VERB TENSES Present Perfect Tense and Present Perfect

VERB TENSES Present Perfect Tense and Present Perfect Progressive Tense

How to make the Present Perfect and the Present Perfect Continuous Tenses Present Perfect Continuous • Has/ have + p. p. • Has/ have been+ V-ing

The Present Perfect Tense has two main uses… and they are not really related to each other. USE 1: To emphasize whether or not something has been done. USE 2: To indicate an action that starts in the past and continues to now.

No wonder the perfect tenses are the hardest for ESL students!

USE 1: To emphasize whether or not something has been done. Examples: I have been to Japan and Korea, but I haven’t been to China. LOOK AT THE PICTURE: Arthur is starting a company. What has he done so far? What hasn’t he done?

USE 2: To indicate an action that starts in the past and continues to now.

Now let’s look at some of the time markers in Chinese that tell us we need the present perfect tense in English. TYPE 1: Experience- Emphasizes whether or not something has [ever] been done. MARKER WORDS: Verb+ 過, 尚未、還沒 + Action Verb 已經 + Action Verb + 了 TYPE 2: Indicates an action that starts in the past and continues to now. MARKER WORDS: 　到目前為止，至今， 直到現在，自從(某時候，某事件)以來， 從(某時候，某事件)起，, 過去(一段時間) , 一直，最近，(一段時間) +了 at end of sentence

Signal words for Type 1 Present Perfect (Experience) Action Verb+ 過 [曾經] Verb+ 過: [已經] Verb+ 過[了]: 他沒學過越南語。 He hasn’t studied Vietnamese. 我已經刷過牙了。 I[’ve] already brushed my teeth. NOTE: I like to reserve the word learn for 把…. 學好. You can study a language for many years without learning it. 我曾經跟成龍握過手。 I have ever shaken hands with Jackie Chen. (NOTE: If you translate曾經 as once, you must use the past tense. ) I once shook hands with Jackie Chen.

Have you ever…? TRANSLATING 曾經: • Use ever in the question, not in the answer! • 你曾經去過太魯閣嗎 ? (Taroko Gorge) • Have you ever been to Taroko Gorge? • Yes, I have ever gone there. • Yes, I have. I’ve been there several times. The last time I went was five years ago. 曾經去過某地 – has/ have been to

Have you ever…? • • been on TV? found more than NT$1000? lost more than NT$1000? seen a snake in the wild? touched a snake? eaten snake meat? played in a rock band? worn a bikini?

Have you ever…? (cont’d) • • baked a cake? painted a room? painted a portrait? gone horseback riding? stayed up all night? been in a motorcycle accident? touched snow?

Signal words for Type 1 Present Perfect (Experience) 尚未、還沒 + Action Verb Signal words for Type 1 Present Perfect 尚未、還沒 (English not yet) + Action Verb NOTE: 尚未、還沒 + BE Verb present tense 他還沒適應這種氣候。 He hasn’t gotten used to the climate yet.

Signal words for Type 1 Present Perfect (Experience) BE Verbs vs. ACTION Verbs • 油漆還未乾。 • The paint hasn’t dried yet. (ACTION Verb) • The paint isn’t dry yet. (BE verb) • 太陽還沒升起。 • The sun hasn’t come up yet. (ACTION Verb) • The sun isn’t up yet. (BE verb)

Signal words for Type 1 Present Perfect (Experience) 從來沒 有 never Signal words for Type 1 Present Perfect 從來沒 有 never + PRESENT PERFECT 我從來不抽菸。 I have never smoked. 我從沒有聽說過他撒謊。 I’ve never heard him tell a lie.

Type 1 Present Perfect: How many times? • 她來過我家一次。 • She’s been to my house once.

Signal words for Type 1 Present Perfect (Experience) 已經 + Action Verb + 了 already The word already can be used with either the past tense or the present perfect tense. There is very little difference in meaning between “I already did it” and “I’ve already done it. ” Both are correct. However, if the emphasis is on a new development or an accomplishment, present perfect is used. With the BE verb, already is used with the present tense: “The door is already open, ” and not “The door has already been open. ” 電燈已經取代了蠟燭。 Electric lights have replaced candles.

Use present perfect tense to announce an accomplishment; switch to past tense to give details. IBM has released the world's smallest movie. Company researchers moved thousands of atoms to create a miniature stop-motion movie titled A Boy and His Atom. http: //www. technewsworld. com/story/77929. html

Note that when achievements are being announced, the Chinese may not contain marker words for the present perfect tense. Chinese: English: IBM的科學家團隊竟藉助 原子的排列組合拍出了 一部 「全球最小電影」。 A team of IBM scientists have created “the world’s smallest movie” by assembling atoms in various configurations.

Common pattern for describing a new achievement l Use the present perfect tense to announce an achievement : A professor at Chang Jung Christian University has discovered a new treatment for baldness. l To tell the details of the achievement, switch to past tense: Dr. Titus Lin made the discovery accidentally while he was conducting research on the pollutants in Erren Creek. .

DO NOT USE PRESENT PERFECT TENSE WITH PAST TENSE MARKER WORDS! REMEMBER: You cannot use the present perfect tense with any words (for instance, three days ago) that indicate a past time frame. Three days ago, Dr. Lin has announced his discovery. Dr. Lin held a press conference three days ago to announce his discovery.

This is the first time… • Many students say “This is my first time to do something…” However, I think it generally sounds better to say “This is the first time that I have [ever]…. • 這是我第一次搭飛機。 • This is my first time to take an airplane. • IMPROVED: This is the first time that I have [ever] flown/ that I have [ever] taken an airplane.

the first time that…. This is the first time that… PRESENT PERFECT …I have heard you sing. That was the first time that… PAST TENSE/ PAST PERFECT TENSE …I [ever] saw snow. …I had [ever] seen snow.

Now, we turn to the other use of the present perfect tense--to indicate an action that starts in the past and continues to now. Remember this picture:

Marker words for Type 2 Present Perfect (Action beginning in the past and continuing to NOW) • • • Chinese 到目前為止 至今 直到現在 自從(某時候，某事件)以來 從(某時候，某事件)起 (某時候，某事件)以來 過去(一段時間) 一直 最近 English • up to now • so far • Since [SOME TIME/ SOME EVENT] • In the past [TIME PERIOD] • Over the last [TIME PERIOD] • Recently, lately

Signal words for Type 2 Present Perfect (Action beginning in the past and continuing to NOW) 到目前為止 , 至今, 直到現在 up to now, so far • 到目前為止 • 至今 • 直到現在 • • • up to now, so far 到目前為止， 作很順利。 So far, the job has gone very smoothly. So far, work has been going very smoothly. 我們至今還沒有他的消息。 So far, we haven’t gotten any news about him.

Type 2 Present Perfect: 過去[一段時間] /最近[一段時間] for the last/ for the past/ over the last [TIME PERIOD] 在過去幾年裡，情況已經有很大改善了。 Over the last several years, the situation has improved greatly. 在最近幾年裡這個城市的人口急遽增加。 Over the past several years, the city’s population has skyrocketed.

Signal words for Type 2 Present Perfect (Action beginning in the past and continuing to NOW) 自從/ 從(某時候)起 since • 自從 • 從(某時候)起 since PATTERN: Since S + PAST TENSE VERB , S + PRESENT PERFECT VERB 自從她丈夫去世後, 她老了許多。 Since her husband passed away, she has aged a lot.

Signal words for Type 2 Present Perfect (Action beginning in the past and continuing to NOW) 一直 一直 　 always Sometimes 一直 can refer to a time period that begins in the past and continues to NOW: 他一直對我很好。 He has always been very good to me. 　 你一直像父親一樣待我。 He’s been like a father to me. 氣一直很熱。 It’s been very hot lately. 湯姆在同學中一直很受歡迎。 Tom has always been very popular in school.

Signal words for Type 2 Present Perfect (Action beginning in the past and continuing to NOW) 最近 最近　　 lately, recently 最近 also refers to a time period that begins in the past and continues to NOW. However, if the action is continuous or repeated, it often takes the present perfect progressive: 最近，你睡得好嗎？ Have you been sleeping well recently?

Signal words for Type 2 Present Perfect (Action beginning in the past and continuing to NOW) 最近 最近　　 lately, recently • 最近他的作業愈來愈糟。 • Lately, his homework has been getting worse. • 你最近遲到次數太頻繁。 • Recently, you’ve been late too many times.

Type 2 Present Perfect: How long? • If the time period continues to the present, use the PRESENT PERFECT. • If the action ended in the past and does not continue to the present, use the PAST TENSE. I worked at Chang Jung Girls School for nine years. (I no longer work there. ) I have worked at Chang Jung Christian University for thirteen years. (I still work here).

Type 2 Present Perfect: How long? Period of Time +了 at end of sentence • 他 在 台南 住了 兩 年 了。 • He has lived in Tainan for two years. (He still lives in Tainan. ) • 他 在台南 住了 兩 年。 • He lived in Tainan for two years. (He no longer lives in Tainan. ) • 他已經失業一年了。 • He has been out of work (unemployed) for a year. NOTE: In this usage, both action verbs and the BE verb generally require the present perfect.

Now for the present perfect progressive… It’s not a rare tense—it’s used quite often. It is used when the action is (Textbook, p. 239): • Temporary rather than permanent My computer hasn’t been working. • Repeated rather than a single occurrence I’ve been riding my bicycle to school lately. • Continuous rather than repeated or recurring You’ve been playing that online game for four hours now! • Uncompleted rather than completed I have been writing a book. (You are still writing it. ) I have written a book. (You have finished writing it).

Translation Practice 1. 她最近常為許多事煩心。 Lately, she’s had a lot of things on her mind. 2. 他已經畢業了。 He(’s) already graduated. 3. 他已開始寫碩士論文了嗎？ Has he started to write his master’s thesis [yet]? 4. 他多年來一直是我們銀行的重要客戶。 For many years, he has been a valued customer of our bank. NOTE: Don’t confuse customer (客戶) with consumer (肖廢者).

Translation Practice (cont’d. ) 5. 他們結婚到現在已經十年了。 They’ve been married for ten years. 6. 自從失去 作後, 我的情緒一直處於低潮。 Since I lost my job, I’ve been in a mental slump. 7. 我父母在這件事情上從未意見一致過。 My parents have never disagreed on this point. 8. 他從來沒有在困難面前退卻過。 He has never backed down in the face of difficulties.

Translation Practice (cont’d. ) 9. 我已經把信寄出去了。 I(’ve) already mailed the letter. 10. 我從未見過像他那麼彬彬有禮的人。 I’ve never met a person who is so polite. I’ve never met such a polite person. 11. 自從我離開軍隊後, 我的身體一直很差。 Since I got out of the army, I’ve been in poor physical condition. 12. 除芝加哥外她沒有去過別的大城市。 She’s never been to any big cities besides Chicago.

Translation Practice (cont’d. ) 13. 這是我第一次跟外國人講話。 This is the first time that I’ve talked with a foreigner. 14. 過去的漁村現已成為重要港口。 The fishing village of the past has become an important port. 15. 從那時起他們就一直是好朋友。 They’ve been good friends ever since that time. 16. 科學家們正在作一項迄今為止沒人做過的實驗。 Scientists are working on an experiment that has never been done before.