The document discusses the different uses of the present perfect tense in English. It explains that the present perfect can refer to an event that began in the past and continues in the present, an event that occurred in the past but at an unspecified time, or an event that occurred in the recent past. It provides examples to illustrate the different uses and time frames indicated by the present perfect.

1. 5CDE
Summer 2013
Holly Cin

2.  The present perfect is tricky because it’s not
always present, and it’s not always perfect :D
 Case 1: The present perfect starts in the past
and includes the present. In this case, the
present perfect is similar to the present.
 Case 2: The present perfect starts and ends in
the past, but we don’t know when. In this
case, the present perfect is similar to the simple
past.

3.  In this case, we mention the duration.
 Duration is SINCE a point/moment in time or FOR a period of time.
 Since yesterday; since 9 a.m; since Monday; since last month; since 1995, since June 1st.
 Since can also begin an adverb clause of time, also known as a time clause. The verb in
the since-clause is in the simple past.
Since I arrived here; since class began; since we first met.
We can also say “ever since.”
I have loved him EVER SINCE I MET HIM.
EVER SINCE YOU GOT HERE, you have not stopped complaining!
 For a day; for 3 hours; for 2 days; for a month; for 18 years; for a while; for a long time;
forever; for ages; for as long as I can remember.

4. 1. I have worked at the LCC for 5 years.
I have worked at the LCC since 2007.
Am I still working at the LCC?
Yes. The situation started in the past and continues
in the present.
2. We have discussed grammar since last
Wednesday.
We have discussed grammar for 4 days.
Are we still discussing grammar?
Yes. The situation started in the past and
continues in the present.

5.  The event started and ended at some point in the past.
The event could have happened multiple times.
 The event does not continue to the present.
 We don’t know when the event/shappened and its not
important.
 Duration is not mentioned because there is no
duration!
 We often use the adverbs EVER, ALREADY, and YET.
These adverbs refer to unspecified times in the past.

6.  Q: Have you ever been to Austin (in your life—
time is unspecified)?
 A: Yes, I’ve been there twice before.
 Do I know when? No. And it doesn’t matter. If
I want to know when, then I’ll use simple past.
 Q: When did you go?
 A: I was there last month (a specific point in
time).

7.  Q: Have you tried sushi before (some time
before now—time is unspecified)?
 A: Yes, I’ve eaten sushi many times.
 Do I know when? No. And it doesn’t matter. If
I want to know when, then I’ll use SIMPLE
PAST.
 Q: Whendid you last eatsushi?
 A: Actually, I had sushi for dinner last night (a
specific point in time).

8.  Sometimes there is no difference between the
present perfect and the simple past, so we can use
either tense.
 Have you finished dinner yet?
 Did you finish dinner yet?
 Ender has already finished dinner (already).
 Ender already finished dinner (already).
 In both cases, the event (finishing dinner) ended at
some point in the past, but we don’t know when. If
we want to say when, then we have to use the
simple past.
 Did you finish dinner at 6 p.m.?
 NOT: Have you finished dinner at 6 p.m.?

9.  1. PPP is like the present perfect, when the
present perfect includes now.
 2. PPP means the recent past.
 3. PPP is used for an event that ended in the
recent past and has a present result.

10.  The event started in the past and continues to the
present. We use the ppp to stress that the event is
still in progress. We want to say how long the
event has been happening so we mention the
duration of time.
 Examples:
 1. We have been studying grammar together for a
week (and we are still studying it now).
 2. We’ve been discussing writing since last
Monday (and we’re still discussing it now).

11. 3. They have been talkingfor the last hour.
4. She has been workingat that company for three
years.
5. What haveyoubeen doingfor the last 30 minutes?
6. James has been teaching at the university since
June.
7. We have been waiting here for over two hours!
8. Why has Nancy not been takingher medicine for
the last three days?

12.  The event happened in the recent past; it is not
necessarily in progress now.
 We either use “recently” or “lately,” or we
mean recently or lately.
 Unlike in case 1, there is no mention of how
long the event has been happening (duration).

13.  Example 1: Olivia has been partying a lot lately.
Is she partying right this minute?
No.
 Compare this to:
 Olivia has been partying since 9 p.m. last night.
Is she partying right this minute?
Yes.
 Example 2: The cat has been eating a lot (lately). He’s so fat!
Is he eating right this minute?
No.
 Compare this to:
 The cat has been eating for 3 hours non-stop! Wow! He must be really hungry!
Is he eating right this minute?
Yes.

14. 3. I have been feelingreally tired lately. I don’t know
why.
4. Amy has been watching too much television lately.
It’s affecting her sleep.
5. Have you been exercisinglately? You look great!
6. A: What’s wrong withNimsy?
B: I think that she has been feelinga little
depressed.
7.Jennyhas not been practicingher English.

15. I was gardening from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. I finished
gardening at 11 a.m. At 11:15, I walked into
the house and my hands were dirty. Diego saw
me in the house at 11:20 and noticed my hands
were dirty.
Diego: "Why are your hands so dirty, Holly?”
Holly: "I've been gardening. Excuse me while I go
and wash them."
 Was I still gardening when I saw Diego?
 No. The event had ended in the recent past.