10-05-2007, 02:10 AM
<font color="maroon"><font size="3"><font face="Arial Black">Present Perfect</font id="Arial Black"></font id="size3"></font id="maroon">
**has/have + past participle**
Examples
You have seen that movie many times.
Have you seen that movie many times?
You have not seen that movie many times.
<u>USE 1 Unspecified Time Before Now</u>
We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important. You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with specific time 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, etc. We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such as ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.
Examples
I have seen that movie twenty times.
I think I have met him once before.
There have been many earthquakes in California.
People have traveled to the Moon.
People have not traveled to Mars.
Have you read the book yet?
Nobody has ever climbed that mountain.
<u>TOPIC 1 Experience</u>
You can use the Present Perfect to describe your experience. It is like saying, "I have the experience of..." You can also use this tense to say that you have never had a certain experience. The Present Perfect is NOT used to describe a specific event.
Examples
I have been to France.
<font color="red">This sentence means that you have had the experience of being in France. Maybe you have been there once, or several times.</font id="red">
I have been to France three times.
<font color="red">You can add the number of times at the end of the sentence.</font id="red">
I have never been to France.
<font color="red">This sentence means that you have not had the experience of going to France.</font id="red">
I think I have seen that movie before.
He has never traveled by train.
Joan has studied two foreign languages.
<u>TOPIC 2 Change Over Time</u>
We often use the Present Perfect to talk about change that has happened over a period of time.
Examples
You have grown since the last time I saw you.
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.
My English has really improved since I moved to Australia.
<u>TOPIC 3 Accomplishments</u>
We often use the Present Perfect to list the accomplishments of individuals and humanity. You cannot mention a specific time.
Examples
Man has walked on the Moon.
Our son has learned how to read.
Doctors have cured many deadly diseases.
Scientists have split the atom.
<u>TOPIC 4 An Uncompleted Action You Are Expecting</u>
We often use the Present Perfect to say that an action which we expected has not happened. Using the Present Perfect suggests that we are still waiting for the action to happen.
Examples
James has not finished his homework yet.
Susan hasn't mastered Japanese, but she can communicate.
Bill has still not arrived.
The rain hasn't stopped.
<u>TOPIC 5 Multiple Actions at Different Times</u>
We also use the Present Perfect to talk about several different actions which have occurred in the past at different times. Present Perfect suggests the process is not complete and more actions are possible.
Examples
The army has attacked that city five times.
I have had four quizzes and five tests so far this semester.
We have had many major problems while working on this project.
She has talked to several specialists about her problem, but nobody knows why she is sick.
<u>NOTICE</u>
"Last year" and "in the last year" are very different in meaning. "Last year" means the year before now, and it is considered a specific time which requires Simple Past. "In the last year" means from 365 days ago until now. It is not considered a specific time, so it requires Present Perfect.
Examples
I went to Mexico last year.
<font color="red">I went to Mexico in the calendar year before this one. </font id="red">
I have been to Mexico in the last year.
<font color="red">I have been to Mexico at least once at some point between 365 days ago and now.</font id="red">
Muhammad Asim Saeed
**has/have + past participle**
Examples
You have seen that movie many times.
Have you seen that movie many times?
You have not seen that movie many times.
<u>USE 1 Unspecified Time Before Now</u>
We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important. You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with specific time 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, etc. We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such as ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.
Examples
I have seen that movie twenty times.
I think I have met him once before.
There have been many earthquakes in California.
People have traveled to the Moon.
People have not traveled to Mars.
Have you read the book yet?
Nobody has ever climbed that mountain.
<u>TOPIC 1 Experience</u>
You can use the Present Perfect to describe your experience. It is like saying, "I have the experience of..." You can also use this tense to say that you have never had a certain experience. The Present Perfect is NOT used to describe a specific event.
Examples
I have been to France.
<font color="red">This sentence means that you have had the experience of being in France. Maybe you have been there once, or several times.</font id="red">
I have been to France three times.
<font color="red">You can add the number of times at the end of the sentence.</font id="red">
I have never been to France.
<font color="red">This sentence means that you have not had the experience of going to France.</font id="red">
I think I have seen that movie before.
He has never traveled by train.
Joan has studied two foreign languages.
<u>TOPIC 2 Change Over Time</u>
We often use the Present Perfect to talk about change that has happened over a period of time.
Examples
You have grown since the last time I saw you.
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.
My English has really improved since I moved to Australia.
<u>TOPIC 3 Accomplishments</u>
We often use the Present Perfect to list the accomplishments of individuals and humanity. You cannot mention a specific time.
Examples
Man has walked on the Moon.
Our son has learned how to read.
Doctors have cured many deadly diseases.
Scientists have split the atom.
<u>TOPIC 4 An Uncompleted Action You Are Expecting</u>
We often use the Present Perfect to say that an action which we expected has not happened. Using the Present Perfect suggests that we are still waiting for the action to happen.
Examples
James has not finished his homework yet.
Susan hasn't mastered Japanese, but she can communicate.
Bill has still not arrived.
The rain hasn't stopped.
<u>TOPIC 5 Multiple Actions at Different Times</u>
We also use the Present Perfect to talk about several different actions which have occurred in the past at different times. Present Perfect suggests the process is not complete and more actions are possible.
Examples
The army has attacked that city five times.
I have had four quizzes and five tests so far this semester.
We have had many major problems while working on this project.
She has talked to several specialists about her problem, but nobody knows why she is sick.
<u>NOTICE</u>
"Last year" and "in the last year" are very different in meaning. "Last year" means the year before now, and it is considered a specific time which requires Simple Past. "In the last year" means from 365 days ago until now. It is not considered a specific time, so it requires Present Perfect.
Examples
I went to Mexico last year.
<font color="red">I went to Mexico in the calendar year before this one. </font id="red">
I have been to Mexico in the last year.
<font color="red">I have been to Mexico at least once at some point between 365 days ago and now.</font id="red">
Muhammad Asim Saeed
