USE 1 Unspecified time before now, past actions that have a present result

FORM

PRESENT PERFECT

The Past Simple versus the Past Continuous

The Past Simple describes a complete event in the past. The Past Continuous does not describe a complete event, it describes the event in the progress, at some time between its beginning and its end.

Look at the difference between these sentences

1. He was cooking the dinner when I arrived.

(He started cooking dinner before my arrival and the cooking was in the progress at the time of my arrival.)

He cooked dinner when I arrived.

(I arrived and then he cooked dinner. The sentence expresses two complete actions in the past.)

2. I was reading a book about astrology last night.

(The reading of the book was in the progress last night. The Past Continuous does not describe a complete action so we assume that the book was not finished last night.)

I read a book about astrology last night.

(I read the whole book from beginning to end last night.)

3. I was having a bath at eight o’clock.

(The action started before eight o’clock and was still in progress at eight o’clock.)

I had a bath at eight o’clock.

(This describes the complete event. It started at eight o’clock.)

[has/have + past participle]

Examples:

· You have seen that movie many times.

In the interrogative form the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject. In the negative form the negative particle not is placed after the auxiliary verb

· Have you seen that movie many times?

· You have not seen that movie many times.

We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important. We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.

Examples:

• I have seen that movie twenty times.
• There have been many earthquakes in California.
• People have travelled to the Moon.
• Have you read the book yet?
• Nobody has ever climbed that mountain.

The Present Perfect is used to indicate a past action that has a present result. The action is usually in the recent past.

· I have lost my key. (I haven’t got it now)

· The taxi has not arrived yet. (We are still waiting for it)

We often announce news in the Present Perfect, because the speaker is emphasizing the event as a present fact.

· Have you heard? The Prime Minister has resigned /Susan’ s had her baby.

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