a  sentence  of  present perfect

 

Once you understand how to form the past tense of regular verbs, you shouldn't find it difficult to use verbs in the present-perfect tense. All you'll need to add is an auxiliary verb (also known as a helping verb)--has or have.

Coupled with the auxiliary verb has or have, a past participle can serve as the main verb in a sentence. Compare these two sentences:

  • Carla worked here for five years.
  • Carla has worked here for five years.

The first sentence is in the past tense: Carla once worked here but no longer does. The second sentence carries a different meaning: Carla still works here.

We use has or have with a past participle to describe an action that started in the past and is (or may be) still going on. This construction is called the present-perfect tense.

The past participle form of a regular verb is identical to the past form: it always ends in -ed:

  • Olga has promised to help me.
  • Max and Olga have finished the race.
  • We have tried to do our best.
  • Carla has worked here for five years.
  • Carla and Fred have worked here for five years.

Use the past tense to show a completed action. Use the present-perfect tense (has or have plus the past participle) to show an action begun in the past but continuing up to the present.

EXERCISE: Forming the Past Tense and the Present-Perfect Tense

Complete the second sentence in each set with the correct form of the verb in parentheses. Use either the past tense or the present-perfect tense (has or have plus the past participle). The first sentence in each pair will help you decide which tense is needed in the second sentence. When you're done, compare your responses with the answers at the end of the exercise.

  1. Mr. Baggins lives in the house next door. He (live) there for the past eight years.

  2. We are still raising money for the scholarship drive. So far we (raise) over $2,000.

  3. I have gained five pounds since I started my diet. At the same time, I (gain) a craving for Milky Way bars.

  4. I watched the Jon Stewart show last night. Then I (watch) David Letterman's program.

  5. I have called you several times this week. You (call) me once last spring.

  6. Jenny frequently uses the new word processor. Kyle not (use*) it once.

  7. Several years ago I stayed two weeks on a farm. I (stay) in the city ever since.

  8. Addie shouted in my ear. I turned and (shout) right back.

  9. Lu ordered one book from the club last year. He not (order*) anything since.

  10. I have never tried to raise chickens. Once I (try) to raise hogs.

* The negatives not and never often go between the auxiliary verb and the past participle in the present-perfect tense.

Answers:
1. has lived; 2. have raised; 3. have gained; 4. watched; 5. called; 6. has not used; 7. have stayed; 8. shouted; 9. has not ordered; 10. tried.

 

 

hope you understand

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We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important. You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with specific time expressions such as: yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc. We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.

Examples:

  • have seen that movie twenty times.
  • I think I have met him once before.
  • There have been many earthquakes in California.
  • People have traveled to the Moon.
  • People have not traveled to Mars.
  • Have you read the book yet?
  • Nobody has ever climbed that mountain.
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