From the school desk, students are frightened by difficult-to-understand times of English that need to be crammed, otherwise you will not communicate and understand the language even at a minimal level. In fact, the stiff English have only three times, as in our great and powerful language: present, past and future. However, it should be understood: each time has its own characteristics, in other words, types. In this article, we will consider the present tense and its form Present Perfect Simple.
Present English
The present tense in English has 4 forms:
- Present Perfect.
- Present Simple.
- Present Continuous.
- Present Perfect Continuous.
Exercise usually helps to consolidate all the difficulties of using these forms. It should be understood that these are not disparate rules, they have a certain system. The main thing in learning is to understand the essence of each tense, when it should be put into practice in writing, and when in a live conversation.
Formula of time
The name of the temporal form Present Perfect Simple is translated as "present perfect tense". perfectthe form is one of the most commonly used in communication among the inhabitants of England and America, although in the speech of the latter we will hear it less often. This type of present tense is formed according to the following formula: auxiliary verb have / has + main verb in form 3.
The third form for regular verbs is formed by adding the ending -ed, and for irregular verbs there is a form that is usually given in dictionaries.
For example:
I have already cleaned my room. - "I have already cleaned my room" (clean is the correct verb).
He has already drunk his tea. - "He has already drunk his tea" (the verb drink is incorrect).
Thus, we can say that the present perfect tense is quite simple in education, the main thing is to know whether you use the correct form of the verb or not.
The third part of the table in dictionaries and textbooks contains the third form of the verb. For example: the verb be (translated as to be, exist) has the following forms: be/was (were)/been.
Using the present perfect tense
Present Perfect Simple is used when it is necessary to express exactly the result of an action that has already been taken. With the help of this tense, attention is focused on the result and thus it is clear that the action has already been completed. We also use Present Perfect Simple when talking about an action that happened in an unfinished period of time. Remember that the main thing for understanding the perfect is the connection with the present moment and the fact that the action is completed. For example: "I have already eaten melon." - I have already eaten melon. That is, it means the result of the action itself, the actual result.
Present Simple vs Present Perfect
These two types of temporary forms refer to the present time, but have different meanings. Present Simple is used when it comes to events that occur usually and everyday. The main pointers for it are the following words: always (always), usually (usually), seldom (rarely), often (often). Present Perfect expresses an action that has already been completed and there is a certain result at the time of the speaker's speech. Also, these two tenses have different education formulas. Simple tense is used in live communication much more often than the perfect. He has many words - pointers, that is, words that directly say that you need to use the perfect tense.
The difference between Present Perfect and Past Simple
In learning English, the question always arises when it is necessary to use the Present Perfect, and when the Past Simple. It is necessary to understand the basic postulates of the use of these forms of time. The most important thing to remember: "Past simple" is the past tense, it talks about those events that have already happened. "Present perfect" - present tense, it tells about what was started earlier and has not yet been completed, or finished, but has a relationship with today. Sometimes you can understandthe meaning of the text itself, that it is necessary to use the perfect. You should choose the time depending on what you need to say to the speaker, based on the situation.
Timing Rules
If the situation or the time period in question is over and has no connection with the present, then you should use "Paste simple". When using the Past Simple time, this may mean that the person can no longer carry out any action. If you don't say more about the reason for choosing this time in a conversation, then you might think that the person is no longer alive.
She always loved watching TV. – "She always liked to watch TV" (meaning she doesn't watch TV anymore because she died).
She has always loved watching TV. – "She always liked to watch TV" (loved before and still loves).
Etymology of the word
The word perfect comes from the Latin language and is translated as "completion", and the meaning of "perfection", in the sense of the absence of shortcomings, acquired much later. In fact, the word perfect acquired the meaning of "perfect" by expanding its former meaning, because something created is completed when it no longer has flaws. Perfect tenses are so named because they refer to actions that are completed relative to the present, for example: "I ate bread" is an action that is currently completed. However, not every use of the present perfect is associated with the idea of completion. ByIn fact, the perfect form exists in many European languages, including our Russian language.
English is not difficult. The rules are easy to remember and there aren't many of them.
