Unit 6 present perfect and present perfect progressive Present Perfect

The Present Perfect is almost a kind of present tense. When we use it we are generally thinking about the present as well as the past and we can usually make a present sentence about the same situation. Thus, the Present Perfect is a present tense which looks backwards into the past.

NOTE: This tense is never used in past narratives (stories told in the past, history books). It is common in conversations, broadcast news, newspapers, letters and any kind of language use that has connection with the present.

It can be used in the following ways:

1. to describe an action that happened at an indefinite time before the present:

1. the Present Perfect is used for recent accomplished actions when the time is not mentioned

I have read the instructions but I don’t understand them.

Have you had breakfast?

Recent actions in the Present Perfect often have results in the present.

Tom has had a bad crash. (he’s in hospital)

The lift has broken down. (we have to use the stairs)

Actions expressed by the Present Perfect + yet usually have results in the present.

He hasn’t come yet. (so we are still waiting for him)

2. it can be used for actions which occur further back in the past, provided the connection with the present is still maintained, that is that the action could be repeated in the present, or it is the experience which is part of that person in the present

I have seen wolves in that forest.

John Smith has written a number of short stories.

I’ve been to Spain but I haven’t been to Italy.

Have you been round the National Gallery?

3. often in news reporting, to open up a conversation, to introduce a new topic the use of the Present Perfect makes the event seem more immediate and of direct relevance to the present

At least twenty people have been killed in a motorway crash.

But it serves only to introduce an action which will then be described in the Simple Past tense. The time of the action is very often given in the second sentence. But if the time of the action is not given the past tense will normally be used in the second sentence.

Two prisoners have escaped from Dartmoor. They used a ladder which had been left behind by some workmen, climbed a twenty-foot wall and got away in a stolen car.

4. to sum up a situation

You’ve been so good to me.

I’ve done a lot of foolish things.

2. for actions occurring in an incomplete period

This may be expressed by the following diagram:

Action Action Time of speaking

I---------------------------------------------------------

An incomplete period may be indicated by:

1. so far, today, tonight or this morning / afternoon / evening / week etc.

Note that the Present Perfect can be used with this morning only up to about one o’clock, because after this ‘morning’ becomes a completed period. Similarly ‘the afternoon’ will end at about five o’clock.

(at 4 p.m.) I haven’t seen Tom this afternoon.

(at 6 p.m.) I didn’t see Tom this afternoon.

The time of performing actions is indefinite in case of the Present Perfect.

• Have you seen him today? (at any time today)

• Yes, I have.

But if the time of the action is definite within an incomplete period we use the Simple Past tense. If my alarm clock normally goes off at six, I might say at breakfast:

My alarm clock didn’t go off this morning.

Whom do you think I passed in Hyde Park today?

In the above-given sentence ‘today’ is not over, but the action took place at a particular moment within ‘today’, namely when the speaker was in the park.

b) lately, recently

In the sentences:

Has he been here lately / recently?

He hasn’t been here lately / recently.

lately / recently mean ‘at any time during the last week / month, etc.’; and in the sentence:

He has been here recently.

recently means ‘at some indefinite time during the last week / month, etc.’ Lately is less usual with the affirmative, except for actions covering a period of time.

There have been some changes lately / recently.

NOTE: recently, used with the Simple Past tense, means ‘a short time ago.’

c) ever, never, always, occasionally, often, seldom, several times, etc.

• Have you ever fallen off a horse?

• Yes, I have fallen quite often.

But if one’s riding days are over, we would have:

• Did you ever fall off a horse?

• Yes, I did occasionally.

The Present Perfect can be used here for habitual actions.

They’ve always answered my letters.

3. The Present Perfect is used for an action which lasts throughout an incomplete period with the following time indicators: before, ever, never, always, for, since, all day / night / week, all my life, all the time, etc. But Present Perfect is not obligatory with them as any other tense may be used with these time expressions if required by the situation.

I shall love you always.

He never drinks alcohol.

Here several (different) cases can be observed:

1. The action usually begins in the past and continues up to the time of speaking in the present

He’s been in the army for two years. (he’s still in the army)

We have waited all day. (we are still waiting)

I’ve smoked since I left school. (I still smoke)

This type of action might be expressed by a diagram:

Time of speaking

I_____________________x___________

In the clause introduced by since the Past Simple is usually used to indicate the starting point of an action. But sometimes in both parts of such a complex sentence we find 2 parallel actions which began at the same time in the past and continue up till now:

I’ve loved you since I’ve known you.

In the sentences:

He was in the army for two years.

I smoked for six months.

He lived here all his life.

we are dealing with a completed period of time. Thus the Past Simple is used in them.

Time of speaking

I__________________I-------------------------

2. Sometimes, however, the action finishes at the time of speaking.

I haven’t seen you for ages. (but I see you now)

This room hasn’t been cleaned for months. (but we are cleaning it now)

This type of action could be expressed by a diagram:

Time of speaking

I_________________________I

Verbs of knowing, believing and understanding cannot be used in the Present Perfect except as shown above.

I have known him for a long time.

But: Did you know that he was going to be married?

Think and wonder can be used for repeated and habitual actions.

I have sometimes thought I should have emigrated.

4. in clauses of time and condition to express a future action which will be completed before the action of the principal clause (usually expressed by the future Simple)

I’ll give you back the ring when I have found it.

I’ll go swimming with you on Monday if I’ve recovered from this cold.

5. The Present Perfect is used after the following expressions:

This / that / it is the first / second / third time…

This / that / it is the only…

This / that / it is the best / finest / worst…

This is the first time I’ve felt really relaxed for months.

This is the best wine I have ever drunk.