There are 26 tenses in the grammar system of the English language. This is often the reason for the appearance of difficulties in the process of studying it. After all, it is rather difficult for a Russian person, whose native language has only 3 tenses, to catch the difference in the use of these categories.
The greatest difficulty for English learners is Present Perfect - Present Perfect.
This difficult English. Present Perfect
The present perfect tense denotes an action that took place in the past, but its result is related to the present:
I have done my homework. I can go for a walk. - I did my homework. I can go for a walk (homework is done, and as a result, the opportunity to go for a walk).
I have lost my key. I can't enter my flat. - I lost my keys. I can't enter the house.
Method of forming Present Perfect
This tense category is formed using the auxiliary verbs have/has and the semantic verb ending in –ed or in the participle form II:
My mum has just made a cake. – My mom just made a pie.
Ann has already washed up. – When I arrived, Anya had already washed all the dishes.
We had dinnertoday. – We already had lunch today.
In colloquial speech, instead of the full form, you can use the abbreviations ‘ve, ‘s:
I've arrived in Moscow today. – Today I arrived in Moscow.
He's lost his key. – He lost his keys.
To form negative forms, the particle not is attached to the auxiliary verb:
He hasn't prepared for English exam. – He didn’t study for the English exam.
They haven't come home yet. – They haven't come home yet.
Interrogative present perfect tense
To build a general type of questions in the Present Perfect tense category, auxiliary verbs has/have are placed at the beginning of the sentence:
Have you ever been in Greece? – Have you ever been to Greece?
Has she graduated from the University this year? – Did she graduate this year?
The following word order is used to create a special type of question:
1) question word;
2) has/have;
3) subject;
4) adverb of time (if any), predicate, etc.
Examples:
What has she just cooked? – What did she just cook?
Where have you walked this evening? – Where did you go out tonight?
Correct or not?
As mentioned earlier, this tense category is created using a special form of the semantic verb. In English, regular verbs are distinguished, which form the simple past and present perfect.tense by adding the ending -ed, and irregular verbs. Present Perfect is the time in which their use is necessary.
But, unfortunately, this part of speech causes numerous difficulties for students. Irregular verbs form temporary forms according to a special algorithm that defies any rules. In fact, they cannot be called exceptions, since there are more than a hundred of them in the English language.
An example of an irregular verb: go-went-gone (to go). The first word is an infinitive verb, the second is used to indicate the past tense (it is also called participle 2), and the third is used to express an action in the present perfect tense. This type of verb does not have a specific way of forming the first or second participle form. The only way out of this situation is cramming. There is nothing to worry about, because basically all these verbs are "by ear", they are quickly remembered and firmly embedded in speech.
Faithful companions
The accompanying adverbs of this tense are:
Already – already:
I have already passed my exam. – I have already passed the exam.
Just - just now:
You have just won the prize! – You just won the grand prize!
Ever - ever:
Have ever been to Milan? – Have you ever been to Milan? (this is how the verb "be" present perfect is expressed)
Before - before, earlier:
I have never met him before. – I have never met him before.
Yet - for nowwhat, still, still:
I haven't been tired yet. – I'm not tired yet.
As you can see from the examples, accompanying adverbs are placed after the auxiliary verb. The exception is the word “yet”.
Of course, the accompanying adverbs will not be used in every case of the present perfect tense. But the presence of these words serves as a certain clue to the recognition of a new temporal category.
Instances of use
As mentioned earlier, the present tense is used to denote the effectiveness of an action done in the past. In addition, the Present Perfect time is necessary in the following cases:
1. When talking about an action without specifying the time of its completion:
He has done all his work. – He did all his work.
2. When the action has ended, but the time period in which it was carried out has not yet ended.
Compare:
I had breakfast this morning. – I had breakfast this morning. (The morning is not over yet).
I had breakfast this morning. – I had breakfast this morning (it is evening, the action is in the past).
3. The present perfect tense can be used to indicate previous actions, for example:
I have taken on my coat before I went out. – I put on my coat before leaving the house.
Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous
To denote actions that began in the past and continue inpresent, present perfect is used. Suggestions:
I have lived there since 2000.
She has worked here as a secretary for 5 years. – She has been working here as a secretary for 5 years.
In this case, the present perfect tense closely echoes another tense category - Present Perfect Continuous. It is also necessary to indicate actions lasting from some point in the past to the present. A person, using this tense in speech, wants to show the process of the action, its duration.
Example:
I have been flying in the plane for 3 hours. – I have been flying on an airplane for 3 hours (the process itself is indicated).
What is the difference between the simple past and the present completed?
The main difficulty in mastering this tense is that a Russian-speaking student often cannot catch the difference between the past tense and the present perfect. So that the choice between these tenses does not become a real dilemma and an endless obstacle to acquiring language skills, it is necessary to highlight specific cases of their use.
1. The Present Perfect denotes a result, while the Past simple indicates the completion of an action in the past that has nothing to do with the present.
Compare:
I visited a museum a week ago. – I went to the museum a week ago.
I have just visited this museum! The exhibition is really worth seeing. - I just visited the museum. The exhibition is reallywell worth a look.
If in the first case the action ended in the past and the sentence only states the fact of visiting the museum, then in the second case a direct connection with the present is shown - there is a result, that is, the person got pleasure from contemplating the pictures. In addition, in the first example, a specific indication of the time is given - a week ago, which is the main sign of the simple past tense.
2. If the question begins with the word when, then in this case, instead of the present perfect, the simple past will be used.
Compare:
Have you ever seen this girl? – Have you ever seen this girl (at all)?
When did you see this girl? – When did you see this girl (a specific period of time in the past is recognized)?
Does Group Time Need Perfect in Colloquial Speech
Often, memorizing huge tables with tenses, irregular verbs and other intricacies of the English language, many do not understand the meaning of such language bells and whistles, hearing the everyday uncomplicated speech of a foreigner. Indeed, the inhabitants of some countries have simplified English beyond recognition, forgotten many temporary forms and other grammatical phenomena. Therefore, the question arises: is it worth suffering and delving into all this if it is not useful?
Worth it, because it will definitely come in handy. After all, English is not only communication with a foreigner via Skype in a "broken" language. This is:
- foreign periodicals;
- literary masterpieces of world famous authors - Dickens, Thackeray, Hardy;
- opportunity to work in serious foreign companies, enter prestigious universities, tutoring, etc.
Thus, the study of the grammatical features of the English language is simply necessary. After all, lexical units, like beads, are strung on the connecting threads of grammar.
Present Perfect is a complex phenomenon, but understandable for an assiduous student. In order for it to be firmly assimilated in the mind, it is necessary to perform appropriate exercises to develop grammatical skills, read as much classical literature in a foreign language as possible - after all, where else can you find an abundance of language forms? Actively use new grammatical material in speech, if possible.
