First – year Practical Grammar

Module 6:
The Present Perfect Tense
The Present Perfect Tense is formed by means of the auxiliary verb to have in the
Present Indefinite (have/has) and Participle II of the notional verb, e.g.: The lesson has
just begun. The students have handed in their compositions.

In interrogative sentences the auxiliary verb have or has is placed before the
subject, e.g.: Has the bell gone? Have the students handed in their compositions yet?

In negative sentences the negative particle not is placed after the auxiliary verb
have (has), e.g.: The lesson has not begun yet. The students have not handed in their
compositions yet.

Affirmative Interrogative
I have come Have I (you) come?
He, she has come Has he (she) come?
We have come Have we come?
You have come Have you come?
They have come Have they come?
Negative
I have not come
He, she has not come
We have not come
You have not come
They have not come

The Present Perfect Resultative is used to denote:

a) an action completed in the past but connected with the present with its results,
e.g.: I have lost my way in the city and cannot get to the hotel.
The time indicators are: already, just, always, ever, yet, of late (lately), recently,
never.
e.g. He has not returned from town yet.
I have just written to him.
He has done a great deal of work of late.
Note 1: Just now is used with the Past Simple, e.g.: I’m not hungry, I’ve just had
lunch, thank you. – I’m not thirsty, thank you. I had a glass of cold Coke just
now.
b) a completed action with the period of time which is not over (ended) yet: today,
this week, this month, this term, etc.
e.g. I have read about it in the newspaper today.
Mr. Priestley has been to London twice this week.
Note 1: With adverbs denoting a finished period of time this morning, this
afternoon, this evening the Past Simple is used, e.g.: I did the washing-up myself
this morning.
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Note 2: A definite place (an adverbial modifier of place) implies a definite past
time – the Past Simple, e.g.: I have seen her today. I saw her in the library today.
We got ready for the seminar in History together. (Now I am not in the library –
a past action).
Note 3: The Past Simple, not the Present Perfect is used in a when- question, e.g.:
She’s won the competition! – When did you get to know about this?
c) an action which will be completed before a definite moment in the future in
adverbial clauses of time and real condition after the conjunction after, as soon
as, before, until, till, when.
e.g. We shall speak about it after we have looked into matter thoroughly .
I am not going away until you have given the definite answer.

The Present Perfect Inclusive is used to denote:

an action which began in the past, has been going on up to the present and which is
still going on. In this meaning we find for –phrases and since phrases. For denotes the
whole period of duration of the action; since denotes the starting point of the action,
e.g.: We have known each other for about 10 years now. They have been friends since
then. Where have you been since last Sunday?

The Present Perfect Inclusive is used:

a) with verbs not admitting of the e.g. They have been engaged for about
Continuous Aspect. 4 years.
My friends have been busy since the
beginning of the month.
I have known him for many years.
b) in negative sentences He has not slept well since that awful
day.
They have not done much for the last
two weeks.
c) with non – terminative verbs (e.g. to Mr. Sandford has worked (has been
study, to learn, to live, to work, to last, working) at this hospital since he
to teach, to travel) graduated from the Medical University.
How long have they lived in Kiev? –
They have lived in Kiev since 1985. (=
They have been living in Kiev since
1985)

Note:
1. What did you say? - Що ви сказали?
2. I understand it now. - Зараз я зрозумів.
3. I did not hear your question. - Я не чув твого
запитання.
4. I am told she is in Moscow. - Мені сказали, що вона у
Москві.
5. I hear she has just left Lviv. - Я чув вона тільки що
покинула Львів.
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Exercises:
Ex. 1. Use the verbs in the Present Perfect tense using the adverbs just, already.

Model: My brother is going to repair the tape – recorder. - My brother has

already repaired the tape – recorder.

1. I am going to have some practice in pronunciation.

2. I am going to clean the flat.
3. John is going to listen to the seven o’clock news.
4. Mary is going to make a new dress.
5. They are going to stay out of town for a fortnight.
6. He is going to look through this article.
7. My brother is going to leave for London.
8. She is going to meet her younger brother.
9. They are going to discuss this book today.
10.The students are going to learn this dialogue by heart.

Ex. 2. Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Perfect or Past Indefinite.
Model: They (to take) a long trip last year. – They took a long trip last year.

1. He (to come) to Moscow on business this week.

2. She (to visit) her sick friend yesterday.
3. He (to return) from the Crimea just.
4. We never (to meet) each other before.
5. You ever (to see) the main building of our Institute?
6. You (to find) the necessary information yet?
7. They (to be abroad) twice last month.
8. When you last (to visit) the British Museum?
9. I (to see) him at the library.
10.Lunch (to be ready) long ago.

Ex. 3. Use the Present Indefinite, the Present Continuous or the Present Perfect
instead of the infinitives in brackets.

1. Will you, please, give me your book? I (to leave) mine at home and now (to have)
nothing to work with.
2. You (to read) “The Picture of Dorian Gray”? “No, I (to read) it now. I (not to
finish) it yet.
3. We (to go) to the concert to-night. You ever (to be) there?
4. I just (to finish) writing the essay and I (to be) a little tired.
5. You (to understand) what they (to talk) about.
6. What you (to look for)? – I (to look for) my dictionary, I just (to see) it
somewhere.
7. I (to write) my translation and now I (to be free).
8. Mary just (to do) her morning exercises, and now she (to have a shower).
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Ex. 4. Use the Present Perfect or the Past Indefinite in answers to the questions;
make use of the suggestions.

1. When did you last see him? – (several days ago).

2. How long have you known him? – (since 1997).
3. When did he arrive? – (at 2 o’clock).
4. Have you finished your work yet? – (already; just; just now = 3 variants).
5. Have you been here before? – (last year).
6. When did you see Mary and Edward? – (in the morning).
7. Have you ever tried to give up smoking? – (never).
8. When did you meet? – (just; a couple of weeks ago).
9. When did you pass your examinations? – (on Monday, not yet).
10. Has David repaired the vacuum cleaner? – (already; not yet).

Ex. 5. Disagree with the following statements. Put the verbs in the Present Perfect.

Model: Ann is cooking the dinner. – But she is not. She has already cooked the dinner.

1. She is writing the letter now.

2. She is doing the work with care.
3. Ann is laying the table.
4. My granny is decorating the room.
5. My sister is sewing a new dress.
6. She is going to send the letter.
7. The children are having a rest.
8. The students are listening to the new text.
9. They are arriving tonight.
10.Robert is making good progress this term.

Ex. 6. Translate the following sentences paying special attention to the use of the
Present Perfect tense.

1. Ви друзі? – Так, ми друзі з того часу, як вступили до інституту.

2. Він каже, що вони ніколи раніше не зустрічалися.
3. Ліза запросила мене провести літні канікули у неї (вдома). Вона мешкає у
Лондоні. Вона мешкає там з дитинства.
4. Ти бачила його сьогодні? – Так, я бачила його у лабораторії. Він там вже з
того часу, як закінчилися навчання.
5. Ти знайшла свій словник? – Так, я знайшла його на полиці.
6. Олена прийде на вечірку ввечері. Я давно її не бачила. – Вона дуже
змінилася?
7. Ти вже відіслав телеграму? – Ще ні. Я збираюсь зробити це через декілька
хвилин.
8. Я завжди хотіла поїхати до Парижа.
9. Де діти? – Вони подивились цікаву передачу та пішли відпочивати.
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