Learn English Tenses: The Present Perfect

Summary

In this lesson, Bob the Canadian teaches viewers how to use the present perfect tense in English. He explains the structure and conjugation, including the use of contractions, and highlights five key situations where the tense is applicable: ongoing actions, actions that started in the past, repeated actions, when time isn't important, and recent actions. Bob also covers how to form negative sentences and questions. The lesson aims to provide a clear understanding of this tense, helping learners use it accurately in conversation.

Takeaways

• 😀 The present perfect tense is used to describe actions where the specific time isn't important or the action is ongoing.
• 😀 To conjugate the present perfect tense, use a form of 'have' or 'has' + the past participle of the verb.
• 😀 Regular verbs like 'to call' become 'I have called', 'you have called', etc., in the present perfect tense.
• 😀 Contractions are commonly used in spoken English, e.g., 'I've called', 'you've called', 'he's called'.
• 😀 The present perfect is used when the time of the action is not over, such as 'I have worked hard today.'
• 😀 The words 'for' and 'since' are often used with the present perfect to talk about actions starting in the past.
• 😀 The present perfect is also used to describe repeated actions between the past and the present, such as 'I have visited her six times.'
• 😀 In the present perfect tense, the exact time of the action isn't important, e.g., 'Have you studied ancient history?'
• 😀 The present perfect can express a recently completed action using 'just', like 'I have just finished the book.'
• 😀 To form the negative, simply add 'not' between the conjugated verb 'have' and the past participle, e.g., 'I have not studied.'

Q & A

What is the present perfect tense used for?

The present perfect tense is used to talk about an action where the time is not specified, or the action hasn't finished happening yet.

How do you form the present perfect tense?

To form the present perfect tense, you combine the subject with the correct form of the verb 'have' (have/has), followed by the past participle of the main verb. For example, 'I have called' or 'She has called.'

Why do native English speakers often use contractions with the present perfect?

Native speakers often use contractions like 'I've' or 'You've' because they want to speak quickly and naturally. It's a common practice in everyday conversation.

When should you use the present perfect tense?

You should use the present perfect tense in five key situations: when the action is ongoing, when using 'for' and 'since,' for repeated actions, when the time of the action is not important, and when an action was recently completed.

What is the difference between 'for' and 'since' in the present perfect tense?

'For' refers to the duration of an action (e.g., 'I have lived here for 20 years'), while 'since' refers to the starting point of an action (e.g., 'I have worked since I was 20 years old').

Can you give an example of a sentence using the present perfect for a repeated action?

Sure! An example would be, 'I have visited her six times.' This implies the action started in the past and has been repeated multiple times.

What does it mean when we use the present perfect for an action where the time isn't important?

It means the specific time of the action isn't relevant to the conversation, only the fact that it has occurred matters. For example, 'Have you studied ancient history?'

How do you form a negative sentence in the present perfect tense?

To make a sentence negative in the present perfect, you add 'not' between the verb 'have' and the past participle. For example, 'I have not called' or 'She hasn't studied.'

What is the structure for forming a question in the present perfect tense?

To form a question in the present perfect, you invert the subject and the verb 'have.' For example, 'Have you cleaned your room?' or 'Have they finished their work?'

How is the word 'just' used in the present perfect tense?

'Just' is used to indicate that an action was recently completed. For example, 'I have just finished the book' means the action happened very recently.