PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

By: Mayra Monroy

1. What is present perfect tense?

Present perfect can have these functions1:

A) It describes a state, event or habit that started in the past, and continues to the present and may continue into the future.

Example: I have lived in this house for six years.

B) It describes an event which was completed sometime in the past, but which has some significance to the present.

• Example: I’m not hungry just now. I’ve just eaten.

C)    It describes an experience you had in the past which you remember clearly.

Example: I have done a bungee jump.

D)    We use the present perfect form to check that something has been done or completed.

Example: Have you finished the washing up yet?

2. Present perfect forms

• These are the corresponding forms for present perfect:

Positive: Subject +has/have+past

participle+complement

Example:

• • He hasn’t read all the book.He hasn’t read all the book.

Negative: Subject+has not/have not+past

articiple+complement

Example:

Interrogative: Have/has+subject+past participle+complementExample:

• • We We have not been in Carnival at Rio Janeiro yet.

• Have you ever had an Have you ever had an accident?accident?

• You can use short answers with present perfect, and the corresponding contractions:

• Have you heard about Spielberg’s new film? Yes I have/ No I haven´t

Yes He has/ No, he hasn´t

-

Have + notHave + not

Has + notHas + not

• Remember that there are two forms of verbs: Regulars and irregulars.

ANEX 2:REGULAR VERBS

PRESENT PAST PAST PARTICIPLE

Fix fixed fixed

Want wanted wanted

Talk talked talked

Open opened opened

Close closed closed

Pull pulled pulled

Push pushed pushed

Share shared shared

Study studied studied

Call called called

Cook cooked cooked

Ask asked asked

Wash washed washed

ANEX 2:IRREGULAR VERBS

PRESENT PAST PAST PARTICIPLE

Run ran run

Sleep slept slept

Write wrote written

Read read read

Buy bought bought

Cut cut cut

Think thought thought

Take took taken

Break// broke broken

Find found found

Give gave given

Swim swam swum

Win won won

• Go to the following web pages and make the exercises:

• http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/pperf.htm • http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/pperf1.htm• http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/pperf2.htm• http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/pperf3.htm

EXERCISES

• To learn correct pronunciation of past regular verbs, go to the following web pages and practice:

• http://www.engvid.com/past-tense-regular-verb-pronunciation/• http://www.englishclub.com/pronunciation/-ed.htm• http://netgrammar.altec.org/Support/a101b4_101000.html

GOOD LUCK!GOOD LUCK!

PRONUNCIATION

REFERENCES

• http://www.englishforums.com/English/PresentPerfectFunctions/gnqbh/post.htm

• http://www.learnamericanenglishonline.com/Yellow%20Level/Y4%20-%20Present%20Perfect%20Negative.html

• Top Notch 2. Pearson Longman