Present Perfect and Past Perfect belong to the group of perfect tenses in English. They express the perfection of the action, but one refers to the present, the other to the past. In this article, we will also look at the simple past tense, as English learners often confuse Past Simple and Present Perfect.
Features of the perception of perfect tense
Present Perfect Simple can be compared with the Russian perfect form of the past tense verb (wrote, learned, came, did). Russian speakers can understand it from this point of view. The Americans and the British perceive the concept of time differently.
According to the norms of the standard grammar of the Russian language, an action in the present tense cannot end, because it is real. If the event has ended (ended), then the time is obviously past.
The essence of the English perfect tense
The English language has its own opinion: according to its norms, an action in the present tense can be completed, and this tense is the present perfect. Thus, in Russian, the perfect form is only in the past, in contrast to English. The perfect tense emphasizesthat an action or event has occurred and has an impact on the present moment in time. Present Perfect and Past Perfect, in fact, are twins, only one refers to the past, while the other speaks of the present moment.
Present Perfect Usage and Examples
Let's consider the formula of education Present Perfect.
Subject + Auxiliary have (has for third person) + main verb in third form.
When should this tense be used? The Present Perfect is used when it is necessary to express the result of an action that has been taken. With the help of the Present Perfect, there is an emphasis on the result of a perfect situation. Thus, it can be understood that the action is completed. The Russian verbs can serve as an equivalent for understanding this tense: do and do.
- We have already sent you a letter. - Mu already sent you a letter.
- He has won a lottery. - He has already won the lottery.
Please note that this time is usually translated into Russian in the past tense. All these actions affect the present with their final result, that is, there is a direct connection with the present moment.
The second case of using the present perfect is to describe one's past life experience:
- I have lived here for 15 years. - I've lived here for fifteen years.
- He has eaten in the restaurant Red Dragon three times. - He ate at the Red Dragon Restaurant three times.
Often this time is used when talking aboutthe number of actions taken. The perfect is also used when an action took place during a period of time that has not yet ended. The pointers of the unfinished period are time markers: today - today, this morning - this morning, this year, month, etc.
There is already some result, but the time period has not ended yet (this week or year). Thus, it is possible to perform the action or repeat again during this period.
Past Perfect: the essence of time
Now let's talk about the Past Perfect. It is always connected with another action in the past. Past Perfect expresses an action that happened before another or a certain period in the past.
Present Perfect and Past Perfect, as mentioned above, both are perfect forms, but the latter refers to the past tense. The second action, which happened later, is most often used in the Past Simple, markers can also be used. These are the words:
- by - (to some period);
- after - (after);
- before - (before);
- when - (when);
- earlier - (formerly);
- first - (first).
Present Perfect and Past Perfect often have the same pointer, but they differ in temporal value. Past Perfect almost always comes as an additional. It always depends on the basic simple past tense.
You arrived at the airport at 8.20, however the plane had left. We arrived at the station at 7:30,but the train has already left
By the way, the common factors of Present and Past Perfect are time markers:
- just - (just now);
- already - (already);
- yet - (already, not yet).
You can say that these are the main indicators of perfect tenses.
Present Perfect vs. Past Simple
The most common difficulty among English learners is choosing between Past Simple and Present Perfect. The problem is caused by the fact that they are translated into Russian in the same way, but they carry a different semantic load. The main thing is to understand what needs to be expressed, where to emphasize.
Main differences between Present Perfect and Past:
1. In the Present Perfect (present perfect tense), an action performed in the past has a direct connection with the present period.
2. Past Simple speaks of a moment that is long over and has no connection with the real present. That is, what is forever in the past.
Compare two sentences:
He always loved swimming. - He always loved to swim
This sentence implies that the person will never be able to swim again, perhaps he has died.
He has always loved swimming
The translation is the same here. It only means that he still loved and loves to swim at the present time.
