Present Perfect - When to use the Present Perfect - VALDENOR

Hello...My dear friends...How ya doin?
Neste post, veremos como usar um verbo no PRESENT PERFECT.

(A) A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PRESENT PERFECT:

- What are we talking about when we use this verb tense?

• So we're talking about something that's happened in the past. That's very important to know, so the Present Perfect is talking about the past, it's something happened in the past BUT AGAIN the time is not always specified(sPéssêFái), we don't know(uidãoNôu) when this event happened (êVénRRéppén) in many cases and you know it doesn't matter, the time is not that important.

• And then the other thing that I always like to say is that the Present Perfect another thing that makes it a little unique is because it has a relationship with the present and that's how I was relationship a connection with something that is happening in the present and it could be based on you know that you're having a conversation in the present or it could be what you're actually talking about is relevant to the present.

• So it's something in the past that has a relationship with the present.

- Something that happened in the past;

- Time is not important;

- Has a relationship with the present.

• They have finished the project.

- It's something that happened in the past. We don't know when they finished(Fênêstch) the project because the time is not important and it has a relationship to the present because basically as of now(éZóvnáu) in the present the project it's finished, they finished it in the past and it's finished right now.

• She has bought a car!

(xirrézBótch-âkór)

- So something that happened in the past (the buying of the car) and again, there is no time, we don't know when it  happened and it has a relationship with the present(uêtdêPrézen) because basically we're saying okay this information tells us that(Téuzáss) oh right now she has a car, she bought it in past, we don't know when and she still has it now, she has bought a car.

- We're talking about the past, times not important, has a relationship with the present.

(B) HOW TO CONSTRUCT THE PRESENT PERFECT:

(rráuthukõsTróktch-dêPrézénPôrfékt)

- So when we're making the present perfect, what grammar are we using?

- We have our "subject" and then the verb "have" and that is our "helping verb", it is our "auxiliary verb"(óguiziliÊuri), our helping verb HAVE or HAS.

- It depends on the subject because this helping verb is going to be conjugated with the subject, I have, You have, We have, He has, She has, It has.

- The Past Participle(dê'PésPârêSSêpôu) is just another "verb form" and in this case, in the Present Perfect, it is our "main verb", it is the main verb in the sentence because this is the main action that is taking place.

- So SUBJECT+HAVE/HAS+PAST PARTICIPLE.

- For example:

• I have been...

- So we're talking about the verb "to be", so in the present we'd have IS / ARE, in the past WAS / WERE, in the past participle BEEN(Bén).

• She has played...

- Memorize the past participle, if it is a regular verb like "to play", the past tense is PLAYED, the past participle is also going to be PLAYED.

- So for all those regular verbs that wear the past tense ends with an "ED"(idhi) the past participle it is the same.

- The only ones you really need to memorize are the "irregular verbs" and what makes this difficult especially because of English is that pretty much the most common verbs that we use are always irregular(iRéguilô).

- So like the verb "to see", all right, the present tense is "see", the past is saw(só), the past participle is "seen"(sín), see/saw/seen (si-só-sín).

(C) WHEN TO USE THE PRESENT PERFECT:

- So I'm going to tell you 4 instances that when we use the Present Perfect.

(1) UNFINISHED ACTIONS:

- So first one we use the Present Perfect when we're talking about UNFINISHED ACTIONS that started in the past and they continue up until the present.

- So these are things that have started in the past and they continue and it's still happening today.

- So again, it's still happening today and that is the relationship with the present that we talked about before.

- So when we're talking about in this case, we often use the words FOR and SINCE because we're talking about a time period here, something that started in the past continued to the present and to talk about that time period we use FOR and SINCE.

- So for example:

• We have lived in Europe for almost two years!

(uírrévLêvid-inNhíurôp-FÔR-ólMôusthu-íuôrz)

- When use FOR, we're talking about a duration of time, for two years, for almost two years.

- When I think "two years" I can think of okay uhmm this is the starting point and this is the ending point, it is a duration of time(dôurêixén-óvTáim).

- For two years, for two weeks, for two days, for two minutes, these all durations of time and we use FOR with the Present Prefect.

• I've taught English since 2009!

- Uhh when we use SINCE, we're talking about "a point in time", you're taking that point in time uhmmm saying ok since this point something that has happened.

- "since 2009", this tells them that since that point in time, that year 2009 I have taught English, so it's been wow it's 12 years(thuélviÍôrz), so this has been quite a career(kuái-êi-kôriôr).

• Tell us, how long have you studied English?(ráulõ-rréviú-Stêrêd-ínglêsh) For 6 months, For about 7 years, Since 2010.

- So again, we use FOR to talk about "a duration of time" and we use SINCE to talk about "a point of time".

- FOR is a duration of time.

- SINCE is a point of time.

- It's an unfinished action, starded in the past and has continued to the present.

• Tell us, how long have you lived here? For 6 months, For about 7 years, Since 2010, Since I was born.

(2) FINISHED ACTIONS with a result in the present :

- So we use the Present Perfect when we're talking about FINISHED ACTIONS(Fênêstch-Ákxéns) that have a result(riZôutch) in the present.

- And again that is the connection that relationship with the present.

- The action is finished but it has a result that is still uhmm it's happening right now, it's important now based on(BêisTõ) our conversation, based on what we're talking about.

• Hey, have you bought anything? I've bought a new phone, I've bought a purse.

(rréVíuBótch-éniFén) or (rréVíuBó-éniFén) 

• I've lost my phone!

• Nobody is home. They must have gone shopping!(DêimástchRRévigõ-Xópén)

- So we're talking about these finished actions that again the result is in the presente.

- "I've lost my phone!", basically right now you're saying you still don't have your phone, it's lost, it's gone.  

- "I've lost my phone!", it happened in the past and in the present you still don't have it, it's gone that is the result that we're talking about in the present.

- That other thing I want you to notice with this one which again if we're talking about the subject and the helping verb, we can contract those and combine those.

- I've, You've, He's, She's...

- Remember: HAPPEN IN THE PAST and RESULT IN THE PRESENT.

- "Nobody is home. They must have gone shopping!", obviously not at home(abVíosli-náréRRôum), so they must have gone shopping or  they are still out, they are away, the result in the present again they are not there.

(3) A PLACE YOU HAVE GONE AND RETURNED(to be):

- We use the Present Perfect when we're talking about a PLACE that we have gone and we've returned.

- This is one of the most common times that we use the Present Perfect.

- Remenber: I put the verb "to be" there because this is when we uhmm we use this verb when we're talking about this, the past participle of the verbo to be is BEEN(Bén), I've been, You've been, He's been...

- When you use this then you're talking about a place that you've gone and then you've returned from that place.

• Where have you been?

• Has she been to(rréz-XiBénthu) ______? (Anywhere you could fill, anywhere in that blank: Brazil(brôZíu), Italy(Êrôlí), China(Tcháina), Vietnam(viénã).

- You're talking about places that you go and then return.

• She's been to Spain.(XBén-thusPén)

• I've been to the UK;

• I've been to the United States many years ago.

(3) WITH ADVERBS OF TIME that talk about a recent past :

- We use Present Perfect often when we use it with these adverbs of time(ALREADY, JUST, YET).

- And these adverbs of time that talk about a hummm a recent past, some a time period that is not very far away, so it's something that is recent.   

3.1- ALREADY:    

- So the first is ALREADY.

- So when we use ALREADY, we're talking about something that happened "sooner than you expected"(Sûnôr-dénNhíu-iksPéktêd), something happened sooner. 

• Hey, hey hey, I've seen it, I've seen it already.

- The other thing I want to tell you about this one is when when we're talking about the adverb ALREADY, adverbs can be tricky because people always wonder about well uhhmm where does it go, does it go at beginning of the sentence? does it go in the middle does it go at the end?

- So depending on the verb, some of them can go in different places, some of them should only go in one.

- When we're talking about ALREADY we can use already at the end of the sentence:

• I've seen it already.

• I've done it already.

• I've been there already.

- Or we can use it between the helping verb and the main verb:

• I've already seen it.

• I've already done that.

• I've already been there.(áivólRéri-béndér)

• I've already learned about the present perfect.

- So with ALREADY, you can use it at the end or between the helping verb and the main verb.

3.2-JUST:(Djóstch)

- Just is hmmm talking about something that happened a SHORT TIME AGO.

- So it's in the very recent past, it just happened, a very short time has passed.

- Basically you would have to put it into context, as in a few minutes, a few hours, a few days, it depends on the context but it is something that is the recent future, you're not going to be the recent past, you're not going to use just for something that hapenned 10 years ago, it's short time ago.

• I've just woken up.

• I've just had dinner.

• I've just had an idea.

• We've just come back from our holiday.

• I've just bought it. I've just bought a car.

• I've just seen it. I've just seen a burglar.

• I've just lost it. I've just lost a lot of money.

• I've just had a baby.

- JUST is one of those that we need to use it between the helping verb and the main verb that is where it belongs. You can't put it at the end of the sentence and you can't put it at the beginning of the sentence

• I've just bought ...

• I've just been ...

• I've just seen ...  

• I've just played ...

- It goes between the helping verb and the past participle.

3.3-YET:(iétch)

- So if you have this adverb of time YET you're talking about something that is expected to happen.

- We use it a lot with questions and we use it with negative statements when you're talking about something that expected to happen but you're saying well uhmm it has not happened yet.

• I haven't finished yet.

• It’s 11 o’clock and she hasn’t woken up yet.

• Has she phoned yet?

• Have you talked to him yet?

• I haven't talked to him yet.

• Have you bought the car yet? 

• No, I haven’t seen it yet.

• I sent him an email last week and he hasn’t answered yet.

- And YET go at the end of the sentence.

- You can't use it anywhere else, it must be at the end of the sentence.

- I haven't been there yet.

- I haven't seen it yet.

- I haven't done it yet.

- I haven't finished it yet.

(4) PRESENT PERFECT vs PAST SIMPLE:

- Now what I want to talk to you about is compare the Present perfect a little bit with the Past Simple and show you some of the small differences.

- And this is a little more advanced but I think it will give you a little more context and understanding about how to be more precise(môrprôSáis) in English and again your overall comprehension so you can comprehend what the other person is saying.

👉 QUESTION 1:

• I've lived in California since 2015.(PP)

• I lived in California in 2013.(PS)

- In the meaning, what is difference between these two sentences?

- Remember, when we use for and since with the Present Pefect we're talking about an action that started in the past and continues to the present.

- In that sentence with the Present Perfect 'I've lived in California since 2015' you still live there, it means that you move there in 2015 and you still live there now.

- In that sentence with the Past Simple 'I lived in California in 2013' if somebody tells me that, then I think uh okay it's something that happened in the past, it's finished, I don't know where the person lives now(LêvsNáu) but they don't live in California, they don't live in this place anymore, they don't live now.

👉 QUESTION 2:

• I haven't written the email yet.(PP)

(áiRRévent-Rêtn-di-iMél)

(áiRRéven-Rêtn'iMél)

• I did not write the email.(PS)

(áiDídná-Ráit'iMél)

What is difference in the meaning of these sentences?

- Sometimes they may be used interchangeable (ênnórThéndjênbli) and you may use them to mean the same thing BUT they have a sutle difference(Sârô-díFrêns) between them.

- The difference between these is the following uhmm If we're using the Present Perfect, especially if we say YET, it gives the ideia uhmm it's telling you that you're PRABABLY going to do this soon.

- If I say 'I haven't written the email yet' it means okay it's not finished but you'll do it(iúldúêtch) at some point(SãmPõintch), maybe you'll do it latter that some day, maybe you'll do it tomorrow and especially(enNêsPéxôli) if you say YET.

- If you put YET on the end(êfiuPô'iétch-õni-ênd) it definitely means(DéfênlêMíns) that you plan to do it,(déiuPlén-thudjuêtch), it is expected that this will happen (êrêzêks'Pécktêd-dé-dês-uêuRRépen).

- Now, if we use this in the Past Simple 'I did not write the email', again, it tells me that uhhmm this action it hasn't happened yet, it's unfinished, it's in the past BUT I don't know if uhhm if you're going to do it in the future, if somebody just says yeah "I did not write the email", I'd be thinking okay I know it's not done but I'm wondering are you going to do it are you not going to do it.

- So this is a slight difference about uhmm showing what your intention is, between the Present Perfect and the Past Perfect.

- If you're talking about something that uhmm you plan to do umm that you'll likely do then it's better to use the Present Perfect I haven't done this.

- And if you really want to tell them uhmm that you'll do it then you put YET on the end there I haven't done this yet.

👉 QUESTION 3:

• We've been to Thailand.(PP)

• We went to Thailand.(PS)

What is difference in the meaning of these sentences?

- So, okay, they are interchangebly if you're having a conversation, people might use uhmm they might use the Present Perfect or they might use the Past Simple: We've been to Thailand or We went to Thailand.

- However there is a small uhmm small small small subtle difference between these two.

- If we use the Present Perfect "We've been to Thailand" it makes me think uhmmm in all likely you may return someday in the future, we don't know when you may go back uhmm you may go back Thailand.

• We've been to Thailand.

• I've been to New York City.

• We've been to Thailand.

- ok, probably in the future I may return, back.

- When you use the Past Simple, it doesn't tell us that, it doesn't give us that indication, so we don't know, it basically means maybe maybe uhmm maybe you'll uhm maybe you won't, you may not return if you say "I went to Thailand".

- I didn't notice this until I started teaching about people that get older and I noticed this more with my grandparents as my grandparents when I would talk to them, they would always speak using the Past Simple about places they had been they would say "yeah we went there", we went there(íuãntér), we went there. Because as, you know, they got older they were in their 80's (êiris) and even in their 90's(Náiris) at one point, it was one of those things where they knew okay uhmm they were not going to go back, they were not going to return.    

👉 QUESTION 4:

• What have you done today?(uóréViúDãn-thudêi)(PP)

• What did you do today?(uóDêdjiudu-thudei)(PS)

What is difference in the meaning of these sentences?

- So, okay, they are interchangebly if you're having a conversation, people might use uhmm they might use the Present Perfect or they might use the Past Simple: What have you done today? or What did you do today?.

- But, one difference between the two uhmm that you would think of hmm is this uhmm if you ask somebody, you know, like What have you done today? basically I feel like uhmm you're asking them(áskénDém) to tell you about their accomplishments(aKõmplexiMénts), their results(déuriZôuts), -- What are things(uóróFêns) that you have accomplished(akõmpléstch) today, what are some things that you got done(uóróSãmFêns-déiú-gâDãn).

- Now, if somebody asked you(áskthiú) "What did you do today?" then they're more talking about maybe activities, activities that you completed in the past.

- So again, this is a small subtle difference between the PP and the PS, results and activities.

👉 QUESTION 4:

Complete that sentence with the verb "to eat": 

He has ____ all the food.(to eat)

(A) eat

(B) ate

(C) eaten

- Basically, I've given you the main verb and asking you what is the past participle of verb to eat.

- "to est" is an irregular verb, it is difficult(dêfiKôl), it's a little more challenging(êtssâLêrômô-Tcháléndjén), you just have to memorize it(íudjésRRévta-mémóRáiz): eat-ate-eaten.

- He has eaten all the food.

- In this case, we're talking about a finished action that has a result that's relevant in the present because the food is gone, it's gone, there is no more, he has eaten all the food.

👉 QUESTION 5:

Complete that sentence with the verb "to begin": 

We've  ____ construction on the house.

(A) begin

(B) began

(C) begun

- Basically, I've given you(áivguivén-nhiú) the main verb(dêménVôrb) and I want you to tell me what is the past participle(passparêSSêpôu) of verb to begin.

- "to begin" is an irregular verb, it is difficult, it's a little more challenging, you just have to memorize it: begin-began-begun.(biguén-bigãn-bigõn)  

- We've begun construction on the house.

- I've begun, you've begun, he's begun, she's begun...

👉 QUESTION 6:

Complete that sentence with the verb "to begin": 

We've  ____ construction on the house.

(A) begin

(B) began

(C) begun

- Basically, I've given you(áivguivén-nhiú) the main verb(dêménVôrb) and I want you to tell me what is the past participle(passparêSSêpôu) of verb to begin.

- "to begin" is an irregular verb, it is difficult, it's a little more challenging, you just have to memorize it: begin-began-begun.(biguén-bigãn-bigõn)  

- We've begun construction on the house.

- I've begun, you've begun, he's begun, she's begun...

👉 QUESTION 7:

Complete that sentence with FOR or SINCE.

I've worked at this company ____ 5 years.

- Remember, I told you that the Present Perfect we use it when we're talking about "Something that has started in the past and it continues up until the present."

- "5 years" is a duration of time, you know exactly how long this time period is.

- So we're going to use FOR because "5 years" is a duration of time.

👉 QUESTION 8:

Situation: You don't drive the car.

• I've driven this car since last year.

• I drove this car last year.

In this situation, which one are you going to use, are you going to use the Present perfect or are you going to use Past Simple?

- "You don't drive the car", it is finished, it's finished you don't drive it anymore, so you're going to use the Past Simple.

- If you use the Present Perfect, it would mean that you're still driving it now, which is not the situation here.

👉 QUESTION 9:

Situation: He may call soon.

• He hasn't called her.(rriRézen-kóldRRô)

• He did not call her.(rriDídná-kólRRô)

In this situation, which one are you going to use, are you going to use the Present perfect or are you going to use Past Simple?

- "He may call soon", I'm talking about something that uhmm that will likely happen in the future and If I put YET on there(õné) then we really know and that means that we're going to use the Present Perfect, all right.

- If I say "He did not call her", it tells me that he didn't call but it also tells me it gives me no indication if he's going to call or not.

- If I say "He hasn't called me", okay maybe tells me "he hasn't called me" I should maybe be expecting a call some other time, all right, and If I put YET on the end of that sentence then again we're definitely saying that yes it is something that he plans to do, He hasn't called her yet.

👉 QUESTION 10:

Situation: You'll probably go again.

• I've been to New York City.

• I  went to New York City.

In this situation, which one are you going to use, are you going to use the Present perfect or are you going to use Past Simple?

- If you want to kind of convey that meaning to somebody else that hey, you know, you'll probably do it again, you'll probably go again, you'll likely do this again someday in the future.  

👉 QUESTION 11:

Complete a frase a seguir com a forma verbal mais adequada para cada lacuna: 

"The kids _______ in love with the Tamagotchi when they first ______ it, but they ______ with it lately."
(A) fell - saw - have not played 
(B) fall - see - did not play
(C) fell - see - did not play
(D) have falen - seen - do not play
(E) fall - saw - have not played
Resposta:
*Gabarito [a]
- The past of verb "to fall in love"(fól-ênLâv)(apaixonar-se) is "fell in love"(fél-ênLâv).

-  The past of verb to see(ssi)(ver) is saw(só).

- The verb "to play" is a regular verb, the past and the past participle is played. 

- The expression "when they first" indicate a past time.
*[latery(Lêirlí)=advérbio que significa "recentemente". Indica ação progressiva atual] 
*Teremos então:
*Na 1ª e 2ª lacunas,os verbos devem estar no SIMPLE PAST por causa da presença da estrutura "when they first".
*Na 3ª lacuna,o verbo deve estar no PRESENTE PERFEC por causa do advérbio "latery" que tem carga semântica progressiva.
*A frase completa é:
"The kids fell in love with the Tamagotchi when they first saw it,but they have not played with it lately.".