How do we use the PRESENT PERFECT tense?

How do we use the PRESENT PERFECT tense? By Lynn Mateas

Form in the Positive Have + past participle I have studied at Algonquin college for two weeks. You have never arrived on time since you started this class. He has worked at that job since last July. We have been in this room for a while. They have always taken their lunch to work. (= since they started working there)

Contractions I’ve You’ve He’s She’s It’s We’ve They’ve Note: He’s = 1. He has Or He is How do you know which one is which? He has been (past Part.) He is happy/ Canadian/ (adj/noun/…)

Form in the Negative have + not + past participle = haven’t Don’t worry! I have not been here for more than five minutes. She hasn’t lived in Ottawa for very long. We haven’t done much so far. They haven’t owned a car since they arrived here.

Type One – Past to Now We use it to tell about an action that started in the past and continued until now. = PAST TO NOW Use: for or since I have been able to drive for more than 30 years. I haven’t eaten that food since I was young. I haven’t seen her in a long time.

Type Two- Past Time only This type is the same as the past tense. It tells us that the action happened in the past only, NOT NOW. I have visited friends in Toronto. I visited friends in Toronto.

Be Careful with Type Two Present Perfect You cannot say WHEN the action happened. I have visited friends there last month. WRONG

Is this correct or wrong? He has lived here before. Correct He has lived here in 1992. Wrong

Type Two – Using Present Perfect in the Past (not to now) Recent Past – just, recently, lately Be careful where you put them. I have recently read a book about the period of King Henry VIII. The teacher has just come into the room. Be quiet! They have been to New York lately.

Type Two - Past We can also use the word already, which means sooner than expected; before this time. Mary: Finish your work. Students: We’ve already finished it. Mary: Really? That was fast.

Type Two Again – For Repetition We like to use present perfect to talk about past repetition. I have flown on an airplane many times. However, he’s flown only once. (=one time) She’s never flown.

Review Type One = Duration = past to and including NOW; use for or since or in/for a long time/short time or all my life Eg. I have worn glasses all my life. Type Two = indefinite Past = past only, not now; do not say the time or when it happened. Eg. I have finished my work. yesterday

What tense should you use? Simple past or present perfect? He _______________ to Toronto. has gone/been or went not - was to Toronto She ______________ to class five minutes ago. came to /went to (not arrived to)

What tense should you use? Simple past and/or present perfect? How long _______they________ (live) in Japan? have they lived = are still living there now did they live = are not living there now

What tense should you use? Simple past and/or present perfect? I _____________ (go, never) to a cinema in Ottawa. have never gone or never went Have never gone is best because you still live in Ottawa and so this feels like you are saying I have not gone … yet. (but I may/will)

What tense should you use? Simple past and/or present perfect? I ___________ (drive) a small car in my country/province. drove = in your country/province is a specific past time = while I was in my country = it may not say three years ago, but it is a specific past event

What tense should you use? Simple past and/or present perfect? Mary: Hey, Joe. ___________ (finish) the report, yet? Have you finished / Did you finish Have you finished is traditional grammar, but Did you finish is modern Joe: No, I __________ (finish), yet. haven’t finished / didn’t finish

Finally, make sure that you know all of the irregular verbs and their spellings. minus ½ for each letter mistake on a test Fly  flew  flown Sit  sat  sat Feel  felt  felt Etcetera …