Present and perfect tenses in English. Present Perfect Continuous Simple
The concept of present tense in English does not always coincide with ours. One of the most striking examples of such a difference is the Present Perfect.
In this article we will understand what the Present Perfect is, how it is formed, in what cases it is used, what rules it obeys, and we will consolidate our knowledge with real examples of sentences with translation.
What is Present Perfect Tense?
Present Perfect Tense(Present Perfect) is the present perfect tense in English. It denotes an action that has completed at the current moment in time.
This is the main difficulty of the Present Perfect tense for students. In Russian there is no tense similar to the Present Perfect. For us, if something happens now, it is the present, and if it has happened, it is already the past.
But not for the British. They perceive time a little differently. According to the logic of native speakers, the action may well end in the present or close to the present moment. The Present Perfect exists to express such a connection between the past and the present.
Because of these features in the understanding of actions and time, the Present Perfect is usually translated into Russian as a verb in the past tense.
I have already done my homework - I have already done my homework
This example uses the Present Perfect tense (have done) because we are talking about the fact that the action (working on homework) ended very recently.
But we translate the sentence into Russian using the past tense (already done).
How is the Present Perfect formed?
Time Present Perfect is formed using the auxiliary verb have / has and Past Participle (the third form of the semantic verb: V3).
The auxiliary verb changes depending on the subject:
- I / You / We / They → have (for 1st, 2nd person and forms plural)
- She / He / It → has (for 3rd person singular)
The construction of the Present Perfect tense is completed by a semantic verb in the third form (V3).
If the semantic verb is of the correct form, then its third form (V3) is formed using the ending -ed.
If the semantic verb is irregular, then we take its third form (V3) from the table of irregular verbs.
For example:
- to try → tried (try) to cook → cooked (cook) to finish → finished (finish)
- to get → got to keep → kept to see → seen
Statement:
An affirmative sentence in the Present Perfect is formed using the auxiliary verb have / has and the semantic verb ending in -ed for regular verbs or the third form irregular verb(V3) according to the formula:
- I / You / We / They + have + Ved (V3)
- She / He / It + has + Ved (V3)
I have decided - I decided
You have played - You played
He has done - He did
It has turned on - It turned on
In sentences and everyday speech you can often find a shortened form of the auxiliary verbs have / has. It is formed by adding ‘ve (for have) or ‘s (for has) to the subject:
- I have = I've
- You have = You've
- We have = We've
- They have = They've
- She has = She's
- He has = He's
- It has = It's
I’ve done my tasks - I completed my tasks
He’s washed the dishes - He washed the dishes
Negation:
Negative sentences in the Present Perfect are formed by adding the particle not after the auxiliary verb have / has, but before the main semantic verb. The formula looks like this:
- I / You / We / They + have not + Ved (V3)
- She / He / It + has not + Ved (V3)
I have not done my homework - I didn’t do my homework
They have not come - They did not come
She has not finished her tasks - She did not complete her tasks
It has not turned on - It did not turn on
In negation, the particle not can be shortened by joining it to the auxiliary verb have / has:
- Have not = haven’t
- Has not = hasn’t
I haven’t washed my hair - I didn’t wash my hair
She hasn’t been to London yet - She hasn’t been to London yet
Question:
An interrogative sentence in the Present Perfect is formed by placing the auxiliary verb have / has at the beginning of the sentence. The formula will be like this:
- Have + I / You / We / They + Ved (V3)
- Has + She / He / It + Ved (V3)
Have I bought all the presents? - Did I buy all the gifts?
Have you finished the classes? -Have you finished your classes?
Has she just arrived home? - Has she just arrived home?
Has it turned on? - Did it turn on?
Special questions are formed using question words. Such as when (when), how (how), what (what), where (where) and others. The following is the same word order as in the question.
- QW + have + I / You / We / They + Ved (V3)
- QW + has + She / He / It + Ved (V3)
What has he just said? - What did he just say?
How long have you been knocked on the door? - How long have you been knocking on the door?
When is the Present Perfect used?
Now let’s look at the most common cases of using and using the Present Perfect tense in speech:
- Completed action in the present
In this case, the emphasis is on the result of the completed action. In other words, when the result of an action is visible in the present.
I have cooked a good dinner - I prepared a good dinner (the action is completed, the result is a good dinner)
I know Nina. We have already met - I know Nina. We have already met (the meeting took place in the past, but we are interested in the result in the present)
- Unfinished action in the present
The Present Perfect tense is used when we describe an action that began in the past, has not yet ended in the present, but the result is obvious.
I’ve written five pages of the new book this morning - I wrote five pages of a new book this morning (the morning is not over yet, he can write a few more pages)
She has finished watching “Harry Potter” this week - She finished watching “Harry Potter” this week (the week is still going on, but she has already finished watching the film)
- Fact of action / personal experience
If it is important for the speaker to emphasize the fact of some accomplished event without an exact indication of the time, the Present Perfect also comes to the rescue. This tense is often used when we talk about our past experiences or when we ask our interlocutor about it.
I have been to Bratislava - I was (was) in Bratislava
In a question when we are interested in a fact from someone’s life, we also use the Present Perfect:
Have you ever been to France? -Have you ever been to France?
Present Perfect tense markers
Present Perfect is used with imprecise expressions and words that indicate a period of time that has not yet ended
- never (never)
- ever (ever)
- already (already)
- yet (yet) / not yet (not yet)
- often (often)
- lately (in lately)
- just (just now)
- once (once)
- recently (recently)
- before (before)
- today (today)
- this week (this week)
- this year (this year)
- for an hour (within an hour)
- for a long time (long time)
- since two o’clock - from two o’clock
- ince December – from December
Examples of Present Perfect sentences with translation
Affirmative:
I’ve studied English since my childhood - I have studied English since childhood
She has visited this beauty shop recently - She recently visited this cosmetics store
People have walked on the Moon - People walked on the Moon.
We’ve just eaten, so we don’t want to go to the cafe - We just ate, so we don’t want to go to the cafe
I have just cut my finger - I just cut my finger
Negative:
He has not returned from school yet - He has not yet returned from school
I haven’t bought the new car. This is my old one - I didn’t buy a new car. This is old
Jane hasn’t been to Asia yet - Jane hasn’t been to Asia yet
I have not been at university this week because of the flu - I was not at the university this week because of the flu
I haven’t replaced the batteries in the doorbell - I did not replace the batteries in the doorbell
Interrogative:
Have you seen this film about space? -Have you seen this film about space?
Has Jimmy bought the tickets yet? - Jimmy already bought tickets?
How many deals has she made at the moment? - How many deals has she concluded so far?
How much coffee have you drunk today? - How much coffee did you drink today?
How long have you known Mary? - How long have you known Mary?
I was constantly confused English times, and it was very difficult for me to understand in what cases to use this unfortunate Present Perfect. Today I will try to explain as clearly and simply as possible in what cases it is necessary to use the Present Perfect, and not some other English tenses.
Uncertain time in the past
We use the Present Perfect to say that an event happened in certain moment in the past. That is, we do not say when exactly this happened. We only say that it happened in the past. It is not necessary to name a specific time. You cannot use the Present Perfect with expressions such as yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, and so on. And with expressions that do not name a specific moment in time, the Present Perfect should be used. These are expressions ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, and so on.
Let's look at a few examples:
I have seen that movie twenty times.(I've seen this movie 20 times).
I think I have met him once before.(I think I met him once).
There have been many earthquakes in California.(There have been many earthquakes in California).
People have traveled to the Moon.(People have flown to the moon).
People have not traveled to Mars.(People didn't go to Mars).
Have you read the book yet?(Haven't you read this book yet?)
Nobody has ever climbed that mountain.(No one has ever climbed that mountain.)
A: Has there ever been a war in Russia?(Has Russia ever had a war?)
B: Yes, there has been a war in Russia.(Yes, there was a war in Russia).
Note that none of the examples specified a specific point in time.
Still, such a formulation as “uncertain point in time” may not be clear to you. Let's then divide the use of the Present Perfect by topic.
1. Mentioning someone's experience
You can use the present perfect tense when talking about your experience. This is the same as the phrase " I have the experience of…“Accordingly, if you have not had a similar experience to this day, you can say so using the same tense. However, you cannot mention a specific event using the Present Perfect.
I have been to France.(This means that you have had experience in France. You may have been there once, or perhaps several times).
I have been to France three times.(You can put “times” at the end of the sentence as many times as you like).
I have never been to France.(This states that you have no experience of traveling to France.)
I think I have seen that movie before. I've seen this movie before (You've already had this experience).
He has never traveled by train. He has never traveled by train (no such experience)
Joan has studied two foreign languages. Joan learned two foreign languages. (She knows them now).
A: Have did you ever meet him?(Have you met him?)
B: No, I have not met him.(No, I haven’t.)
2. Changes that have occurred over a certain period of time
You have grown since the last time I saw you.(You have grown since the last time I saw you.)
The government has become more interested in arts education.(The government has become more interested in arts education.)
Japanese has become one of the most popular courses at the university since the Asian studies program was established.(Japanese has become a popular language in universities since the advent of Asian studies programs.)
My English has really improved since I moved to Australia.(I have improved my English noticeably since moving to Australia.)
3. Achievements
The present perfect is used when we mention the achievements of a person or humanity. But we don’t name a specific moment.
Man has walked on the Moon.(Man landed on the moon.)
Our son has learned how to read.(Our son learned to read.)
Doctors have cured many deadly diseases.(Doctors have cured many deadly diseases.)
Scientists have split the atom.(Scientists split the atom.)
4. An event that we are waiting for has not yet occurred
By using the present incomplete tense we mean that we are waiting for some event to happen.
James has not finished his homework yet.(James didn't finish his homework.)
Susan hasn't mastered Japanese, but she can communicate.(Susan has not yet become an expert in Japanese, but she can communicate.)
Bill has still not arrived. (Bill hasn't arrived yet.)
The train hasn't stopped.(The train did not stop.)
5. Multiple actions at different times
We use the Present Perfect to talk about events that happened several times at different times in the past. The use of this particular time indicates that the process has not yet ended and may happen again.
For example:
The army has attacked that city five times.(The army attacked the city several times.)
I have had four quizzes and five tests so far this semester.(I had four quizzes and five tests this semester.)
We have had many major problems while working on this project.(We had a lot of big problems while working on the project.)
She has talked to several specialists about her problem, but nobody knows why she is sick.(She has talked to several specialists about her problem, but no one knows what is wrong with her.)
Expressing time with the Present Perfect
Let me remind you once again that the use of the Present Perfect characterizes some time in the past. It is not so important to name any exact moment in time. Sometimes we want to limit the period of time in the past when talking about our own or someone else's experiences.
For example:
Have were you to Mexico in the last year? Have you been to Mexico at least once in the past year?
I have seen that movie six times in the last year. For last year I watched this movie 6 times.
They have had three tests in the last week. For last week they had 3 tests.
She graduated from university less than three years ago. She has worked for three different companies so far. She graduated from university less than three years ago. During this time she worked for three different companies.
My car has broken down three times this week. This week my car broke down 3 times.
IMPORTANT NOTICE. "Last year" And "in the last year" have different meanings. "Last year" means "last year", which is a specific point in time, so the Past Simple is used. “in the last year” is 365 days ago, that is, on any of these days. This does not imply a specific point in time, which is why the Present Perfect is used.
I went to Mexico last year. I went to Mexico last year (a year ago).
I have been to Mexico in the last year. I have been to Mexico on at least one of the 365 days between now and last.
Duration from past to present
Relevant for verbs that do not form an ing form (non-continuous verbs), as well as for mixed verbs. In this case, we use the Present Perfect to denote events that began in the past and are still ongoing. “For five minutes,” “for two weeks,” and “since Tuesday” are all expressions that can be used with the present perfect tense.
I have had a cold for two weeks. I've been sick with a cold for two weeks. Got sick in the past, but still continues to get sick.
She has been in England for six months. She has been in England for 6 months. She arrived last year and hasn't left yet.
Mary has loved chocolate since she was a little girl. Mary has loved chocolate since childhood.
Sometimes verbs that form ing forms can be used with the Present Perfect: For example, the verbs “live,” “work,” “teach,” and “study.”
English grammar is often confusing. But a dead end does not mean hopelessness: you can always return to the starting point and start again. A clear explanation of the rules for the formation and use of the Present Perfect Simple tense - one of the most difficult sections of English grammar for children in grade 5 - will help you choose the right direction and avoid dead-end situations.
General information
Before moving on to explaining the basic rules and nuances of using the Present Perfect tense, it is necessary to understand how this tense form is translated into Russian and what it means: its basic differences from other tenses. 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 tense form in question is marker words indicating the uncertainty of time. That's it in a nutshell. Now, in more detail on each point: how to understand what time and how to use it.
Education
The basic rules for the formation of affirmative, interrogative, and negation forms 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 visited You have visited - you visited He (she, it) has visited - he (she, it) visited |
We have visited - we visited You have visited - you visited They have visited - they 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 did not visit You have not visited - you did not visit He (she, it) has not visited - he (she, it) did not visit |
We have not visited - we did not visit You have not visited - you did not visit They have not visited - they did not visit |
|
Subjects + have/has + not + main verb in 3rd form (irregular verbs) |
|
|
I have not done - I didn’t do You have not done - you didn’t do He (she, it) has not done - he (she, it) did not do |
We have not done - we didn’t do You have not done - you didn’t do They have not done - they didn’t do |
|
Have/has + subjects + main verb + ed (3rd form of regular verbs) |
|
|
Have I visited? - did I visit? Have you visited? - did you visit? Has he (she, it) visited? - did he (she, it) visit? |
Have we visited? - did we visit? Have you visited? - did you visit? Have they visited? – did they visit? |
|
Have/has + subjects + main verb in 3rd form (irregular verbs) |
|
|
Have I done? - did I do it? Have you done? - did you do it? Has he (she, it) done - did he (she, it) do? |
Have we done? - did we do it? Have you done? - did you do it? Have they done? - did they do it? |
Use
The Present Perfect Simple tense occupies 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 what cases given time used:
TOP 4 articleswho are reading along with this
- To denote an action that occurred 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 occurred, 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);
- To transfer " life experience» . Such 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 denote an action that occurred in an unfinished period of time. To emphasize this incompleteness in the sentence, the phrases this morning (this morning), this evening (this evening), this month (this month), today (today) and others are used: This week she has come to his house twice - This week she came to his house twice.
Companion words
The Present Perfect time usually cannot do without the help of its companions - time 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 completed 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 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, a long time ago, recently (She has lately read many books - She has recently read a lot of books);
- So far- for this hour, by now, up to this moment, already (Her temper has so far been good - Her mood has been good so far);
- Of late- recently, recently, recently (This wonderful trip has been my dream of late - This wonderful trip has been my dream lately);
- By now- by now (He has confessed by now - He confessed at the moment);
- Recently- recently, recently (She has not had any difficulties recently - She has not had any difficulties recently);
- 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 - The road home after work always takes 5 minutes. By now I have always been at home at 5 o’clock).
In English, double negatives are excluded from sentences. Therefore, the adverb never (never) is used in an affirmative sentence. The adverb yet is placed at the end of interrogative or negative sentences. It is not used in affirmatives.
What have we learned?
We got acquainted with the Present Perfect tense - Present Perfect. We examined the basic rules of education, signs and cases of using this tense. This summary on the topic “Present Perfect Tense” gives a clear explanation, and is an excellent guide for dummies, that is, for beginners learning English, and for advanced students.
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a) The present perfect is used when describing an event that happened in the past and is relevant, significant, significant at the time of speech about it. It does not matter when this action took place. The present perfect is often used with the adverbs lately (recently), and just (just), already (already) never (ever), ever (ever), yet (yet).
Example: I have forgotten his name. – I forgot his name (and don’t remember at the moment)
b) The present perfect is used when an action has already taken place, but the period of time when it occurred has not yet expired.
Example: I have met him today. – I saw him today. (“today” has not yet expired) He has bought a new car this year. – He bought a new car this year (“this year” has not yet expired)
Formation of narrative sentences in the 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 a declarative sentence: subject + have/has + predicate ending –ed or, if the verb is irregular, then the 3rd form of the verb.
Examples: She has already come. - She has already arrived. I have just visited this supermarket. – I just visited this supermarket.
Formation of interrogative sentences in the Present Perfect: Formed using the auxiliary verb to have in the present tense forms –have; has. Word order in a special question: question word + have/ has + subject + predicate ending –ed or 3rd form of an irregular verb.
Examples: What have you done? -What did you do? Has he brought this book? - Did he bring this book?
Formation of negative sentences in the Present Perfect: The formation of negative sentences occurs using the same auxiliary verbs. After the auxiliary verb the particle not is placed.
Examples: She has not (hasn’t) come yet. - She hasn't arrived yet. I have not (haven’t) seen him. – I didn’t see him.
The Present Perfect should not be confused with the Past Simple. When using the Past Simple, one of the time indicators is usually used, indicating the moment when the event occurred.
Example: He saw her yesterday. – He saw her yesterday.
When using the Present Perfect, use any of the Present Perfect indicators - lately (recently), and just (just now), already (already) never (ever), ever (ever), yet (yet). When talking about an action that has already happened, we may not use any pointers at all. If this action or event is relevant at the moment, then the Present Perfect is used. Example: I have bought it. - I bought this.
All of the above tense forms are given here in the active voice.
Present Perfect- present perfect tense of English. This tense is used to denote events that have completed to date or have completed during the present time period. See below the rules for forming the Present Perfect, a list of auxiliary words and examples of using the present perfect tense in English.
Education Present Perfect
In affirmative sentences, the Present Perfect is formed by using the auxiliary word have (1st and 2nd person) or has (3rd person singular) and adding the ending -ed to the verb. If the verb is irregular, then the 3rd form is used - Past Participle.
Education formula:
Noun + have / has + verb ending in -ed or 3rd form
Noun and auxiliary verb have can merge and form I’ve, they’ve, etc. Examples of affirmative sentences in the Present Perfect:
He has just finished playing football. — He just finished playing football.
They’ve started doing their homework already. — They have already started doing their homework.
To form a negative sentence in the Present Perfect, after the auxiliary verb, you must add the particle not. rule:
Noun + have / has + not + verb ending in -ed or 3rd form
An auxiliary verb can be combined with the not part to form have not or has not. Examples of negative sentences:
I have not seen you for years! - I haven't seen you for a long time!
She has not made her work yet. “She hasn't done her job yet.”
To form an interrogative sentence in the Present Perfect, the auxiliary verb must be placed before the sentence. rule:
Have / Has + noun + verb ending in -ed or 3rd form
Examples of interrogative sentences:
Has there ever been a war in the United States? — Was there ever a war in the United States?
Have you ever met him? -Have you ever met him?
Auxiliary Present words Perfect
When forming sentences in the Present Perfect, auxiliary words are often used. These present perfect marker words are given below:
Cases in which the Present Perfect is used
Below are various examples uses of the Present Perfect tense, which may be useful to you.
I use case: Indefinite time before the present moment
Unspecified Time Before Now
The Present Perfect is usually used to describe something that happened relatively recently and at an inopportune time. The use of the following words such as yesterday, one year ago, last week, at that moment, that day, one day and others in the Present Perfect is prohibited, since when using this tense the emphasis is placed on the experience, and not on the time when the event occurred. In this case, the use of auxiliary words is used (see table above). examples:
I have been to France. — I was in France.
I think I have met him once before. “I think I met him once.”
Nobody has ever climbed that mountain. - No one has ever climbed this mountain.
You have grown since the last time I saw you. “You’ve grown up since I last saw you.”
James has not finished his homework yet. — Jace hasn't finished his homework yet.
Have you been to Mexico in the last year? — Have you been to Mexico in the last year? ('In the last year' (as opposed to 'last year') means 'in the last 365 days', so it is an indefinite tense, requiring the use of the Present Perfect)
I have seen that movie six times in the last month. — I saw this film six times last month. (The time is indicated here, but the emphasis is on how many times a person has seen this film.)
Use case II: the action takes place to this day
Duration From the Past Until Now (Non-Continuous Verbs)
The Present Perfect is also used with verbs that are not continuous (Non-Continuous Verbs) or with mixed verbs (Mixed Verbs). IN in this case The present perfect tense describes an action that began in the past and is still ongoing. In this case, it is typical to use phrases like for five minutes, for two weeks, since Monday and others. examples:
I have had a cold for two weeks. — I’ve had a cold for two weeks now.
She has been in England for six months. — She has been in England for 6 months.
Mary has loved chocolate since she was a little girl. — Mary loves chocolate since childhood.
