We use the present perfect to talk about repetition in a time period that includes the present.
NOW
PAST ~Xv~ia~h~a-s-wll-'o-n--ii>--l--~---- FUTURE
[ __________ ;ny awards.
---~---ã---~
... Explanation
We have read several articles about risk this week. When we use this week, this month, this year, or today Earle has taken several risks this year. to include the present, we use the present perfect.
The present perfect shows that the time period is open, and that it is possible for the action to occur again.
Earle has written more than 200 publications. If there is a possibility for a number to increase, we use the present perfect. It's possible that Earle will write more books.
ã ã -
Sylvia Earle has won many awards. We can use a lot at many, several, or a number to She has lectured in more than 90 countries. show repetition from past to present.
So far over 4,000 people have climbed Mt. Everest. So far and up to now show repetition from past to Up to now, more than 200 climbers have died. present .
.
How many women have climbed Mt. Everest? To ask a question about repetition, use how much How much time has Earle spent under water? or how many .
..
Sylvia Earle was the chief scientist of a government We use the simple past in a closed time period organization from 1990 to 1992. because the number of repetitions in this time Between 1953 and 1963, six people reached the top period is final.
of Mt. Everest.
Karl Wallenda performed on a tightrope many If we refer to the experiences of a deceased person times in his life. He died in 1978. (Karl Wallenda), we must use the simple past
Nik Wallenda has performed on a tightrope many because nothing more can be added to that person's times in his life. experience. A living person can repeat an action or
experience.
The Present Perfect and the Present Perfect Continuous 55
EXERCISE 16 Fill in the blanks with the present perfect using one of the verbs from the box.
lead experience writeJ disappear do go take spend appear die reach I. Sylvia Earle ----"h"a"s,__,wur-'.it"t"'e""-'n ___ several children's books.
2. Sylvia Earle _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ many interesting things in her life.
3. She _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ many expeditions.
4. She _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ more than 7,000 hours under water.
5. Many ocean animals _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . They will never come back.
6. Over two hundred Everest climbers _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
7. More than four thousand people the top of Mt. Everest.
8. Paul Nicklen under water many times to take photographs of sea animals.
9. His photographs in many magazines.
10. He danger many times.
11. How many photographs _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ he _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ?
EXERCISE 17 Fill in the blanks with the present perfect or the simple past of the verb given.
I. In 1998, Sylvia Earle ----"w"'o,_.n ____ recognition from Time magazine.
win
2. She _ _ __lch'<'a'-'s'--'w"'o""n ___ many awards in her lifetime.
win
3. In 2012, she----~~---an expedition near Florida.
lead
4. She's worried that we _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ a lot of sea life.
lose
5. She _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ many publications.
write
6. Edmund Hillary---~---the top of Mt. Everest in 1953.
reach
7. Over four thousand people ---~---the top of Mt. Everest so far.
reach
8. One man, Apa Sherpa, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Mt. Everest many times.
climb
9. Between 1990 and 2012, he _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Mt. Everest twenty-one times.
climb
10. Mt. Everest is getting crowded. On one day alone in 2012, 234 climbers---~---the summit.
reach
ll. Karl Wallenda _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ a circus performer. He died in 1978.
be
12. His great-grandson, Nick Wallenda, _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ many times as a tightrope walker.
perform
13. In 2012, Nik Wallenda _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Niagara Falls on a tightrope.
cross
56 Lesson 2
EXERCISE 18 Fill in the blanks with the present perfect or the simple past of the verb given.
Have you ever heard I. you/ever/hear of James Cameron? You may know him best as a famous movie director.
He - - - ---:---c----c---2. direct many movies in his life. Some of his most popular movies are The Terminator, Titanic~ and Avatar.
But he hasdt always been a filmmaker. When he was a young man, he ---~----at several
3. work
different jobs. At one time, he - - - c - e - o - - - - -4. be/even a truck driver. But he quit that job and moved to California to follow his dream-filmmaking.
He - ---:--;----many award-winning films. In filming 5. make Titanic from 1995 to 1997, he
---~---6. !lave to make twelve dives down to the ship. At that time, he - - - - c _ _ _ _ _ very
7. become
interested in ocean exploration. He - - - c - c - - - -a company, Earths hip Productions, in 1998, to
B. form
explore the ocean. Since his first expedition, he ---::--c---;----at least eight more expeditions.
9. lead
So far, he ---:-::-ccc--- the Titanic site two times.
10. visit
Cameron is not only interested in the ocean. He's also interested in space exploration.
He ---c-~ _ _ _ _ _ with space scientists and engineers many times.
11. work
The Present Perfect and the Present Perfect Continuous 57