present perfect.
Hi, today we are going to be looking at the Present perfect tense in English. This is
the second video in a two part tutorial and I would recommend you first see part 1 first
by clicking the link above now or down below in the comments section.
In the first video we are looked at the form of the present perfect- in affirmative sentences,
negative sentences and questions. In this video we will look at how and when
to use the present perfect and importantly the difference between the present perfect
and the past simple. We will also look at the difference between been and gone. So as
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will thank you for it! So, let's look at how and when to use the
present perfect. The clue is in the name PRESENT perfect. The
present perfect is exactly that, it is a present tense. It always tells us about the situation
now.
The action Has a connection to the present, to now. or it has a result in the present.
I can’t get in the house. I’ve lost my keys.
You lost your keys in the past, but it has a result in the present. You can't get in
your house NOW.
It is also used for something that happened in the past but is important at the time of
speaking: Chloe isn’t at home. I think she has gone
shopping. Chloe went shopping in the past but it is
important at the time of speaking because she isn't at home.
We use the present perfect tense: for something that started in the past and
continues in the present: uncompleted actions or events.
Sam has lived in Liverpool all his life. ( he still lives there)
The third use of the present perfect is for Unfinished time. and here we come to the main
difference between the present perfect and the past simple. If you are expressing something
that is unfinished then it is the present perfect and if you are expressing something
that is finished you use the past simple often used with time flags, last week, last year,
yesterday etc.
Lets see some examples.
I've done a lot of work today. We use the present perfect because the day has not finished.
We could do more work. Whereas. I did a lot of work yesterday. Is
a finished period of time in the past. Yesterday is over.
It hasn't rained this week. here we use the present perfect because the week is not over.
It still might rain this week.
Whereas. It didn't rain last week. Last week is in the past. It's finished time.
So this leads us to using the present perfect to talk about life Experiences up to the present
. Have you travelled a lot? ( in your life, your life is not over, you might travel some
more, so you use the present perfect) We often use the adverb ever to talk about
experience up to the present: So you would say: Have you ever eaten snails?
( in your life, a period of time up until now, you might eat them in the future)
You also use the present perfect for something we have done several times in the past and
continue to do: For instance I’ve played the guitar ever since I was
a teenager. You started playing in the past but you continue
to play today and into the future. It is not finished.
This brings us nicely to for and since. We often use a clause for and since to show
when something started in the past and is still continuing.
Luis has lived in Delhi since 2016. Huong has lived in New York for 2 years.
We use since for a fixed point in the past and for for a period of time in the past.
But both are used with the present perfect. In both these examples, Luis and Huong are
still living in Delhi and new York. It s not finished time, so we use the present perfect.
We often use the present perfect with time adverbials which refer to the recent past:
just; only just; recently; For instance; The plane has just landed.
I have just seen your text. Scientists have recently discovered a new
breed of snake. The adverb comes in between the auxiliary
have or has and the past participle.
We also use the present perfect With already, still and yet.
Already is used to say something has happened sooner than expected.
So "Don't forget to send my letter."
"I have already sent it."
I still haven't finished my homework. ( still is placed before the verb and is always in
the negative I haven't finished it yet. ( yet is placed
after the verb and like still is always used with a negative.
The present perfect is also used with adverbials which include the present, so
so far; until now; up to now; For example:
No, so far I’ve only made the sandwiches. Where have you been until now?
We have made 5 million pounds, up to now.
Finally the present perfect is used With How long questions.
So: How long have you known Nick.
whereas if you ask "When" you use the past simple.
Let's now look at the difference between Gone and been
We use the present perfect of be when someone has gone to a place and returned:
A: Where have you been? B: I’ve been out to the corner shop.
But when someone has not returned we use have/has gone:
A: Where is Maria? I haven’t seen her for weeks.
B: She's gone to Madrid. She’ll be back tomorrow.
So can you answer this question? What goes in the gap? write your answer in
the comment section below.
Margaret can't walk and her leg is in plaster. She....... ( break) her leg.
For more present perfect exercise and see how much you've learned go to my website oxfordenglishnow.com.
or follow the link down below.
Remember to like this video and subscribe to my channel Oxford English Now so as not
to miss out on more free English language videos out every Friday. Click here for the
second video on how to use the present perfect tense just here.
Thank you for watching.
present perfect