The Present Perfect. The FITA course lesson 8
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Lesson 8 Present Perfect. FITA course .docx
We’ll continue reviewing the basics of verb tenses. Now, let’s take a look at “The Present Perfect”.
The Present Perfect
Structure:
- Affirmative: Subject + have/has+ main verb ending in past participle + object. Example: I have bought a new book
- Negative: Subject + have/has+ not + main verb ending in past participle + object. Example: She hasn’t come home yet
- Question: Have/has+ subject + main verb ending in past participle + object? Example: Have you seen them?
- Negative question: Have/has + not + subject + main verb ending in past participle + object? Example: Haven’t you seen them?
- Answers: Yes, + subject + have/has- No, +subject+not+ have/has. Example: Yes, I have- No, I haven’t.
Example “Present Perfect” audiobook , chapter 5: Example: Mr Isaacs has been very good to us.
Spanish equivalent tense: Pretérito perfecto. It is not exactly the same, but it’s similar and can be used as a reference for you to remember the English Present Perfect. Example: Yo ya he visto esa película. I have already seen that film.
What is the past participle of a verb?
A past participle is a form of the verb that is mainly used in:
- Perfect Tenses: Ex. I have studied a lot. He estudiado mucho.
- Passive Voices: Ex. The house was cleaned by a cleaning company. La casa fue limpiada por una empresa de limpieza.
- Adjectives: Ex. The cleaned house looked like new.
In the regular verbs, the past participle is the same as the past simple and ends in –ed.
-Work (infinitive trabajar– and present yo trabajo) worked (past tense-trabajó) worked (past participle– trabajado)
In the irregular verbs, the past participle is the third column of the irregular verb list.
Example:
– Write (infinitive– escribir- escribo) – wrote (past tense-escribió) – written (past participle-escrito).
In Spanish the past participle usually ends in –ado/ido (trabajado-comido) or irregular forms such as “visto” or “escrito.”
When do we use the Present Perfect?
1) When we want to speak about actions that have happened in the past but have present consequences or a connection to the present.
Example: I have cut my finger. I can see the blood coming out (present consequence).
2) When we want to speak about things that we did or didn’t do in our life, experiences we have or haven’t had.
Example: I have never been to Paris.
Contractions
- All persons except he, she and it. ‘ve– Examples: I’ve done it. You’ve seen it.
- He, she, it: ‘s. Examples: She’s done it. It’s done.
Rule: Remember we don’t use the Present Perfect with past references such as: last month, last week, last weekend, yesterday, a year ago. In these cases, we have to use the Past Tense.
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REMEMBER:
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Please, go to chapter 5 of your audiobook now and listen to it at least two times. Then read it. As you’ll see, I have highlighted the Present Perfect in purple.
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The oath “Money? What does money matter? Love is more important than money.” “Mother! Mother! I am so happy” whispered the girl. “I am so happy” she repeated “and you must be too!” Mrs Vane put her slim hands on her daughter’s head. “I am happy, Sibyl, when I see you act. You mustn’t think about anything else than your acting. Mr Isaacs has been very good to us and we owe him money.” “Money, mother!” She exclaimed “What does money matter? Love is more important than money.” “Mr Isaacs has lent us fifty pounds to pay our debts. You mustn’t forget that, Sibyl.” Sibyl Vane turned her head and laughed. “We don’t need it now, mother. Prince Charming has entered into our lives. I love him” she said. “Daughter of mine, you are too young to fall in love. Furthermore, what do you know about this young man? You don’t even know his name. However, if he is rich…” “Mother, Mother! Let me be happy!” At that moment the door opened and a young man entered the room. He was stocky, had big feet and his hands moved clumsily. He didn’t have the tenderness of his sister and looked nothing like her. “You could save some of your kisses for me, Sibyl” said the young man. “But you don’t like people kissing you, Jim!” She exclaimed and crossed the room running to hug him. James Vane contemplated his sister’s face affectionately. “Come for a walk with me, Sibyl. I leave tonight and I don’t think I will ever return to this horrible London.” “Son of mine, don’t say such horrible things” murmured Mrs Vane. “Why not, mother? It’s what I think.” “It hurts me, son. I think you will return from Australia a rich man.” “I only want to earn enough money so that you and Sibyl can leave the theatre. I hate it.”“Jim” said Sibyl, laughing. “Do you really want to go for a walk with me? That will be lovely! Where shall we go? Let’s go to the park.” “I’m not dressed well enough” he answered “only elegant people go to the park.”“Rubbish, Jim” said Sibyl, stroking the sleeve of his coat. He dithered for a moment. “Very well” he said finally “But don’t take long to get dressed.” She went out of the door dancing. He walked up and down the room two or three times. After, he walked towards his mother. “Are my things ready, mother?” “Everything is prepared, James” she replied.“I beg you to look after Sibyl. Don’t let anything bad happen to her. You must look after her, mother” said James. “Of course I will look after Sibyl.” “I have heard that there is a gentleman who goes to the theatre every night and speaks to her afterwards. Is it true?” “It seems that the young man is a gentleman and is also rich” replied his mother. “However, you don’t know his name” said the young man, firmly. “No” replied his mother. “He still hasn’t given his real name. And I think it is very romantic.” James Vane bit his lips. “Look after Sibyl, mother” he exclaimed “look after her.” “If that gentleman is rich, there is no reason not to marry him. They would make a charming couple. He is a very handsome man; everyone says so.” At that moment the door opened and Sibyl ran in. “How serious you are!” She exclaimed “What’s happened?” “Nothing” he replied. I suppose that sometimes we must be serious. See you later, mother; I will have dinner at five o’clock. My things are ready, so you needn’t worry.” “See you later, son” she replied. When they got to the park Jim asked Sibyl: “I have heard that you have a new friend. Who is he? Why haven’t you told me about him? You don’t even know his name.” “He’s called Prince Charming. Don’t you like it? Come on! Don’t be stupid! If you saw him you would think he were the most marvellous person in the world. One day you will meet him, when you return from Australia. He will like you a lot. He likes everyone; and I… I love him. I would like you to come to the theatre tonight. He will be there and I am going to play Juliet.” “I want you to be careful with him. If he ever hurts you, I will kill him” said the young man. “How can you say such horrible things? You don’t know what you are saying. You are simply jealous and cruel.” “I am sixteen years old” he replied “and I know what I am saying. |
Listen and repeat the following sentences aloud.
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Spanish |
English |
Phonetics |
Approximate Pronunciation |
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El señor Isaacs ha sido muy bueno con nosotras |
Mr Isaacs has been very good to us |
| ˈmɪstə ˈaɪzɪks həz biːn ˈveri ɡʊd tu əz | |
Míster áissaks hass bin véri gud tu ass |
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He oído que hay un caballero |
I have heard that there is a gentleman |
ˈaɪ həv hɜːd ðət ðə z ə ˈdʒentlmən | |
Ai hav herd dat der iss a yéntelman |
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Él no ha dado aún su verdadero nombre. |
He still hasn’t given his real name. |
hi stɪl ˈhæznt ɡɪvn̩ ɪz rɪəl ˈneɪm | |
Hi sstil hássnet given hiss rial néim |
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He oído que tienes un nuevo amigo. |
“I have heard that you have a new friend. |
ˈaɪ həv hɜːd ðət ju həv ə njuː ˈfrend | |
Ai hav herd dat iu hav a niu frénd |
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¿Por qué no me has hablado de él? |
Why haven’t you told me about him? |
waɪ ˈhævn̩t ju təʊld miː əˈbaʊt ɪm | |
Wuái hávent iu tould mi ábaut him |
As there are not too many examples of Present Perfect in chapter 5, I have gone over the previous chapters to check for other examples of this tense.
Here you have sentences in the Present Perfect that can be found in chapter 1 and 2.
Listen and repeat the following sentences aloud. Try to memorise them
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Spanish |
English |
Phonetics |
Approximate Pronunciation |
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Es lo mejor que has hecho. |
It’s the best you’ve done |
ɪts ðə best juv dʌn | |
Its de best iuv don |
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Es lo mejor que yo he hecho nunca. |
It’s the best I have ever done. |
ɪts ðə best ˈaɪ həv ˈevə dʌn | |
Its de best ái hav éver don |
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Estoy seguro de que usted ha tenido pasiones que le han asustando |
I am sure that you have had passions that have frightened you |
ˈaɪ əm ʃʊə ðət ju həv həd ˈpæʃn̩z ðət həv ˈfraɪtn̩d ju | |
Ái am sher dat iu hav had pássionss dat hav fráitend iu |
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Pensamientos que le han dado miedo (a usted) |
Thoughts that have scared you |
ˈθɔːts ðət həv skeəd ju | |
Zots dat hav skerd iu |
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Y sueños que le han avergonzado (a usted) |
And dreams that have shamed you |
ənd driːmz ðət həv ʃeɪmd ju | |
And drims dat hav shéimd iu |
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Ha posado usted mejor que nunca |
You have posed better than ever |
ju həv pəʊzd ˈbetə ðən ˈevə | |
Iu have poussd béter dan ever |
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No sé que ha dicho Harry |
I don’t know what Harry has said |
ˈaɪ dəʊnt nəʊ ˈwɒt ˈhæri həz ˈsed | |
Ai dount nou wuat hari hass sed |
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Yo sé que lo ha creído todo. |
I know you have believed it all |
ˈaɪ nəʊ ju həv bɪˈliːvd ɪt ɔːl | |
Ai nou iu hav bilívdit ol |
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He prometido a Lord Henry Wotton ir con él. |
I have promised to go with Lord Henry Wotton |
ˈaɪ həv ˈprɒmɪst tə ɡəʊ wɪð lɔːd ˈhenri ˈwɑːtən | |
Ai hav promisd tu gou wuiz lord heri wouton |
To sum up:
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The Present Perfect is used: -When we want to speak about actions that have happened in the past but have present consequences or a connection to the present. Example: I have cut my finger. I can see the blood coming out. – When we want to speak about things that we did or didn’t do in all our life, experiences we have or haven’t had. Example: I have never been to Paris. |
Homework:
Translate the following sentences into English. Please, check the answers below.
Once you have corrected your mistakes, repeat the sentences aloud in English.
- No he visto a nadie
- Ellos no han estado en Inglaterra
- Nosotros no hemos cantando todo el tiempo
- ¿Han venido ya los niños?
- No he podido hablar con ella todavía
- Tú la has visto (a ella)
- No he escrito nada nuevo
- He estado en Francia.
- ¿Sabes dónde han estado ellos?
- Ella se ha comprado un coche.
1 comentario
Hi Mónica:
Thank you very much for you English course, it is very useful to me.
I have a question I would like to resolve if possible.
The traslation for the sentence 2:Ellos no han estado en Inglaterra is they haven’t been to England, is it? (Your answer is different).
Well, thanks again!