The Present Perfect Tense
When we use the present perfect tense, we see a connection between the current situation and actions completed in the past. ‘Perfect’ refers to the completion of actions, not to an ideal tense. The present perfect tense is used in three main kinds of the sentence:
A. A recent action where the situation continues, such as I’ve lost my wallet. Note that (1) the action is completed, (2) I don’t say when I lost it, and (3) I still don’t have my wallet. In this kind of sentence, it’s not wrong to use the simple past tense (I lost my wallet) since the action is finished, but the simple past doesn’t tell you whether I have my wallet now; perhaps I found it again. Here are some typical sentences:
I’ve misplaced my glasses and I can’t see properly. Can you help me look for them?
Where has Mary gone? She said she’d help me with these figures.
Who has taken my book? I haven’t finished reading it.
You can use only vague terms like lately, recently, yet, already and just to say when something has happened.
Have you seen Mary lately?
Jack: Have you finished that report yet? Jill: Yes, and I’ve already submitted it.
Call the technician. My computer has just crashed.
Note that North Americans frequently use the simple past with yet, just, and already. The adverbs make the sense clear: Did you finish it yet? Yes, I already finished it. My computer just crashed.
The present perfect is often used in announcements about recent events that are still newsworthy:
The prime minister has declared that tomorrow will be a national holiday.
Flash. The president has fled to Mexico to avoid imprisonment.
I’m so happy. My dog has just had puppies.
Have you heard? Sam has decided to quit his job and start his own business.
Don’t repeat this, but Kathy’s husband has left her.
The present perfect is used in sentences where one thing has happened but the story is not yet complete or we are waiting for another development:
I have written to ask them for an explanation but have not yet received a reply.
Sally, who was adopted, has finally identified her birth parents and has made plans to surprise her mother at Christmas.
My wife has decided to buy a new car but she hasn’t chosen the make or model yet.
B. An action or actions that happened (or didn’t happen) in the past and may happen again or may yet happen. In this kind of sentence, we’re usually still in the same time period in which the actions happened or may happen; we usually say what the time period is, such as in I’ve eaten three donuts today. We often count things that have happened. Note that I didn’t say exactly when I ate the donuts, and since the day isn’t over, I may eat more. Normally, we can’t use the past tense unless the time period is almost over, e.g., just before bed, I ate three donuts today, or an old man might say, I loved many women, if he doesn’t expect to love any more. Here are some typical sentences:
Have you talked to the boss today? He wants to see you.
I’ve done many strange things in my life. I ate termites in Africa, for example.
Jack: Have you ever eaten squid? Jill: No, I haven’t, but I’ve often eaten octopus.
I’ve only drunk five bottles of beer so far this evening. Is there any more?
The present perfect is commonly used in job interviews because it simultaneously describes things that someone did and can do again:
Interviewer: Please tell us something about your background.
Candidate: Certainly. I’ve been an airplane pilot, I’ve recently become an architect and I’ve worked part-time as a martial arts instructor for years. I’ve also won two Nobel Prizes and have played the bagpipes to serenade the Queen. In fact, she’s invited me to Balmoral for Christmas several times.
The present perfect is often used with superlatives and with only, first, second, third, etc.:
This is the best pizza I’ve ever tasted, and you’re the nicest girl I’ve ever met.
This is the third time you’ve been late this week.
You’re the only person I’ve ever met who wears a nosering.
The expression have/has been to a place—i.e., went or visited and came back —can only be used in perfect tenses:
Jack: Have you ever been to Panama? Jill: No, but I’ve been to Cuba many times.
The expression “have/has gone to a place” normally implies that the person is there or en-route:
Jack: Where’s Joe? Jill: He’s gone to Calgary. He’ll be back on Tuesday.
But ‘have gone to’ may be a substitute for have been to if no confusion is possible:
Jack: Please buy some bread when you go to the store. Jill: Too late. I’ve already gone. I got back ten minutes ago.
C. Some ‘how long’ sentences. In most cases, ‘how long’ sentences are expressed in the present perfect continuous tense, but the present perfect is normally used for three kinds of ‘how long’ sentences:
1. Sentences where the action or situation started a long time ago, often with verbs like ‘live’ and ‘work’ and especially with the adverb ‘always’: I’ve always worked for this company, and I’ve lived in this town ever since I was born. Note that the speaker can decide what he or she thinks is a long time. For example, I’ve worked here for five years and I’ve been working here for five years are equally possible, though I’ve worked here for five years suggests that the speaker thinks that five years is a long time.
2. Sentences with verbs not normally used in continuous tenses: I’ve been here for ten minutes. I’ve only believed this for a short time. I’ve owned this car for two years.
3. Negative sentences describing the time elapsed since the last time something happened; note that we usually use ‘in’ instead of ‘for’ to describe the length of time: I haven’t worked since July. He hasn’t phoned his mother in weeks.
The Present Perfect Continuous Tense
This tense normally describes recent or ongoing actions, as opposed to situations, and is used in two distinct situations:
A. ‘How long’ sentences such as I’ve been standing here for three hours and I’ve been working on this project since July. The action is still going on or has only recently stopped; it may or may not continue. This kind of sentence may refer to uninterrupted actions such as ‘standing’ or to repeated actions such as ‘working.’ We cannot use the past, present or present continuous tenses instead. In most cases, we may, however, use the present perfect tense if we so choose.
B. Recent actions that explain or lead up to the present situation, such as I’m tired because I’ve been playing soccer. In this case, the soccer game may or may not be finished; that’s not important. What’s important is that it explains why I’m tired now. In this kind of sentence, we can use the past continuous tense instead, e.g. I’m tired because I was just playing soccer, but that suggests that the soccer game is over.
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Leave a comment with 2 examples where we can differ the usages of Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous.
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