• This use of the present perfect includes actions that are very recent and— again—that have consequences for or relevance to the present. Someone has turned off the light. I can’t see anything in the dark. Have you heard the news? The police have arrested the mayor. Note: Do not use the present perfect if you are specifying when something occurred. In these cases, use the simple past. Incorrect: I have bought a new car last Saturday. Correct: I bought a new car last Saturday. Correct: I have bought a new car. Now, I can drive to work. Note: Do not use the present perfect for persons or situations that no longer exist, even if there are still consequences for the present. Incorrect: Nelson Mandela has brought about many changes to South Africa. Correct: Nelson Mandela brought about many changes to South Africa.
Zoom-in | Checklist, Please! An action in the present perfect is like an item on a checklist: you have either done something or you haven’t, but if you have done it, it doesn’t matter when. It just matters that the action is done. An action in the simple past is more like an item on a schedule: you did something at a certain time.
• Present perfect for actions continuing into the present: Use the present perfect to describe a situation that began in the past and continues to the present. This usage usually includes a time-indicator phrase—for example, one that begins with for or since—and is often used with verbs that imply a continuing state, such as be, know, love, work (in the sense of “be employed”) and live (in the sense of “be a resident of”). We have worked together since May, but we have known each other for 10 years. Barbara has lived in Rimouski since 2007.
Zoom-in | For or Since? When using the present perfect to indicate how much time has passed from the beginning of an action or a state to the present, we can use either for or since. Use for to indicate the total amount of time; use since to indicate the beginning point, either a time or another action. She has been an architect for seven years. (seven years = length of time) She has been an architect since 2007. (2007 = beginning point) She has been an architect since she graduated. (she graduated = beginning point)
Zoom-in | Present Perfect vs. Simple Past with For Phrases Phrases with for and a length of time can be used with either the present perfect or the simple past, but the meanings are significantly different. Henri has lived in Paris for three years. Henri lived in Paris for three years.
Henri still lives in Paris now. Henri does not live in Paris anymore.
UNIT 8 perfect tenses
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