Present perfect -Brief Grammar introduction and Tasks
- 1. 1 The present perfect is formed from the present tense of the verb have and the past participle of a verb: Use We use the present perfect tense: for something that started in the past and continues in the present: They’ve been married for nearly fifty years. She has lived in Liverpool all her life. for something we have done several times in the past and continue to do so : I’ve played the guitar ever since I was a teenager. He has written three books and he is working on another one. I have worked here since I left school. when we are talking about our experience up to the present: Note: We often use the adverb ever to talk about experience up to the present: My last birthday was the worst day I have ever had.
- 2. 2 Note: and we use never for the negative form: Have you ever met George? Yes, but I’ve never met his wife. for something that happened in the past but is important at the time of speaking: I can’t get in the house. I’ve lost my keys. Teresa isn’t at home. I think she has gone shopping. We use the present perfect of be when someone has gone to a place and returned: A: Where have you been? B: I’ve just been out to the supermarket. A: Have you ever been to San Francisco? B: No, but I’ve been to Los Angeles. But when someone has not returned we use have/has gone: A: Where is Maria? I haven’t seen her for weeks. B: She's gone to Paris for a week. She’ll be back tomorrow. We often use the present perfect with time adverbials which refer to the recent past: just; only just; recently; Scientists have recently discovered a new breed of monkey. We have just got back from our holidays. or adverbials which include the present: ever (in questions); so far; until now; up to now; yet (in questions and negatives)
- 3. 3 Have you ever seen a ghost? Where have you been up to now? Have you finished your homework yet? No, so far I’ve only done my history. WARNING: We do not use the present perfect with an adverbial which refers to past time which is finished: I have seen that film yesterday. We have just bought a new car last week. When we were children we have been to California. But we can use it to refer to a time which is not finished yet : Have you seen Helen today? We have bought a new car this week. 1-WRITE YOUR OWN EXAMPLES ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
- 4. 4 2-Simple Past / Present Perfect Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses. Since computers were first introduced to the public in the early 1980's, technology (change) a great deal. The first computers (be) simple machines designed for basic tasks. They (have, not) much memory and they (be, not) very powerful. Early computers were often quite expensive and customers often (pay) thousands of dollars for machines which actually (do) very little. Most computers (be) separate, individual machines used mostly as expensive typewriters or for playing games. Times (change) . Computers (become) powerful machines with very practical applications. Programmers (create) a large selection of useful programs which do everything from teaching foreign languages to bookkeeping. We are still playing video games, but today's games
- 5. 5 (become) faster, more exciting interactive adventures. Many computer users (get, also) on the Internet and (begin) communicating with other computer users around the world. We (start) to create international communities online. In short, the simple, individual machines of the past (evolve) into an international World Wide Web of knowledge.
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