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Present Perfect Tense Explained

The present perfect tense is used to describe actions that began in the past and continue in the present or have relevance in the present. It cannot be used with specific time expressions like yesterday or last year that situate the action fully in the past. The document provides examples of sentences using the present perfect correctly when the time is unspecified before now, and incorrectly when a specific time is mentioned. It then provides the answers using the correct tense - present perfect or past simple - depending on whether a general or specific time is stated.

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Alexandra Popa
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9 views2 pages

Present Perfect Tense Explained

The present perfect tense is used to describe actions that began in the past and continue in the present or have relevance in the present. It cannot be used with specific time expressions like yesterday or last year that situate the action fully in the past. The document provides examples of sentences using the present perfect correctly when the time is unspecified before now, and incorrectly when a specific time is mentioned. It then provides the answers using the correct tense - present perfect or past simple - depending on whether a general or specific time is stated.

Uploaded by

Alexandra Popa
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Present Perfect

[has/have + past participle]

Use 1: Unspecified Time Before Now

!!!You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with specific time expressions such as: yesterday, one
year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc

Choose the present perfect or past simple:


1. I _________________ (see) three police cars this morning (its still morning).
2. After he _________________ (arrive) home, he _________________ (unpack) and
_________________ (go) to bed early.
3. A: Whats wrong?
B: I _________________ (break) a glass!
4. My grandparents only _________________ (know) each other for a few months
before they _________________ (get) married.
5. I _________________ (be) in London for three years. I love it here.
6. We _________________ (see) Julie last night.
[Link] _________________ (be) a teacher before he _________________(become) a
musician.
8. When the boss _________________ (walk) into the room, we_________________
(know) someone was going to get fired.
9. The children _________________ (break) a window in the school last week.
10. He _________________ (see) that film last year.
11. Lucy _________________ (break) her leg, so she cant come skiing.
12. Julie _________________ (arrive)! Come and say hello!
13. They _________________ (be) cold when they _________________ (arrive)
home.
14. Jack _________________ (break) his arm when he _________________ (fall) off
a horse in 2005.
15. I _________________ (know) about the problem for months, but I
_________________ (not / find) a solution yet.
16. A: When _________________ (you / arrive)?
B: At 10pm last night.
17. She _________________ (be) a teacher for ten years, and she still enjoys it.
18. How long _________________ (you / know) Jill? I know you see her often.
19. I _________________ (see) the sea before.
20. A: Hello
B: Hi Mum, its me. I just wanted to say I _________________ (arrive) safely and
everything is fine.

Answers:
1. Ive seen three police cars this morning.
2. After he arrived home, he unpacked and went to bed early.
3. A: Whats wrong?
B: Ive broken a glass!
4. My grandparents only knew each other for a few months before they got
married.
5. Ive been in London for three years. I love it here.
6. We saw Julie last night.
7. He was a teacher before he became a musician.
8. When the boss walked into the room, we knew someone was going to get fired.
9. The children broke a window in the school last week.
10. He saw that film last year.
11. Lucy has broken her leg, so she cant come skiing.
12. Julies arrived! Come and say hello!
13. They were cold when they arrived home.
14. Jack broke his arm when he fell off a horse in 2005.
15. Ive known about the problem for months, but I havent found a solution yet.
16. A: When did you arrive?
B: At 10pm last night.
17. Shes been a teacher for ten years, and she still enjoys it.
18. How long have you known Jill? I know you see her often.
19. I have never seen the sea before.
20. A: Hello
B: Hi Mum, its me. I just wanted to say Ive arrived safely and everything is
fine.

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