The Present Perfect Tense A Tense with Two Meanings… By AJ Brown

What does it look like? I have known him for six years. Jean has been to the Ukraine three times this year. I haven’t done my homework yet. Have you ever ridden an elephant? I have been waiting for help since 1 p.m.! She has never seen snow. How many times have you eaten at Ming’s?

What does it mean? The present perfect verb tense has two different meanings. 1.The action of the verb happened at an unspecified time in the past. (In the past, but we don’t know when.) 2.The action of the verb started in the past and continues to now (and will probably continue to the future, as well).

#1 #1 unspecified time in the past Peter has already seen that movie. (When? I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter.) My sister has traveled to many countries. (When? I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter.) My mother has been to Africa. (When? I don’t know, but it doesn’t matter.) I have never been to Africa. (When? Not ever. Never. Not last year. Not the year before. Not any year.)

See the difference… Simple past (exact time is known) I saw that movie yesterday. Present perfect (exact time is NOT known) I have already seen that movie. Simple past (exact time is known) In 1990, she lived in Europe. Present perfect (exact time is NOT known) She has lived in Europe before. When? Yesterday. When? I don’t know, but before. When? In When? I don’t know, but before.

#2 #2 started in the past and continues to now Peter has played the violin since (began in 2004 and continues to today...) My sister has lived in Berkeley for ten years. (began in 2014 and continues to today...) My mother has driven a Toyota since (began in 1981 and continues to today...) I have had dreadlocks for seven years. (began in 2007 and continues to today...)

See the difference… Simple past (finished!) I lived in Spain in Present perfect (continues…) He has lived in Spain since Simple past (finished!) Two weeks ago, he was in Italy. Present perfect (continues…) He has been in Italy for two weeks. Now? No, I don’t live there now. Now? Yes, he still lives in Spain. Now? No, he isn’t in Italy.. Now? Yes, he is still in Italy.

Words that go with the present perfect tense… #1 since Since means something started in the past and continues until now… It is followed by the specific point (day, year, time, etc.) in time that it started. AJ has been in her office since seven o’clock. They have been married since I have known him since I was a girl. When it introduces a time clause, use the simple past tense in the since clause!

Words that go with the present perfect tense… #2 for For also means something started in the past and continues until now… It is followed by the specific length of time (hours, years, weeks, etc.). I have known him for six months. They have been married for twenty years. AJ has been in her office for almost an hour. If the noun is plural (hours, weeks, years, etc.), USE for in the time expression…NOT since.

Words that go with the present perfect tense… #3 already Already means something happened before… It is most commonly written between the auxiliary and main verbs. I have already seen that movie. (When? I don’t know, but before now.) They have already eaten lunch. (When? I don’t know, but before now.) NOT USED in negative statements.

Words that go with the present perfect tense… #4 yet Yet means something didn’t happen before, but it might in the future. It is most commonly written at the end of a sentence. I haven’t seen that movie yet. (I didn’t see it before, but maybe I will.) Have they eaten lunch yet? (Did they eat before? I don’t know.) ONLY USED in negative statements or questions.

Words that go with the present perfect tense… #5 still Still means something continues without any change. It is most commonly written before the verb. I still haven’t seen that movie. (Not seeing the movie continues…) He still has not written the essay. (Not writing continues…) ONLY USED in negative perfect tense statements.

Words that go with the present perfect tense… #6 ever Ever means at any time in the past. It is most commonly written after the subject and before the main verb. Have you ever met some one from Mongolia? No, I haven’t. Has he ever been to India? Yes, he has. ONLY USED in questions.

Words that go with the present perfect tense… #7 never Never means at NO time in the past. It is most commonly written after the subject and before the main verb. He has never been to Canada. (Not at any time in the past.) AJ has never tasted uni. (Not last year, the year before, or any other time) ONLY USED in statements to show 0%.