What time is present perfect. Personal experiences or changes that have happened. When is this tense used?

Present Perfect- the present perfect tense.

The main problem for understanding Present Perfect- that it is often confused with Past Indefinite (Past Simple). After all, we are talking about an action that happened, i.e. from the point of view of the Russian language, it refers to the past. What is the difference with Past Indefinite? After all, this is also the past tense?

The fact of the matter is that not too. In English Present Perfect- this is not the past, but present time. With its help, some information about the present is always given, there is a connection with the present.

If we are talking about the present, about the result for the present, and not about the past, then we need to use Present Perfect. And if we're talking about It is about the past, about what has already passed, what ended in the past and has no connection with the present, then Past Indefinite must be used.

There are two keys to understanding time Present Perfect. First - connection with the present, and second - importance of the result of the action for the present, and not for the time of the action in the past.

This is the difference between Present Perfect and Past Indefinite.

Present Perfect used if the action has been completed by now or has just ended. And although the action relates to the past, the main thing is that it has a connection with the present. The action belongs to the past, and the result belongs to the present.

Signs Present Perfect are the words: never(never), ever(ever) often(often), just(just now), already(already), yet(more), always(Always), rarely(rarely), etc.

Example

I've just finished my work. - I just finished work.
Those. I finished the work, the action was completed, it is in the past, but I finished the work just now, the action has completed by now, so there is a connection with the present.

Education Present Perfect

Present Perfect formed using an auxiliary verb to have/has and the third form of the semantic verb (Past Participle). The third form of regular verbs is formed using the ending - ed, and for incorrect ones see Irregular Verbs .

Abbreviated forms
I have = I've
He has = He's
I have not = I haven’t
He has not = He hasn’t

Using the Present Perfect

1. The action occurred at an unspecified time in the past (it is not the time that is important, but the result)

Expiration time is not specified. We do not know exactly when the action took place, or time does not matter. The action happened in the past at all, no matter when. It is not the time of the action that is important, but its result.

We think not about a past action, but about its result for the present.

Examples

I've seen this movie. - I saw this film.
Those. I have seen this film at all, no matter when. Only the result for the present is important.

Mike has traveled a lot. - Mike traveled a lot.
Mike traveled a lot in general, no one knows when.

I saw this movie when I was a child. - I saw this film when I was a child. The action refers to a period that ended in the past, because now I am no longer a child. Therefore, Past Indefinite is used here.

Mike traveled a lot from 1990 to 1995. - Mike traveled a lot from 1990 to 1995. And here the period of action ended in the past. Therefore, Past Indefinite is also used here.

In interrogative sentences like When..? What time...? Past Indefinite is used rather than Present Perfect because time is important here (When? What time?), and not the result.

Examples
When did she come? - When did she come?
What time did they leave? - What time did they leave?

But if the result is important (Did she come? Did they leave?), then it is used Present Perfect.

Examples
Has she come? - She came?
Have they left? - They left?

2. The action began in the past, continues in the present and can continue in the future.

The words can be used since(since) and for(during).

Examples

We have lived in Kiev since 1985. - We have lived in Kyiv since 1985.
Those. we started living in Kyiv in 1985, we continue to live and, perhaps, we will continue to live.

She has been my teacher of music for many years. - She was my music teacher for many years.
Those. she was, is and will probably continue to be my music teacher!

Difference between Present Perfect and Past Indefinite ( Past Simple)

Past Indefinite is used to describe an action that ended in the past and has no connection with the present.

We lived in Kiev until 1985. - We lived in Kyiv until 1985.
Those. we lived until 1985, and we don’t live anymore. The action belongs entirely to the past.

3. The time for completing a completed action is determined by the words just (just), already (already), yet (yet)

There is a clear connection with the present: just now, already, yet!

Examples

I've just written a letter. - I just wrote a letter.
He has already arrived. - He has already arrived.
The show has not begun yet. - The show hasn't started yet.

4. The action took place during a period that has not yet ended

A period that has not yet ended could be: today(Today), this morning(this morning), this week(this week), this month(this month), this year(this year), etc., and even the whole life!

Period that ended: yesterday(yesterday), last week(last week), last month(last month), last year(last year), etc. And even, for example, this morning, if the morning has already ended and the day has come!

Examples

Mary has called her son this morning. - Mary called her son in the morning.
The morning is not over yet, which means the period of action continues. Therefore there is a connection with the present.

I have never been to China. - I have never been to China.
Have you ever been to Australia? -Have you ever been to Australia?

Here one could add - never (or ever) In my life! I've never been to China in my life. Validity period (in in this example- life) is not over yet.

Difference between Present Perfect and Past Indefinite

Past Indefinite: The action took place in a time period that has ended. For example, yesterday(yesterday), last week(last week), last month(last month), last year(last year).

Examples

I’ve had a cup of tea this morning. - I drank a cup of tea in the morning.
Those. the morning is not over yet, it continues, so we use the Present Perfect.

But if the morning has already ended (after 12:00), and the day has come, then the situation has changed dramatically:

I had a cup of tea this morning. - I drank a cup of tea in the morning.
That's it, the morning is over, and I had to use Past Indefinite!
And this despite the fact that both the morning and the cup of tea remained the same.

5. Description of events of the recent past

Usually the words used are recently(recently), lately(recently, in Lately).

Examples

He has come back recently. - He returned recently.
I've worked hard lately. - I've been working a lot lately.

The recent past is recent because it has a connection with the present. Essentially, this means that the time period has not yet ended (see point 4).

6. The action occurs for the first (second, third, etc.) time

Examples

It’s the first time I’ve been here. - This is my first time here.
It’s the first time I’ve done it. - I'm doing this for the first time.
It’s the first time I’ve driven a car. - I'm driving a car for the first time.
It’s the third time she’s called him this morning. - She calls him this morning for the third time.

Attention! Not I do, but I've done!

Note

Pay attention to the difference in the use of verbs gone And been.

Once upon a time there lived Jack. And so he decided to go to France.

Jack has gone to France. - Jack went to France.
Those. Jack is now traveling to France or is there.

But then Jack returned, and now he is back in his homeland.
This means:

Jack has been to France. - Jack was in France.
He was there, now he is no longer there.

(have, has) and past participle forms: I have done, he has played. Past Participle (participle) of regular verbs is formed by adding the ending to the infinitive –ed: to invite- invite ed. When added to a verb –ed sometimes there are changes in its spelling: to stop – stopp ed. Past Participle irregular verbs need to remember: to tell – told – told. More about .

Abbreviated forms:

‘ve= have
's=has
haven't= have not
hasn't= has not

Using the Present Perfect

1. An action that has taken place to date, the result of which is obvious. The speaker’s emphasis is to draw the interlocutor’s attention to the result of the action taking place (there is always a connection between the past and the present).

Examples: I have lost my luggage. - I lost my luggage. (I now have no baggage - the speaker reports a specific result of an action have lost; This idea can also be expressed with the following sentence: My luggage is lost. – My luggage is lost.)
I have read a new book. – I read a new book. (I have already read the book)
She has bought a new car. - She bought a new car. (she has a new car now)

2. With adverbial words denoting periods of time that have not yet expired ( today - today, this week/month/year - this week, this month/year, this afternoon - this afternoon)*

Examples: I haven't read your documents today. – I didn’t read your documents today.

3. Often with adverbs of indefinite time ( ever - ever, never - never, already - already, yet - yet, often - often, so far - yet, until now, not yet - not yet, ever - ever)*

Examples: I 've never been there before. - I've never been here.
They haven't finished dinner yet. - They haven't finished lunch yet.

* Please note that the absence or presence of the above adverbs (3) or adverbial words (2) in a sentence is not a clear indicator Present usage Perfect.

4. Always used with adverbs lately – (for/in) lately and just – just now.

Examples: They have just finished. - They just finished.
Have you heard from her lately? – Have you heard about her lately?

5. Actions performed during a certain period of time up to the present moment with verbs that do not have the Continuous form. Often used with prepositions for ( for an hour - for an hour, for two weeks - for two weeks, for a long time - for a long time ) and since ( since twelve o’clock - from twelve o’clock, since 12 April - from April 12, since May - from May). More about .

Examples: I have known her mother for 10 years. – I’ve known her mother for 10 years.
He has been here since 3 o'clock. – He’s been here since 3 o’clock.

6. Never used to refer to past moments or periods of time ( yesterday - yesterday, last week - last week, an hour ago - an hour ago, on Sunday - on Sunday, in 2005 - in 2005), with questions starting with when – When. These marker words indicate the need to use.

Examples:When did he draw this portrait? – When did he paint this portrait?
I came here an hour ago. – I came here an hour ago.

7. In circumstances subordinate clauses time and conditions ( after conjunctions when - when, while, after - after, as soon as - as soon as, if - if, until - not yet) instead to express an action that will end at a certain point in the future. Translated into Russian by the future tense.

Examples:After he has been repaired the washing machine, he'll be paid. – After he fixes the washing machine, he will be paid.
I'll come as soon as I have finished writing this letter. “I’ll come as soon as I finish writing this letter.”

From the school desk, students are intimidated by the difficult to understand parts of English, which must be crammed, otherwise you will not communicate and understand the language even at a minimal level. In fact, the prim English have only three times, just like in our great and mighty tongue: present, past and future. However, you should understand: each time has its own characteristics, in other words, types. In this article we will look at the present tense and its form Present Perfect Simple.

English present tense

The present tense in English has 4 types:

1. Present Perfect.
2. Present Simple.
3. Present Perfect Continuous.

Exercises usually help to reinforce the complexities of using these forms. It should be understood that these are not isolated rules, they have a certain system. The main thing in studying is to understand the essence of each tense, when it needs to be applied in practice in writing, and when in live conversation.

Time formula

The name of the tense form Present Perfect Simple is translated as “present perfect tense”. The perfect form is one of the most used in communication by residents of England and America, although we hear it less often in the speech of the latter. This type of present tense is formed according to the following formula: auxiliary + main verb in 3rd form.

The third form for regular verbs is formed by adding and for irregular verbs there is its own form, which is usually given in dictionaries.

For example:

I have already cleaned my room. - “I have already cleaned my room” (the verb clean is correct).

He has already drunk his tea. - “He has already drunk his tea” (the verb drink is incorrect).

Thus, we can say that the present perfect tense is quite simple to form; the main thing is to know whether you are using the correct form of the verb or not.

The third part of the table in dictionary publications and textbooks contains the third form of the verb. For example: the verb be (translated as to be, to exist) has the following forms: be/was (were)/been.

Using the present perfect tense

Present Perfect Simple is used when it is necessary to express exactly the result of an action that has already been performed. With the help of this tense, attention is focused on the result and thus it is clear that the action has already been completed. We also use Simple when we talk about an action that happened in an unfinished period of time. Remember that the main thing for understanding the perfect is the connection with the present moment and the fact of completion of the action. For example: " I have already eaten watermelon." - I have already eaten melon. That is, we mean the result of the action itself, the actual result.

These two tense forms refer to the present tense, but have different meaning. Present Simple is used when talking about events that happen usually and every day. The main indicators for it are the following words: always (always), usually (usually), rarely (rarely), often (often). The Present Perfect expresses an action that has already been performed and has a certain result at the time of the speaker’s speech. Also, these two times have different formation formulas. The simple tense is used in live communication much more often than the perfect tense. He has many words - pointers, that is, words that directly say that it is necessary to use the perfect tense.

Difference between Present Perfect and Past Simple

When learning English, the question always arises of when to use the Present Perfect and when to use the Past Simple. It is necessary to understand the basic postulates of using these forms of time. The most important thing to remember is that “Past Simple” is the past tense, it talks about events that have already happened. “Present perfect” is the present tense, it talks about something that was started earlier and not yet finished, or finished, but has a relationship with today. Sometimes you can understand from the meaning of the text itself that it is the perfect that needs to be used. The time should be chosen depending on what needs to be said to the speaker, based on the situation at hand.

Timing Rules

If the situation or time period about which we're talking about, has ended and has no connection with the present, then “Past Simple” should be used. When using the Past Simple tense, this may mean that the person in question can no longer carry out any action. If you do not say in more detail during the conversation about the reason for choosing this time, then you might think that the person is no longer alive.

She always loved watching TV. - “She always loved watching TV” (meaning that she doesn’t watch TV anymore because she died).

She has always loved watching TV. - “She always loved watching TV” (she loved it before and still loves it).

Etymology of the word

The word perfect comes from Latin language and is translated as “completion”, and the meaning of “perfection”, in the sense of the absence of shortcomings, acquired much later. In fact, the word perfect acquired the meaning of “flawless” by expanding its previous meaning, because something created is completed when it no longer has flaws. Perfect tenses are so called because they refer to actions that are completed relative to the present tense. For example: “I ate the bread” is an action that is currently completed. However, not every use of the present perfect tense is associated with the idea of ​​completion. In fact, the perfect form exists in many European languages, including our Russian language.

English is not difficult. The rules are easy to remember and there are not many of them.