Present perfect
PRESENT PERFECT
This tense is about the past which is important at present.
• I have lost my keys. (I lost the keys in the past, I don’t have them now and that is my problem!)
• Have you ever been to Mexico? (any time during your life?)
• She hasn’t spoken to him yet. (not yet – and she should do it)
- to make the present perfect you need HAVE and the third form of the verb (past participle: lesson 20)
- to make sentences negative, use NOT
• I have not seen him.
- to make questions, start with HAVE
• Have you been there?
- some important irregular forms:
|
infinitive |
Past simple |
Past participle |
infinitive |
Past simple |
Past participle |
|
BREAK |
BROKE |
BROKEN |
LEAVE |
LEFT |
LEFT |
|
BUILD |
BUILT |
BUILT |
MAKE |
MADE |
MADE |
|
BUY |
BOUGHT |
BOUGHT |
PAY |
PAID |
PAID |
|
DO |
DID |
DONE |
SELL |
SOLD |
SOLD |
|
EAT |
ATE |
EATEN |
SEND |
SENT |
SENT |
|
FIND |
FOUND |
FOUND |
SPEAK |
SPOKE |
SPOKEN |
|
GROW |
GREW |
GROWN |
STEAL |
STOLE |
STOLEN |
|
HIT |
HIT |
HIT |
TAKE |
TOOK |
TAKEN |
|
KNOW |
KNEW |
KNOWN |
WRITE |
WROTE |
WRITTEN |
COMPARE:
I broke my leg. (for example last year)
I’ve broken my leg. (and now I cannot walk)
I fell in love. (for example when I was 17 years old)
I’ve fallen in love. (and now I am crazy about the girl)