of fact, consistent actions | ||
| I have finished my work and now I am going home. I finished work, now I'm going home.The boss has signed the documents. Can you post them at once? — The chief signed the documents. Can you send them immediately?Has the bus arrived? No, it hasn't. - Has the bus arrived? - Not. | I finished my work and went home. I finished work and went home. The boss signed the documents and I posted them at once. - The chief signed all the documents, and I immediately sent them. Did the bus arrive yesterday? No, it didn't. — Did the bus arrive yesterday? - No. | ||
| Even if the action is completed, it must necessarily be connected with the present. IN complex sentences, the main thing is in Present. | The action ended up to a certain point in the past, before another event, which is expressed by the Past Simple; in complex sentences, the main action is in the past | ||
| I have washed my car! look! It is clean. — I washed my car. Look. She is clean. The house is dusty. Nobody has come there for a year. - The house is dusty. No one has entered there for a year. | I had washed my car before my mother recalled. I washed my car before my mom reminded me. The house was dusty. Nobody had visited there for a year. — The house was dusty. No one has been in there for a year. |
Adverbs, circumstances or signal words in the Present Perfect
- So, the rules for the Present Perfect do not end there. Still worth a minute of your attention "since" and "for"
, which are sometimes very close in meaning and often set traps. Since is used as a starting point for when an action was last performed. Either indicates an action that has ended, or parallel situations that lasted a certain period of time. For - with the present perfect, it is used to indicate how much the action took place, its entire duration:
since 8 o'clock, since 1987, since Christmas; for hours, for a week, for ages, for a long time
- Just and just now in Russian they convey the meaning just now. The first does not indicate exactly when the action occurred, the second notes: “a minute ago”, “literally a second”. With just now we use Past Simple.
- ever (ever) never (never - only in affirmative sentences), already (already - in affirmative, already - so soon - and questions), still (also in negative sentences) yet (still - in negative sentences, already - in interrogative ones), lately (Lately), resently (recently, for last years, months, weeks)
Even after considering all the cases of use, their features and comparing them, the grammar of the present perfect requires consolidation and lasting assimilation. To begin with, it is worth reading and analyzing sentences with this time, which you can read in the article “Examples of sentences in Present Perfect”, then proceed to the tasks that you will also find on our website.
Present Perfect is very often used both in speech and in exams, tests, in other words, everywhere. That is why, it is necessary to firmly master the basics of one of the most important tenses of English grammar.
Present perfect (Present Perfect)- the tense of English verbs, which connects the past with the present - the present complete tense. This is where some confusion begins for a Russian person. There is no such tense in our language.
How to use Present Perfect
Let's watch a video in which Irina Shipilova, as always very cheerfully, dynamically, explains in detail this rather complicated construction for us - a present perfect.
A clear link between the past and the present. Place Present Perfect
Rules for constructing a present perfect (Present Perfect)
Auxiliary have/has + Past Participle. Instead of the full form have/has very often the British use the abbreviated (contracted) option ‘ve /’s - I’ve been there, She’s been there.
Pay Special attention on cuts she has=she's, he has = he's - here it is important not to confuse with another form - she is, he is, which in the abbreviated version looks and sounds exactly the same. Can be distinguished by application Past Participle after she has,he has, as well as out of context.
Table of Education Present Perfect (Present Perfect)
Present Perfect means: before
present moment, no matter when
specifically. If there were a specific time, we would have to use
Use Present perfect. Examples and text.
1. To express a past action that has a result in the present.
The action usually took place recently:
We 've lost our key. (We haven't got it now) - We lost our key (now we don't have it) What have you done to your dress? (It looks strange) - What did you do with your dress? (It looks weird) Jane ‘s had her baby! Jane has a baby! I 've ruined the meal. It's burnt. — I ruined the food. She burned out. The train hasn't arrived. (We are still waiting for it) - The train has not arrived (We are still waiting for it)The present perfect is often used with indefinite adverbs that help remember the acronym JEANY
Here it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that these adverbs are placed before Past Participle except YET, which is placed after Past Participle:
I haven't done my work yet(Negative) - I haven't done my job yet She hasn't been to Harrods yet(Negative) - She hasn't been to Harrods yet Has doctor been yet? (Question) Was there already a doctor? I ‘ve already done my homework— I have already done my homework2. To express an action that started in the past and is still going on.
Often used in this for, since and how long
We ‘ve lived in the same flat for twenty years - We have been living in the same apartment for twenty years He has worked as a teacher since 2010 - He has been a teacher since 2010 How long has she known him? How long has she known him?3. To express the experience that we once gained in life.
The action was committed in the past and has already been completed, but the effect of it remains. Again, it doesn't matter when this action was performed, the time is not specified, otherwise you need to use the Past Simple.
He ‘s written a book - He wrote a book have you ever had an operation? - Have you ever had an operation? Irina has lived in China. — Irina lives in China How many times have you been married?- How many times have you been married?
Text
Exercises, tests.
1. Present Perfect
elementary level
Start QuizAt the beginning of our acquaintance with the grammar of a foreign language, everything seems complicated, incomprehensible, unnecessary and illogical to us. But, if you look meticulously at your native speech, you can find much more difficult and incomprehensible combinations, however, we use them without even thinking. Over time, such a skill will be developed with a foreign language, you just need to be able to comprehend its grammar, choosing similar analogies with your native speech. And today we will continue to build a structured understanding of the English language, this time by studying perfect time in English. This a prime example a purely English perception of time, therefore, having caught its essence, we will become one step closer to the true English.
The word perfect is translated into Russian by the adjective "perfect". Already in the name itself, the purpose of this time is hidden - to indicate the completion of actions, events. But for the same there is a simple past tense, for sure, you say. Yes, but it is used for completely different purposes. Let's learn to distinguish between the use of these tenses.
When we talk about long-past events or a chain of simultaneous actions, we put the predicate in Past Simple. Thus, the following meaning will be conveyed: certain actions took place yesterday, the day before yesterday, last week, or sometime ago, and have absolutely nothing to do with the current state of affairs. A short Russian phrase describes such situations well: “It was, but it has passed.”
- Yesterday I went to the post-office, wrote a telegram and sent it -YesterdayIwenton themail,wrotetelegramAndsenther.
The perfect tense is aimed not only at expressing the events themselves, but also at indicating how long they take, or at what point they will end. That is, the perfect always has a connection with other actions or a specific time, and it is this connection that is emphasized in the statement.
Moreover, this construction can be expressed in all three forms of time: Present, Past and Future. We note right away that the future perfect is rarely used.
- I had learned the topic by 7 o'clock – Ilearnedthistopicto 7hours.(connection with time)
- MaryandNickhaveknowneachothersincetheymetin2009 - Mary and Nick have known each other since they met in 2009. (actions are related to each other and to a specific time)
These differences are not significant for Russian grammar, but they are very great importance in English. Consider what elements the grammatical core of such phrases consists of.
Perfect designs in English
As already noted, there are present, past and future tenses of the perfect group. Let's briefly analyze each of them:
perfect in present tense
The present completed tense is used to refer to events that have just ended at a given point in time. It is also used when referring to some experience, the result of past events. And the last case of use is the construction of predicates with verbs that do not have a continuous tense form, i.e. an indication of a process of action that began a long time ago and has not been completed to this day. The present perfect tense is formed in English with the help of several elements.
Please note that the 3rd person has a special form of the auxiliary verb - has.
- My dog (1) has (2) just broken (3) the vase (4) – Mydogonlywhatsmashedvase.
In the example, an adverb is wedged between the parts of the predicate, which is quite common in these constructions. But, the adverb does not have to be in this place.
Perfect in past tense
Accordingly, if events and actions refer to the past tense, we put the predicate in the past perfect. There can be two situations here: both actions ended in the past, but one ended earlier than the other (this is what the past perfect is); or else, one event ended while the second was still going on. Depending on these situations, the perfect will coexist with either the simple past or the continuous. The construction of the past completed differs from the present only in the form of the auxiliary verb, which now remains unchanged in all persons.
- She(1) had (2) already written (3) the letter when I called her (4) – Shealreadycompletedletter,whenIcalledto her.
- I (1) had (2) done (3) my homework by 5 o'clock and was playing computer games (4) – Idonemyhomework and playing computer games.
Perfect in the future tense
The future perfect allows you to indicate the completion of events with the onset of some other action or point in time in the future. At the same time, the second in meaning future action is placed in Present form simple. To build such combinations, one more element is added to the construction - will. The auxiliary have is still unchanged.
- Jack (1) will (2) have (3) sent (4) me these documents before I arrive at the airport (5) – Jackwill sendto methesethe documentsbefore,howII'll comeinthe airport.
- They(1) will (2)have(3) repaired(4) my car Friday – They arewill repairminecartoFriday.
Keep in mind that such sentences are rare in speech.
Perfect time in English - a table with time markers
Let's summarize all the knowledge gained in one common table, so new information is faster and easier to assimilate. To facilitate the understanding of perfect tenses, we will give examples of tense circumstances by which one can easily recognize that this particular grammatical construction is required to be used in the statement.
| Perfect Tense | |||
| Category | + | ? | — |
| The present. The completed action is related to the present. |
…have/has+ plus. II...
The children have already gone to bed. The children have already gone to bed. |
have/has + subject + adverb II…?
Have the children gone to bed? Did the kids go to bed? |
…have/has + not +incl. II...
(abbr. haven't/hasn't) The children haven't gone to bed yet. The kids haven't gone to bed yet. |
| Past. The action ended before some point/event in the past. |
…had+ plus. II…
My life had changed a lot by 2012. My life has changed a lot by 2012. |
Had+ subject. + plus. II…?
Had your life changed a lot by 2012? Has your life changed a lot by 2012? |
… had+ not +incl. II...
(abbr. hadn't) My life hadn't changed much by 2012. My life hasn't changed much by 2012. |
| Future. The action will end before the future event/time. |
…will + have +incl. II...
They will have done the task till next month. They will complete this task by next month. |
+subject + have +incl. II...
Will they have done the task till next month? Will they complete this task by next month? |
…will + not + have +incl. II...
(abbr. won't) They won't have done the task till next month. They won't complete this task until next month. |
| Time markers: just, already, yet, before, so far, ever, for a long time, never, lately, recently, as soon as, scarcely/hardly…when. | |||
Any tenses of the Perfect category indicate the perfection of the action, that the situation is complete, and not long or permanent. As for The Present Perfect Tense, ‘this is the time, which, of course, is associated with the present action, as evidenced by its name.
general information
The main feature of this type of temporal form is that in sentences with the Present Perfect it is about a completed action, the result of which is directly related to the current time. Very often time, where there is just no emphasis on communication with the present, and the basis is solely the fact of the event.
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 remained a child
I have made you a bed upstairs, make yourself at home - I made you a bed upstairs, feel at home
As can be seen from these examples, the present perfect tense, as it is called in Russian transcription, is used to express not just an event that took place in the past, but reflecting the result of a completed action that is relevant now.
Education Present Perfect
The present completed tense often causes difficulties for those who are still at the stage of learning English, because here several nuances come into force at once, which are extremely important to consider. First, the Present Perfect is necessarily formed using auxiliary verbs. These are such auxiliary verbs as have and has (the latter is used only for 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 is in the form Past Participle, or Participle II (people - 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 the ending -ed is simply 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 the opportunity to meet anyone here
She has worked in this company for 3 years already - She has worked in this company for 3 years already
Questions and negatives
Interrogative sentences
here they are formed with the same auxiliary verbs have and has, which in the general question, i.e., in the one, the answer to which can be “yes” or “no”, are in the original position:
Have you already finished your course work? Have you finished your coursework 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 has he written so many articles today?
The Present Perfect Formula in a 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. Negation looks like this:
· I haven't completed my daily report yet - I haven't 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 time in special interrogative and negative constructions with the inclusion of the phrase “ever”, where the present perfect time markers used are 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 Present Perfect
The use of Present Perfect is typical for the following situations:
1. Finished action
In order to display a perfect action that has a clear echo in the present tense and, in contrast to time, a symbol is used to express completeness. Satellites of the Present Perfect 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 the phrase), just, for (shows the duration of the action), as well as those time frames, which indicate that the action is not finished 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 - This year I have done a lot (in the sense that the year is not over yet)
Note: Present Perfect just 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 cooked breakfast
Note: the so-called American English, which is tightly integrated into 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 that regulate the use of Perfect. In this version, the perfect is ignored, although the classical grammar does not approve of this:
I have lost my key - I lost my key (I lost my key)
2. With the preposition "since" + Past Simple
The situation deserves special attention when with Present Perfect since, a preposition that translates as "from", "from the moment" is used in the same sentence along with. In this sense, the construction of the sentence is constructed 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 the Present Perfect and the second part uses the 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, it is the “since I left for Moscow” part. The use of Perfect here is relevant for the reason that the action is performed (or has not been performed since then and still, which shows the result to today). Present Perfect examples with such situations are not uncommon, and English language in this case gives a well-founded reason for such use.
3. In adventitious time
The use of this time is also typical for those cases when the perfect is part of the subordinate parts of time. The marker words of the Present Perfect 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. The sentences on the 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: This rule has an exception. Provided that the verbs in the 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 would be correct to put the usual Present Simple, more often used in conditional offer 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 be 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 emphasize expressively; the 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 performed several times is expressively emphasized)
Summing up
As it becomes clear from all of the above, phrases in the perfect are formed and used when there is an intention to demonstrate the completion of an action or to display the period of time that it takes up to the present moment. The Present Perfect education scheme is quite simple, although it requires memorization. Like any other type of temporary form, Present Perfect Tense has very clear rules for use, so the main thing is to strictly follow all the instructions, and then this time will not cause any inconvenience.
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