The study of tenses is the largest, most significant and important topic of English grammar. It is continuous throughout the entire secondary school, from the first stage of education to the ninth grade. The second deals with simple tenses - "Present Simple", "Past Simple" and "Future Simple" (Present, Past, Future Simple).
With each new level of training, the level of difficulty increases. This article will analyze two tenses that are studied in the middle - this is Present Perfect, Present Perfect Progressive. They are translated into Russian as "Real Completed" and "Real Completed Continued". Theory and practical exercises on Present Perfect - more.
Present Perfect
Present Complete tense is used ifthe action has completed by now, but there is some result. For example,
I can't open the door because I lost my keys
"I've lost my keys" is an action that happened in the past and has ended by now, but has the result "I can't open the door". Therefore, this phrase will be used in the Present Complete tense (not the Past).
I have lost my key
Now a little about how this time is formed. For clarity, a small diagram:
Subject - have (has) - semantic verb in the 3rd form (or ending -ed) - other parts of the sentence.
No additional auxiliary verbs are required to form a question and a negative. In a negative sentence, the particle not is added to have (has). This does not change the word order.
As for the interrogative sentence, only the word order changes. Thus, the scheme will be slightly different:
Have (has) - subject - semantic verb in form 3 (or ending -ed) - other parts of the sentence?
Examples:
- I have written this article to our meeting today. - I wrote this article for our meeting today.
- I have not (haven't) written this article to our meeting today. - I didn't write this article for today's meeting.
- Have I written this article to our meeting today? - Did I write this article for our meeting today?
Words indicating the Present Completed Tense:
- today;
- never(never);
- just (just now);
- already (already, yet);
- yet (already, yet - used only in negation and question, not in affirmation).
Present Perfect: Exercises
To master the topic, you must complete the exercise:
Make a negative and a question based on the affirmative sentences. Translate them into Russian:
- I have never been to St. Petersburg.
- She has read this book, so she is ready to her exam.
- My boyfriend has made all reservation for our vacation.
- We have worked on this project today morning.
Exercises for comparing times
As a separate item I would like to highlight the exercises for comparing the Past Simple and Present Complete tenses. The fact is that very often these constructions are confused, because the Present Perfect when translated into Russian is translated into the Past tense. It must be remembered that if there is an exact indication of the moment (yesterday, the day before yesterday, two days ago, last year, and so on), then Past Simple is used.
Past Simple/Present Perfect exercises:
Compare the sentences and determine at what time they will be translated into Russian. Translate the sentences.
"Yesterday I was walking with my friends in the park. The weather was beautiful, it was snowing and we were riding a slide. Today I saw that I lost my keys. I couldn't find them anywhere. I'm afraid my mother will swear."
Present Perfect Progressive
This tense is used,when some event or action began in the past, continued for some period, but has not yet ended at the present moment. So, for example,
I have been learning English since I was ten
This sentence will be translated into English in Present Perfect Progressive, as learning English began at the age of 10, lasted all this time and still continues.
The formation of this time is carried out according to the following scheme:
Subject - have (has) - been - verb in form 4 (ending -ing) - other parts of the sentence.
I have been learning Japanese since ten
Indicator words: since (from), for (during).
Examples:
- I have been waiting for my sister for two hours. - I've been waiting for my sister for two hours already.
- My mother has been sleeping all day. - My mom slept all day (and still sleeps).
- Megan has been reading this book since morning. - Megan has been reading this book since morning.
Present Perfect Progressive Exercises
Make a question and a negative based on affirmative sentences. Give a short answer to the questions that were written.
- I have been watching TV since morning. - I have been watching TV since morning.
- My daughter has been going to the musical school since 5. - My daughter has been going to the musical school since she was five.
- We have been living near the sea for 2 months. - We live by the sea for two months.
- I have been waiting for him for two hours. - I am waiting for himalready for two hours.
The above theoretical information will help anyone to trace the difference in education and make their own sentences in English.
