The grammar system of the English language is 26 times. This is often the reason for the difficulties in the process of studying it. Indeed, it is rather difficult for a Russian person, in his native language of which only 3 times, to catch the difference in the use of these categories.
The greatest difficulty for students studying English is Present Perfect - the present perfect time.
This is difficult English. Present perfect
Present perfect tense means an action that was performed in the past, but its result is related to the present:
I have done my homework. I can go for a walk. - I did my homework. I can go for a walk (my homework is done, and as a result of that - the opportunity to go for a walk).
I have lost my key. I can't enter my flat. - I lost my keys. I can’t enter the house.
Present Perfect Education Method
This temporary category is formed using the auxiliary verbs have / has and the semantic verb ending with –ed or in the form of the participle II:
My mum has just made a cake. “My mom just made a pie.”
Ann has already washed up. - When I arrived, Anya had already washed all the dishes.
We have had dinner today. “We had lunch today.”
In colloquial speech, instead of the full form, you can use the abbreviations 've,' s:
I've arrived in Moscow today. - Today I arrived in Moscow.
He's lost his key. - He lost the keys.
To form negative forms, the particle not joins the auxiliary verb:
He hasn't prepared for English exam. - He did not prepare for the exam in English.
They haven't come home yet. “They haven't come home yet.”
The interrogative form of the present perfect tense
To build a general type of questions in the Present Perfect tense category, the has / have auxiliary verbs are put at the beginning of the sentence:
Have you ever been in Greece? “Have you ever been to Greece?”
Has she graduated from the University this year? “She graduated from university this year?”
The following word order is used to create a special type of question:
1) a question word;
2) has / have;
3) subject;
4) the adverb of time (if any), the predicate, etc.
Examples:
What has she just cooked? “What did she just cook?”
Where have you walked this evening? “Where did you walk tonight?”
Right or wrong?
As mentioned earlier, this temporary category is created using a special form of semantic verb. In English, regular verbs are distinguished, which form a simple past and present perfect tense by adding the ending -ed, and irregular verbs. Present Perfect is the time in which their use is necessary.
But, unfortunately, this part of speech causes many difficulties for students. Irregular verbs form temporary forms according to a special algorithm that defies any rules. In fact, they cannot be called exceptions, since there are more than a hundred of them in English.
Irregular verb example: go-went-gone. The first word is an infinitive verb, the second is used to indicate the past tense (it is also called participle 2), and the third is used to express actions in the present perfect tense. This type of verb does not have a specific way of forming the first or second form of participle. The only way out of this situation is cramming. There is nothing wrong with that, since basically all these verbs are “by ear”, they are quickly remembered and firmly embedded in speech.
Faithful companions
As related adverbs of this time are used:
I have already passed my exam. - I already passed the exam.
You have just won the prize! “You just won the grand prize!”
Have ever been to Milan? - Have you ever been to Milan? (the verb "be" present perfect is expressed)
- Before - before, earlier:
I have never met him before. - I have never met him before.
- Yet - so far, still, still:
I haven't been tired yet. “I'm not tired yet.”
As can be seen from the examples, related adverbs are placed after the auxiliary verb. The exception is the word “yet”.
Of course, the accompanying adverbs will not be used in every particular case of the present perfect time. But the presence of these words serves as a definite clue to recognizing a new time category.
Use cases
As mentioned earlier, this time is used to indicate the effectiveness of an action committed in the past. Other than that, time Present Perfect is necessary in the following cases:
1. When they talk about an action without specifying the time of its completion:
He has done all his work. “He did all his work.”
2. When the action has completed, but the time period in which it was carried out has not yet ended.
Compare:
I have had breakfast this morning. “I had breakfast this morning.” (The morning is not over yet).
I had breakfast this morning. - I had breakfast this morning (it's evening, the action is in the past).
3. Present perfect tense can be used to indicate previous actions, for example:
I have taken on my coat before I went out. “I put on my coat before leaving the house.”
Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous
To indicate actions that began in the past and continue in the present, Present Perfect is used. Suggestions:
I have lived there since 2000. - I have been living here since 2000.
She has worked here as a secretary for 5 years. - She has been working as secretary here for 5 years.
In this case, the present perfect time very closely echoes the other time category - Present Perfect Continuous. It is also necessary to indicate actions that last from some point in the past to the present. Man, using this time in speech, wants to show the process of the course of action, its duration.
Example:
I have been flying in the plane for 3 hours. - I’ve been flying on the plane for 3 hours already (the process itself is indicated).
What is the difference between the simple past tense and the present completed?
The main difficulty in mastering this time is that a Russian-speaking student often cannot catch the difference between the past tense and the present perfect. So that the choice between these times does not become a real dilemma and an endless obstacle to obtaining language skills, it is necessary to highlight specific cases of their use.
1. Present Perfect denotes the result, while Past simple indicates the completeness of an action in the past that is not connected with the present.
Compare:
I visited a museum a week ago. - I went to the museum a week ago.
I have just visited this museum! The exhibition is really worth seeing. “I just visited the museum.” The exhibition is really worth seeing.
If in the first case the action ended in the past and the proposal only states the fact of visiting the museum, then in the second case a direct connection with the present is shown - there is a result, that is, a person received pleasure from contemplating the paintings. In addition, the first example gives a specific indication of the time - a week ago, which is the main sign of simple past tense.
2. If the question begins with the word when, then in this case, instead of the present perfect tense, the simple past will be used.
Compare:
Have you ever seen this girl? - Have you ever seen this girl (in general)?
When did you see this girl? - When did you see this girl (a specific time period in the past is recognized)?
Does Perfect need time in conversation
Often, memorizing huge tables with tenses, irregular verbs and other tricks of the English language, many do not understand the meaning of such language bells and whistles, hearing the everyday plain speech of a foreigner. Indeed, the inhabitants of some countries have simplified English beyond recognition, forgotten many temporary forms and other grammatical phenomena. Therefore, the question arises: is it worth it to suffer and delve into all this if it is not useful?
It’s worth it because it’s sure to come in handy. After all, English is not only communicating with a foreigner on Skype in a "broken" language. It:
- foreign periodicals;
- literary masterpieces of world famous authors - Dickens, Thackeray, Hardy;
- the opportunity to work in serious foreign companies, enter prestigious universities, do tutoring, etc.
Thus, the study of the grammatical features of the English language is simply necessary. After all, lexical units, like beads, are strung on the connecting threads of a grammar.
Present Perfect is a complex phenomenon, but easy to understand for a diligent student. In order for it to be firmly assimilated in consciousness, it is necessary to carry out appropriate exercises to practice the grammatical skill, to read as much of classical literature as possible in foreign - after all, where else can one find an abundance of linguistic forms? Actively use new grammar material in speech, if possible.