Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous Tenses
Introduction
4. 1. The Present Perfect Tense
4. 1. 1. Form
§ The present perfect tense is formed with the present tense of the auxiliary “to have” + the past participle of the main verb:
· I have worked.
· She has worked.
· They have made the cake.
§ The past participle in regular verbs has exactly the same form as the simple past:
· Love, loved
· Work, worked
§ In irregular verbs the past participles vary “see the list.”
· Find, found
· Come, come
· go, gone
§ The negative is formed by adding “not” to the auxiliary.
· I have not worked.
· She has not worked.
§ The interrogative is formed by inverting the auxiliary and subject.
· Have I worked?
· Has she worked?
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Affirmative |
Negative |
Interrogative |
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I have worked You have worked He/she/it has worked We have worked You have worked They have worked |
I have not worked You have not worked He/she/it has not worked We have not worked You have not worked They have not worked |
Have I worked? Have you worked? Has he /she/ it worked? Have we worked? Have you worked? Have they worked? |
2. Definition of the Present perfect Tense
The present perfect tense is a sort of mixture of present and past. It always implies a strong connection with the present and is chiefly used in conversations, letters, newspapers, and television and radio reports. Please note that American and British English have different rules for the use of this tense. The explanations and examples here refer to British English. In American English, it is often acceptable to use the past simple tense in some situations instead of the present perfect.
The present perfect tense is a rather important tense in English, but it gives speakers of some languages a difficult time. That is because it uses concepts or ideas that do not exist in those languages. In fact, the structure of the present perfect tense is very simple. The problems come with the use of the tense. In addition, there are some differences in usage between British and American English.
4. 1. 2. Main Uses of the Present Perfect Tense
§ We use the present perfect tense when we want to look back from the present to the past. We use it especially to say that a finished action or event is connected with the present time in some way. When we say that something has happened, we are thinking about the past time and the present time at the same time. In this situation, this tense expresses an experience which is connected to both past and present “presence of the action in the past and in the present time through its results that are still taking place in the present”. The connection with the past implies that the action was in the past while the connection with the present is that in my head, now, I have a memory of the event; I know something about the event; I have a kind of experience of it.
· Here are some examples about Experience:
§ Here are some examples in which the present perfect talks about a New Information. This means that the past and present are opposite to each other:
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· I have bought a car. · The policemen have arrested the killer. |
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· Past |
· Present |
· Future |
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- - - - - - - |
+ + + + + + + + |
- - - - - - |
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Last week, I did not have a car. |
Now I have a car. |
No action in this stage |
§ We often use the Present Perfect to talk about change that has happened over a period of time. Here are some examples in which the present perfect talks about a Change. This means that the past and present are opposite to each other. Examples:
· You have grown since the last time I saw you.
· The government has become more interested in poverty removal.
· Mandarin has become one of the most popular language courses at the university since the Asian studies program was established.
· My English has really improved since I moved to America.
§ It is used for unspecified time before now. 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, 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. furthermore, we often use the Present Perfect to list the accomplishments of individuals and humanity. Remember, though, that you cannot mention a specific time. This kind of actions can be represented diagrammatically as follows:
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See the examples below:
· I have seen that movie ten times.
· She thinks I have met her three before.
· There have been many earthquakes in Asia.
· People have traveled to the South Pole.
· People have not traveled to the Moon.
· Have you read the book yet?
· Nobody has ever climbed that mountain.
· Doctors have cured many deadly diseases.
· Scientists have split the atom.
§ The present perfect tense is used with a length of time. In case we see this tense with a phrase that shows a length of time, then it always means that the action started in the past and has continued until now. In this situation, this tense describes a continuing situation. This is about a state that started in the past and continues in the present (and will probably continue into the future). This is a state (not an action). We usually use for or since with the structure. This kind of description can be represented diagrammatically as follows:
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See the examples below:
· I have had a headache for two says.
· She has been in Sydney for six months.
· Sheena has loved chocolate since she was a little girl.
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Important Reminder: § We use The Present Perfect Tense when we are interested in the action that has been completed or finished. In more proper words, when we are interested in the result of the action, not the action itself. § We use The Present Perfect Tense when we wish to say how much we have done, or how many times we have done something.
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Important Note about For & Since with Present Perfect Tense We use for to talk about a period of time—5 minutes, 2 weeks, 6 years. For can be used with all tenses. See the examples below: · I have been here for 20 minutes. · John hasn't called for 6 months. · He has worked in New York for a long time. § We use since to talk about a point in past time—9 o'clock, 1st January, Monday. Since is usually used with perfect tenses only. Here are some examples: · I have been here since 9 o'clock. · John hasn't called since February. · He has worked in New York since he left school.
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5. Simple Past Tense and Present Perfect …………Differences
§ Basic difference: Simple Past refers to a definite time in the past, whereas Present Perfect refers to an action in indefinite time reference that is in certain connection with the present moment. Examples:
· Ann has had a bad car accident. – She is probably still in hospital.
· Ann had a bad car accident. – She is probably fine by now.
§ With Simple Past you specify the time of past action, whereas with Present Perfect you emphasize that something has happened in the past, but not when. Therefore, Present Perfect cannot be used with adjuncts/adverbials of time, but can be used with adjuncts/adverbials of duration/frequency. Examples:
· The settlers have left the bay forever.
· She has always been partial to sweets.
· I have often/frequently wondered why he moved.
§ Unlike Simple Past, Present Perfect may indicate incompletion. Examples:
· I have smoked for six years. –probably still smoke. VS.
· I smoked for six years. – I stopped smoking.).
Summary
The present perfect tense is used to indicate that an action occurring at some unstated time in the past is related or continues to the present time. It is formed by using “have” or “has” plus the past participle of the base verb (I, you, we, they have lived; s/he/it has lived). The common way of using the simple present tense is when:
§ Action that happened in the past without stating the specific time. (I have raised $500 for my swimming pool. I have noticed this trait in many photographers. She has had tremendous adventures.)
§ Action which started at some time in the past, continued, and is still happening now. (I have lived here for the last couple of years. She has not talked to me since yesterday. I have always liked cherry pies. I have not seen you for ages. – but I see you now)
§ Action in the indefinite past related to present situation (You seem terrified. What has frightened you? I have sprained my ankle. That is why I am limping.).
§ Recent action (I have just returned from work. We have missed out stop.)
§ In clauses of time to indicate a future completed action. (As soon as you have had your dinner, come over.)
4. 2. The Present Perfect Continuous Tense
4. 2. 1. A Form
§ This tense is formed by the present perfect of the verb “to be” + the present participle of the main verb:
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Subject + Have or has + been + stem + ing + object |
· I have been working.
· She has been working.
§ Affirmative form:
· I have been working.
· She has been working.
§ Negative form:
· I have not been working.
· She has not been working.
§ Interrogative form:
· Have I been working?
· Has she been working?
4. 2. 2. Main Uses of the Present Perfect Continuous Tense
§ We use the present perfect continuous tense to talk about how long something has been happening. This kind of actions can be represented diagrammatically as follows:
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See the examples below:
· Recently, I have been feeling really depressed.
· She has been watching too much theatre lately.
· Have you been exercising lately?
· How long have you been studying English?
· I’ve been working here for two months.
§ Present perfect progressive tense is used for an action which began in the past and is still continuing or has only just finished. In short, when we look back over actions and situations which started in the past and are still going on. "For five minutes," "for two weeks," and "since Tuesday" are all durations which can be used with the Present Perfect Continuous. This kind of actions can be represented diagrammatically as follows:
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· I’ve been waiting for an hour and he still hasn’t turned up.
· I’m so sorry I’m late. Have you been waiting long?
1. Remember that a number of verbs are not normally used in the continuous form (verbs of state), but that some of these can be used in this form in certain cases. We can therefore say:
· Tom has been seeing about a work permit for you.
· She has been having a tooth out.
· I’ve been hearing all about his operation.
2. The present perfect continuous tense does not exist in the passive voice. The nearest passive equivalent of a sentence such as “they have been repairing the road” would normally be “the road has been repaired lately”.
3. The present perfect continuous tense cannot be used with expressions that refer to a finished period of time.
4. 4. Present Perfect Tense and Present Perfect Continuous …………Differences
1. An action which began in the past and is still continuing or has only just finished can, with certain verbs, be expressed by either the present perfect simple or present perfect continuous. verbs which can be used in this way include “expect, hope, learn, lie, live, look, rain, sleep, sit, snow, stand, stay, study, teach, wait, want, work”:
· How long have you learnt English?
· How long have you been learning English?
· He has slept for ten years.
· He has been sleeping for ten years.
2. This is not of course possible with verbs which are not used in the continuous forms (verbs of state), i.e. the present perfect continuous could not replace the simple present perfect in the following examples:
· They’ve always had a big garden.
· He’s been in hospital since his accident.
3. Notice also that the present perfect continuous can be used with or without a time phrase. In this way it differs from the simple present perfect , which can only express this type of action if a time phrase is added such as “for six days, since June, never, …” when used without a time expression of this kind, the simple present perfect refers to a single completed action.
4. We use progressive form mostly for shorter, temporary actions and situations. When we talk about longer-lasting situations we often prefer the simple present perfect. When present perfect tense is compared to present perfect continuous tense then the present perfect take the quality of simple tenses.
· That man has been standing on the corner all day.
· For 900 years the castle has stood on the hill above the village.
Summary
The present perfect progressive tense describes actions that start in the past and continue to the present. It is formed by using “have” or “has” plus “been” plus the present participle of the base verb (I, you, we, they have been sitting, s/he/it has been sitting). The common way of using the simple present tense is when:
§ Present perfect Continuous emphasizes duration, (Why are you crying? - I have been cutting onions for the last ten minutes) or (non)-completion (Have you been reading the book?).
§ Compared to Present Perfect tense, little difference: I have worked here for two years now. Versus. I have been working here for two years now).
Macro Summary to the Present Tenses
You may use the different forms of the present tense to show the progression and sequence of events that are occurring right now. The present tense may help you give directions (for instance, for a process analysis essay) or to organize an argumentative essay. Always use present tense when writing a literary analysis or when describing a work of art. For example:
§ I graduated from college in 2005. Your graduation was a single event. It is completely over; although you continue to be a graduate, the day you wore your cap and gown and received your degree is over. Use the simple past tense.
§ I was preparing dinner when the phone rang. Each of the events is over. You prepared the dinner yesterday, and the phone rang yesterday. Show that a continuing action was interrupted by using the past continuous tense.
§ I was living in India at the time. I shopped at the outdoor markets every day. Again, each of these events is over. You no longer live in India, and you no longer shop in the markets. Use the past continuous tense to show that your life in India was a duration, or period, of time. During that time you shopped at the markets.
§ I had viewed the film before I read the book. Both of these actions happened in the past. Use the past perfect tense to indicate that one event occurred before the other.
§ I had been looking for my shoes when I found his lost wallet. Again, both of these actions are past. Use the past continuous tense to show that one action was in progress when another event occurred.