Present completed tense in English. Present Perfect Tense - present perfect tense in English

Affirmative form The Present Perfect is formed using the auxiliary verb to have in the appropriate person and number (has - for the 3rd person singular, have - for all other persons in the singular and all persons in the plural) and the past participle (Participle II - participles II) semantic verb.

to have + Participle II

I have translated the text. I translated the text.
He has written two letters. He wrote two letters.

Interrogative form is formed by moving the auxiliary verb, which is placed before the subject. If there is a question word, it is placed before the auxiliary verb.

Have did you translate this text? Have you translated this text?
What have did you translate? What did you translate?

Abbreviations:

Along with the full form, abbreviated versions of the affirmative, negative and interrogative-negative forms are also used, especially in colloquial speech.

• 1. In the affirmative form, the spelling and pronunciation of the auxiliary verb have/has changes:

I've = I have
He's =He has
We've = We have

• 2. In negative form - two options for abbreviation:

a) negative particle not remains unchanged, only the auxiliary verb is reduced:

I've not = I have not
He's not = He has not
We've not = We have not

b) negative particle not loses the letter o and merges with the auxiliary verb:

I haven't= I have not
He hasn't= He has not

The same change occurs in the interrogative-negative form:

Haven't did you work?
Hasn't he written?

Using the Present Perfect

Present Perfect is used:

• 1. To express an action that has already taken place in the previous period before the moment of speech, but has a direct connection with the present moment. This connection to the present moment manifests itself:

a) as a result of an action that is available at the moment of speech:

I've read this article. I have read this article. (I know its contents, I can tell you.)
Doesn't have a letter written. He wrote a letter. (The result is a letter that can be read and sent.)

b) in sentences with words denoting an unfinished period of time: today - Today, this morning - this morning, this week - this week, this month - this month etc., as well as with adverbs of indefinite time: ever - ever, never - never, often - often, already - already, yet - Bye, more, just - just now, lately - recently(in recent days, weeks), recently - recently(in recent months or years), recently, up to now - still, rarely - rarely, once - one day, once upon a time etc. (most of them are more often used in interrogative and negative sentences).

I haven’t seen her this week. I haven't seen her this week.
I've never seen her before. I've never seen her before.
Has she come back yet? Is she already back?
She has published a new book recently. She recently published a new book.
Have you ever been to London? Have you ever been to London?

Please note:
In the above cases, the verb in the Present Perfect is translated into Russian by a verb in the past tense.

• 2. To express an action that began in the past, but has not yet ended (continuing), often with verbs that are not used in the Continuous form. At the same time, an unfinished period of time is often indicated by circumstances of time with the preposition for - during(for years - for many years, for ages - for ages, for three weeks - within three weeks etc.), with the preposition since - With(since Sunday - from Sunday, since 10 o'clock - from 10 o'clock, since 1990 - since 1990 etc.), as well as a subordinate clause with the conjunction since - since then.

I haven’t seen you for ages. We haven't seen each other for ages.
Has not been here for three weeks already. He's been here for three weeks now.
I haven’t heard from him since August. I haven't heard from him since August.
We have known her since 1990. We have known her since 1990.

Please note:
In this case, verbs in the Present Perfect can be translated into Russian by verbs in the past or present tense - depending on the context.

Note also the following:

The difference in the use of Present Perfect and Simple Past/Past Indefinite is that Simple Past/Past Indefinite is always associated with a past period of time (which may be indicated or clear from the context) and expresses an action-fact, while Present Perfect is always associated with present and expresses the action-result or experience acquired as a result of the action.

Compare:

The Present Perfect is not used if there is an exact indication of time in the past (yesterday, last night, etc.), since in this case the connection with the present moment is broken. The presence of this connection is a prerequisite for using the Present Perfect. If there is no such connection, then Simple Past/Past Indefinite is used.

Compare:

a) I have heard his speech and I liked it. I heard his performance and I liked it.
b) I heard his speech last night. I heard him speak last night.

In the first case (a), the time of the action is not specified, but it happened in the past and the connection with the present is expressed by the fact that you like it (the performance) even now - the Present Perfect is used. In the second case (b) the duration of action is indicated, and therefore Simple Past/Past Indefinite is used.

Compare also:

a) I have seen her this morning. I saw her this morning.
b) I saw her this morning. I saw her this morning.

In the first case (a), this can be said if the conversation takes place in the morning, the morning time has not yet expired. In the second case (b), this can be said if the conversation takes place during the day or evening, the morning time has already expired. With the expression this morning, the Present Perfect can only be used if the action took place before one o'clock in the afternoon. If it happened later, for example, at one thirty (13.30), then Simple Past/Past Indefinite is used, since, according to the British, “morning” lasts only until one o’clock in the afternoon.

• 3. The Present Perfect is also used in sentences in which the action, although it happened in the past, can be repeated.

I have seen wolves in this forest. I saw wolves in this forest. (It is implied that they can be found there and now.)
I saw wolves in this forest. I saw wolves in this forest. (The use of the Simple Past expresses a statement of fact.)

Compare also:

a) Pushkin wrote many wonderful poems. Pushkin wrote many beautiful poems.
b) Yevtushenko has written many wonderful poems. Yevtushenko wrote many beautiful poems.

In the first sentence (a) we used Simple Past/Past Indefinite - wrote, since Pushkin is no longer alive and the possibility of repeating the action, i.e., writing more poetry, is excluded. In the second sentence (b) the verb in the Present Perfect is used - has written, since the author is alive and, perhaps, will write many more beautiful poems.

• 4. The Present Perfect is used in answers to a question asked in the Present Perfect (unless the tense is specified in the answer). If the time of action in the answer is specified, then it is given in Simple Past/Past Indefinite.

Have you seen the new English film? Have you seen the new English film?
Yes, I have (seen the new English film). Yes, I saw (the new English film).
But: Yes, I saw it yesterday. Yes, I saw him yesterday.

Please note:

If the dialogue is not limited to one question and answer, but continues, then the first one or two questions and answers are used in the Present Perfect, and the conversation continues in the Simple Past / Past Indefinite, because The main thing is not actions, but circumstances.

Husband: Where have you been? Husband: Where have you been?
Wife: I’ve been at the sales. Wife: I was in the store (at a discount sale).
Husband: What have you bought? (What did you buy?) Husband: What did you buy?
Wife: I’ve bought (I bought) yellow pajamas. Wife: I bought yellow pajamas.
Husband: Why did you buy yellow? I told you never to buy yellow for me. Husband: Why yellow? I told you to never buy yellow for me.
Wife: I couldn't resist it. They were very much reduced. Wife: I couldn't resist. They were so cheap. (They were greatly discounted).

Place of adverbs in sentences when used with the Present Perfect form

• 1. Adverbs ever, never, often, rarely, just, as a rule, are placed before the semantic verb.

I have never read that book. I've never read this book.
Doesn't have often been there. He visited there often.
They have just left the house. They just left.

• 2. Adverb already also placed before the semantic verb in affirmative sentences, and in interrogative sentences, as a rule, at the end of the sentence and usually expresses surprise in the latter case (already with a connotation of the meaning “so soon”).

Have you translated the article already?
Have you really (so soon) translated the article?

• 3. Adverbs lately, recently, once and combinations up to now, many times, as a rule, are placed at the end of the sentence.

I haven’t received any letters from him lately. I haven't received any letters from him lately.
We have seen him recently. We saw him recently.

• 4. Adverb yet is used in negative sentences in the sense of “still” and is usually placed at the end of the sentence. In interrogative sentences it means “already” and is also placed at the end of the sentence.

Hasn’t finished his work yet. He hasn't finished his work yet.
Have they come back yet? Have they returned yet?

Present Perfect is the present perfect tense, which denotes an action that has already taken place in the previous period before the moment of speech, but has a direct connection with the present moment.

In all the variety of tenses in the English language, Perfect tenses (perfect or complete) are notable for the fact that you will not find their analogues in Russian grammar. Perhaps for this reason, many people have difficulty mastering perfect tenses. Let's learn to understand and use these useful and interesting English verb tenses.

Strictly speaking, in English there are only two tenses (tense), where only the semantic verb is present: present (We walk) And past (He left).
All other tenses of verbs in English, and there are about thirty of them, use auxiliary verbs.

There are six main tenses, which, once understood, will help you understand the entire temporal structure of English verbs.

• Present Simple (Present Indefinite): We play. - We play.
• Present Perfect: We have played. - We played.
• Past Simple (Past Indefinite): We played. - We played.
• Past Perfect: We had played. - We played (before a certain event in the past).
• Future Simple (Future Indefinite): We will play. - We will play.
• Future Perfect: We will have played. - We'll play (until a certain event in the future).

Students of English as a foreign language most often experience problems with perfect tenses. This is due to the fact that they are formed a little more complex than their “simple” counterparts: with the help of an auxiliary verb and the past participle (III form of the verb).

• Run (run)- run - run
• Play (play)- played - played

Auxiliary verbs are usually forms of the verbs be, can, do, may, must, ought, shall, will, have, has, had. It is these verbs and their forms that should be given attention.

Present Perfect Tense (present perfect tense)

Tom will repair his car on Monday. (Future Simple) - Tom will be repairing his car on Monday.

She hopes that Tom will have repaired his car by Monday evening. (Future Perfect) - She hopes Tom will have his car repaired by Monday evening.

a) The present perfect is used when describing an event that happened in the past and is relevant, significant, significant at the time of speech about it. It does not matter when this action took place. The present perfect is often used with the adverbs lately (recently), and just (just), already (already) never (ever), ever (ever), yet (yet).
Example: I have forgotten his name. – I forgot his name (and don’t remember at the moment)

b) The present perfect is used when an action has already taken place, but the period of time when it occurred has not yet expired.
Example: I have met him today. – I saw him today. (“today” has not yet expired) He has bought a new car this year. – He bought a new car this year (“this year” has not yet expired)

Formation of narrative sentences in the Present Perfect: Formed using the present tense forms of the auxiliary verb to have(have; has)

Present tense forms of the verb to have:

Word order in a declarative sentence: subject + have/has + predicate ending –ed or, if the verb is irregular, then the 3rd form of the verb.
Examples: She has already come. - She has already arrived. I have just visited this supermarket. – I just visited this supermarket.

Formation of interrogative sentences in the Present Perfect: Formed using the auxiliary verb to have in the present tense forms –have; has. Word order in a special question: question word + have/ has + subject + predicate ending –ed or 3rd form of an irregular verb.
Examples: What have you done? -What did you do? Has he brought this book? - Did he bring this book?

Formation of negative sentences in the Present Perfect: The formation of negative sentences occurs using the same auxiliary verbs. After the auxiliary verb the particle not is placed.
Examples: She has not (hasn’t) come yet. - She hasn't arrived yet. I have not (haven’t) seen him. – I didn’t see him.

The Present Perfect should not be confused with the Past Simple. When using the Past Simple, one of the time indicators is usually used, indicating the moment when the event occurred.
Example: He saw her yesterday. – He saw her yesterday.

When using the Present Perfect, use any of the Present Perfect indicators - lately (recently), and just (just now), already (already) never (ever), ever (ever), yet (yet). When talking about an action that has already happened, we may not use any pointers at all. If this action or event is relevant at the moment, then the Present Perfect is used. Example: I have bought it. - I bought this.

All of the above tense forms are given here in the active voice.

Present Perfect (present perfect) is used to denote an action that took place in the past and has a result in the present.

Education Present Perfect Tense

The Present Perfect is formed using the auxiliary verb to have in the present tense ( have, has) and the past participle form of the semantic verb. This form of the verb is also called the “third form of the verb” and is designated conventionally as V3 (verb 3). For regular verbs this is the infinitive ending –ed, for irregular verbs it is the third column V ):
I have played.
He has played.
We have played.

Interrogative form: have (has) + subject + V3:
Have I played?
Has he played?
Have we played?

In a special question, the necessary interrogative pronoun is placed before have (has):
Where have I played?
Why has he played?
With whom have you played?

In a question to the subject, an interrogative pronoun who is placed before the predicate instead of the subject itself (in this question the auxiliary verb has is always used):
Who has worked?

Negative form: have (has) + not + V3:
I have not played.
He has not played.
We have not played.

Interrogative negative form: have (has) + subject + not + V3 or haven"t (hasn"t) + subject + V3:
Have I not played?
Has he not played?
Have we not played?

Abbreviations used in colloquial speech:
have not = haven"t = "ve not
has not = hasn't = "s not
have = "ve
has = "s
I haven't played. = I"ve not played.
I've played.
Haven't I played?

Using Present Perfect Tense

Present Perfect is used:

1. To express an action that took place in the past, but has a result in the present. The presence of such a result connects the past action with the present:
I have lost my keys. I lost my keys.
(I lost it in the past, but there is a result - now I don’t have them, I can’t open the door)

Has the rain stopped? Has the rain stopped?
(interesting in the lack of rain at the moment)

The duration of the action may not be specified (as in the previous sentences) or may be expressed by adverbs just, ever, never, already, yet(in questions and negatives), lately recently, lately, recently recently. In this case, the sentence should not contain adverbs indicating the past tense:
I have never been in London. I've never been to London.
He hasn't come home yet. He hasn't come home from work yet.

But compare:
My mom has already cooked dinner. Mom has already prepared lunch.
My mom already cooked dinner yesterday. Mom already prepared lunch yesterday. (yesterday indicates past tense, which is why it is used )

Note. The Past Simple Tense is just used with the adverb just now:
I broke it just now. I just broke it.

2. To express both a one-time action and an action repeated several times in the past (the sentence may contain the words often often, twice twice etc.) and in sentences answering the question how much/many how much:
I have read that book twice. I read this book twice.
I have been in London three times. I've been to London three times.
I "ve ironed 8 skirts. I ironed 8 skirts.

3. Present Perfect is used with adverbs denoting periods of time that have not yet elapsed today today, this week this week, this month this month, this year this year and so on.:
Have you listened to the radio today? Did you listen to the radio today? (not expired today)
It has not rained this week. There was no rain this week. (this week has not expired)

But if the specified period of time has already ended, then the Past Simple Tense form is used:
I have drunk coffee this morning. I drank coffee this morning.(said in the morning)
I drank coffee this morning. I drank coffee this morning.(the morning has already passed, it is said, for example, in the afternoon or evening)

4. The Present Perfect is used to express an action that began in the past and continued until the moment of speech or is still ongoing at the moment of speech. The sentence must contain the prepositions since (from some past moment to the present) or for during. At the same time, the Present Perfect can be translated either in the present tense or in the past, depending on the situation.
a) with verbs not used in the Continuous (for more details, see):
I haven't seen you for ages. I haven't seen you for ages.(I didn’t see it and just saw it at the moment of speaking)
Has not been here since two o'clock. He (has been) here since two o'clock.(started at two o'clock and is still here now)
I have known him for three years. I know him for three years.

b) with some verbs instead of the Present Perfect Continuous, if the speaker wants to focus not on the duration, but on the fact of the action.
I have lived in Moscow for five years. I have been living in Moscow for five years.(fact is important)
I have been living in Moscow for five years. I have been living in Moscow for five years.(duration, process is important)

The Present Perfect is also used with the conjunction since since. In this case, the Present Perfect is used in the main clause, and in the subordinate clause starting with since, the Past Simple is used:
I have written only one letter to my relatives since I left. I've only written one letter since I left.
I haven't letters received from him since he left. I haven't received any letters from him since he left.

Present Perfect is also used with the adverb since since:
We moved to a new flat last year, and we haven't met our friends since. We moved last year, and haven't seen our friends since then.

5. The Present Perfect is used to express a perfect future action instead of the Future Perfect in adverbial subordinate clauses of time and condition, which are introduced by conjunctions after, when, as soon as, until (till), if etc. In this case, the Present Perfect is translated into the future tense of the perfect form:
He will wait for you until you have come. He will wait for you until you come.

Usage of Present Perfect Tense

1. An action, the result of which is evident in the present tense (in Russian it corresponds to the past tense).
2. An action repeated several times in the past.
3. With adverbial words denoting periods of time that have not yet expired.
4. To express an action that began in the past and continued until the moment of speech or is still ongoing at the moment of speech: instead of the Present Perfect Continuous (in Russian it corresponds to the present and past tense).
5. The future perfect action in subordinate clauses of time and condition (in Russian corresponds to the future tense).

Any tenses of the Perfect category indicate the perfection of the action, that the situation is complete, and not long-term or permanent. As for The Present Perfect Tense - ‘this is a tense that is certainly associated with the present action, as evidenced by its name.

general information

The main feature of this type of tense form is that in sentences with the Present Perfect we are talking about a completed action, the result of which has a direct connection with the current time. Very often there is a time where there is no emphasis on connections with the present, and it is based solely on the fact of the event that occurred.

Here are examples of sentences that show how the present perfect tense looks and is used in English:

· You have done more than stay young; you have stayed a child - You did more than just stay young - you remained a child
· I have made you a bed upstairs, make yourself at home - I made you a bed upstairs, make yourself at home

As can be seen from these examples, the present perfect tense, as it is called in Russian transcription, is used to express not just an event that took place in the past, but reflects the result of a completed action that is relevant now.

Education Present Perfect

The present completed tense often causes difficulties for those who are still at the stage of learning English, because here several nuances come into force at once, which are extremely important to take into account. Firstly, the Present Perfect is necessarily formed using auxiliary verbs. These are auxiliary verbs such as have and has (the latter is used only for third person pronouns used in the singular - he, she, it). Secondly, this verb in the present perfect tense is followed by a main verb, which is in the form Past Participle, or Participle II (popularly the third form of the verb). Here it is important to navigate the list of irregular verbs, but for regular ones everything is simpler, because the ending –ed is simply added to the word.

Therefore, the classic Present Perfect formula looks like this:

Have
Has + V(3) (–ed)

· I have never had a chance to meet anyone here – I have never had the opportunity to meet anyone here
· She has worked in this company for 3 years already – She has worked in this company for 3 years already

Questions and denials

Interrogative sentences

here they are formed with the same auxiliary verbs have and has, which in a general question, that is, in one to which the answer can be “yes” or “no,” are in the original position:

· Have you already finished your course work? – Have you finished your coursework yet?
· Has he just returned from his trip? – Has he just returned from his trip?

Special questions

at the beginning of which there is a question word like when, why, how, etc., are formed according to a similar principle, with the only difference being that these interrogative words occupy the initial position:

· How long has she been here? – How long has she been here?
· Why has he written so many articles today? – Why did he write so many articles today?

Present Perfect formula in a negative sentence

practically no different from the affirmative form. Here the grammar provides for the simple use of the particle not after the auxiliary verb, where have not = haven’t, hasn’t = has not. Negation looks like this:

· I haven’t completed my daily report yet – I have not yet completed my daily report
· He still hasn’t brought us money - He still hasn’t brought us money

Note: the rule provides for the use of this tense in special interrogative and negative constructions with the inclusion of the phrase “ever”, where the Present Perfect time markers used are the adverbs ever or never:

· Have you ever been to Bangkok? – Have you ever been to Bangkok?
· I have never seen such a beautiful landscape! – I have never seen such a beautiful landscape!

Using the Present Perfect

The use of the Present Perfect is typical for the following situations:

1. Completed action

In order to display a completed action, which has a clear echo in the present tense and, unlike the simple tense, is used to express completeness. Companions of the Present Perfect in such situations are specific adverbs already, ever, never, yet (typical for interrogative and negative sentences, where its frequent position is at the end of the phrase), just, for (shows the duration of the action), as well as those time frames which show that the action is not yet completed (this year, today, etc.).

· He hasn’t called me for ages – He hasn’t called me for ages
· We have already found out the latest news - We have already found out the latest news
· I have done much this year - This year I have done a lot (in the sense that the year is not over yet)

Note: in the Present Perfect just, this is one of the markers that translates as “just now.” But if the construction just now is used, then it is typical to use the Past Simple, despite the fact that the translation will be identical:

· I have just cooked breakfast - I just cooked breakfast
· I cooked breakfast just now - I just cooked breakfast

Note: the so-called American English, which has become an integral part of modern life, very often does not provide for the use of the Present Perfect, even in such obvious situations when there are special helpers in the form of adverbs or there are other factors regulating the use of the Perfect. In this version, the perfect is ignored, although classical grammar does not approve of this:

I have lost my key – I lost my key (I lost the key)

2. With the preposition “since” + Past Simple

The situation deserves special attention when with the Present Perfect since, the preposition, which is translated as “from”, “from the moment”, is used in the same sentence together with. With this sense, the construction of the sentence is constructed as follows:

I haven’t seen her since I left for Sydney – I haven’t seen her since I left for Sydney

In this example, the first part of the sentence uses the Present Perfect, and the second uses the Past Simple. Very often in such sentences it is recommended to look for the so-called starting point, i.e. the action from which it all began. In this example, this is the part “since I left for Moscow.” The use of Perfect is relevant here for the reason that the action is performed (or not performed from then until now, which shows the result to this day). In the Present Perfect, examples of such situations are not uncommon, and the English language in this case provides a well-founded reason for such use.

3. In subordinate tenses

The use of this tense is also typical for those cases when the perfect is part of the subordinate parts of time. The present perfect marker words in this case are the same as in (Conditional I): these are conjunctions unless, when, as soon as, before, after, etc. The main feature here is that the emphasis is on the completeness of the event, and not on its fact. Present Perfect sentences here could be as follows:

· I will not call him until you have told me everything - I won’t call him until you tell me everything
· They will come as soon as I have finished my work - They will come as soon as I finish work

Note: There is an exception to this rule. Provided that if the verbs in the Present Perfect here belong either to the category of movement (arrive, come, return, etc.) or sensory perception, then using the present perfect tense with them is undesirable; it would be correct to put the usual Present Simple, more often used in a conditional sentence first type:

· I will be glad when he comes - I will be glad when he comes
· She will get in a fury when she hears my words – She will get furious when she hears my words

But even here the Present Perfect is possible when there are indicators that the speaker is deliberately emphasizing completeness and not expressively emphasizing it; the translation in this case will prove the relevance of the use of the perfect:

I will learn the poem by heart when I have heard it a few times - I will learn the poem by heart when I listen to it several times(completeness, performed several times, is expressively emphasized)

Let's sum it up

As it becomes clear from all of the above, phrases in the perfect are formed and used when there is an intention to demonstrate the completeness of an action or to display the period of time that it occupies up to the present moment. The formation scheme for Present Perfect is quite simple, although it requires memorization. Like any other type of tense form, Present Perfect Tense has very clear rules for use, so the main thing is to strictly follow all the instructions, and then this time will not cause any inconvenience.