Questions tagged [present-perfect]
Questions related to the English Perfect Construction, which is sometimes called "the present perfect tense".
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Tenses: Present perfect with bare infinitive
I am researching verb tense on this site and others, and I have gotten confused about the tenses and parts of speech in this sentence:
"The author provides proven research that has helped many people ...
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0answers
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Can we use 'was' instead of 'had been' keeping meaning? [migrated]
Here is two sentences:
By 100 AD, the Roman Empire had been defeated.
By 100 AD, the Roman Empire was defeated.
Is 2nd one going to keep meaning of the 1st one?
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2answers
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Is the relation between the present perfect/progressive and the present time merely coincidental?
This is from an interview with Britt Robertson (American actress).
Q: You're the oldest of seven kids. What's that like?
It's hard. You know, they're all much younger than me and they're ...
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1answer
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Preposition “to” with places in present perfect
in BrE it is normal to say e.g.:
"She's been to Africa twice."
In the past simple, the preposition would be "in":
"She was in Africa twice."
Question 1: Why is there such a difference?
Question 2:...
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Usage of 'have had' [migrated]
The following is a line from the novel 'Atlas shrugged' by Ayn Rand.
Why, then—she wondered—should he have had to carry a burden of tragedy which, in silent endurance, he had accepted so completely ...
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present perfect or simple past + position of adverb
I'm struggling with this example:
"The materias have kindly been provided" or "The material have been kindly provided"
Which of these two is the better option and why?
And secondly: In this ...
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1answer
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I have gone shopping or I went shopping
It says that we use present perfect for actions in the past that have a result now. No matter how much I try to figure out this, sometimes it is pretty hard.
I have also read the followings as well, ...
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3answers
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Present Perfect tense in combination with 'for/in/since'
I'm currently having a discussion with a friend regarding the usage of a present perfect tense in combination with for/in/since etc.
It revolves around this sentence:
Traffic has been a big problem ...
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3answers
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“What can have happened?” - valid or unnatural?
In a language forum frequented by Russians and me as the only native American English speaker, the question was raised whether "What can have happened to change him so much?" was a misprint. One of ...
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1answer
61 views
Have cried/have been crying [duplicate]
The book 'English Grammar in Use, Murphy' contains the following exercise under the Present perfect/Present perfect continuous chapter:
Are you OK? You look as if ____ (you / cry).
I have not found ...
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2answers
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The present perfect usage
According to the Cambridge Grammar of the English Language (CGEL) by Geoffrey. K. Pullum and Rodney Huddlestone, there are four different uses of the present perfect tense: the continuative, the ...
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2answers
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“shouldn't have {gone/been} to the party”
What is the correct rephrasing for this sentence?
I went to the party and now I regret it.
I shouldn't have gone to the party
I shouldn't have been to the party
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1answer
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Is it correct to say “proud of having met you”, or should it be “proud to have met”?
Is it correct to say "I have proud of having met both of you"
I am proud of having met both of you. (past present?)
I am proud to have met both of you. (present perfect?)
What does the first one ...
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1answer
29 views
Present Perfect and Reichenbach's model of tense
I recently came across the following construction in some documentation I was reading:
This document describes a solution that has been applied during the migration.
To me, this seemed utterly ...
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1answer
62 views
What is difference between present perfect and present perfect continuous?
I've been studying English by the book "English Grammar in Use" for a month.
There is a Unit about present perfect and - continuous, also Exercises.
Please check the below exercises...
A. You meet a ...
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1answer
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Use of Perfect Tenses, depending on the position of the phrase 'the first time'?
Today, I AM WEARING ice skates for the first time (ever).
Yesterday, I WORE ice skates for the first time (ever).
Tomorrow, I WILL WEAR ice skates for the first time (ever).
with the phrase ...
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1answer
294 views
“it was my dream since childhood” vs “it has been my dream since childhood”
i am not a native English and have a problem for understanding grammar.
Is the sentence bellow (A), explain that i am no longer have dream/ same dream after childhood? and is there any possibility ...
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1answer
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Simple past of present perfect?
I wonder which one is correct:
David has made a decision to quit his job in spite of good salary.
David made a decision to quit his job in spite of good salary.
I think that 1 is correct, ...
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1answer
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Simple Past vs. Present Perfect for recently completed actions
In the following dialogue:
A: Look! I have bought a new hat.
B: Nice! Where did you buy it?
or
C. Nice! Where have you bought it?
Which is correct, b or c? Or both?
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1answer
37 views
What’s the difference between “… a word you have said” and “…a word you said”?
Consider two sentences:
I don't understand a word you said
I don't understand a word you have said.
I know about usage of simple past and present perfect, but these kinds of sentences baffle me. ...
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1answer
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Can I use simple past along with present perfect like this?
The sentence is, for example,
The researchers investigated and found that due to the rise
of AI bots, most of the existing works have focused on protecting
the email services from spam.
Is this ...
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1answer
128 views
Present perfect tense and specific time expression?
According to many grammar textbooks, present perfect tense should not be used with specific time expression. Therefore, it is grammatically wrong to say "I have sold my house on 10 December 2018."
...
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1answer
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When to add “been” to present perfect tense [closed]
I have asked my parents to loan me some money.
He has saved enough money to buy a car.
She has read many books.
You have been really helpful today.
They have been married for three years.
These ...
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1answer
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Which is grammatically correct? we're having rain or we've been having rain
Can you believe all of this rain we've been having?
or
Can you believe all of this rain we are having?
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1answer
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Even after + present perfect vs present simple
I came across the following sentence posted at the city of Melbourne public transportation rules, referring to the duties of the transportation officers:
They can check your ticket and concession ...
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1answer
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The meanings of these kinds of sentences such as “It has been three years.” “I have been married.” [closed]
I am learning the present perfect tense, and confusing a lot.
Here are three sentences.
a. It has been three years.
b. I have been married.
c. He has learnt a lot.
What do they mean exactly?
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1answer
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Present Perfect and Simple Past in the same sentence
I have a short and simple question for you.
I know that in some circumstances I can use the Present Perfect and the Simple Past in the same sentence, but I am wondering if the following example is the ...
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2answers
81 views
At/from the outset
Consider the sentence:
We've been friends at/from the outset.
Which preposition is used?
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2answers
115 views
is “I've been scared of…” a passive sentence?
my teacher said the sentence "i've been scared of..." is not considered a passive voice. but I can't understand why (not sure if she was right about it). on the one hand, we have the "subject + have + ...
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1answer
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Is it possible to use Present Perfect here?
There is a dialog between mum and son.
Mum:Mike, there is no food in the fridge,where is it?
Mike:Sorry mum, I've eaten all the food.
3
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1answer
271 views
Is it “since 1973, the festival has been running … ” or “since 1973, the festival has been run …” [closed]
I had this in a test. I wrote the first one, "has been running" and got it wrong and the teacher wrote the second one, "has been run". I want to understand who's correct and why.
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1answer
153 views
''Should you have decided'' Inversion
In an email I received from my university, the following is stated: ''Should you have decided to do the assignment, please send us an email.''
My question is whether the inversion and usage of should ...
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0answers
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to last later for sb
I do not find "has lasted later for" appropriate here. Could sb plese explain it?
Cambridge Grammar of the English Language, page 711
iii Jill still goes to school, whereas Liz is already at ...
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1answer
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“I have been travelling” or “I had been…” or “I was…”?
My teacher asked me where had I been because I was very late.
What would be the best answer?
I have been travelling from my hometown to here, so I have came late
I had been travelling from…
I ...
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2answers
43 views
Present perfect with a past temporal expression
I know the present perfect tense may not be used with temporal expressions which define a timeframe which does not include the present. For example:
WRONG: I've visited him on Monday.
However, when ...
2
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1answer
201 views
Switching tense in a sentence when describing events
I'm not sure whether the following sentences are grammatically correct:
A figure appeared at the window, waving happily.
and,
"Sure," he answered, pulling out a chair at the nearby table.
...
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2answers
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present perfect usage
I can't understand why we are using present perfect here:
to lose something temporarily by forgetting where you have put it
why this is not correct:
to lose something temporarily by forgetting ...
2
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1answer
154 views
How do durative sense verbs in simple perfective work with durative adverbial
I am reading the grammar book - A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language - these days. And now I am focusing on the 2 aspects - perfective and progressive - in Chapter 4: The semantics of the ...
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1answer
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What does definite and indefinite mean in past tense and present perfect respectively
I am reading the grammar book - A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language - these days. I am confused about the meanings of definite and indefinite in Past Tense and Present Perfect.
I know ...
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1answer
222 views
“my email ID has changed” vs “my emil ID is/has been changed”
I want to ask one thing. Sometimes we hear people say
my email ID has changed.
As per my understanding present perfect tenses need a subject which is missing above.
I find these sentences little ...
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1answer
350 views
Why do we use forms of “have” with past participles to form the present perfect, as in “I have taken”?
We use has, had, or have with a past participle to form the present perfect. This contrasts with our use of a single verb for the present simple. We do not say “I taken the test,” but instead use the ...
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1answer
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Infinitive and present perfect together?
I am not sure if the following sentence is correct
Nonetheless, I consider that living with and have trained my own dogs have helped me to gain hands-on experience
Can somebody please help me?
...
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1answer
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Past simple vs past perfect; British- vs American English
According to this site the use of past simple and present perfect is quite strict in British English, while in American English you can normally use simple past instead of present perfect:
In ...
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1answer
255 views
What's the difference between “I've just <verbed>” and “I just <verbed>” [closed]
What's the difference between
"I have just started working on something..."
And
"I just started working on something..."
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0answers
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“Yes, I did” vs “Yes, I have” - Answering with SP when the question is in PP
I was wondering about this for a while now -
If I ask someone - "Have you done your HW?" Is the answer must be in perfect or can one answer "yes, I did".
"Yes, I have" sounds better to me, but I ...
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1answer
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has been noun/adjective
What is actual time frame of below sentence , started in past and end in past or Started in past and still continue? I am really confused.
I have been a single after a really long time.
She has been ...
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0answers
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“should never have” and “should not have”
Is there difference between "should never have" and "should not have". For example:
I should not have done what I did.
I should never have done what I did.
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0answers
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got to know / have got to know
I want to say something like I got to know this person, but I'd like to say it using Present Perfect. --> I have got to know this person. But wouldn't it be confusing? I mean, it can be understood as ...
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0answers
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He is in Coma for 2 years vs He has been in coma for 2 years
He is in Coma for 2 years ( is it correct if he is still in coma)
He has been in Coma for 2 years ( what is the difference )
Question : Why are you not coming to office?
Answer : I am Sick for 3 ...
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4answers
1k views
“I've been visiting with a friend”
My native english speaker boyfriend used the phrase:
"I've been visiting with a friend"
to express a friend of his was visiting him, but I've never heard of this kind of use for present perfect ...
