Verb Tense: The Present Perfect

Tense Review: What Tense Is It?

1. Yesterday, I played football. Simple Past 2. I am crying. Present Continuous 3. I will go to the party. Simple Future

Tense Review: What Tense Is It?

1. She is singing in the rain. Present Continuous 2. We are having a good time. Present Continuous 3. They wont wash their hands. Simple Future

Tense Review: What Tense Is It?

1. Sorry, I ate all of your cake. Simple Past 2. Its raining outside. Present Continuous 3. Hannah has seen this movie before. Present Perfect

What Is the Present Perfect?

Hannah has seen this movie before.

Subject

Have/Has

Past Participle

Present Perfect

What Is the Present Perfect?

What does this mean?

No! I have never eaten dog.

Subject Have/Has Past Participle

Present Perfect

What Is the Past Participle?

All verbs have a past participle. Regular verbs have an ed past participle. Irregular verbs have irregular past participles.

Lets look at some verbs

Verb Infinitive

Simple future

Simple past

Past Participle

to walk to go to be to pray

will walk will go will be will pray

walked went
was/were

prayed

walked gone been prayed

Which verbs are regular?

When Do We Use the Simple Past?

We use the simple past to talk about an action in the past that happened at a specific time. Example
I watched Transformers last night.

Past

Now

Future

When Do We Use the Present Perfect?

We use the present perfect for actions in the past but we dont say exactly when. Example
I have seen Transformers.

Time ?
Past Now Future

Questions and Answers in the Present Perfect

Q: Have you seen the sun rise?
A: Yes, I have (seen the sun rise). Same A: No, I havent (seen the sun rise). meaning A: No, I have never seen the sun rise.
Stronger. More emphasis.

Q: Have you ever killed an animal?

A: Yes, I have (killed an animal). A: No, I havent (killed an animal). A: No, I have never killed an animal.

Another Use for the Present Perfect

The present perfect is also used to talk about actions or events that start in the past and continue to the present and possibly to the future.

Example

I have lived in Korea for 2 years.

2 years ago I started living in Korea Now I still live in Korea

Past

Time living in Korea (2 years).

Now

Future

For and Since with the Present Perfect

For and Since are prepositions of time. For is used to describe a length or period of time.

I have been a teacher for three years. I have been a teacher for nine months. I have been a teacher for seven minutes.

Since is used to describe a period of time from a specific point in the past up to the present.
I have been a teacher since 2008. I have been a teacher since January. I have been a teacher since 6am today.

For and Since with the Present Perfect

For can be used in any tense.
Cathy will love Heathcliffe for the rest of her life. I travelled around the world for six months in 2007. They havent seen each other for 10 years.

Since (as a preposition of time) can only be used in the perfect tenses.
Gary lives in Korea since 2008.
Cant use since in the simple present tense Simple present tense Present perfect tense

Gary has lived in Korea since 2008.

Present Perfect vs Past Simple

Past Simple Present Perfect I have lived in Korea for 2 years.

I lived in Korea for 2 years.

Past

Now

Future

Past

Now

Future

Meaning: I lived in Korea for 2 years but dont live in Korea now.

Meaning: I started living in Korea 2 years ago and still live there now.

One More Use of the Present Perfect

The present perfect is also used for actions in the recent past for things you have just done.

Example

Q: Have you eaten dinner yet?

A: No, I havent (eaten dinner yet). A: No, I still havent (eaten dinner). A: Yes, I have (eaten dinner). A: Yes, I have already (eaten dinner).

Q: What have you done today?

Test What You Know

Error Correction
1. I have just came back from the hospital. come 2. Gary have ate all my chocolate. has eaten 3. You have ever swum in the Ocean? 4. Youre late! Where have you been? 5. Gary and Linda has dance all night. have danced

Review: 3 Uses of the Present Perfect

1. An action in the general/non-specific past. ?
Past Now Future

2. An action that started in the past and continues to the present.

Past Now Future

3. Actions in the recent past.

Review: 3 Uses of the Present Perfect

1. An action in the general/non-specific past. ?
Past Now Future

2. An action that started in the past and continues to the present.

Past Now Future

3. Actions in the recent past.

Review: 3 Uses of the Present Perfect

1. An action in the general/non-specific past.
I have never been to the USA.

2. An action that started in the past and continues to the present.

She hasnt eaten meat for 3 years. She hasnt eaten meat since 2008.

3. Actions in the recent past.

The computer has just crashed.

End of Presentation on the Present Perfect Have you ever seen the sun rise?