The present perfect tense:simple and continuous

Form

Function

The present perfect tense:simple

Form: the auxiliary verb have /has + the past participle

(voltooid deelwoord) of the lexical verb

He has been a student since 1996.

Is this always the same as in Dutch?

Dutch takes the auxiliary verb ‘zijn’ with some verbs, but English always takes have/has! Compare:

Ben je ooit naar Egypte geweest?Have you ever been to Egypt?

The present perfect tense:continuous

Form: the auxiliary verb have /has + been + infinitive (hele werkwoord) + ING of the lexical verb

He has been working on his portfolio since 1999.

Again, the present perfect always takes the auxiliary verb have / has.

The present perfect tense:simple and continuous

Function: (1) to express that something started in the past and is still going on (or might still go on)

the continuative present perfect simple / continuous tense (2) to express the result of something that happened in the past

the resultative present perfect tense (3) to express something that will happen in the future

the present future perfect tense

The present perfect tense:simple and continuous

Function (1): to express that something started in the past and is still going on (or might still go on) the continuative present perfect simple / continuous tense

I have been very busy lately. They have been living together for two years.

Function (1): to express that something started in the past and is still going on (or might still go on) the continuative present perfect simple / continuous tenseThere is always an adverbial (clause) indicating time (bijwoordelijke bepaling of bijzin van tijd) this can also be implied from the context!

I have been very busy lately. Why haven’t you called?-- I’ve been very busy (lately).They have been living together for two years.

Simple: the ideas of being in progress and limited duration are absent or irrelevant

I’ve lived in Manhattan all my life.

Continuous: the ideas of being in progress and limited duration ARE relevant

He has been learning Mandarin Chinese for four years.

The present perfect tense: simple OR continuous?

What’s the difference in meaning?

She has worked as a waitress but now she’s studying to be an English teacher.

She has been working as a waitress for the past year, but now she’s studying to be an English teacher.

The present perfect tense: simple OR continuous?

Dutch ‘al ‘ ≠ English ‘already’Exception: when you want to emphasize that the

time period has been LONG. Then ‘already’ usually comes at the end.

Wacht je hier al lang?

Have you been waiting a long time?

Zij stuurt mij al jaren geen kerstkaart.

She hasn’t sent me a Christmas card for years.

Ik sta al sinds acht uur les te geven.

I’ve been teaching since eight o’clock already.

Dutch ‘sinds ‘≠ English ‘since’

sinds = since when it refers to the beginning of a period or a specific starting moment in time

sinds = for when it refers to the entire period

She has been waiting for her order since three-thirty.Ze wacht al sinds half vier op haar bestelling.

They have lived here for three weeks.Ze wonen hier sinds drie weken.

Look at the cartoons and determine if the present perfect tense is simple or continuous. Then give the RULE (function).

The present perfect tense:simple and continuous TASK 1

Look at the cartoons and make up two sentences for each picture using the present perfect tense: one simple and one continuous. Then give the RULE (function).

The present perfect tense:simple and continuous TASK 2

The present perfect simple tense:

Function (2): to express the result of something that happened in the past: the resultative present perfect simple tense

I have lost my key.

the time of losing the key is not as important as the result: now I can’t unlock my bike and I’m going to be late.AAAAUUUUGGGGHHHH!

The present perfect continuous tense:Function (2):

to express the result of something that happened in the past: the resultative present perfect continuous tense

Less common than the simple aspect, but still used to indicate that an action has just stopped but the result is still clearly present:

Have you been spraying graffiti again?

You’ve been crying, haven’t you?

Help! Present perfect tense or past tense?

The resultative present perfect tense implies that something took place in the past. So why don’t we just use the past tense? What’s the difference?

She has spent her entire paycheck on a new winter coat.The emphasis is on two things:

* the result: she will be broke for the rest of the month

* the time frame: this is probably very recent

She spent her entire paycheck on a new winter coat.There is less emphasis...

* on the result

* on the time frame: perhaps it was ten years ago

With the adverbs just, already, ever, never, and yet, (JEANY), British English usually has the present perfect tense, but American English more often has the past tense.

He has just left the building. (BrE) He just left the building. AmE)

Have you seen that film yet? (BrE) Did you see that movie yet? (AmE)

With just now, the past tense is used in both BrE and AmE.

We heard the news just now. Why is this especially important for teaching?

Help! Present perfect tense or past tense? British English (BrE)

versus American English (AmE)

Function (3): to express something that will happen in the future: the present future perfect tense

This is much more common in the present perfect simple than the present perfect continuous!

The present perfect tense

Used only in clauses denoting time or condition (bijwoordelijke bijzinnen van tijd of voorwaarde) In other subclauses, will or shall must be used.

I won’t be able to relax until I have finished my homework.I don’t know when I will have finished it.

We can’t have a party if you haven’t bought any food or drinks!I doubt (that) Anthony will have bought anything, either.

The present perfect tense:simple and continuous: final task

QUIZYou will need paper and a pencil.

On each the next ten slides you will see a picture and a multiple choice sentence. Choose the letter of the best (= most grammatical) answer IN THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE AND write the specific name of the function:Continuative, resultative, or future present perfect, and also simple or continuous.

You will have less than one minute per slide, so work quickly!

READY?

Just for practice:a. They are flying around the field.b. One fly was celebrating his birthday.c. Have you ever seen such a perfect present in the present perfect?

Answer: C: continuative present perfect simple: started in the past and continues into the present (ever is the adverbial denoting time)

1. • It was raining a little while ago.• It has just been raining.• It rains every day in Holland.• I always carry an umbrella in case it rains.

2.

a. They are staying in London for a few more days.

b. She is living in London temporarily.

c. He asked how long she had been in London.

d. She has seen some of London’s tourist attractions.

3. a. She has never had such a bad hair day.b. This wasn’t really her own hair to begin with.c. She will never go to the Kinky Kapper again.d. Did you ever see such an art form in your whole

life?

4.

a. Last time I just barely escaped!

b. How many friends are holding the wires?

c. This mouse has been watching Mission Impossible.

d. He would have preferred chocolate.

5.a. This picture was taken with my new iPhone.b. Have you been drinking again?c. This picture was definitely photoshopped!d. I think I should have my eyes checked.

6.

a. The dog is attacking the quarterback!

b. I told you to stay home, Bonzo!

c. This puppy has been chasing me all day!

d. Why wasn’t the dog tied up?

7.

a. This bike was muddy even before I rode it.

b. Hey! Someone’s been riding my bike!

c. It’s going to need a serious cleaning.

d. Were you planning to take your bike upstairs?

8.

a. This kitchen was already messy when I moved in.

b. My grandmother would turn over in her grave...

c. I haven’t got a trash bag, so I can’t start cleaning.

d. They haven’t cleaned the kitchen for months!

9.a. I won’t be able to see it until I’ve climbed up a little

higher...b. Funny, there weren’t any lions around here

yesterday...c. Don’t move! I’ve got a cramp in my neck!d. Did you say you wanted a massage or a message?

10.a. What’s happening to my computer?b. Who was in my apartment while I was gone?c. Look! Something has melted my hardware!d. The insurance policy didn’t cover this.

Answers:

1. b resultative present perfect continuous

2. d continuative present perfect simple

(also resultative, because the attractions are shown)

3. a resultative present perfect simple

4. c resultative present perfect continuous

5. b resultative present perfect continuous

6. c continuative present perfect continuous

7. b resultative present perfect continuous

8. d continuative present perfect simple

9. a future present perfect simple

10. c resultative present perfect simple

Good work!

Have you ever done so many Present Perfect exercises

Before?

Homework• EGU 7-14• Exercises reader 11 + 12