Look at the A and B sentences below. Find out why B is correct and A is wrong in the Grammar Points section.
GRAMMAR POINTS
We use the present perfect tense, like the simple past tense, to talk about completed actions.
However, unlike the simple past tense which is used with definite time phrases, we do not state the exact time of an action with the present perfect tense.
EXAMPLES: SIMPLEPASTTENSE
Patrick conducted a workshop for young working adults [ast weeFl . (completed action at definite time)
I studied at this college for five years.
(I am no longer there.) I was in this college in 1998.
(I am no longer there.)
PRESENT PERFECTTENSE
Patrick has conducted a workshop for young working adults.
(completed action with no exact time giuen)
PRESENT PERFECT TENSE
I have studied in this college for five years.
(I am still there.)
I have been in this college since 1998.
(I joined the college in 1998 and I am still there.)
We use the present perfect tense with words like since and for to refer to an action that began in the past and is still going on at the point of speaking.
H{AMPLES: SIMPLE PAST TENSE
We have reported the robbery to the police vesterdav.
We have reported the robbery to the police. / We reported the robbery to the police yesterday.
Mrs Kelly managed the accounts section for more than 12 years. She is due to retire soon.
Mrs Kelly has managed the accounts section for more than 12 years. She is due to retire soon.
I didn't give your message to Iackie yet. She was not at school today.
I haven't given your message to Jackie yet. She was not at school today.
I hadn't time for lunch today. I'll get some tea and sandwiches later.
I haven't had time for lunch today. I'll get some tea and sandwiches later.
3B
We use the present perfect tense and not the simple past tense with adverbs of indefinite time such as already and just to show completed actions, and yet to show that an action is expected to happen but has not taken place at the point of speaking.
We use never and ever with the present perfect tense to refer to a time frame that began in the indefinite past and continues up to the present. We do not use these words with the simple past tense.
EXAMPLES:
They have already signed the agreement with our firm. (completed action)
Have you ever noticed the squirrels in our park? (Didyou notice them in the past?
Haue you noticed them up to now?)
We use the present perfect tense to refer to a time frame that began in the recent past and is not over yet at the point of speaking.
EXAMPLES:
I haven't seen Linda this week. She has been so busy. (Ihis week is not ouer yet.)
I haven't had time for breakfast. I have only had a cup of coffee this morning. (This morning is not ouer yet.)
@ A J c i r c l e t h e n u m b e r s o f t h e c o r r e c t S e n t e n c e S .
f Lily served as a volunteer nurse since 1990. She is going to leave the service this year.
2 We have been in this school for six years. We will be moving on to college after our final exams.
3 Ann did not write to us yet. She is probably busy with her new job.
4 The club committee has just had a brainwave. It is going to have a musical extravaganza to raise funds.
5 Colin has met me at the bank this morning and we decided to have lunch together.
6 This has been a hectic week for Joan. She has been swamped with meetings and reports.
7 Iames has received a scholarship and intends to do a course in software engineering.
B Malcolm remained a recluse most of his life. It is onlv now that he has decided to come out and make friends.
The electrician has already repaired the lights so they should be working now
They have sold their house last Tuesday and moved to a small apartment in the city centre.
I l 0
@a]rict<thecorrectVerbformStocompletethesentences.
has been was found have found
a significant breakthrough in the treatment of some
more time to relax and eniov mv hobbies.
a house from her uncle who died last Mav.
I In the last decade, there terminal illnesses.
2 Since I changedjobs, I
has inherited inherited 3 Sue
6 W e
Paul may lose his car because he three months.
Poverty today forced has forced in order to wor
were hanging have hung
didn't par hasn't paid
s o m e p a r e n t s t o l e a v e t h e i r fa m i l i e s
out the carpets to dry because they are damp from the rain.
the instalments on his loan for the past
neater and more legible nowadays, compared to what it Bobby's writing
was before.
became has become In the last hundred years, man technology.
achieved has achieved
great advances in the fields of science and
in breathing difficulties
r 0 I
High levels of air pollution in some major cities and lung problems among some residents.
observed have observed your country.
are resulting have resulted
many changes in social customs when I last visited
@ 9 F i l l i n t h e b l a n k s w i t h t h e c o I I e c t f o r m s o f t h e v e r b s i n t h e b r a c k e t s '
Recently, there (1) (be) several meetings at our local community hall and I expect to attend several more. Until now we (2) (use) the hall for occasional events but now we (3) ( w a n t ) l o o r g a n i s e r e g u l a r meetings for different groups in our community.
\Mhen we asked, some doctors and teachers (4) (recommend) a
preschool playgroup. They said that children who (5) (experience) a playgroup often settle more easily in regular school. Already several parents
(6) (ask) us to keep places for their children.
This week, about a group meeting at the My friends
r (7) (talk) to my grandparents and some of their friends for retired people. They said they (B) (never think) about
hooe thev will consider theidea.
and I (9) (discuss) holding a regular youth evening.
( 1 0 ) (always want) a place where we could play table tennis and hall, but I
pracuse our muslc.
40
We
@ . D r R e a r r a n g e t h e w o r d s t o f o r m c o r r e c t s e n t e n c e s .
I a - across - and - beauty - has - health - in - interest - of - surge - swept - the - world.
2 cause - failure - found - haven't - of - of - security - svstem - the - the - the - we - yet.
3 Alice - everything - for - getting - has - meeting - ready - spent - the - the - week - whole.
4 cinema - gone - have - last - month - only - out - since - the - they - to - twice.
Since last month,
5 already - figures - for - for - has - he - last - poor - reprimanded - sales - the - year.
for last year, - u s
Jh YouR sconE I
m
fff'l??tH, E I Rewrite the sentences below and correct them.
I Five years ago, the two countries have promised to work together to establish peace in the region.
2 Tlire two motorcyclists have just broke traffic regulations by going against the lights.
3 I haven't make up my mind yet about which courses to do in college.
4 Didn't you ever gone bungee jumping before?
5 We never learn where our former colleagues are working now.