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Grammar 2

The document discusses the present perfect and present perfect continuous tenses in English grammar. It explains the structure and usage of both tenses, including: 1) The present perfect uses auxiliary verbs like "have" and "has" along with the past participle of the main verb to express completed actions or experiences connected to the present. 2) The present perfect continuous uses "have/has been" along with the present participle "-ing" form of the verb to describe actions that started in the past and may still be ongoing. 3) The key difference between the two tenses is that the present perfect is used for completed actions while the present perfect continuous is used for ongoing or incomplete actions.

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Yahya Bouslimi
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38 views

Grammar 2

The document discusses the present perfect and present perfect continuous tenses in English grammar. It explains the structure and usage of both tenses, including: 1) The present perfect uses auxiliary verbs like "have" and "has" along with the past participle of the main verb to express completed actions or experiences connected to the present. 2) The present perfect continuous uses "have/has been" along with the present participle "-ing" form of the verb to describe actions that started in the past and may still be ongoing. 3) The key difference between the two tenses is that the present perfect is used for completed actions while the present perfect continuous is used for ongoing or incomplete actions.

Uploaded by

Yahya Bouslimi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Course 2 Higher Institute of Computer Science of Kef

Grammar

Tenses:

I. The Present Tense:

1. Present Perfect:

The Present Perfect tense is a rather important tense in English, but it gives speakers of some languages
a difficult time. That is because it uses concepts or ideas that do not exist in those languages. In fact, the
structure of the Present Perfect is very simple. The problems come with the use of the tense. In
addition, there are some differences in usage between British and American English:
 Positive Sentences: Subject + auxiliary have (have, has) + past participle
Example: I have studies Computer Science/ I have developed software/ I have studies at the
Higher Institute of C.S
 Negative and question sentences:
Negative form: we insert not between the auxiliary verb and the main verb.
Question form: auxiliary have + subject + past participle
Example: I have not eaten my breakfast / He has not studied programming/ Have you studied
Software Engineering at this university?

Contraction with Present Perfect


When we use the Present Perfect in speaking, we often contract the subject and auxiliary verb. We also
sometimes do this in informal writing.
I have: I’ve/ You have: You’ve
He has: He’s/ She has: She’s/ It has: It’s/ John has: John’s / The car has: The car’s
We have: We’ve/ They have: They’ve

Note:
- Be careful!! The ‘s contraction is used for the auxiliary verbs have and be. For example: “It’s
eaten” can mean: I has eaten (present perfect, active voice) or it is eaten (present simple,
passive voice).
- Do not mistake the (s’ contraction) with the (possessive ‘s/genitive).

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By W. Benali
Course 2 Higher Institute of Computer Science of Kef

When do we use the Present Perfect tense?


We use the Present Perfect tense when there is a connection between the past and the present:
We use the Present Perfect tense to talk about:
 Experience
 Change
 Continuing situation

Present Perfect for experience:


We often use the Present Perfect to talk about experience from the past. We are not interested in when
you did something. We only want to know if you did it: Examples:
 I have seen an alien.
 He has lived in Tunisia.
 We have never eaten caviar.
The action or state was in the past. But, in my head, now, I have a memory of the event; I know
something about the event; I have experience of it.
Present Perfect for change:
We also use the Present Perfect to talk about a change, or new information: Examples:
 I have bought a car.
 John has broken his leg.
 Has the price gone up?
 The police have arrested the killer.
The past and the present are opposites.
Present Perfect for continuing situation:
We often use the Present Perfect to talk about a continuing situation. This is a state that started in the
past and continues in the present (and will probably continue into the future). This is a situation (not an
action). We usually use for or since with this structure. Examples:
 I have worked here since June.
 He has been ill for 2 days.
 How long have you known Tara?
The situation started in the past/ the situation continues in the present.

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By W. Benali
Course 2 Higher Institute of Computer Science of Kef

For and Since with Present Perfect Tense


We often use for and since with perfect tenses:
- We use for talk about a period of time: 5 minutes, two weeks, six years…
- We use since to talk about a point in past time: 9 o’clock, 1st January, Monday…
I have been here for 20 minutes/ I have been here since 9 o’clock.
John hasn’t called for six months/ John hasn’t called since February.
He has worked here for a long time/ he has worked here since he graduated from university.

Present Perfect with just, yet, and already


We often use the present perfect tense with the adverbs just, yet, and already:
- We use just for very recent events: The taxi has just arrived.
- We use yet when we are expecting stg to happen: They haven’t finished dinner yet.
- We use already when stg has happened sooner than expected: She’s already left.

2. Present Perfect Continuous:


The Present Perfect Continuous uses two auxiliary verbs together with a main verb.
Form: Subject + auxiliary have (have, has) + auxiliary be (past participle been) + present participle (ing)

Examples:
- I have been waiting for one hour.
- You have been talking too much.
- We have not been working all day.
- Have you been painting?

When do we use the Present Continuous Tense?


i. Past actions recently-stopped
- I am tired (now) because I have been running.
- Why is the grass wet(now)? Has it been raining?
- You do not understand (now) because you have not been listening.
ii. Past actions still-continuing
I have been reading for 2 hours. (I am still reading now.)
We have been studying since 9 o’clock. (we are still studying now.)
How long have you been learning English? (you are still learning now.)

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By W. Benali
Course 2 Higher Institute of Computer Science of Kef

Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Continuous


Comparison:

Present Perfect Present Perfect Continuous


1. We use the present perfect when the
action is finished. When the action may be finished or not finished.

I have cleaned my car. I have been cleaning my car.


She has done her homework. She has been doing her homework.

2. To talk about what has been To talk about long something has been in
achieved in a period of time. progress.

I have walked six kilometers so far this morning. I have been walking all morning.
How many driving lessons have you had? How long have you been having driving lessons?

3. Situations which are more permanent Situations which are more temporary (continuing
(continuing for a longer time) for a short time).

He has always lived there. He has been living there for just a few weeks
You have worked hard all your life. I have been working very hard recently.

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By W. Benali

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