{"id":40,"date":"2017-11-15T16:34:04","date_gmt":"2017-11-15T16:34:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/english.orochinagi.com\/?page_id=40"},"modified":"2024-03-21T15:36:10","modified_gmt":"2024-03-21T15:36:10","slug":"present-perfect","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/orochinagi.com\/english\/grammar\/present-perfect\/","title":{"rendered":"Present Perfect"},"content":{"rendered":"

Why use present perfect?<\/h2>\n

How do we express that an action happened in the past?<\/p>\n

John worked.<\/em><\/p>\n

This is the past simple. The action happened in the past.<\/p>\n

John has worked.<\/em><\/p>\n

This is the present perfect. The action happened in the past, and it has a consequence in the present.<\/p>\n

(Another explanation: the action has a link to the present.)<\/p>\n

Every perfect tense expresses a result, an impact, due to an action. When you want to express the result of an action without saying it, use the perfect tense.
\n<\/span><\/h2>\n

Easy Level explanation<\/h2>\n

An action in the past that is important now.<\/p>\n

Medium Level explanation<\/h2>\n

An action from the past with a consequence in the present.<\/p>\n

High Level explanation<\/h2>\n

The focus of the sentence is not the action, it’s the result of the action.<\/p>\n

Usage<\/h1>\n

You are sitting with a friend, you want to talk about a film you saw the last weekend.<\/p>\n

I’ve seen<\/strong> a great movie! = There is a result of this action = I want to talk about it<\/p>\n

I saw a great movie! = It’s not important = no consequence = action finished in the past.<\/p>\n

Speakers often use “now<\/strong>” to make it clear that the action has a consequence in the present!<\/p>\n

I’ve tried this seven times now<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

Questions<\/h1>\n

Have you seen it? = I want to talk about it<\/p>\n

Did you see it? = It’s not important, but we can talk about it if you want.<\/p>\n

At the police station: I have lost my bag = I need help!!!<\/p>\n

Later at the bar with your friend: I lost my bag = it’s not important now, nothing we can do about it.<\/p>\n

Have you bought the tickets? = we need the tickets to fly!<\/p>\n

Have you finished the email? = There is a consequence. I need the email. I want to read the email.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0I reserved the best seats.<\/em><\/p>\n

This expresses that the action happened in the past. That’s all.<\/p>\n

I have reserved the best seats.<\/em><\/p>\n

This expresses a result, a consequence (which is up to interpretation):
\ne.g.<\/p>\n