Language learning | English » The Present Perfect Simple

Source: http://www.doksinet A The present perfect simple Form 1 Basic rule The present perfect simple is formed by using have/has + past participle : • • Ive lived in the city centre for 3 years now. My father has always liked the Italian way of life. • Negations: Vegetarianism hasnt been very popular in Austria. • • Questions: Have you met my partner, Marianne? Why have you chosen that particular brand? Irregular verbs table 2 Passive The passive form is made with have/has + been + past participle : • • Hundreds of new loft apartments have been built in the city centre. Several after-work clubbing events have recently been held in Palais Eschenbach. 3 Short forms When we speak, also in informal writing, we usually shorten has to s and have to ve: • Did you know Jacks given up his job to travel the world for a year? We always do this after personal pronouns: • Ive always said he was ahead of his time. Function 1 Talking about the past as well as the

present The present perfect simple is generally used to refer to the past as well as the present. • Sainsburys supermarket has started opening 24 hours a day. (Sainsburys is now open 24 hours a day.) (4) The action happened in the past but the focus is on its effect in the present. Source: http://www.doksinet Compare this with the past simple , which tells us about past actions with a focus on the time in the past when they happened. We are not talking about any effects on the present here: • Sainsburys supermarket started opening 24 hours a day last week. (We dont know and it doesnt matter if it is still open 24 hours now.) Past simple: function Here are two more examples of the present perfect showing a connection to the present: • • Sue and I have known each other for 12 years. (We are still friends now) (2) Have you ever seen the film "La Dolce Vita"? (Do you know it now?) (5) 2 Continued actions that started in the past We use the present perfect simple

to talk about actions and situations which began in the past and have continued up to the moment of speaking, or just before: • • Ive lived in Austria since 1983 (and Im still here). Weve known each other for a long time (and we still know each other). We also use the present perfect simple to talk about repeated actions within the time up to the present: • Ive often wondered where she gets the money for her lifestyle. (We dont know when the speaker started wondering but we do know that they still dont know the answer.) Present perfect continuous for continued actions 3 Expressions of time The present perfect simple is often used with time expressions which refer to a time period which leads up to the present, such as since and for: • • Theyve worked here for three months. (a period of time) Theyve worked here since June. (a specific point in time marking the beginning of the period) Other time expressions often used with the present perfect simple: recently, lately, so

far, still, yet, today, this morning/evening, etc. • • • • I havent had a holiday this year. We havent had any problems so far. I havent had any decent sushi recently. "Have you seen Jack today?" - "No. He hasnt been around a lot lately" Source: http://www.doksinet • "Have you finished that book yet?" - "No, I still havent had time to look at it." 4 Present effects The present perfect simple is often used to talk about past actions which have finished but have some importance for the speaker in the present time. It is not important when it happened, it is more important for the speaker that it has happened. (This use is not as common in the US, where the past simple is often used instead.) • • • The boss has been fired. (The boss is no longer here now) Reebok has agreed to sponsor this years marathon. (Reebok is the sponsor) I cant go on holiday because I havent done the accounts yet. (There is still work to do.) For the

same reason, we often use the present perfect simple to show how much or how many: • Ive jogged 5 miles so far. (Im 5 miles farther now than when I started) But if a definite time is mentioned the past simple should be used: • • Sepp first went to India in 1988. Five years ago I decided to give up meat and become a vegetarian. Past simple: Definite time in the past Also compare this with the present perfect continuous for emphasising the action itself rather than the fact that it has happened. • • Im completely exhausted - Ive been doing the accounts all day. (This has kept me busy all the time.) Sepps been travelling to India since 1988. (Hes done it again and again) Present perfect continuous: focus on the action 5 Life experience We use the present perfect simple to talk about past actions which have finished but belong to our life experience, which is seen as a period that continues up to the present time: • Weve done a quite a bit of travelling in South-East

Asia. (Im not thinking of a particular trip in a particular year but of all the travelling weve done over the years.) Certain time expressions are often used with the present perfect simple when it refers to our life experience: ever, never, always, already, yet. • Have you ever seen the film "La Dolce Vita"? Source: http://www.doksinet • • Shes never driven a sports car through Paris. Ms McCartney hasnt reached her first million yet, but she will. When we talk about our life experience, we focus on the fact that something has happened. Compare this with the present perfect continuous for emphasising the action itself rather than the fact that it has happened. • Ms McCartneys business has been making money for years now. Present perfect continuous: focus on the action B The present perfect continuous Form 1 Basic rule The present perfect continuous is formed with has/have + been + the -ing form of the verb: • • Since his pay rise, Pauls been spending

money without thinking. The children have been asking for the latest Playstation software all week. • Negations: They havent really been watching the film, theyve been quarrelling all the time. • • Questions: Have you been following the latest news about the strikes? What has she been saying about me? 2 Short forms When we speak, also in informal writing, we usually shortenhas to s and have to ve: • Did you know Karls been thinking of emigrating to New Zealand? We always do this after personal pronouns: • Ive been watching that new TV programme, "Single in the City". 3 Passive We cannot use the present perfect continuous in the passive. Function 1 Continued actions Source: http://www.doksinet We mainly use the present perfect continuous to talk about an action that began in the past and continues over a period of time up to the time of speaking, or just before: • This Spanish-owned chain has been expanding rapidly throughout Europe. (They are probably

still expanding.) • You look exhausted - what have you been doing? (Youre either still doing it or youve only just stopped, I can tell from the way you look.) We often use the present perfect contintuous to talk about how long something has been happening, especially with for, since, and how long. • • How long have you been waiting? (The other person is still waiting or has only just stopped.) Weve been subscribing to "Vogue" for six years now. (We are still subscribing to the magazine.) No present perfect continuous with state verbs 2 Focus on the action We particularly use the present perfect continuous to talk about actions happening over a period up to the present when we want to focus on the action itself: • • Weve been working on a new design. There hasnt been time for anything else. (Weve been so busy all the time) Someones been eating my biscuits. (This action must have been going on for a while, there are just a few left.) We often use the present

perfect continuous together with time expressions that say how long something has been going on: • • Ive been jogging for 30 minutes now. Ive been eating biscuits since I sat down at my desk. Expressions of time We also use the present perfect continuous to talk about repeated actions happening over a period up until the present: • Sepps been going to India since 1988. (Hes done it again and again) Note: We use the present perfect simple when we are more interested in the fact that it has happened: • • Weve worked out a new design. I think youll like it much better than the old one. (Weve got a new design now) Someones eaten my biscuits. (Theyre all gone now) Source: http://www.doksinet • Sepps gone to India. (Hes there now) Present perfect simple: present effects We also use the present perfect simple if we refer to how many or how much: • • • Ive jogged 5 miles so far. (WRONG: Ive been jogging 5 miles so far.) Someones eaten half of my biscuits. (WRONG:

Someones been eating half of my biscuits.) No present perfect continuous with state verbs 3 State verbs Some verbs which express states are not used in the continuous, e.g believe, consist of, contain, depend, exist, hate, know, like, mean, need, own, prefer, seem, understand, want, wish. • Ive known he was a liar ever since I first met him. (WRONG: Ive been knowing hes a liar.) Some verbs have two different meanings, an action meaning and a state meaning. The state meaning usually cannot be made continuous: • • Weve been admiring the view from your window. (Action: Weve been looking at it with pleasure.) Ive always admired his courage. (State: Ive always approved of it.) (WRONG: Ive always been admiring his courage.) See these verbs in the present continuous See these verbs in the past continuous Verwandte Ressourcen Entwicklung & Design der Learn@WU-Plattform: Abteilung für Wirtschaftsinformatik, Wirtschaftsuniversität Wien Nutzungsbedingungen