unit 1 the perfects
DESCRIPTION
English Grammar for BachilleratoTRANSCRIPT
Affirmative
I've <past participle> You've <past participle> He's / She's / It's <past participle> We've <past participle> You've <past participle> They've <past participle>
Interrogative
Have I <past participle>? Have you <past participle>? Has he / she / it <past participle>? Have we <past participle>? Have you <past participle>? Have they <past participle>?
Negative
I haven't <past participle> You haven't <past participle> He / She / It hasn't <past participle> We haven't <past participle> You haven't <past participle> They haven't <past participle>
Short Answers
Yes, I have. / No, I haven't. Yes, you have. / No, you haven't. Yes, he / she / it has. / No, he / she / it hasn't. Yes, we have. / No, we haven't. Yes, you have. / No, you haven't. Yes, they have. / No, they haven't.
1. To express ACTIONS or SITUATIONS started in the Past and not finished.
2. We never mention when the action happened.
I've lost my keys (I can't find them, I don't know where they are). Jim has waited for two hours (and he's still waiting)
I've lost my keys yesterday. Jim has waited for two hours at 4 o'clock.
3. However, we can ask / mention when it STARTED or how long it LASTED.
—How long have you studied Russian? —Since I was 14. —Since when have you lived in Granada? —Since 1987. —How long have they worked for this company? —For six years.
4. With the adverbs already / yet
5. With ever to express 'at any time in one's life'
—Have you finished yet? —No, not yet. / —Yes, I've already finished.
— Have you ever tried sushi? —No, never — Have your parents ever taken you to the beach? —Yes, quite often.
6. With periods of time not finished yet:
I haven't smoked this morning. She hasn't had breakfast today.
Never use the Present Perfect to say or ask when something happened. Use the Past Simple instead.
Do not use the Present Perfect to talk about dead people.
—When have you finished the exercise? When did you finish the exercise? —When has she bought that car? When did she buy that car?
—Picasso has painted 'Les demoiselles d'Avignon' (painted…) —I've never met my great-grandfather. (never met…) —The Chinese have invented the paper. (invented…)
PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
Remember the "equations" •Continuous = [Be + <Gerund>] •Perfect = [Have + <Past Participle>]
Spelling: •argue, arguing; hate, hating •hit, hitting; run, running •admit, admitting; begin, beginning •signal, signalling; travel, travelling
•We've been painting the house (and we haven't probably finished) •Compare with 'We've painted the house' (now it's painted) •Paul is very tired. He's been working very hard. (= he's tired now)
For an action happening now without interruption:
•I've been writing letters since breakfast. But: •I've written six letters since breakfast.
To express repeated actions in the past, probably not finished now:
•What have you done with my car? (Where is it? Where did you leave it?) •What have you been doing with my car? (it's all dented or damaged)
Similar sentences do not have the same meaning:
•You're out of breath. Have you been running? (= you're out of breath now) •It's not raining. Now, but the ground is wet. It's been raining.
For an action just stopped:
•I've been telephoning them all day (do not say how many times)
Do NOT use repetitions with this tense:
Verbs Which Change Meaning
Smell (sentir olor) Smelling (oler) Careful! I smell gas! Why are you smelling the fish?
Taste (percibir sabor) Tasting (catar) This milk tastes sour I'm tasting the soup; it needs salt
See (ver) Seeing (visitar) I can't see you! Where are you? He's seeing his parents tomorrow
Think (opinar) Thinking (pensar) I think Peter is wrong She's thinking about her holidays
Expect (tener esperanza) Expecting (esperar) I expect (= hope) she's fine Mary's expecting (a baby)
We're expecting the bus.