Present Perfect Tense VS Past Simple Tense
Date: 2015-10-07; view: 416.
Present Perfect Tense
GRAMMAR
has/have +V3
| Use | Example | |
| The past action connected with the present (the only thing that is interested is the result) | I have lost my job, so I'm a bit frightened about the future now. He has recovered from his illness. I have seen the film. | |
| is frequently used with: | ||
| A | the adverbs – ever/never/just/lately/recently/already (positive) – yet (negative, questions) | Have you ever flown in a helicopter? I've never driven a car. I have not spoken to her yet. |
| B | the prepositions – for (duration of period of times) / since (when a period started) | I have known her for two years. He has not seen his friends since last September. |
| C | this morning/evening, today, this week, this year (when these periods are not finished) | Has she a holiday this year? Have you seen the mail today? |
| D | the expression: This (It) is the first time… | This is the first time he has flown by plane. |
When we talk about or ask about an activity at a definite time in the past, we use:
| + | - | ? |
| V2 | didn't + V1 | did + subject + V1 |
| past simple positive | past simple negative | past simple question |
When we talk about or ask about an activity in the past with a link to the present, we use:
| + | - | ? |
| have/has + V3 | haven't/hasn't + V3 | have/has + subject + V3 |
| present perfect | present perfect | present perfect |
| simple positive | simple negative | simple question |
Look at this mini-dialogue in the past simple:
A: So when did you start the company?
B: Well, we opened the first sales office five years ago. At first, demand for our products was slow. Then we placed an advertisement in Euroweekly.
A: And did that help?
B: Yes we started to receive enquiries from wholesalers. They didn't want to buy from larger companies because their deliveries were very slow. So, they came to us.
Now look at this mini-dialogue in the present perfect simple:
A: OfficePro have sold more than one million copies of their new CD ROM.
B: And how have they reached their customers?
A: They have placed a lot of advertisements in newspapers. Have you ever tried newspaper advertising?
B: No. We have never found it effective. But we have used an advertising agency for about three years. And they have developed some good campaigns for us.
| <== previous lecture | | | next lecture ==> |
| Complete the text “Investing in a Limited Company” with the words from the box. | | | Answer the following questions. Give long and short answers. |