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The Present Perfect Tense A Tense with Two Meanings… By AJ Brown

The Present Perfect Tense A Tense with Two Meanings… By AJ Brown

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Page 1: The Present Perfect Tense A Tense with Two Meanings… By AJ Brown

The Present Perfect Tense

A Tense with Two Meanings…

By AJ Brown

Page 2: The Present Perfect Tense A Tense with Two Meanings… By AJ Brown

What does it look like?

• I have known him for six years.• Jean has been to the Ukraine three times this

year.• I haven’t done my homework yet.• Have you ever ridden an elephant?• I have been waiting for help since 1 p.m.!• She has never seen snow.• How many times have you eaten at Ming’s?

Page 3: The Present Perfect Tense A Tense with Two Meanings… By AJ Brown

What does it mean?

The present perfect verb tense has two different meanings.

1.The action of the verb happened at an unspecified time in the past. (In the past, but we don’t know when.)

2.The action of the verb started in the past and continues to now (and will probably continue to the future, as well).

Page 4: The Present Perfect Tense A Tense with Two Meanings… By AJ Brown

#1 unspecified time in the past

Peter has already seen that movie. (When? I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter.)

My sister has traveled to many countries.(When? I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter.)

My mother has been to Africa.(When? I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter.)

I have never been to Africa.(When? Not ever. Never. Not last year. Not the year

before. Not any year.)

Page 5: The Present Perfect Tense A Tense with Two Meanings… By AJ Brown

See the difference…

• Simple past (exact time is known)

I saw that movie yesterday.• Present perfect (exact time is NOT known)

I have already seen that movie.• Simple past (exact time is known)

In 1990, she lived in Europe.• Present perfect (exact time is NOT known)

She has lived in Europe before.

When? Yesterday.

When? I don’t know, but before.

When? In 1990.

When? I don’t know, but before.

Page 6: The Present Perfect Tense A Tense with Two Meanings… By AJ Brown

#2 started in the past and continues to now

Peter has played the violin since 2004. (began in 2004 and continues to today...)

My sister has lived in Berkeley for ten years.(began in 2014 and continues to today...)

My mother has driven a Toyota since 1981.(began in 1981 and continues to today...)

I have had dreadlocks for seven years.(began in 2007 and continues to today...)

Page 7: The Present Perfect Tense A Tense with Two Meanings… By AJ Brown

See the difference…

• Simple past (finished!)

I lived in Spain in 1990.• Present perfect (continues…)

He has lived in Spain since 1990.• Simple past (finished!)

Two weeks ago, he was in Italy.• Present perfect (continues…)

He has been in Italy for two weeks.

Now? No, I don’t live there now.

Now? Yes, he still lives in Spain.

Now? No, he isn’t in Italy..

Now? Yes, he is still in Italy.

Page 8: The Present Perfect Tense A Tense with Two Meanings… By AJ Brown

Words that go with the present perfect tense…

#1 since• Since means something started in the past and

continues until now…• It is followed by the specific point (day, year,

time, etc.) in time that it started.AJ has been in her office since seven o’clock.

They have been married since 2002.I have known him since I was a girl.

When it introduces a time clause, use the simple past

tense in the since clause!

Page 9: The Present Perfect Tense A Tense with Two Meanings… By AJ Brown

Words that go with the present perfect tense…

#2 for• For also means something started in the past

and continues until now…• It is followed by the specific length of time

(hours, years, weeks, etc.).I have known him for six months.

They have been married for twenty years.AJ has been in her office for almost an hour.

If the noun is plural (hours, weeks, years,

etc.), USE for in the time expression…NOT since.

Page 10: The Present Perfect Tense A Tense with Two Meanings… By AJ Brown

Words that go with the present perfect tense…

#3 already• Already means something happened before…• It is most commonly written between the

auxiliary and main verbs.I have already seen that movie.

(When? I don’t know, but before now.)They have already eaten lunch.

(When? I don’t know, but before now.)

NOT USED in negative statements.

Page 11: The Present Perfect Tense A Tense with Two Meanings… By AJ Brown

Words that go with the present perfect tense…

#4 yet• Yet means something didn’t happen before,

but it might in the future.• It is most commonly written at the end of a

sentence.I haven’t seen that movie yet.

(I didn’t see it before, but maybe I will.)Have they eaten lunch yet?

(Did they eat before? I don’t know.)

ONLY USED in negative statements

or questions.

Page 12: The Present Perfect Tense A Tense with Two Meanings… By AJ Brown

Words that go with the present perfect tense…

#5 still• Still means something continues without any

change.• It is most commonly written before the verb.

I still haven’t seen that movie.(Not seeing the movie continues…)

He still has not written the essay.(Not writing continues…)

ONLY USED in negative perfect

tense statements.

Page 13: The Present Perfect Tense A Tense with Two Meanings… By AJ Brown

Words that go with the present perfect tense…

#6 ever• Ever means at any time in the past.• It is most commonly written after the subject

and before the main verb.Have you ever met some one from Mongolia?

No, I haven’t.Has he ever been to India?

Yes, he has.

ONLY USED in questions.

Page 14: The Present Perfect Tense A Tense with Two Meanings… By AJ Brown

Words that go with the present perfect tense…

#7 never• Never means at NO time in the past.• It is most commonly written after the subject

and before the main verb.He has never been to Canada.

(Not at any time in the past.)AJ has never tasted uni.

(Not last year, the year before, or any other time)

ONLY USED in statements to show

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