Skip to main content

Unit 7. Present Perfect (1) (| have done)


 A

 Study this example situation:

Tom is looking for his key. He can't find it.
 He has lost his key. (= He lost it and he still doesn't have it.) 
Have/has lost is the present perfect (simple):
 I/we/they/you have(= I've, etc.) finished he/she/it has (= he's, etc.) lost
 done, etc.

The present perfect is have/has + past participle. The past participle often ends in-ed (finished/decided, etc.), but many important verbs are irregular (lost/done/been/written, etc.).
                                                                                 

B

When we use the present perfect, there is a connection with now. The action in the past has a result now:


  •  He told me his name, but I've forgotten it. (I can't remember it now.)
  •  "Is Kimberly here?» "No, she's gone out." (She is out now.)
  • I can't find my purse. Have you seen it? (Do you know where it is now?) 

We often use the present perfect to give new information or to announce a recent happening:


  •  The road is closed. There's been an accident.
  •  (from the news) The police have arrested two men in connection with the robbery. 

We also use the simple past (I played, I did, etc.) in these situations. So you can say:


  •  He told me his name, but I've forgotten it. or but I forgot it.
  •  Kimberly isn't here. She's gone out. or .. She went out.
                                                                                 

C

 We often use the present perfect with just, already, and yet. You can also use the simple past: 

Just = a short time ago:

  •  “Are you hungry?" "No, I've just had lunch." (or I just had lunch.)

 We use already to say that something happened sooner than expected:


 "Don't forget to mail the letter." "I've already mailed it." (or I already mailed it.)

 Yet = until now. 

It shows that the speaker is expecting something to happen. Use yet only in questions and negative sentences (see also Unit 108C):

 Has it stopped raining yet? (or Did it stop raining yet?)
 I wrote the letter, but I haven't mailed it yet. (or...I didn't mail it yet.)

D

 
 Do not use the present perfect when you talk about a finished time (for example, last night/ two years ago / yesterday, etc.). Use the simple past (see also Unit 13):

  •  It snowed last night. (not has snowed) Where were you at 3:00? (not Where have you been)
  •  I started my new job two weeks ago. (not have started) 
  • Nicole didn't go out yesterday. (not hasn't gone)
https://arabicdailynews12.blogspot.com/2024/02/ameen-sayani-beloved-indian-radio.html
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Unite 2 Simple Present ( I do)

  A)      Study this example situation: Alex is a bus driver, but now he is in bed asleep. So: He is not driving a bus. (He is asleep.)  but He driver a bus. (He is a bus driver.) drive(s) / work(s) / do(s), etc., is the simple present.                           I/we/you/they            drive/work/do,etc.         he/she/it           drive/work/do,etc .                                                                                                                                       ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Present Continuous (I am doing)

   Grammar in use intermediate Present  Continuous (I am doing) A)  Studing this example situation: Ann is in her car. She is on her way to work. She is driving to work. This means: she is driving now, at time of speaking. The action is not finished. Am/is/are -ing the present continuous:             I                  am       (= I'm)                   driving             he/she/it      is         (= he's , etc.)            working we/you/they/          are        (= we're, etc.)        doing, etc.                                               ...
Post a Comment
Read more

History of Advance English Grammar

 The history of English grammar is a fascinating journey that spans over a millennium, from the early medieval period to the modern era. The evolution of English grammar has been shaped by various factors, including linguistic influences from other languages, social changes, and technological advancements. In this essay, we will explore the key milestones in the development of English grammar, from its origins to the present day. Old English (c. 450-1150 AD) The history of English grammar begins with Old English, which was spoken in England from around the mid-5th century to the mid-12th century. Old English was a highly inflected language, meaning that it used a system of word endings to indicate grammatical relationships. For example, the word "hund" (dog) could be inflected to "hundes" (of the dog) or "hunde" (to the dog). Old English also had a complex system of noun and verb endings, which indicated case, number, and tense. Middle English (c. 1150-150...
Post a Comment
Read more