Present perfect use. Present Perfect - present perfect tense
From the school desk, students are frightened by difficult-to-understand times of English that need to be crammed, otherwise you will not communicate and understand the language even at a minimal level. In fact, the stiff English have only three times, as in our great and mighty language: present, past and future. However, it should be understood: each time has its own characteristics, in other words, types. In this article, we will consider the present tense and its form. Present Perfect simple.
English present tense
The present tense in English has 4 types:
- present perfect.
- present simple.
- Present Perfect Continuous.
Exercises usually help to consolidate all the complexities of using these forms. It should be understood that these are not disparate rules, they have a certain system. The main thing in learning is to understand the essence of each tense when it needs to be put into practice in writing and when in a live conversation.
Time formula
The name of the temporal form Present Perfect Simple is translated as "present perfect tense". The perfect form is one of the most commonly used in communication among the inhabitants of England and America, although in the speech of the latter we will hear it less often. This type of present tense is formed according to the following formula: auxiliary + main verb in form 3.
Third form for regular verbs is formed by adding and for irregular ones there is a form, which is usually given in dictionaries.
For example:
I have already cleaned my room. - "I have already cleaned my room" (the verb clean is correct).
He has already drunk his tea. - "He has already drunk his tea" (the verb drink is incorrect).
Thus, we can say that the present perfect tense is quite simple in education, the main thing is to know whether you use the correct form of the verb or not.
The third part of the table in dictionary editions and textbooks contains the third form of the verb. For example: the verb be (translated as to be, to exist) has the following forms: be/was (were)/been.
Using the present perfect tense
Present Perfect Simple is used when it is necessary to express exactly the result of an action that has already been completed. With the help of this tense, attention is focused on the result and thus it is clear that the action has already been completed. We also use Simple when talking about an action that happened in an unfinished period of time. Remember that the main thing for understanding the perfect is the connection with the present moment and the fact that the action is completed. For example: " I have already eaten melon." - I have already eaten melon. That is, it means the result of the action itself, the actual result.
These two types of temporary forms belong to the present time, but have different meaning. Present Simple is used when it comes to events that occur usually and everyday. The main pointers for it are the following words: always (always), usually (usually), seldom (rarely), often (often). Present Perfect expresses an action that has already been completed and there is a certain result at the time of the speaker's speech. Also, these two tenses have different education formulas. Simple tense is used in live communication much more often than the perfect. He has many words - pointers, that is, words that directly say that it is necessary to use the perfect tense.
The difference between Present Perfect and Past Simple
In learning English, the question always arises when it is necessary to use the Present Perfect, and when the Past Simple. It is necessary to understand the basic postulates of the use of these forms of time. The most important thing to remember: "Past simple" is the past tense, it talks about those events that have already happened. "Present perfect" - present tense, it talks about what was started earlier and has not yet been completed, or finished, but has a relationship with today. Sometimes you can understand from the meaning of the text itself that it is necessary to use the perfect. You should choose the time depending on what you need to say to the speaker, based on the situation that has arisen.
Timing Rules
If the situation or time period about which in question, has ended and has no connection with the present, then "Past simple" should be used. When using the Past Simple tense, this can mean that this person can no longer perform any action. If you do not say in more detail about the reason for choosing this time in a conversation, then you might think that the person is no longer alive.
She always loved watching TV. - "She always liked to watch TV" (meaning that now she doesn't watch it anymore, because she died).
She has always loved watching TV. - "She always liked to watch TV" (she loved before and still loves).
Etymology of the word
The word perfect comes from the Latin language and is translated as "completion", and the meaning of "perfection", in the sense of the absence of flaws, acquired much later. In fact, the word perfect acquired the meaning of "perfect" by expanding its former meaning, because something created is completed when it no longer has flaws. Perfect tenses are called so because they refer to actions that are completed relative to the present, for example: "I ate bread" is an action that is on this moment completed. However, not every use of the present perfect is associated with the idea of completion. In fact, the perfect form is in many European languages, including in our Russian language.
English is not difficult. The rules are easy to remember and there aren't many of them.
Perfect time value and translation.
Perfect (Perfect) denotes an action that precedes a certain moment or another action in the past, present or future tense. The main purpose is to express antecedence (past, present and future).
In Russian there is no form similar to Perfect, therefore, in order to correctly translate a sentence, you need to think about its meaning.
Example:
Present Perfect: I have bought a lamp. I bought a lamp.
Past Indefinite: Yesterday. I bought a lamp. Yesterday I bought a lamp.
The first sentence with the Present Perfect already shows the result of the action: I bought a lamp. The lamp has already been purchased by now.
The second sentence, where the verb in Past Indefinite is simply talking about a fact that happened yesterday.
All perfect times are formed using the auxiliary verb to have in the appropriate tense (present, past and future) and the 3rd main form of the verb.
Present Perfect (Real perfect)
The Present Perfect expresses the connection between the past and the present. This relationship can be expressed in two ways:
firstly, the presence of the result of a previously committed action;
secondly, the continuation at the present time of an action that began in the past;
| affirmative form | Interrogative form | Negative form |
|---|---|---|
| I have seen the film. I watched a movie |
Have I seen the film? I watched a movie? |
I have not seen the film. I didn't watch the movie |
|
He, she, it has seen the film. He, she, it watched (la) the film. |
Has he, she, seen the film. Did he, she, it see (la) the movie? |
He, she, it has not seen the film. He, she, it did not watch (la) the film. |
|
We have seen the film. We watched a movie. |
Have we seen the film? Have we seen the movie? |
We have not seen the film. We haven't seen the movie. |
|
You have seen the film. You have watched the movie. |
Have you seen the film. Have you watched the movie? |
You have not seen the film. You haven't seen the movie. |
|
They have seen the film. They watched the movie. |
Have they seen the film. Did they watch the movie? |
They have not seen the film. They haven't seen the movie. |
Present Perfect (The present is perfect) can be used in the following cases:
1. To express an action that has ended by the time of speech, so it can be called present. The time of the action is usually not important, since the very fact of the action to date or its result is important.
Kate has read this book. Anna has (already) read this book.
Do not go to the shop, I have bought bread. Don't go to the store, I bought bread.
I have seen the film and I think it's dull. I have (already) seen the movie and I think it's boring.
Note:
The present perfect tense (Present Perfect) is often used with adverbs such as:
- just (just now);
- already (already);
- lately (recently);
- of late (in Lately);
- yet (in negative sentences);
2. To express an action that has already taken place for the period in which it took place, is still ongoing and can be indicated by the circumstance of time today, this week, this month, this year, this century.
I have seen the film twice this week. I have already watched this movie twice this week.
I have written a letter this morning. I already wrote a letter this morning.
3. To express an action that began in the past, continued to the present and proceeds in the present, that is, an action that covers a whole period of time, including the present moment.
I have always been in love with you. I have always loved you (I loved you before, I love you now).
I have known him all my life. I have known him all my life. (I knew before, I know now).
Past perfect (Past Perfect)
The past perfect (Past Perfect) expresses the past action that preceded any particular moment in the past or ended before another action in the past, the previous one. It is translated in the past tense, sometimes with the addition already.
| affirmative form | Interrogative form | Negative form |
|---|---|---|
| I had seen the film. I have (already) seen the movie |
Had I seen the film? Have I (already) seen the movie? |
I had not seen the film. I haven't (yet) seen the movie |
|
He, she, it had seen the film. He, she, it has (already) seen (la) the film. |
Had he, she, it seen the film. Has he, she, it (already) seen (la) the movie? |
He, she, it had not seen the film. He, she, it (yet) has not seen (la) the film. |
|
We had seen the film. We have (already) seen the movie. |
Had we seen the film? Have we (already) seen the movie? |
We had not seen the film. We haven't (yet) seen the movie. |
|
You had seen the film. You have (already) seen the movie. |
Had you seen the film. Have you (already) seen the movie? |
You had not seen the film. You have not (yet) seen the movie. |
|
They had seen the film. They have (already) seen the movie. |
Had they seen the film. Have they (already) seen the movie? |
They had not seen the film. They haven't (yet) seen the movie. |
The past perfect (Past Perfect) can be used in the following cases:
1. To express a past action that has already taken place up to a certain point in the past. A given point in time can be indicated by a circumstance of time. (by 6 o'clock, by Saturday, by that time, by the end of the week)
He had left by the 5th of January. He left before January 5th.
I had never seen him before yesterday. I never saw him until yesterday.
I had cleaned the office by 7 o'clock. By seven o'clock I had cleaned the office.
2. To express a past action that has already taken place before another, later past action, expressed by a verb in Past Indefinite, that is, the past perfect (Past Perfect) is used in complex sentences.
He had already gone when I arrived. He had already left when I showed up.
My mother had visited Moscow before, and so the city was not new for her. My mother had visited Moscow earlier, and therefore the city was not unfamiliar to her.
After she had cried, she felt better. After she cried, she felt better.
Future Perfect
The Future Perfect is used to express a future action that will end before a certain point in the future (pre-future).
| affirmative form | Interrogative form | Negative form |
|---|---|---|
| I shall have seen the film. I will watch a movie |
Shall I have seen the film? Will I watch a movie? |
I shall not have seen the film. I won't watch the movie |
|
He, she, it will have seen the film. He, she, it will watch (la) the film. |
Will he, she, it seen the film. Will he, she, it watch a movie? |
He, she, it will not have seen the film. He, she, it will not watch a movie. |
|
We shall have seen the film. We'll watch a movie. |
Shall we have seen the film? Are we going to watch a movie? |
We shall not have seen the film. We won't watch a movie. |
|
You will have seen the film. You watch a movie. |
Will you see the film. Will you watch the movie? |
You will not have seen the film. You don't watch the movie. |
|
They will have seen the film. They will watch a movie. |
Will they see the film. Will they watch a movie? |
They will not have seen the film. They won't watch the movie. |
The moment in the future before which the action will end is expressed as:
A) The circumstance of time with the preposition by. (by 6 o'clock, by the end of the week)
B) Another future action, expressed by Present Indefinite in a subordinate clause of time and condition with such unions: before, when.
When they meet next time, he will have read this book. The next time they meet, he will read this book.
I shall have finished this work before you return. I will have finished this work before you return.
Future Perfect is used with already and other adverbial words, these words are placed after shall.
By the end of this week my friend will already have written his report. By the end of the week my friend will have written his report.
Note:
The Future Perfect is not used to express a future action in adverbial circumstances. subordinate clauses time and conditions that are entered by the words after, when, as soon as, if and others. In these cases, the Present Perfect is used instead of the Future Perfect.
She will go to the country as soon as she passed her exams. She will go to the village as soon as she passes her exams.
I shall give you the book after I have read it. I will give you the book after I have read it.
They will start at 7 o'clock if it has stopped raining by that time. They will leave by seven o'clock if the rain stops by that time.
It is the turn of Present Perfect Tense - Present Perfect Tense.
Formation of the Present Perfect Tense
Present Perfect Tense is formed using the auxiliary verb have + (third column in the table irregular verbs)Google shortcode
Pay attention to the formula for the formation of R.R.T. indicated in the table. As you can see, the Present Perfect Tense is formed with the help of the verb and the past participle, and the participle is a fixed part of the formula, and the verb have changes depending on the person and number of the subject and acts as an auxiliary verb in this tense.
When forming an interrogative form, the auxiliary verb have (has) is placed before the subject. When translating interrogative sentences, follow the established word order interrogative sentence 1 - interrogative word (for example, who? when? what?), 2 - auxiliary verb (have or has), 3 - subject, 4 - predicate (in this case participle)
- Have you ordered pizza? - Did you order pizza? (there is no question word, so the question starts with have)
- Where has he put my glasses? Where did he put my glasses?
Questions to the subject begin with the word Who?
- Who has painted this picture? - who painted this picture?
When is Present Perfect Tense used?
The present perfect tense, although it belongs to the group of present, denotes an action that has already happened, completed by the present moment. This tense is used when self is important. fact of an action.
- I have already bought bread - the action has already taken place, no matter when it happened - I have bought some bread
The action expressed by Present Perfect is translated into Russian perfect past tense verb (What did you do?)
The time of the action is either not indicated at all, or covers a period of time that has not yet elapsed (that is, the period has not yet ended, but the action has already taken place ): Today ( today), this morning, afternoon or evening ( this morning/ afternoon/ evening), this week ( this week), this month ( this month), this year ( this year)
- Peter has washed his car today - Peter washed the car today (still today, but the car has already been washed)
- I have met her twice this week - This week I met her twice (the week is still going on, and I have already met her twice)
Often adverbs are used with the Present Perfect:
- I have already finished reading this newspaper.- I have already finished reading the newspaper
- Have you posted the letter yet? Have you sent the letter yet?
- The adverb already in questions conveys surprise and means not “already”, but “really ... already”. Compare:
Has your brother arrived yet? "Has your brother arrived yet?" And
Has your brother already arrived? “Has your brother already arrived?” - Note that the adverb yet is always placed at the end of a sentence.
The verb to be is used in the present perfect tense in the sense of "to visit, go, visit" and is accompanied by the preposition of the direction to:
- Have you ever been to London? -Have you ever been to London?
- I have been to Japan twice - I have been to Japan twice
For and Since
Verbs in the Present Perfect tense can also denote actions that began long before the moment of speech, but still have not ended. In this case, verbs are used with such circumstances of time as for - during and since - since (as long as)
In this case, the verb is translated into Russian in the present tense:
- She has known my brother for five years - She has known my brother for five years
- I've known her sister since 1992 - I've known her sister since 1992
Present Perfect or Past Simple?
In Russian, verbs in both Past Simple and Present Perfect are translated by past tense verbs, so it is sometimes difficult for English learners to determine what time to use in a given situation. The following table will help you understand the difference between the two more clearly. English times:
(have, has) and past participle forms: I have done, he has played. Past Participle (participle) of regular verbs is 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. Additionally about.
Abbreviated forms:
‘ve= have
‘s= has
haven't= have not
hasnt= has not
Using Present Perfect
1. An action that has taken place so far, the result of which is available. The accent of the speaker is to draw the attention of the interlocutor to the result of the fact that the action took place (there is always a connection between the past and the present).
Examples: I have lost my luggage. - I lost my luggage. (I have no baggage now - the speaker reports a specific result of an action have lost; this idea can also be expressed by the following sentence: My luggage is lost. – My luggage is lost.)
I have read a new book. – I have 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 circumstantial words denoting periods of time that have not yet elapsed ( 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 - so far, not yet - not yet, ever - ever)*
Examples: I 've never been there before. “I have never been here.
They haven't finished dinner yet. They haven't finished dinner yet.
* Please note that the absence or presence in the 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) recently and just- just now.
Examples: They have just finished. - They just finished.
Have you heard from her lately? Have you heard of her lately?
5. Actions performed over 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 - within 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). Additionally about.
Examples: I have known her mother for 10 years old I have known her mother for 10 years.
He has been here since 3 o'clock. He has been here since 3 o'clock.
6. Never used with designations of 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 clauses of time and conditions ( after conjunctions when - when, while, after - after, as soon as - as soon as, if - if, until - until) instead of to express an action that will end at a certain point in the future. It is translated into Russian in the future tense.
Examples:After he has repaired the washing machine, he'll be paid. - After he fixes washing machine he will be paid.
I'll come as soon as I have finished writing this letter. I will come as soon as I finish writing this letter.
After studying Past, Present and Future Simple, this topic will seem very complicated and incomprehensible. One has only to translate this time into Russian, the panic is already beginning. How can one time unite past and present? That is the essence of this time. Consider the simplest example:
I have broken my leg. - I broke my leg.
As you can see, the speaker does not give the exact date and time, but simply tells that he broke his leg in the past and is currently in a cast.
The Present Perfect (present perfect tense) is formed by the 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 consider the formula, it becomes clear that the past participle is an invariable part in the sentence, but have (has) will change depending on the person and number of the narrator. At any time, including the Present Perfect, the rules must be taught in such a way that they can be remembered at any time. If you memorize the above scheme, then there will be no problems in solving the exercises. But you should not stop at one scheme, so we move on.
Present Perfect: rules and examples
This time marks the completed action by the time of the narration. The difficulty of perceiving Present Perfect time lies in the fact that when translating a sentence into our language, verbs denote the past tense. You should not miss the moment that the translated verbs refer to the present tense, since they have a connection with the result of the action. 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 the rules regarding the Present Perfect say that in this tense it is strictly forbidden to use words indicating a specific past time:
At that moment;
Such circumstances of time are used only in Past Simple. But in the Present Perfect, the rules allow the use of helper 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 a few times at summer camp. (That is, the speaker saw the person, but does not name the specific date and time).
It is worth noting that the rules characteristic of Present Perfect are most difficult for beginners to learn. English language. 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. So, he has experience of traveling to this country.
2. Changes that have occurred in a segment (during) time.
He has grown a bear since the last time I saw him.
This example shows an action that happened in a certain period of time. The speaker did not see the other person for some 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 achievements of the guy, 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 expected to complete. The sentence is about a guy who, at the time of the dialogue, has not yet arrived, but he will come soon, and the process will be completed. pay attention to the last word yet. At the beginning of the study of the topic, it was said that the Present Perfect time has its own helper words. This word is one of them. It already serves as a signal that this sentence belongs to the time of 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's games have been played 5 times so far, but at the moment of the story, it is still playing.
In Present Perfect time, the rules allow the use of the following tense circumstances:
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 has taken place has a connection with the present time, then in the second case there is no connection. In Past Simple auxiliary verb did acts, and in Present Perfect - have or has. In the first case, time does not play any role. What matters here is the result or the fact that the action is done. In the second, only the time when this action occurred is important.
The following are examples of how these tenses are used:
Present Perfect Continuous Simple. Rules of use
Present Perfect Continuous Simple implies a certain process that began in the past tense and is still ongoing at the time of the story. And to put it more simply, this is an action that began in the past tense and by the time of the conversation either had just ended or was still in progress.
How is 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, it is necessary to put the verb to be in the Present Perfect (have been or has been). Then the sacrament 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 the conversation had already ended.
Even though it's pretty difficult topic, do not give up. English grammar is not "Chinese literacy". You just need to be careful when studying this topic, analyze examples, perform exercises of varying complexity, memorize the rules. Only then will you be able to master the entire grammar of the English language.
