Newsletter Lesson #06
The Present Perfect Tense
Welcome to another newsletter lesson, the last one before Christmas.
Today’s lesson is about a grammar point: the present perfect tense.
What is the present perfect tense?
The present perfect tense is used to describe a completed action that happened between a time in the past and now.
Basically:
the action has finished but
the time has not finished.
For example: I have eaten three pizzas today.
(eating three pizzas = finished; today = not finished)
Or: She has watched TV every day this week.
(watching TV = finished; this week = not finished)
Step 1: Unfinished times
The first step in making the present perfect tense is to have an unfinished time.
Examples of unfinished times include:
Important:
Many times the present perfect is talking about a person’s life or very recent time, which are usually not finished. In these cases you don’t need to say the time, because people already know.
I have been to China three times in my life.
The girl has finished her homework recently.
I have finished my dinner just now. Can I have dessert?
*Recently can be finished or unfinished; it depends on whether the speaker wants say the time is finished or not.
Step 2: Perfect participles
The second step in making the present perfect participle is to put the verb in the perfect participle.
Do not use the past participle.
The perfect participle usually has ‘n’ at the end, although sometimes it is the same as the past participle.
How to make the present perfect tense
To make the present perfect tense, use:
(unfinished time) + have + perfect participle (p.p.)
*Note: ‘have’ changes to ‘has’ when using he, she or it
Examples
I have gone to school every day this week.
This morning she has done her homework.
They have taken all my money.
The boys have stolen a car.
My computer has broken.
Silvio has eaten my pudding so I am going to kill him.
I hope this helped you to understand the present perfect tense a little more.
This information, and more, is available on the AB51 English School website. If you want a class or practice time, let me know at jamie.wills@ab51.org.
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Until next time, I wish you all fruitful studies and a fantastic Christmas.
Merry Christmas.