This is the form of have
accompanies a verb as an auxiliary.
Present Perfect Tense
(have/has + p.p.)
Definition:
The present perfect tense expresses indefinite time that begins in the past and extends to the present. It is a special kind of past time that ends with the moment of speaking.
It use frequently with
adverbs that are shown below:
Just, already, yet,
recently (=lately = of late), up to now (= so far = until now = as yet) (=up to the
present = until the present), for (/during/ over) the past (/last) + a period of time. |
Example:
M I have already
finished my job.
M We haven’t heard from
him recently (=lately / of late).
M As yet (= Up to now) we have not made any
plan for the holidays.
M He has made much progress
in his studies for the past two months.
Reference:
A. The expressions
recently, lately, of late signifies the recent time of “past-to-present time”, and it
can’t signifies the movement will happen in future.
Ex: * He will start for
Europe recently. ×
→He will start for Europe in near future (/shortly). ○
B. When interrogative
adverb “when” puts in the initial of a sentence, we should use “Past Tense”
or “Future Tense”, and not the “Present Perfect Tense”
Ex: * When have you finished your
homework? ×
→When did (/will) you finish your homework?
C. The expression “as
yet” generally used in negative sentences, and it involves two meanings: 1.
meaning past-to-present time (up to now, so far), 2. meaning a definite point
completed in the past (=up to then).
Ex:
a. We have not succeeded as
yet (= so far).
b. As yet we had
received no answer.
D. Present perfect tense
is used in express “one event or statement which happened in the past, through a period
of time, and extended to the present time.” Such event or statement may be continuing to
the moment of speaking, or stop its action right now. This kind of use generally with
those expressions are indicated below:
Since + a period of time,
for + a period of time, how long, these (this) + a period of time, for (/ over/during) the
past (/last) + a period of time; today, this morning (/afternoon/ week/ month/ year). |
Ex:
a. I have heard nothing from
him since he left for America.
(“since” is function as a
conjunction here.)
b. He has been absent
since three weeks ago.
(“since” is function as a preposition here.)
“since”
gives the beginning point.
c. He has lived here for
five years.
d. For the last (/
past) three months, he has made satisfactory progress.
“for”
gives the entire extent of the past-to-present period.
e. He has written three
letters this morning. (Present perfect tense for a recent part of this morning. “This
morning” does not complete yet. )
f. He wrote three
letters this morning. ( past tense for a more remote part of the week. “ this morning”
completed in the past.)
E. The
present perfect tense used in indicating “the experience till now” generally with the
adverbs-- ever, never, many times, before, once, seldom,
again and again; for example:
a. He has been to
America twice. ------------means” the experience” .
Cf. He has gone to America.
--------------means “ the action” .
b. I have never heard
him spoken ill of.
c. I have met
him twice this morning.
Comparison:
I have been here for many
times. -------means “the experiences”
(Not: I have come her for many times.)
I have come here for five days.
(He will stay five days.) (Not: I have
been here for five days.)
F. Use present perfect
tense to indicate future perfect tense in an adverbial clause, for example:
a. You will be able to go
abroad when you have finished (not will have finished) your studies.
b. I shall give back your
book as soon as I have read ( not shall have read) it over.
c. If he has finished
his homework, I will give him other work to do.