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Present Perfect

Present Perfect

Date: Oct 03 2007

Topic: Grammar

Author: rhyme_reason

Lesson

(Please note that British and American English have different rules for the use of this tense. The explanation here refer to British English. In American English, it is often acceptable to use the past simple in some of these examples.)
We use the present perfect when we want to look back from the present to the past.
We can use it to look back on the recent past.

  • I've broken my watch so I don't know what time it is.
  • They have cancelled the meeting.
  • She's taken my copy. I don't have one.
  • The sales team has doubled its turnover.

When we look back on the recent past, we often use the words 'just' 'already' or the word 'yet' (in negatives and questions only).

  • We've already talked about that.
  • She hasn't arrived yet.
  • I've just done it.
  • They've already met.
  • They don't know yet.
  • Have you spoken to him yet?
  • Have they got back to you yet?

It can also be used to look back on the more distant past.

  • We've been to Singapore a lot over the last few years.
  • She's done this type of project many times before.
  • We've mentioned it to them on several occasions over the last six months.
  • They've often talked about it in the past.

When we look back on the more distant past, we often use the words 'ever' (in questions) and 'never'.

  • Have you ever been to Argentina?
  • Has he ever talked to you about the problem?
  • I've never met Jim and Sally.
  • We've never considered investing in Mexico.

Comments

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pooja2

India

ossam!

11:30 AM Nov 25 2008 |

shkurta

shkurta

Albania

very good expalins…thanks a lot

09:56 PM Nov 24 2008 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

Very good this lesson…now I could visualize some doubts ;)
I like this! this exchage of knowledge :D
Thanks.

08:32 PM Oct 14 2008 |

the $60 billiom man

Saudi Arabia

Thank you….......

really good lesson…

07:45 AM Sep 23 2008 |

bluese

bluese

Turkey

Thanks,wonderful and very beautiful pagesWink

09:39 PM Sep 10 2008 |

ne_mobliez_pas

Ukraine

thank you. It is realy useful

07:47 PM Aug 22 2008 |

yi_01213

Hong Kong

it's quite useful for me! thanks

04:05 PM Jul 16 2008 |

ghost9046

ghost9046

Yemen

Thanks for the info.

Also I need to add something that present perfect can express the repetition of an activity before now. The exact time of each repetition is not important. For example, I have flown on an airplane many times.

The Bottom Line, the main different between Present perfect and Past simple is that present perfect express the idea that something happened (or never happened) before now, at an specified time in the past. The exact time it happened is not important. While the past simple indicates that an activity or situation began and ended at a particular in the past.Smile

07:29 AM Jul 14 2008 |

abbey fu

China

I don’t think it’s useful

01:24 PM Jul 07 2008 |

memed

memed

Turkey

thank you

09:41 AM Jun 23 2008 |

torina

torina

Mozambique

(Please note that British and American English have different rules for the use of this tense. The explanation here refer to British English. In American English, it is often acceptable to use the past simple in some of these examples.)
We use the present perfect when we want to look back from the present to the past.
We can use it to look back on the recent past.

  • I've broken my watch so I don't know what time it is.
  • They have cancelled the meeting.
  • She's taken my copy. I don't have one.
  • The sales team has doubled its turnover.

When we look back on the recent past, we often use the words 'just' 'already' or the word 'yet' (in negatives and questions only).

  • We've already talked about that.
  • She hasn't arrived yet.
  • I've just done it.
  • They've already met.
  • They don't know yet.
  • Have you spoken to him yet?
  • Have they got back to you yet?

It can also be used to look back on the more distant past.

  • We've been to Singapore a lot over the last few years.
  • She's done this type of project many times before.
  • We've mentioned it to them on several occasions over the last six months.
  • They've often talked about it in the past.

When we look back on the more distant past, we often use the words 'ever' (in questions) and 'never'.

  • Have you ever been to Argentina?
  • Has he ever talked to you about the problem?
  • I've never met Jim and Sally.
  • We've never considered investing in Mexico.

12:08 PM May 17 2008 |

EMINESHA

EMINESHA

Russian Federation

thank uLaughing!!!!!!!!!!!!!

05:01 PM May 14 2008 |

merwenoor

Turkey

thank you for information

01:27 PM Apr 20 2008 |

eebee

Mongolia

very good

09:49 AM Apr 17 2008 |

Ariana23

Peru

Thanks, I always have problems with this tense.

01:40 PM Apr 15 2008 |

cat m

cat m

China

Thanks

07:15 AM Mar 31 2008 |

_NERON_

_NERON_

Azerbaijan

excelentInnocent

08:29 PM Feb 23 2008 |

intelligent17

Pakistan

Thanks, this lesson help me a lot

10:55 AM Feb 22 2008 |

latin-lover

Italy

well done!

10:36 AM Feb 17 2008 |

wannaissac

wannaissac

China

Smile

 so nice ~

10:35 AM Feb 09 2008 |

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