Present Perfect Tense現在完成式

Present Perfect Tense

1. We often use the present perfect tense to talk about experience from the past. We are not interested in when you did something. We only want to know if you did it:

Anna has never broken a leg.
Have you ever eaten sushi?

2.We use the Present Perfect Tense to talk about an action which started in the past and continuous up to now.

 I have been a teacher for more than ten years.
 We haven't seen Janine since Friday. 

3.We also use the Present Perfect Tense to talk about a past action that has the result in the present.

I have lost my wallet. = I don't have it now.
Jimmy has gone to South America. = He isn't here now. 

The structure of the present perfect tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb	+	main verb
		have		past participle

Here are some examples of the present perfect tense:

	subject	auxiliary verb		main verb
+	I	have		seen	ET.
+	You	have		eaten	mine.
-	She	has	not	been	to Rome.
-	We	have	not	played	football.
?	Have	you		finished?
?	Have	they		done	it?

Contractions with the present perfect tense

When we use the present perfect tense in speaking, we usually contract the subject and auxiliary verb. We also sometimes do this when we write. 

Exercise 1 - A Fill in SINCE or FOR

1.          He has been back ___________ two hours / __________ 3 o’clock.

2.          I haven’t seen him _________ over two months / ________ Christmas.

3.          You’ve been watching TV __________ you came home from school / _____ most of the evening.

4.          Carol has been looking after the baby _________ this morning / ______ over four hours.

5.          The Healers have had Dusty ________ their old dog died / ________ nearly two years.

6.          We’ve been standing here ________ twenty-five minutes / _________ half past six.

7.          Kate has been learning French ________ she was eleven / _________ four years.

8.          Grandfather has been living with us ____________ Granny died / ________ quite some time.

Exercise 2

1. We (not meet) _____________________ his mother so far. We _________ his mother then.

2. Greg (be) _____________________ a good student last year. Greg ___________ a good student up to now.

3. They (live) ___________________ in our street since 1982. They _____________ in our street some years ago.

4. Bob and Chris (not quarrel) _________________________ all week. Bob and Chris ____________________ yesterday.

5. You (ask) __________________ me this question before. You _______________ me this question last lesson.