An introduction to the Present Perfect. What the name means. An explanation of why Italians need to learn this grammar with care. Some exercises in form.

1. Present Perfect
introduction

2. Present Perfect
I have done …
She has done …

3. Present Perfect
CONSTRUCTION:
‘to have’ is conjugated in the ‘Present Tense’
I have done …
She has done …

4. Present Perfect
MEANING:
is before present time
I have done … before
She has done … now

5. Present Perfect
CONSTRUCTION:
‘to have’ (AUX) + Past Participle (MAIN VERB)
I have done …
She has done …

6. Present Perfect
MEANING:
is before present time
I have done … before
She has done … now

7. tense gymnastics
!

8. convert
past simple to present perfect
and
present perfect to past simple

9. past simple present perfect
She made a phone call.
They haven’t finished.
We didn’t do the homework.
Have you seen John?
Did you wear the jacket?
She has taken her exams.
I sang the words.
He has shown us how.
You didn’t drive to work.
We have met before.
Did they give you a present?

10. past simple present perfect
She made a phone call. She has made a phone call.
They didn’t finish. They haven’t finished.
We didn’t do the homework. We haven’t done the homework.
Did you see John? Have you seen John?
Did you wear the jacket? Have you worn the jacket?
She took her exams. She has taken her exams.
I sang the words. I’ve sung the words.
He showed us how. He has shown us how.
You didn’t drive to work. You haven’t driven to work.
We met before. We have met before.
Did they give you a present? Have they given you a present?

11. Definition of the problem

12. 1.

13. inside the Present Perfect there are
three different grammatical
concepts

14. so you can’t take one idea and
apply it universally

15. 2.

16. It’s tempting to think that:
io ho fatto = I have done
io feci = I did

17. tempting, but wrong!

18. Sometimes
io ho fatto …
=
I have done …

19. but other times
io ho fatto …
=
I did …

20. or, sometimes
I have done …
=
io faccio …

21. in other words, sometimes the
Italian and English constructions
correspond, and sometimes they
don’t

22. So, if you can’t
1. apply a simple rule, or
2. translate,
how should you learn the
Present Perfect?

23. ANSWER: you have to learn the
three different functions of the
Present Perfect

24. and if you want you can learn
to translate inside each
function

25. www.davidnicholson.it