Grammar Focus: Nominal Present Perfect, Verbal Present Perfect, And Past Vs Prsent Perfect

There are two tenses in English – past and present.

ü The present tenses in English are used:

·   to talk about the present

·   to talk about the future

·   to talk about the past when we are telling a story in spoken English or when we are summarising a book, film, play etc.

There are four present tense forms in English:

Tense	Form
Present simple:	I work
Present continuous:	I am working
Present perfect:	I have worked
Present perfect continuous:	I have been working

ü We use these forms:

·        to talk about the present:

1.He works at McDonald’s. He has worked there for three months now.

2.He is working at McDonald’s. He has been working there for three months now.

3.London is the capital of Britain.

·        to talk about the future:

1.     The next train leaves this evening at 1700 hours.

2.     I’ll phone you when I get home.

3.     He’s meeting Peter in town this afternoon.

4.     I’ll come home as soon as I have finished work.

5.     You will be tired out after you have been working all night.

·        We can use the present tenses to talk about the past ...

·           when we are telling a story:

Well, it’s a lovely day and I’m just walking down the street when I see this funny guy walking towards me. Obviously he’s been drinking, because he’s moving from side to side …

·           when we are summarising something we have read, heard or seen:

I love Ian Rankin’s novels. He writes about this detective called Rebus. Rebus lives in Edinburgh and he’s a brilliant detective, but he’s always getting into trouble. In one book, he gets suspended and they tell him to stop working on this case. But he takes no notice ….

Romeo and Juliet is a violent play. After Romeo and Juliet have married in secret, Romeo is walking in Verona when Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt tries to provoke Romeo into a fight. Romeo refuses to fight and leaves, but his friend, Mercutio, is so angry that he fights Tybalt and is killed ….

1. SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE

The simple present tense is one of several forms of present tense in English. It is used to describe habits, unchanging situations, general truths, and fixed arrangements. The simple present tense is simple to form. Just use the base form of the verb: (I take, you take, we take, they take) The 3rd person singular takes an -s at the end. (he takes, she takes)

ü THE SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE IS USED:

·   To express habits, general truths, repeated actions or unchanging situations, emotions and wishes: I smoke (habit); I work in London (unchanging situation); London is a large city (general truth)

·     To give instructions or directions: You walk for two hundredmeters, then you turn left.

·     To express fixed arrangements, present or future: Your exam starts at 09.00

·   To express future time, after some conjunctions: after, when,      before, as soon as, until: He'll give it to you when you come next Saturday.

Be careful! The simple present is not used to express actions happening now.

EXAMPLES §  For habits He drinks tea at breakfast. She only eats fish. They watch television regularly. §  For repeated actions or events We catch the bus every morning. It rains every afternoon in the hot season. They drive to Monaco every summer. §  For general truths Water freezes at zero degrees. The Earth revolves around the Sun. Her mother is Peruvian.

§  For instructions or directions Open the packet and pour the contents into hot water. You take the No.6 bus to Watney and then the No.10 to Bedford. §  For fixed arrangements His mother arrives tomorrow. Our holiday starts on the 26th March §  With future constructions She'll see you before she leaves. We'll give it to her when she arrives.

ü FORMING THE SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE: TO THINK

Affirmative	Interrogative	Negative
I think	Do I think?	I do not think
You think	Do you think?	You do not think
He thinks	Does he think?	He does not think
She thinks	Does she think?	She does not think
It thinks	Does it think?	It does not think
We think	Do we think?	We do not think.
They think	Do they think?	They do not think.

ü NOTES ON THE SIMPLE PRESENT, THIRD PERSON SINGULAR

§  In the third person singular the verb always ends in -s:

he wants, she needs, he gives, she thinks.

§  Negative and question forms use DOES (= the third person of the auxiliary 'DO') + the infinitive of the verb.

He wants ice cream. Does he want strawberry? He does not want vanilla.

§  Verbs ending in -y : the third person changes the -y to -ies:

fly --> flies, cry --> cries

Exception: if there is a vowel before the -y:

play --> plays, pray --> prays

§  Add -es to verbs ending in:-ss, -x, -sh, -ch:

he passes, she catches, he fixes, it pushes

EXAMPLES §  He goes to school every morning. §  She understands English. §  It mixes the sand and the water. §  He tries very hard. §  She enjoys playing the piano.

2. PRESENT CONTINUOUS

ü FORMING THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

The present continuous of any verb is composed of two parts - the present tense of the verb to be + the present participle of the main verb.

(The form of the present participle is: base+ing, e.g. talking, playing, moving, smiling)

Affirmative

Subject                                    + to be                                     + base + ing

She                                          is                                             talking.

Negative

Subject                                    + to be + not                           + base + ing

She                                          is not (isn't)                             talking

Interrogative

to be                                        + subject                                 + base + ing

Is                                             she                                          talking?

EXAMPLES: TO GO, PRESENT CONTINUOUS

Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative
I am going	I am not going	Am I going?
You are going	You aren't going.	Are you going?
He, she, it is going	He, she, it isn't going	Is he, she, it going?
We are going	We aren't going	Are we going?
You are going	You aren't going	Are you going?
They are going	They aren't going	Are they going?

Note: alternative negative contractions: I'm not going, you're not going, he's not going etc.

ü FUNCTIONS OF THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

As with all tenses in English, the speaker's attitude is as important as the time of the action or event. When someone uses the present continuous, they are thinking about something that is unfinished or incomplete

THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS IS USED:

·  to describe an action that is going on at this moment: You are using the Internet. You are studying English grammar.

·     to describe an action that is going on during this period of time or a trend: Are you still working for the same company? More and more people are becoming vegetarian.

·   to describe an action or event in the future, which has already been planned or prepared: We're going on holiday tomorrow. I'm meeting my boyfriend tonight. Are they visiting you next winter?

·   to describe a temporary event or situation: He usually plays the drums, but he's playing bass guitar tonight. The weather forecast was good, but it's raining at the moment.

·  with "always, forever, constantly", to describe and emphasise a continuing series of repeated actions: Harry and Sally are always arguing! You're constantly complaining about your mother-in-law!

BE CAREFUL! Some verbs are not usually used in the continuous form

VERBS THAT ARE NOT USUALLY USED IN THE CONTINUOUS FORM

The verbs in the list below are normally used in the simple form because they refer to states, rather than actions or processes.

SENSES / PERCEPTION §  to feel* §  to hear §  to see* §  to smell §  to taste OPINION §  to assume §  to believe §  to consider §  to doubt §  to feel (= to think) §  to find (= to consider) §  to suppose §  to think* MENTAL STATES §  to forget §  to imagine §  to know §  to mean §  to notice §  to recognise §  to remember §  to understand

EMOTIONS / DESIRES §  to envy §  to fear §  to dislike §  to hate §  to hope §  to like §  to love §  to mind §  to prefer §  to regret §  to want §  to wish MEASUREMENT §  to contain §  to cost §  to hold §  to measure §  to weigh OTHERS §  to look (=resemble) §  to seem §  to be (in most cases) §  to have (when it means "to possess")*

EXCEPTIONS Perception verbs (see, hear, feel, taste, smell) are often used with can: I can see... These verbs may be used in the continuous form but with a different meaning §  This coat feels nice and warm. (your perception of the coat's qualities) §  John's feeling much better now (his health is improving) §  She has three dogs and a cat. (possession) §  She's having supper. (She's eating) §  I can see Anthony in the garden (perception) §  I'm seeing Anthony later (We are planning to meet)

3. PRESENT PERFECT

ü DEFINITION OF THE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

The present perfect is used to indicate a link between the present and the past. The time of the action is before now but not specified, and we are often more interested in the result than in the action itself.

BE CAREFUL! There may be a verb tense in your language with a similar form, but the meaning is probably NOT the same.

ü THE PRESENT PERFECT IS USED TO DESCRIBE

·      An action or situation that started in the past and continues in the present. I have lived in Bristol since 1984 (= and I still do.)

·      An action performed during a period that has not yet finished. She has been to the cinema twice this week (= and the week isn't over yet.)

·      A repeated action in an unspecified period between the past and now. We have visited Portugal several times.

·    An action that was completed in the very recent past, expressed by 'just'. I have just finished my work.

·   An action when the time is not important. He has read 'War and Peace'. (= the result of his reading is important)

Note: When we want to give or ask details about when, where, who, we use the simple past. Read more about choosing between the present perfect and the simple past tenses.

ACTIONS STARTED IN THE PAST AND CONTINUING IN THE PRESENT ·        They haven't lived here for years. ·        She has worked in the bank for five years. ·        We have had the same car for ten years. ·        Have you played the piano since you were a child? WHEN THE TIME PERIOD REFERRED TO HAS NOT FINISHED ·        I have worked hard this week. ·        It has rained a lot this year. ·        We haven't seen her today. ACTIONS REPEATED IN AN UNSPECIFIED PERIOD BETWEEN THE PAST AND NOW. ·        They have seen that film six times ·        It has happened several times already. ·        She has visited them frequently. ·        We have eaten at that restaurant many times. ACTIONS COMPLETED IN THE VERY RECENT PAST (+JUST) ·        Have you just finished work? ·        I have just eaten. ·        We have just seen her. ·        Has he just left? WHEN THE PRECISE TIME OF THE ACTION IS NOT IMPORTANT OR NOT KNOWN ·        Someone has eaten my soup! ·        Have you seen 'Gone with the Wind'? ·        She's studied Japanese, Russian, and English.

Read more about using the present perfect with the words "ever", "never", "already", and "yet", and about using the present perfect with the words "for" and "since".

ü FORMING THE PRESENT PERFECT

The present perfect of any verb is composed of two elements : the appropriate form of the auxiliary verb to have (present tense), plus the past participle of the main verb. The past participle of a regular verb is base+ed, e.g. played, arrived, looked. For irregular verbs, see the Table of irregular verbs in the section called 'Verbs'.

Affirmative

Subject                                        to have                                  past participle

She                                              has                                             visited.

Negative

Subject                                      to have + not                              past participle

She                                          has not (hasn't)                           visited.

Interrogative

to have                                    subject                                     past participle

Has                                          she                                           visited?

Negative interrogative

to have + not                          subject                                     past participle

Hasn't                                               she                                           visited?

TO WALK, PRESENT PERFECT

Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative
I have walked	I haven't walked	Have I walked?
You have walked	You haven't walked.	Have you walked?
He, she, it has walked	He, she, hasn't walked	Has he, she, it walked?
We have walked	We haven't walked	Have we walked?
You have walked	You haven't walked	Have you walked?
They have walked	They haven't walked	Have they walked?

4. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

The present perfect continuous is used to refer to an unspecified time between 'before now' and 'now'. The speaker is thinking about something that started but perhaps did not finish in that period of time. He/she is interested in the process as well as the result, and this process may still be going on, or may have just finished.

ü ACTIONS THAT STARTED IN THE PAST AND CONTINUE IN THE PRESENT

·          She has been waiting for you all day (= and she's still waiting now).

·          I've been working on this report since eight o'clock this morning (=
and I still haven't finished it).

·          They have been travelling since last October (= and they're not home yet).

ü ACTIONS THAT HAVE JUST FINISHED, BUT WE ARE INTERESTED IN THE RESULTS

·      She has been cooking since last night (= and the food on the table       looks delicious).

·        It's been raining (= and the streets are still wet).

·        Someone's been eating my chips (= half of them have gone).

ü FORMING THE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

The present perfect continuous is made up of two elements: the present perfect of the verb 'to be' (have/has been), and the present participle of the main verb (base+ing)

Subject                                   has/have been                                   base+ing She                                          has been                                            swimming

Affirmative                              :         She has been / She's been running.

Negative                         :         She hasn't been running.

Interrogative                 :         Has she been running?

Interrogative negative  :         Hasn't she been running?

EXAMPLE: PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS, TO LIVE

Affirmative	Negative	Interrogative
I have been living	I haven't been living	Have I been living?
You have been living	You haven't been living	Have you been living?
He, she, it has been living	He hasn't been living	Has she been living?
We have been living	We haven't been living	Have we been living?
You have been living	You haven't been living	Have you been living?
They have been living	They haven't been living	Have they been living?

ü VERBS WITHOUT CONTINUOUS FORMS

With verbs not normally used in the continuous form, use the simple present perfect instead (verbs such as: know, hate, hear, understand, want).

I've wanted to visit China for years.

She's known Robert since she was a child.

I've hated that music since I first heard it.

I've heard a lot about you recently.

We've understood everything.

ü NOMINAL PRESENT PERFECT TENSE AND VERBAL PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

Additional explanations about the nominal sentences and verbal sentence (Present Perfect Tense) for more details.

This tense is used to declare that a betake work completed at the time the sentence is made or past events that have to do with now.

1. Present Perfect Tense (Nominal Sentence)

        (+) S+HAVE/HAS+BEEN+(NOUN,ADJ,ADV)

        (-) S+HAVE/HAS+NOT+BEEN+(NOUN,ADJ,ADV)

        (?) HVE/HAS+S+BEEN+(NOUN,ADJ,ADV)

Example:

1.     (+) she has been beautiful since she was child

        (-) She has not been beautiful since she was child

        (?) Has she beautiful since she was child?

                        Yes, she has/No, she hasn’t

2.     (+) He has been healthy since a week ago

        (-) He hasn’t been healthy since a week ago

        (?) Has he been healthy since a week ago?

                        Yes, he has/No, he hasn’t

3.     (+) she has written the letter

        (-) She hasn’t written the letter

        (?) Has she written the letter?

                        Yes, she has/No, she hasn’t

4.     (+) she has been fat since she was child

        (-) she has not been fat since she was child

        (?) Has she been fat since she was child?

                        Yes, she has/No, she hasn’t

5.     (+) I have been a doctor for 15 years

        (-) I haven’t been a doctor for 15 years

        (?) Have you been a doctor for 15 years?

                        Yes, I have/No, I haven’t

2. Present Perfect Tense (Verbal Sentence)

        (+) S+HAVE/HAS+V III

        (-) S+HAVE/HAS NOT+V III

        (?) S+HAVE/HAS+S+V III?

Example:

1.     (+) we have lived here for 4 years

        (-) We haven’t lived here for 4 years

        (?) Have we lived here for 4 years?

                        Yes, we have/No, we haven’t

2.     (+) I have studied biology for several minute ago

        (-) I haven’t studied biology for several minute ago

        (?) Have you studied biology for several minute ago?

                        Yes, I have/No, I haven’t

3.     (+) I have cleaned my bedroom for several minute

        (-) I have cleaned my bedroom for several minute

        (?) Have you cleaned your bedroom for several minute?

                        Yes, I have/No, haven’t

4.     (+) He has readied a book for four minute

        (-) He hasn’t readied a book for four minute

        (?) Has he readied a book for four minute?

                        Yes, he has/No, he hasn’t

5.     (+) she has adjusted television

        (-) She has not adjusted television

        (?) Has she adjusted television?

                        Yes, she has/No, she hasn’t

SIMPLE PAST TENSE (PAST TENSE) Vs PRESENT PERFECT TENSE

ü You must always use the Simple past when details about the time or place that an action occured are given or requested.

ü You must always use the Present perfect when the time of an action is not important or not specified.

COMPARE :

Present perfect	Simple past
I have lived in Lyon.	I lived in Lyon in 1989.
They have eaten Thai food.	They ate Thai food last night.
Have you seen 'Othello'?	Where did you see 'Othello'?
We have been to Ireland.	When did you go to Ireland?

There is also a difference in attitude between the two tenses, which is often an important factor in choosing which tense to use.

ü "What did you do at school today?" I use the simple past tense because the question is about activities, and the school day is considered finished.

ü "What have you done at school today?" I use the present perfect because the question is about results : « show me ». The time at which the question is asked is considered as a continuation of the school day.

Additional explanation to make you understand more about the Past Tense Vs Present Perfect Tense let’s re-read at this below.

English learners often confuse these two verb tenses. Let’s start with an example. Can you tell the difference between these two sentences?

Sentence one: I saw the movie.

Sentence two: I have seen the movie.

Sentence one uses the simple past tense. Sentence two uses the present perfect tense. “I saw the movie” and “I have seen the movie” both refer to an action that was finished in the past. But there is one important difference: “I saw the movie” suggests that you saw the movie at a specific time in the past. “I have seen the movie” suggests that you saw the movie at an unknown time in the past.

Use the simple past to talk about a finished action that happened at a specific time. For example, “I went out with my friends last night.” The adverb “last night” is not required, but it does help clarify that the event happened at a specific time.

That’s the easy part. Now let’s talk about the present perfect. You form the present perfect by using “have” or “has” followed by the past participle form of the verb. For example, “I have graduated from college.” The present perfect confuses English learners because it refers to a past action. It is also called “present perfect” because speakers use it to stress the importance of a past event in the present. The sentence “I have graduated from college,” emphasizes the present effect of a past event -- graduation. The exact time of the graduation is not important.

ü There are four more common situations that require the present perfect.

·    First, it can express a repeated action. When an action happened more than one time in the past, use the present perfect. For example, “I have seen the movie three times”.

·     Second, it is common to use the present perfect with the words “for” and “since.” “For” and “since” are adverbs that tell about the duration of an activity. They answer the question “how long?” For example, “I have studied English for a long time”.

·       Third, the negative adverb “never” requires the present perfect. You can say, “I have never been to France.” You would not say, “I did never go to France.”

·        Finally, when asking a question in the present perfect, use “ever,” as in, “Have you ever won the lottery?” Listen for the present perfect question in this song by the American rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival.

ü  I wanna know have you ever seen the rain?

ü  I wanna know have you ever seen the rain

ü  Coming down on a sunny day?

In an informal situation, you can take out the word “have” in a present perfect question. Listen to actor Jack Nicholson playing the Joker in the 1989 movie Batman. Before the Joker takes his victims, he asks them an unusual question.

Tell me something, my friend. You ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?

Here’s a tip: pay close attention to adverbs. Adverbs give hints, or clues, about which verb tense you should use. Take a look at the reference list below.

A good way to practice the present perfect is to ask an English-speaking friend if he or she has ever done something. “Have you ever flown in an airplane?” or “Have you ever seen the Grand Canyon?” You could even ask something more profound like, “Have you ever seen the rain coming down on a sunny day?”

I wanna know have you ever seen the rain

Coming down on a sunny day?

Visit and watch this video about Past Tense Vs Present Perfect Tense with the link at this below, to make you easy to understand.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/everyday-grammar-simple-past-and-present-perfect/3137093.html