9 Verbs, verb tenses, imperatives
9.5
9.5A
Study:The simple present perfect and present perfect progressive
Uses of the simple present perfect tense: 'I have eaten/he has eaten'
[> LEG 9.22-27]There are two basic uses of the simple present perfect tense. We use it to describe:1 Actions beginning in the past and continuing up to the present moment:- with time references like before (now), ever, never... before, up till now, so far.
I have received 20 cards so far. I have never tasted papaya (before). - with since/for. I've lived here since 1980. I've lived here for 20 years. [> 7.3A]
2 Actions which happened at an unspecified time in the past:- with no time reference at all: Have you passed your driving test?
(Depending on context, this could mean 'very recently' or 'at any time up to now'.) - with references to recent time, like just, recently, already, still, yet I've just eaten.
- repeated/habitual actions: I've watched him on TV several times. I've often met her.
Write: Supply the simple present perfect tense of the verbs in brackets.1 Up to now l^..^4&<£twenty countries, (visit) 11 They ...:. a new car. (buy)
2 He six letters so far. (type) 12 He all over the world, (travel)
3 couscous? (you ever eat) 13 ••..;..• your promise? (you forget)
4 They like this before, (never quarrel) 14 I an elephant, (ride)
5 I to Marco since 1989. (not write) 15 She i in from Rome, (just fly)
6 We ......... there since we were young, (not be) 16 Shef. a director, (recently become)
7 I saw her in May, but her since, (not see) 17 They to me. (already speak)
8 She the same car for fifteen years, (drive) 18 I'.............. my tea yet. (not drink)
9 I them for many years, (know) 19 She still my letter, (not answer)
10 She in that shop for ages! (be) 20 I. her several times, (met)9.5B The present perfect progressive tense: 'I have been eating' [> LEG 9.32-34]
We use the present perfect progressive in place of the simple present perfect when we want
to emphasize that something has been in progress throughout a period:
Instead of saying: I've typed all day, we can say, for emphasis, I've been typing all day.
Depending on context, this may mean I'm still typing or I've just recently stopped.Some verbs like learn, lie, live, rain, sit, sleep, stand, study, wait, work, naturally suggest
continuity [> 7.3B] and we often use them with since and for [> 7.3А].
We can use them in the simple present perfect tense:
I've waited here for two hours. I've worked here since 1987.
But we most often use them in the progressive:
I've been waiting here for two hours. I've been working here since 1987.Write: Supply the present perfect progressive tense of the verbs in brackets.1 I'm tired. I Ш&.ЛшЬ.с&фЗ^. all day. (dig) 6 You're out of breath? (you run)
2 How long f here? (you wait) 7 We here for twelve years, (live)
3 I 'since 6 o'clock, (stand) 8 Your eyes are red (You cry)
4 How long Chinese? (you learn) 9 How long? (the children sleep)
5 She English for five years, (study) 10 What all afternoon? (you do)