Has anyone ever called you a “has been” ? Hopefully they were just practicing the Present Perfect Tense.
I have learnt six different languages (A – he may well learn more in the future)
I have known her for a very long time (B – his life is not yet over and he may know her even longer)
She has broken her wrist and is unable to type (C – a past result affecting her present)
I have just finished work (D – very recent past)
This has been fun (E – non-specific past)
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.
Affirmative |
Negative |
Interrogative |
I have called |
I haven't called |
Have I called? |
You have called |
You haven't called. |
Have you called? |
He, she, it has called |
He, she, hasn't called |
Has he, she, it called? |
We have called |
We haven't called |
Have we called? |
You have called |
You haven't called |
Have you called? |
They have called |
They haven't called |
Have they called? |
Scenario |
What happened to him/her/them? or What did he/she/they do? |
A woman breaks her leg and now can’t go skiing |
She has broken her leg and now can’t go skiing |
A man reads “War and Peace” six times |
He …… ………. “War and Peace” six times |
An athlete attends the Olympics several times but never wins a gold medal |
He …… ………. the Olympics several times but ….. never …….. a gold medal |
A colleague left work five minutes ago |
She ……. just …….. |
Someone takes your parking bay |
“Who …….. ……… my bay?” |
A concert pianist started playing the piano as a child |
She …….. ……… the piano since she was a child |
Heavy rains last week |
It …… ……….. hard last week |
A family has the same car for twelve years |
We ……. ……. the same car for twelve years |
You work hard the whole week |
I ……. ………. hard this week |
If the time period being spoken about is finished, then don’t use the present perfect but rather the past simple
Which sentences are correct?
|
A |
B |
1 |
There's been an accident on the M4, so let's take a different route |
There had been an accident on the M4, so let's take a different route |
2 |
I had never liked broccoli much and still don’t |
I have never liked broccoli much and still don’t |
3 |
We knew all our neighbours when we were growing up |
We had known all our neighbours when we were growing up |
4 |
I have not liked apples for a really long time. Now I love them! |
I didn't like apples for a really long time. Now I love them! |
5 |
They haven't called me, so I won’t go in today |
They hadn't called me, so I won’t go in today |
6 |
Had you checked your emails lately? |
Have you checked your emails lately? |
7 |
We have recently started going to singing lessons. |
We had recently started going to singing lessons. |
8 |
We haven't had any complaints yet. |
We hadn't had any complaints yet. |
Answers
Scenario |
What happened to him/her/them? or What did him/her/them do? |
A woman breaks her leg and now can’t go skiing. |
She has broken her leg and now can’t go skiing. |
A man reads “War and Peace” six times. |
He has read “War and Peace” six times. |
An athlete attends the Olympics several times but never wins a gold medal. |
He had attended the Olympics several times but had never won a gold medal. |
A colleague left work five minutes ago. |
She has just left. |
Someone takes your parking bay. |
Who has taken my bay? |
A concert pianist started playing the piano as a child. |
She has played the piano since she was a child. |
Heavy rains last week. |
It has rained hard last week. |
A family has the same car for twelve years. |
We have had the same car for twelve years. |
You work hard the whole week. |
I have worked hard this week. |
|
A |
B |
1 |
There's been an accident on the M4, so let's take a different route |
There had been an accident on the M4, so let's take a different route |
2 |
I had never liked broccoli much and still don’t |
I have never liked broccoli much and still don’t |
3 |
We knew all our neighbours when we were growing up |
We had known all our neighbours when we were growing up |
4 |
I have not liked apples for a really long time. Now I love them! |
I didn't like apples for a really long time. Now I love them! |
5 |
They haven't called me, so I won’t go in today |
They hadn't called me, so I won’t go in today |
6 |
Had you checked your emails lately? |
Have you checked your emails lately? |
7 |
We have recently started going to singing lessons. |
We had recently started going to singing lessons. |
8 |
We haven't had any complaints yet. |
We hadn't had any complaints yet. |
Note: 7B could be correct in a different context e.g. We had recently started going to singing lessons. Slowly our love grew.