Is the present perfect?
Hello! Well I am feeling absolutely knackered today – I had to work on Saturday so I only had a one day weekend and it’s starting to catch up with me now :-( I’m off to yoga again today though so hopefully that might make me feel a bit more alive.
I enjoyed reading your last couple of posts, Adriana – as always. I had been wondering what job you did and now we know! I’m terrible about visiting the dentist. I went for a check up a few months ago but before then I hadn’t been for three years!!! How embarrassing. The dentist told me that I need four fillings but I decided to wait until after the baby is born because I wasn’t sure how the anaesthetic would affect the unborn baby.
Anyway, today I thought we’d have a little look at some serious grammar… yes, my friends, it’s the that horrid little tense: the present perfect. The bane of many a student and many a teacher, for that matter. Adriana – I’ve noticed that this is the tense that you seem to have the most trouble with so let’s do a bit of revision of the uses and then I’m going to set you some homework.
Okey doke – so we’ve got this tense called the present perfect. What I’d like to know is which nincompoop decided to call it perfect when it clearly isn’t because so many people have trouble understanding it! Dear oh dear, English is a funny language. So here is what we know about it:
How do we form it?
(+) Subject + have/has + third form of the verb (past participle)
(-) Subject + have/has not + third form of the verb (past participle)
(?) Have/has + subject + third form of the verb (past participle)
Everyone following me so far? Jolly good. That’s the easy bit.
Why do we use it?
Well, imagine somebody has just arrived in a new country by boat. He is standing on a cliff and looking out to sea in the direction that he just came from and thinking about his journey. You can think of why we use the present perfect in the same way – we use it to look back on our past now that we have arrived in the present!
Contrary to popular belief, we don’t use the present perfect to talk only about recent events or the recent past – imagine that the man standing on the cliff has bionic eyes and can see the whole 10000 miles around the world that he has come. It’s the same with the present perfect – you can look back at any point in your life no matter how long ago it was, as long as you are relating it to where you are now.
For example: “This volcano has erupted every year for the last ten thousand years” – I’m sure you’ll agree, that’s not the recent past!
How is it different to the past simple?
The past simple, which is usually the tense that people get it confused with, is used to talk about events that have happened in the past and are remote - that is, they aren’t connected to the present. They are events which happened and are now finished. The end.
Look at these examples:
She went to France.
She has been to France.
The first sentence is just a statement – a fact. She went to France. Great. The second sentence suggests that she might be benefiting from the experience of going to France now. She has been to France so therefore she can speak French now, for example.
Okay, let’s have a look at some sentences from your posts Adriana and see if you and our readers can figure out where the mistakes are… I’ll give you a hint – one of the sentences is completely correct and doesn’t need changing! The others each contain at least one mistake.
1) So what are the consequences of this figure? The market became highly specialized for the benefit of the population.
2) I’ve noticed you’ve brought the religion issue up today.
3) After a short trip ‘by car’ to Domingos Martins city, at the last moment, I’ve changed my plans to take a long trip ‘by bus’ to the historical cities ( Ouro Preto, Mariana and Tiradentes) in Minas Gerais state.
4) My unique option was to take the long trip ‘by bus’ to Minas Gerais. I’ve had a great time there, visiting museums and churches dotted around the cities.
5) I’ve had a look at the dictionary but I don’t think it’s the same rave here
6) Apart from the unproven theory that the Phoenicians (incidentally coming from Africa to the Brazilian coast) have had been here firstly, all we learn since our childhood is that Brazil was discovered by Portugal
7) Isn’t strange that the independence of Brazil has been declared by a prince from Portugal?
All right then, well just before I rush off to my yoga class I also wanted to point out three more little things about your posts, Adriana. One is that you used a lovely phrase which I liked a lot “there is still much to be done” – nice. You use lots of good phrases but for some reason this one jumped out at me.
Next, notice the difference between the way I write ‘Brazilians’ and you write ‘brazilians’. See what I’m getting at? YES! It’s the missing capital letter! Brazilians are important! Give them a capital letter! I will start a national campaign if necessary, that will rival the delightfully named ‘Happy little teeth’ campagain… maybe I’ll call it ‘Happy big letters’ :-)
Finally, you have used the word ‘truck’ a couple of times. For example:
A truck of kisses
Even I, rereading my posts, can find a truck of them.
I know exactly what you mean but you just need to add a bit – it should be ‘truckloads’ not just truck to sound absolutely correct.
So with truckloads of good luck for doing the homework, I bid you farewell (until my next post).
XxxAmy
Vocabulary definitions…
Contrast: to show the similarities and differences between two or more things
Having said that: a linker, used between two statements which seem opposite, or to contradict one another but which are both true
A long weekend: usually refers to a three or four day weekend, normally because of a public holiday on the Friday or Monday
Eye-opener: something that is surprising or unusual. Often used in the phrase ‘It was a real eye-opener’
Dotted around: in various locations quite close to each other
Congregation: the group of people who regularly go to worship at a particular church
To grow on someone: when someone starts to like something more than they did before we say it is ‘growing on them’
To pine: to miss something or someone and wish that you had it or were near it
Mouth-watering: describes a type of food that is so delicious you can feel your mouth preparing to eat it
…and yet more
Knackered
Anaesthetic
Horrid
Bane
Nincompoop
To follow someone (see context)
Cliff
Bionic
Truckloads
AND some old ones for review!
Househusband
Bedraggled
To traipse
Pesky
To bring home the bacon
Here’s where you can check your answers!
Comments
Hi Amy!!! Oh, that´s true. Present perfect is very confusing. Anyway, when teachers explain this topic everything sounds so clear, but when we start doing the exercises, we realise that the present perfect is in fact a mined field :-). Well, I´ll try to do the homework now Amy. It´s always good practice present perfect: 1)So what are the consequences of this figure? The market has become highly specialized for the benefit of the population; 2) I noticed you brought the religion issue up today. 3) After a short trip ‘by car’ to Domingos Martins city, at the last moment, I changed my plans to take a long trip ‘by bus’ to the historical cities ( Ouro Preto, Mariana and Tiradentes) in Minas Gerais state. 4) My unique option was to take the long trip ‘by bus’ to Minas Gerais. I’ve had a great time there, visiting museums and churches dotted around the cities. 5) I had a look at the dictionary but I don’t think it’s the same rave here 6) Apart from the unproven theory that the Phoenicians (incidentally coming from Africa to the Brazilian coast) had been here firstly, all we learn since our childhood is that Brazil was discovered by Portugal 7) Isn’t strange that the independence of Brazil was declared by a prince from Portugal? Words review: 1-househusband: the kind of husband who is in charge of the household chores, while the wife is working to bring the bacon to home; 2-bedraggled: wet, dirty and untidy; 3-To traipse: to walk around feeling bored or tired; 4-pesky: annoying or troublemaker; 5-To bring the bacon: to earn money in order to support your family. Well, I think it´s all. Good bye Amy, see you soon, Ana Paula.
Hello again, Amy! Thanks for your comment due to listening and speaking! I tried to do the homework, but i think as many students and teachers it is not easy to handle with the tenses. Here my homework: 1) So what are the consequences of this figure? The market became highly specialized for the benefit of the population. Correction: The market has become highly specialized for the benefit of the population. 2) I’ve noticed you’ve brought the religion issue up today. Correction: I´ve noticed you´ve brought up the religion issue today. 3) After a short trip ‘by car’ to Domingos Martins city, at the last moment, I’ve changed my plans to take a long trip ‘by bus’ to the historical cities ( Ouro Preto, Mariana and Tiradentes) in Minas Gerais state. Correction: After a short trip `by car´ to Domingos Martins city, at last moment, I changed my plans to take a long trip ´by bus´ to the historical cities (Ouro Preto, Marianma and Tiradentes) in Minas Gerais state. 4) My unique option was to take the long trip ‘by bus’ to Minas Gerais. I’ve had a great time there, visiting museums and churches dotted around the cities. Completly correct! 5) I’ve had a look at the dictionary but I don’t think it’s the same rave here . Correction: I had a look at the dictionary but I don´t think it´s the same rave here. 6) Apart from the unproven theory that the Phoenicians (incidentally coming from Africa to the Brazilian coast) have had been here firstly, all we learn since our childhood is that Brazil was discovered by Portugal . Correction: Apart from the unproven theory that the Phoenicians (incidentally coming from Africa to the Brazilian coast) have had been here firstly, all we´ve learnt since our childhood is that Brazil has been discovered by Portugal. 7) Isn’t strange that the independence of Brazil has been declared by a prince from Portugal? Correction: Isn´t it strange that the independence of Brazil has been declared by a prince from Portugal? Please have a look on it and correct me if I failed. I do some grammar revision regularly, so I hope it will improve. ;-) Yvonne
Hello Amy, this present perfect sure is very hard to figure out. But you gave us some good tips. I'd like to ask you about a construction you used. It's when you said "many a student and many a teacher" . How do we use this construction and what does it mean? Thank you again for the nice explanations. Good bye for now.
Dear Amy: It is really interesting find out mistakes of other but it is difficult to do it without mistake in ones life. But this time I tried so much to find mistake and I have tried my best to correct them. I have also tried to find out the meaning of the words. 1) So what are the consequences of this figure? The market has become highly specialized for the benefit of the population. 2) I’ve noticed you brought up the religion issue today. 3) After a short trip ‘by car’ to Domingos Martins city, at the last moment, I changed my plans to take a long trip ‘by bus’ to the historical cities ( Ouro Preto, Mariana and Tiradentes) in Minas Gerais state. 4) My unique option was to take the long trip ‘by bus’ to Minas Gerais. I had a great time there, visiting museums and churches dotted around the cities. 5) I’ve looked at the dictionary but I don’t think it’s the same rave here. 6) Apart from the unproven theory that the Phoenicians (incidentally coming from Africa to the Brazilian coast) had been here firstly, all we learn since our childhood is that Brazil was discovered by Portuguese. 7) Isn’t it strange that the independence of Brazil had been declared by a prince of Portugal? Knackered –Very tired Anaesthetic a drug which is used to make you unconscious when you have an operation so that you do not feel any pain Horrid -unpleasant Bane - a cause of continual trouble or unhappiness Nincompoop –Foolish person To follow someone (see context) - to understand something as it is being said or done Cliff - a high area of rock with a very steep side, often on a coast Bionic –empowered by electronic equipment Truckloads- the amount of something that can be carried by a truck
Hi Amy, Great articles. I have quoted some of your articles on my blog (http://sumardika.blogspot.com).This is like my personal English notes. Thanks. Cheers, Gede
Hello Amy! It's hilarious the way you commented on the 'perfect' present perfect tense. Well, I'm not sure if I perfect this 'perfect' present perfect. I'll give it a try. I think sentence 5 is perfect. As for the others: 1/ So what are the consequences of this figure? The market became (could be 'has become') ... the population. 2/ I've noticed (could be 'noticed') you've brought the religious issue up today. 3/ After a short trip 'by car' to Domingo Martins City, at the last moment, I've changed (could be 'changed' because it ends now) my plans ... in Minas Gerais State. 4/ My unique option was to take the long trip 'by bus' to Minas Gerais. I've had (could be 'had') a great time there, visiting (could be 'visited') museums and churches dotted around the cities. 6/ Apart from the unproven theory that the Phoenicians (incidentally came from Africa to the Brazilian coast) have had been (could be 'were') here firstly, all we learn (could be 'have learned') since our childhood is that ... by Portugual. 7/ Isn't it strange that the independence of Brazil has been declared (could be 'was declared') by a prince from Portugual? Ugh, Tricky tense! By the way, please could you tell me the difference between 'she has gone to France' and 'She has been to France'. I look forward to your answer. Many Thanks, best wishes, Myen.
Hello Amy :-) I think that present perfect IS really perfect. In Polish, as we don't have the present perfect tenses, you have to often use two sentences in the place of an English present perfect one; and what's worse you have to translate the present perfect tense sometimes into the past and sometimes into the present, not to say about the reverse translation. That's why, I reckon, the best thing to learn perfect tenses is to do a lot of exercises.
Dear teacher Amy! I understand you about working on Sunday, because I have to go work twice a week. Anyway, I'm looking forward to your next entry. Best wishes
Hi Amy, I am happy that you start doing Yoga and give you energy and spirit. Some people told me that it is better not to do Yoga at the time of pregnancy. I start with morning working every day and mild physical exercises and Yoga and meditation. You can do breathing exercise. It will help much in this time. I also feel fresh after I finish all these routines. I really enjoy doing all these things in the morning. Lot of trees is there where I am living. So I can breathe fresh air in the morning. It is really wonderful. You asked me about where I am living. I will tell you next time. Have a nice weekend.
Dear Amy I’m anaesthesiologist. I will be very happy if I solve your problem. As you asked, about whether anaesthetise has bad effect on your baby. As far as I concerned, anaesthesia has not any side effect on your baby but as the surgery is elective you should be patient until end of pregnancy. Only emergency operations which mother life is threatened are allowed while women are pregnant. Unfortunately, people do not know much more about my job. If you asked them about anaesthesia they answer differently. Majority of people think it is dangerous but I can say nowadays it is really safe. Please you should be worry about your baby if your are going to milk him/her by yourself because some of drug that mothers use secret into mother’s milk and consequently will reach to children and will be bad effect on them.
Sorry. I have had a mistake in my last comment. It isn't "I have to go work twice a week", what I wanted to say was "two weekend every month". Please Amy tell me if you understand what I'm saying.
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