Present Perfect – Grammar & Verb Tenses

Summary

This video script from ESL Library explains the present perfect verb tense, highlighting its use for finished past actions without a specified time and for actions that continue from the past to the present, possibly into the future. It demonstrates the construction of the present perfect with the auxiliary 'have' and the past participle of the main verb, differentiating between regular verbs that form their past participle with '-ed' and irregular verbs that change form. Examples are provided for clarity, and viewers are encouraged to practice forming their own present perfect sentences.

Takeaways

• 🕒 The present perfect tense is used to describe actions that have relevance to the present moment.
• 🔍 It can indicate a finished past action without specifying when it occurred, as in 'I have been to Australia'.
• 🔄 The present perfect also shows actions that started in the past and continue to the present, possibly extending into the future, like 'I have lived in Toronto for two years'.
• ⚙️ The tense is formed by combining the auxiliary verb 'have' with the past participle of the main verb.
• 📚 'Have' changes its form based on the subject, as seen in 'I have finished' vs 'She has worked'.
• 📝 Regular verbs form their past participle by adding '-ed', but irregular verbs change to a different form without using '-ed'.
• 🌰 Examples of irregular verb forms include 'eaten' for 'eat', 'drunk' for 'drink', and 'written' for 'write'.
• 👂 Listening and repeating are effective ways to practice verb tenses and irregular forms.
• 🎯 Practice forming present perfect sentences by relating them to personal experiences, such as 'I have lived in Australia all my life'.
• 📖 The script provides a list of irregular verbs in their base, past, and past participle forms for learning and reference.

Q & A

What are verb tenses used for?

Verb tenses are used to indicate whether an action takes place in the past, present, or future.

What is the present perfect tense and when is it used?

The present perfect tense is used to show a finished past action without specifying when it took place, or to indicate a continuing action that started in the past and continues to the present, possibly into the future.

How is the present perfect tense formed?

The present perfect tense is formed with the auxiliary verb 'have' and the past participle form of the main verb.

How does the auxiliary verb 'have' change with different subjects?

The auxiliary verb 'have' changes its form depending on the subject: 'I have', 'She has', 'He has', 'It has', 'We have', 'They have'.

What is the past participle of a regular verb?

For regular verbs, the past participle is formed by adding -ed to the base form of the verb, such as 'walked' for the verb 'walk'.

How do irregular verbs form their past participle?

Irregular verbs have past participles that change into a different form and do not use the -ed ending. For example, the past participle of 'eat' is 'eaten'.

Can you provide some examples of irregular verbs in their past participle form?

Yes, some examples include: 'been' for 'be', 'done' for 'do', 'drunk' for 'drink', 'eaten' for 'eat', 'gone' for 'go', 'run' for 'run', 'said' for 'say', 'slept' for 'sleep', and 'written' for 'write'.

What is the difference between 'I have been to Australia' and 'I have lived in Toronto for two years'?

The first sentence shows a finished past action (visiting Australia), while the second shows a continuing action (living in Toronto) that started in the past and continues to the present.

Can you give an example of how to use the present perfect tense with an irregular verb?

Yes, 'He has eaten breakfast' uses the present perfect tense with the irregular verb 'eat' in its past participle form 'eaten'.

How can you practice using the present perfect tense?

You can practice by looking at pictures and forming present perfect sentences, such as 'I have lived in Australia all my life'.

What is the significance of the auxiliary verb 'have' in the present perfect tense?

The auxiliary verb 'have' is significant as it helps to form the present perfect tense by connecting with the past participle of the main verb to indicate the time relationship of the action.