Questions related to the English Perfect Construction, which is sometimes called "the present perfect tense".
9
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4answers
2k views
When is the present perfect tense used instead of the past tense?
When is the present perfect tense used instead of the past tense?
I know that the present perfect tense is used when some adverbs (e.g., never, ever) are present in the sentence.
4
votes
1answer
2k views
Which is correct: “has died” or “died”?
To me, using Present Perfect form means the event can occur again. So, saying
someone has died
may not be grammatically correct.
Also, I noticed (it might be just co-incidence):
passed ...
11
votes
3answers
2k views
When will “Present Perfect vs. Past Tense” cases be affected by culture?
Regarding actions taken in the past, besides the differences those two tenses have semantically, my teacher shared that it could be a British vs American English case.
When talking about past ...
1
vote
3answers
1k views
When do I use present perfect tense instead of the simple past?
I've finished my work.
I finished my work.
When do I use one or the other?
4
votes
2answers
6k views
When to use “has lived” vs. “lived” vs. “had lived”
Jim has lived there.
Jim lived there.
Jim had lived there.
Are there any differences?
When do I use one or the other?
I'm trying to teach this to a foreign person and am having a hard ...
2
votes
3answers
663 views
Is “has died for several years” correct?
I know it is correct to say
He has been dead for three years.
I've learned the present perfect tense, and it's said that non-continuous verbs are allowed. Is this sentence correct as well?
...
15
votes
2answers
1k views
Why is 'present perfect' present if it happened in the past? And why is it 'perfect'?
Why is 'present perfect' present if it happened in the past? And why is it 'perfect'?
16
votes
8answers
8k views
Is there any difference between Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous?
I have studied "present perfect" and "present perfect continuous" for a week. I know forms, verb and helping verb I should use when I write them.
For me, they have nearly same definition because I ...
4
votes
2answers
272 views
“I have been keeping ignoring you.”
Does this make any sense?
I have been keeping ignoring you.
Besides that it sounds awkward, my Chinese buddy who knows more grammar rules than I care to list said that the phrase is ...
2
votes
2answers
445 views
Is “I just spent all my money” grammatically incorrect?
Lyircs of Free by Natalia Kills:
I'm free
I just spent all my money
but I rocked that like it don't cost a thing
Shouldn't it be "I've just spent all my money"? As far as I remember, ...
-1
votes
1answer
559 views
“Did it close” vs “Has it closed”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How do the tenses in English correspond temporally to one another?
What's the difference between the following?
Did the shop close?
Has the shop closed?
I suspect ...
10
votes
6answers
981 views
Is using the present perfect old fashioned?
I was talking to a Singaporean (English is her native language. I think, closer to American rather than British) friend.
I learned in English class that you can use present perfect when there is a ...
8
votes
2answers
2k views
“She is gone” versus “she has gone”
When should I say "She is gone", and when should I say "She has gone" (and why)?
I think that when I mean "She went away and she's still there", it should be "She has gone". Are there exceptions ...
2
votes
1answer
20k views
where should we use has/have been and had been?
Where should we use "has/have been" and "had been"? What is the difference between
them?
2
votes
2answers
7k views
Which is correct: “when you have finished” or “when you will finish”?
From an English test on Facebook:
When you have finished to move the furniture, let me know.
or
When you will finish moving the furniture, let me know.
I think the correct one is the ...
5
votes
5answers
5k views
What is the difference between “I've been to China” and “I've gone to China”?
Both are in the present perfect, but one uses the verb 'to go' and the other 'to be'. Is there a rule for this?
Is there any chance that the differences between "I have been" vs. "I have gone", are ...
3
votes
3answers
411 views
About using “only” with present perfect
I have seen this sentence in a status from one of my facebook friends. It doesn't sound right to me.
We have only left the city for the day.
I think that it should be something like:
We have ...
1
vote
3answers
945 views
“Like” or “have liked”? [closed]
Is this sentence correct?
From early ages people like travelling.
Isn't it better to say:
Since early ages people have liked travelling.
2
votes
4answers
597 views
Perfect tense usage
When is the Perfect tense used? All examples illustrating Perfect are always answer to the some question.
So there is no way when i can simple said:
"I have written a note" or "I had written a note"
...
9
votes
3answers
4k views
“I didn't finish” versus “I haven't finished”
If I worked on something yesterday but it was not finished, should I use "I didn't finish it yet" or "I haven't finished it yet"?
5
votes
3answers
1k views
Subject + “have had” + bare infinitive … ever correct?
In writing an email today I came up with the following sentence:
"We have had two other ladies express an interest in the room."
I'm a native English-English speaker and this felt fine to me. My ...
3
votes
4answers
5k views
“I have received” vs. “I received”
The option of using simple past vs. present perfect in situations like the following has been bothering me for quite some time.
I sent you a letter a few days ago; I was wondering if you have ...
1
vote
2answers
472 views
Verb Forms and Their Usage
What is meant by "present perfect", "past perfect", and "future perfect" verbs? How can I identify them or know which is which?
6
votes
5answers
2k views
Is this correct: “I'd have to have had…”
This sentence makes my head hurt a bit, and it doesn't seem right, but perhaps you guys could help me sort it out.
"If I would've gone to Canada, I'd have to have had some kind of winter gear."
2
votes
3answers
316 views
Why present perfect in “How many points have you scored this season”?
Normally we use the past simple instead of present perfect when an action happened at a specific time in the past and is not linked with the present.
Why is the below sentence grammatically correct? ...
2
votes
2answers
220 views
Meaning of a sentence using the perfect continuous tense
a. They have been throwing papers.
b. They have been throwing papers since the teacher left.
Does the sentence (a) have the same meaning as sentence (b), even though the period of time is ...
1
vote
3answers
222 views
Past perfect or past simple in combination with present perfect?
Suppose I received a document from my colleague, studied it and then gave him feedback in a letter. How should I construct the following sentense?
I have examined the document you gave me and...
...
0
votes
2answers
407 views
Present perfect as continuing action (“for three years”) [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When to use “has lived” vs. “lived” vs. “had lived”
I’m having trouble understanding this sentence:
I have lived here for three years (I still live here.)
I know ...
0
votes
3answers
427 views
Present perfect and simple past
Here's a conversation:
Speaker1: I have already seen this film.
Speaker2: When have you seen it? [OR] When did you see it?
Speaker1: Last month.
Are both of the responses from Speaker2 ...
