Present perfect in translation is the present completed tense. Used in English to describe actions that began in the past, without a precise start time, and whose completion is closely related to the present. They have ended by the current moment or in a period that can be called the present. Problems often arise with understanding this tense, at least due to the fact that sentences in the Present perfect are translated into Russian in the past tense, and in English it is Present - present tense. And you also don’t immediately understand how a completed action can be in the present tense.
2. Education Present perfect
2.1. Affirmative form
Verb conjugation table in an affirmative sentence
More examples can be found in the article.
Rules for forming statements
The affirmative form of the present completed tense is formed as follows: after the subject there is an auxiliary verb have (has), plus the main verb in the 3rd form (past participle).
Both pronouns (I, you, he, she, it, we, they) and nouns (boy, cars, snow) can be used as subjects.
The auxiliary verb have is almost always used, but in the 3rd person singular, that is, for pronouns he, she, it and singular nouns (boy, snow), has is used (see conjugation table above).
Shortened forms of the auxiliary verbs have and has: ‘ve and ‘s respectively. For example, I have worked = I’ve worked, He has worked = He’s worked. Please note that 's is also used to shorten the verb is. Which word is abbreviated in such a record will have to be understood from the context.
The third form of the verb is a verb ending in -ed if the verb is regular. If the verb is irregular, then its third form must be remembered.
You can see the list of irregular verbs. You are now only interested in column 3, but we recommend learning all three forms at once. The second part of that article provides a life hack for more convenient memorization of irregular verbs.
The ending -ed is also not as simple as it seems at first glance; the rules for writing it are described in the article.
General scheme
S + have (has) + V3
Where S (subject) is the subject (pronoun or noun)
V3 (verb) – verb in 3rd form
2.2. Interrogative sentences
2.2.1. General issues
Example of verb conjugation in interrogative form
Rules for constructing a question
To form an interrogative sentence, it is enough to move the auxiliary verb have (has) to the beginning of the sentence, before the subject.
The main verb remains in the 3rd form.
Has is used in the same cases as in an affirmative sentence, that is, it depends on the subject.
Question formula in the present completed tense
Have (Has) + S + V3?
Where Have (Has) is an auxiliary verb
S – subject
V3 – verb in 3rd form
2.2.2. Answer to a common question
2.2.3. Special questions
Construction rules
A special question is formed from a general question by adding a question word (who, what, when, where) before the auxiliary verb have (has).
Formula for creating a special question
Wh + have (has) + S + V3?
Where Wh is a question word
have (has) – auxiliary verb
S – subject
V3 – verb in 3rd form
Table with examples of special questions
Rules for writing negatives
To form a negation from an affirmative sentence, you must write the negation particle not after the auxiliary verb. The auxiliary verb remains the same, the main verb remains in 3rd form.
The abbreviations for have not and has not are haven’t and hasn’t, respectively.
Reinforce the mastered rules for forming questions and negatives by completing.
General scheme of negation in the Present perfect
S + have (has) + not + V3
Where S is the subject
have (has) – auxiliary verb
not – particle of negation
V3 – verb in 3rd form
3. Use of the Present perfect and examples with translation
The present completed tense is used in the following cases:
3.1. When the fact that the action completed with a certain result is important, but the exact time when it happened is not important
I have bought a new skirt - I bought a new skirt. Now I have it, no matter when I bought it.
If you want to focus on the fact that you bought it at a sale on the weekend, that is, indicate the time, then you should use: I bought a new skirt last weekend.
3.2. If the action has recently completed and now its result affects the present
I'm not hungry. I have just eaten. I'm not hungry, I just ate.
Note that just is used in these cases.
3.3. When we talk about personal experience
I have been to London, but I haven’t been to Moscow - I was in London, but I wasn’t in Moscow. Some time in the past, it doesn’t matter exactly when, I was in London, this is a complete fact, but I was not in Moscow, although I can visit there.
Again, as soon as you want to indicate the exact time of your visit, you will need to use Past simple: I was in London 2 years ago.
When you talk about your experience, you can also focus on the fact that this happened more than once.
After studying Past, Present and Future Simple, this topic will seem very complex and incomprehensible. As soon as you translate this time into Russian, panic begins. How can one time unite the past and the present? This is precisely the essence of this time. Let's look at the simplest example:
I have broken my leg. - I broke my leg.
As you can see, the speaker does not give an exact date and time, but simply talks about the fact that in the past he broke his leg and is currently in a cast.
Present Perfect (present perfect tense) is formed thanks to the verb have, which appears as an auxiliary verb and a perfect participle. These are the forms that are located in the 3rd column of irregular verbs.
Have (has) + V3.
If you carefully examine the formula, it becomes clear that the past participle is an unchanged part in the sentence, but have (has) will change depending on the person and number of the speaker. In any tense, including the Present Perfect, the rules must be taught in such a way that you can remember them at any time. If you memorize the above diagram, then no problems will arise in solving the exercises. But we shouldn’t stop at one scheme, so let’s move on.
Present Perfect: rules and examples
This time marks the action that has completed at the time of the story. The difficulty of perceiving the Present Perfect tense is that when translating a sentence into our language, verbs indicate the past tense. You should not miss the point that the verbs being translated refer to the present tense, since they are connected with the result of the action performed. Based on this, it is concluded that the action in the Present Perfect was performed in a certain period of time, which is not indicated in the sentence and is not so important.
All rules concerning the Present Perfect state that in this time it is strictly forbidden to use words indicating a specific past time:
At that moment;
Such time adverbials are used only in the Past Simple. But in the Present Perfect, the rules allow the use of helping words that indicate this time:
Many or several times;
Eg:
I have run into him several times in the summer camp. “I ran into him several times at summer camp. (That is, the speaker saw the person, but does not name a specific date and time).
It is worth noting that the rules characteristic of the Present Perfect are most difficult for beginners to learn English. Let's try to understand them in more depth.
When is this tense used?
This tense expresses the following concepts:
I have been to Italy.
Here the speaker means that he has already been to Italy. This means he has experience traveling to this country.
2. Changes that occurred over a period of time.
He has grown a beard since the last time I saw him.
This example shows an action that occurred in a certain period of time. The speaker did not see the other person for a certain period of time, and by the time they met, the other person had already grown a beard. In such sentences, the second verb is used in the Past Simple (saw) form.
3. Achievements.
Our son has learned to play piano.
This sentence indicates the guy’s achievements, but at what time he achieved this is not indicated.
4. Unfulfilled but expected action.
Nick has not arrived yet.
That is, the process is still ongoing and is awaiting completion. The sentence is about a guy who at the time of the dialogue has not yet arrived, but soon he will arrive and the process will be completed. Pay attention to the last word yet. At the beginning of studying the topic, it was said that the Present Perfect tense has its own helper words. This word is one of them. It already serves as a signal that this sentence refers to the Present Perfect Tense.
5. Several actions in the past.
The team has led the game 5 times so far.
In this example, it is clear that the team has played games 5 times so far, but at the time of the story it is still continuing the game.
In the Present Perfect tense, the rules allow the use of the following tense adverbials:
This week (month).
Present Perfect or Past Simple
Present Perfect, Past Simple - the rules for using these tenses are completely different. If in the first case the action that occurred has a connection with the present time, then in the second there is no connection. In the Past Simple the auxiliary verb is did, and in the Present Perfect it is have or has. In the first case, time plays no role. What is important here is the result or the fact that the action was completed. In the second, only the time when the action occurred is important.
Below are examples of the use of these tenses:
Present Perfect Continuous Simple. Rules of use
Present Perfect Continuous Simple implies a certain process that began in the past time and is still ongoing at the time of the story. To put it simply, this is an action that began in the past tense and by the time of the conversation has either just ended or is still in progress.
How is the Present Perfect Continuous Simple formed?
Affirmative sentences:
I have been reading.
Interrogative sentences:
Have I been reading?
Negative Suggestions:
I have not/haven’t been reading.
To indicate this time, you need to put the verb to be in the Present Perfect (have been or has been). Then the participle is added to it. To get it, you need to add the ending -ing to the initial form of the word.
Cases when this tense is used:
1. The process began in the past and by the time of the conversation is not completed, but continues.
2. An action that began in the past lasted a certain amount of time, and by the time of the conversation it had already ended.
Even though this is a rather complex topic, you should not give up. English grammar is not “Chinese grammar”. You just need to be careful when studying this topic, analyze examples, perform exercises of varying complexity, and remember the rules. Only then will you be able to master the entire grammar of the English language.
(have, has) and past participle forms: I have done, he has played. Past Participle (participle) of regular verbs is formed by adding the ending to the infinitive –ed: to invite- invite ed. When added to a verb –ed sometimes there are changes in its spelling: to stop – stopp ed. Past Participle of irregular verbs must be remembered: to tell – told – told. More about .
Abbreviated forms:
‘ve= have
's=has
haven't= have not
hasn't= has not
Using the Present Perfect
1. An action that has taken place to date, the result of which is obvious. The speaker’s emphasis is to draw the interlocutor’s attention to the result of the action taking place (there is always a connection between the past and the present).
Examples: I have lost my luggage. - I lost my luggage. (I now have no baggage - the speaker reports a specific result of an action have lost; This idea can also be expressed with the following sentence: My luggage is lost. – My luggage is lost.)
I have read a new book. – I read a new book. (I have already read the book)
She has bought a new car. - She bought a new car. (she has a new car now)
2. With adverbial words denoting periods of time that have not yet expired ( today - today, this week/month/year - this week, this month/year, this afternoon - this afternoon)*
Examples: I haven't read your documents today. – I didn’t read your documents today.
3. Often with adverbs of indefinite time ( ever - ever, never - never, already - already, yet - yet, often - often, so far - yet, until now, not yet - not yet, ever - ever)*
Examples: I 've never been there before. - I've never been here.
They haven't finished dinner yet. - They haven't finished lunch yet.
* Please note that the absence or presence in a sentence of the above adverbs (3) or adverbial words (2) is not a clear indicator of the use of the Present Perfect.
4. Always used with adverbs lately – (for/in) lately and just – just now.
Examples: They have just finished. - They just finished.
Have you heard from her lately? – Have you heard about her lately?
5. Actions performed during a certain period of time up to the present moment with verbs that do not have the Continuous form. Often used with prepositions for ( for an hour - for an hour, for two weeks - for two weeks, for a long time - for a long time) and since ( since twelve o’clock - from twelve o’clock, since 12 April - from April 12, since May - from May). More about .
Examples: I have known her mother for 10 years. – I’ve known her mother for 10 years.
He has been here since 3 o'clock. – He’s been here since 3 o’clock.
6. Never used to refer to past moments or periods of time ( yesterday - yesterday, last week - last week, an hour ago - an hour ago, on Sunday - on Sunday, in 2005 - in 2005), with questions starting with when – When. These marker words indicate the need to use.
Examples:When did he draw this portrait? – When did he paint this portrait?
I came here an hour ago. – I came here an hour ago.
7. In adverbial subordinate clauses, time and conditions ( after conjunctions when - when, while, after - after, as soon as - as soon as, if - if, until - not yet) instead to express an action that will end at a certain point in the future. Translated into Russian by the future tense.
Examples:After he has been repaired the washing machine, he'll be paid. – After he fixes the washing machine, he will be paid.
I'll come as soon as I have finished writing this letter. “I’ll come as soon as I finish writing this letter.”
Good day to you, dear friends! Today I will tell you about the “Present Perfect Tense in English”. In Russian, you will not find an analogue to this grammatical structure and therefore it may seem that understanding the rules of application is not easy. But that's not true.
From this article you will learn:
Rule and examples
Perfect tenses are the third major group of verb tenses in British.
If we talk about an analogy with Russian, then we translate Perfect.
There is only one important rule to remember:
The present perfect tense in English is used only when you want to focus attention not on the action itself, but on its result.
And if the result of an action can be observed in the present, then this will be The Present Perfect Tense.
They also say that “the result is obvious.”
Let's look at examples and you will see that in practice it is easy to separate the perfect from the ordinary past:
- I have already cooked breakfast. — I have already prepared breakfast.
- I washed up yesterday. — I washed the dishes yesterday.
There's a noticeable difference between these two examples, isn't there? The first example is the Present Perfect. You probably noticed that although the translation sounds like an event in the past, it corresponds to the past perfect in Russian. While in the second statement we use imperfect.
Let's state the facts
First of all, I propose to consider the rules for composing affirmative sentences in Perfect. As usual, we preserve the direct word order and reduce it to the form:
Person + predicate + object + adverbial tense.
Compare the sentences in perfect English and try to draw a conclusion:
| I | |||
| He |
You, of course, noticed a pattern: the predicate consists of two words: have - auxiliary, in a suitable form, and the main one, conveying the meaning of the statement, with the ending ed. In the times of the Perfect group, we always use the semantic word in the third form; in British it is called Participle II. For regular verbs it is initial + ed.
For irregular verbs, the appropriate meaning can be taken from the third column of the table of irregular verbs, which is in any dictionary.
We complete tasks without errors
Often in tests and quizzes you can find exercises where you need to open the brackets and put the word in the correct tense form.
Among the proposed tasks, circumstances of time or clarifying sentences that are a consequence of the main one will help you choose Progressive. Let's practice:
Example:
She already (close) the window. – She has already closed the window.
- We already (discuss) this article.
- I (watch) this film, and I don’t like it.
- My friend (explain) me the way and I came in time.
If you complete the task correctly, then have/has and the ending ed will appear in each line for the words in brackets.
We ask about the results
Using the present perfect tense to compose interrogative sentences makes sense when you want to know its result, and not just “WAS OR NOT.”
Have you ever been in Moscow?
In this case, the scheme of the proposal corresponds to the scheme of the general question:
Helper + subject + predicate
Please note that the predicate remains unchanged - V3.
Regret or pride
Negation in the Perfect usually suggests that the speaker is sorry or proud that something did not happen. And again, what is meant is not the action itself, but the consequence:
I have never visited New-York.
She has not (hasn’t) read this book.
Have you noticed the peculiarity of constructing negation in the perfect tense? Namely, never or not can be used for negation - as in other tense groups. In the first case, the negative word is translated as a double negative “never”, but in British both of these negatives cannot be present in the same part of the statement, so we choose only one.
The Present Perfect Tense is often found in oral speech and therefore, in order to easily apply it, exercises in englishdom courses will be indispensable. Classes with a Russian-speaking teacher and native speaker. Mobile application, conversation clubs for practice. One-on-one lessons with a teacher. The cost of one lesson is 590 rubles.
In writing, indicators of our grammatical form are: already, ever, never, yet. If you come across such words in the test, you can be sure that you have a perfect conjugation in front of you.
New ones will help you determine which time group your proposal belongs to: present, past or future.
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I was with you, Natalya Glukhova, I wish you a good day!