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What is Grammar?
English Grammar Terms
The 8 English Parts of
Speech
These are the words that you use to make a sentence.
There are only
8 types of word - and the most
important is the Verb!
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Verbs |
be, have, do, work |
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Nouns |
man, town, music |
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Adjectives |
a, the, 69, big |
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Adverbs |
loudly, well, often |
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Pronouns |
you, ours, some |
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Prepositions |
at, in, on, from |
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Conjunctions |
and, but, though |
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Interjections |
ah, dear, er, um |
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Hot Links
Verbs
Passive voice
Modal verbs
Conditionals
Questions
Irregular
verbs
Going to
Gerunds
Phrasal Verbs
Tenses
Nouns
(Un) Countable nouns
Adjectives
Articles
Pronouns
Preposition List
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| Grammar Quizzes
Parts of Speech Quiz
Verb Classification Quiz
Main Verb Forms Quiz
Active or Passive Quiz
Subjunctive Quiz
Future Time Quiz
Continuous Tense Verb
Quiz
Used to do or Be used to
Quiz
Have to,
Must, Must not Quiz
Can, Could, Be able
to Quiz
Questions Quiz
Tag Questions
Quiz
Infinitive or
-ing Quiz
Gerunds Quiz
Phrasal Verbs
Quiz
Conditionals Quiz
For or Since Quiz
Present Simple
Present Continuous
Present Perfect
Simple
Present Perfect
Continuous
Past Simple
Questions
Comparative
Adjectives
Superlative
Adjectives
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How do we use the Present Perfect Tense?
This tense is called the present perfect tense. There is
always a connection with the past and with the present. There are
basically three uses for the present perfect tense:
- experience
- change
- continuing situation
1. Present perfect tense for experience
We often use the present perfect tense 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:
I have seen
ET.
He has lived in Bangkok.
Have you been there?
We have never eaten
caviar. |
| past |
present |
future |
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| The action or state was in the past. |
In my head, I have a memory now. |
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Connection with past: the event was in the
past.
Connection with present: in my head, now, I have a
memory of the event; I know something about the event; I have
experience of it.
2. Present perfect tense for change
We also use the present perfect tense to talk about a
change or new information:
| I have bought a
car. |
| past |
present |
future |
| - |
+ |
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| Last week I didn't have a car. |
Now I have a car. |
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| John has broken
his leg. |
| past |
present |
future |
| + |
- |
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| Yesterday John had a good leg. |
Now he has a bad leg. |
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| Has the price gone
up? |
| past |
present |
future |
| + |
- |
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| Was the price $1.50 yesterday? |
Is the price $1.70 today? |
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| The police have
arrested the killer. |
| past |
present |
future |
| - |
+ |
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| Yesterday the killer was free. |
Now he is in prison. |
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Connection with past: the past is the opposite of the
present.
Connection with present: the present is the opposite of the
past.
| EnglishClub.com Tip |
| Americans do not use the
present perfect tense so much as British speakers. Americans often use the past
tense instead. An American might say "Did you have lunch?", where a British
person would say "Have you had lunch?" |
3. Present perfect tense for continuing situation
We often use the present perfect tense 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 state (not an action). We usually use for or
since with this structure.
I have worked here
since June.
He has been ill for 2 days.
How long have you known
Tara? |
| past |
present |
future |
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| The situation started in the past. |
It continues up to now. |
(It will probably continue into the
future.) |
Connection with past: the situation started in the
past.
Connection with present: the situation continues in the
present.
For & Since with
Present Perfect >> |
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