Present perfect marker words. Present Perfect Tense - present perfect tense in English: rules of formation and use, time markers, example sentences

The big difficulty is to get used to the fixed word order in English sentences. Everything in a sentence must be in its place, so teachers constantly remind you about the sentence construction scheme subject + predicate . And, it would seem, you are following the pattern, but if an adverb appears in a sentence, then it begins to “wander.” Sometimes, of course, you can catch “by ear” that the adverb is in the wrong place, and the sentence sounds “somehow wrong”. But it’s better to firmly know the places of adverbs in a sentence, because depending on their positions, the meaning of your statement may even change.

In this article we will talk about adverbs of time just, already, yet, still . They can occupy two positions in a sentence: in the middle(just, already, still) and at the end(yet).

JUST

Adverb of time just stands for "just now, just about" and describes an action that occurred in the recent past, but does not name the immediate moment of the action.

She "s just gone out. (BrE) / She just went out. (AmE) - She just went out.
I "ve just heard the news. (BrE) / I just heard the news. (AmE) - I just heard the news.

With tenses expressing future actions ( , ) just describes an action that will happen in the near future or is about to happen at the present moment ("just about", "already"):

The phone is ringing. I'm just answering! - The phone is ringing. I'm already answering!
He's just about to leave. - He's about to leave.

With the expression just now in the meaning "recently, some time ago" past tenses are used:

He was here just now! - He was just here!
The boys were fighting just now, but at the moment they are playing together. - The boys were just fighting, but now they are playing together.
I just saw a program about healthy food. - I just watched a program about healthy eating.

ALREADY

Already used primarily in statements and has the meaning: "already". Already used to show that an action occurred earlier than expected or a certain situation appeared earlier than expected. Already- adverb-marker of time, but it can also be found with other tenses. The place of the adverb already in a sentence is between the auxiliary and main verb, but sometimes already can come at the end of a sentence:

I have already cooked dinner. - I have cooked dinner already. - I've already prepared dinner.
We have already booked the tickets. - We have booked the tickets already. - We have already ordered tickets.

If already is put at the end, they want to express astonishment regarding the fact that the action happened earlier than the speaker expected:

You have come already! You are early today! - Have you come already! You are early today!
I don"t believe that you"ve done the task already. - I don’t believe that you have already completed the task.

Already can be used in questions if you want to get confirmation completed action, order:

Have you already sent the letters? - Well, have you already sent the letters?
Have the children already returned from school? - Well, have the children come home from school yet?

YET

Yet considered to be the opposite already. If already used in statements, then yet - in questions and denials. In other words, if the statement contains already- in question and negation there will be yet. Place yet - at the end suggestions or questions:

Have you cooked dinner yet? -Have you already prepared dinner?
Has she booked the tickets yet? - Has she already booked tickets?
He promised to call me but he hasn't called me yet. - He promised to call me, but hasn't done it yet.
We haven't decided where to go on holiday yet. - We haven't decided where to go on holiday yet.

In negatives, yet can come after the auxiliary verb:

In questions yet they are used to find out something, to get information. Not yet is often used for a short answer ("Not yet"):

Have you congratulated Bill? - Not yet. I"ll call him right now.
- Did you congratulate Bill? - Not yet. I'll call him right now.

Has he published his book? - Not yet. He's going to do it in May.
- Has he already published his book? Not yet. He plans to do this in May.

The pair of adverbs already and yet are typical of time, but in American English you can easily find them with Past Simple .

STILL

Adverb still has the following meanings: "still", "still", "as before". Still can be used with many tenses ( , and others) and indicates that the situation remains unchanged; The process has been delayed and has not yet been completed. The adverb of time still emphasizes the duration, duration of an action.

Still is used in statements and questions. Place still- in the middle of a sentence: after the verb to be, and if the predicate is expressed by a semantic verb - after the subject before the predicate:

Are you still waiting? -Are you still waiting?
I am still angry at him. - I'm still angry at him.
She still works as a doctor. - She is still working as a doctor.
He was still excited after the trip. - He is still impressed by the trip.
They can be still discussing the problem. - They may still be discussing the problem.

To emphasize the duration of an action, still is sometimes placed before the auxiliary verb to be:

He still is ill. - He's still sick.
Jane is still looking for a job. - Jane is still looking for a job.

The adverb still can be found in negations, where it appears after the subject and expresses dissatisfaction with the protracted situation or surprise:

I still haven"t finished writing my composition. - I still won’t finish writing the essay.
He still hasn't found a new job! - He still won't find a job!

Still can be used before the infinitive. In this case, you can replace still on yet:

What will you do? - It's still (yet) to be decided.
- What will you do? - This is still to be decided.

I"ve done a lot of housework but the greatest part it still (yet) to be done. -
I've done a lot of work around the house, but most of it still needs to be done.

Very often students ask: “How do you say “already” and “yet” in English?". It is impossible to answer such a question right away, because depending on the type and meaning of the statement, you have to choose three words: already, yet and still. There is no single and universal option. Let's look at some examples to understand the difference. Imagine you are waiting for an event to start:

Have they started yet? -Have they already started?
They have already started. - They have already started.

The speech turned out to be boring and you can’t wait for it to end:

Are they still playing? -Are they still playing?
Yes, they are still playing. They have not finished yet. - Yes, they are still playing. They're not done yet.

Another situation: you can't wait for the guest to arrive:

And then you wait for your guest to finally leave:

If you are waiting for something to happen - use already or yet. If you are waiting for the action to end, use still.

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One of the most difficult tenses to understand in English is Present Perfect Tense(present perfect tense). Almost every person who learns English finds it difficult.

Very often this tense is confused with the past simple. After all, sentences in these tenses are translated similarly, and sometimes even identically.

In this article I will talk in detail about the Present Perfect: when it is used, how it is formed and how it differs from the past simple.

From the article you will learn:

  • Rules for using the Present Perfect tense in English
  • Formation of negation in Present Perfect time in English
  • Formation of questions in the Present Perfect tense in English

Difference between Present Perfect and Past Simple

To help you understand when to use the Present Perfect tense, we will compare it with the Past Simple tense, with which it is often confused.

Past Simple Tense

Past Simple is translated as “past simple” tense.
When to use:We use it when we talk about events that happened in the past.
What we show: The very fact of an action that once happened.

For example:

I lost my keys.
I was losing your keys.

You lost your keys sometime in the past and now talk about it as a fact that once happened to you. For example, over lunch you told a friend that you lost your keys last week.

Present Perfect Tense

Present Perfect is translated as “present perfect (completed)” tense.
When to use: We use the present perfect when we talk about an action that happened in the past, but it matters now.
What we show: The result of an action done in the past.

Let's look at an example:

I have lost my keys.
I lost your keys.

For example, you call your wife and ask her when she will come home from work so that she can open the apartment. She asks you why you don’t do it yourself. And then you answer that you lost your keys (this has already happened) and therefore you cannot enter the apartment (the result of you losing your keys).

We see the result of this action right now : I am now without keys and cannot get into the apartment.

How to distinguish present perfect from past simple

Look at the following pictures:

For example, you were cooking dinner yesterday. And now you say it as a fact. This action has nothing to do with the present moment.

For example, you call your family for dinner. You say that you cooked dinner (action in the past). But you focus on the result - now you have a ready-made dinner.

Look at the table comparing Past Simple and Present Perfect:

Past Simple Tense Present Perfect Tense

We use:
When we talk about events,
that happened in the past.

We show:
Fact of action
which once happened.

We use:
When we talk about events,
that happened in the past.
However, this action
matters now.

We show:
The result of the action
which we received

Example:

I bought a bag.
I was buying a bag.

For example, I say
that I bought a bag in response to the question:
“What did you do yesterday?”
I say this as a fact of action - I
Yesterday I was shopping for a bag.

Example:

I have bought the bag.
I bought a bag.

For example meshowing
a bag to my friend, I show her off
exactly
at present.
That is, to me
the result is important
actions
- purchased bag.

Let's look at another example.

Past Simple:

I ate.
I ate.

For example, to the question: “Did you eat yesterday?”, I say that yes, I ate. This is simply the fact of the action itself in the past: I ate yesterday, but during this time I had already become hungry and now I can eat more.

Present Perfect:

I have eaten.
I ate.

I want to say with this sentence that I ate and, as a result, now I am full. This is important to me at the moment, because now I don’t want to eat anymore.

Now let's take a closer look at the uses of Present Perfect Tense.

Rules for using the Present Perfect tense in English


Let's see in what cases we use completed time:

1. The end/result of the action is visible right now

This means that the action you are talking about has just ended. And the result of this action is visible right now.

For example:

I cleaned the room (just finished cleaning, everything is still clean).

She cooked dinner (you can see the finished dinner right now).

2. We care about the result, not the time when something was done

We only care about the result - what we did. The time it was done is not important.

For example:

She did her homework (she has a notebook with ready homework at the moment (result), it doesn’t matter to us exactly when she did it).

He prepared the presentation (right now the presentation is ready, when he prepared it is not important to us).

3. Talk about your life experiences

That is, you are talking about what has or has not happened to you to date. The words often used are: ever, never, several (one, two, three, etc.) times.

For example:

He had never jumped with a parachute (he hadn't by now).

She has been to New York twice (by now, this is her life experience).

4. We talk about an unfinished period of time

That is, the time period you are talking about (week, month, year) has not ended, and you have the opportunity to perform the action a certain number of times.

For example:

I fed the cat twice today (the day is not over yet and you can feed her again).

He has gone ice skating three times this winter (winter is not over yet and he can do more).

Rules for forming Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect tense is formed with have/has and a verb in the past form.

IN English language There are regular and irregular verbs. Depending on the verb, this form is formed as follows:

  • if the verb is correct, then we add the ending -ed to it: cook - cooked, finish - finished.
  • if the verb is irregular, then we put it in the 3rd form: do - done, eat - eaten.

There is no rule by which we can determine the correct or irregular verb in front of us. You can only find out by looking it up in a dictionary or memorizing it. The same goes for forms of irregular verbs. You need to memorize them or look them up in the dictionary.

Now let's look at the diagram of such a proposal:

Actor + has/have + regular verb ending in ed or 3rd form of irregular verb

When we talk about someone in the singular (he - he, she - she, it - it), we use has. In all other cases - have.

I
You
We have done
They cooked
She bought
He has
It

They have bought a new flat.
They bought a new apartment.

She has broken her arm.
She broke her arm.

Abbreviations

We can shorten has and have in sentences. It will look like this:

has = 's
have='ve

The rule for adding the ending -ed

When we add the -ed ending to a verb, there are a few things to keep in mind.

1. If the verb ends in -e, then it is added to the verb -d only

chang e- chang ed- change
clos e- clos ed- close

2. If the verb ends to a consonant, in front of which stands stressed vowel, then the consonant is doubled

sto p-sto pped- stop
ba n-ba nned- forbid

Exceptions: verbs ending in -x and -w:

fi x- fi xed- fix
flo w-flo wed- leak

Note: V British English, when a verb ends in -l, it is doubled regardless of where the stress falls

travel l- travel lled- travel

American version:

travel l- travel led- travel

3. If the verb ends in -y and there is a consonant before it, then y changes to i+ed

cr y-cr ied- cry
tr y- tr ied- sample

Important: If there is a vowel before -u, then the ending -ed is added without change letters

sta y-sta yed- stay
pla y- pla yed- play

Tense indicators Present Perfect Tense


There are words in English that are very often used in the present perfect tense. Here are the main ones:

  • never - never
  • just - just now
  • yet - not yet / already
  • already - already
  • lately/of late - for Lately
  • recently - recently
  • ever - ever
  • this week/month/year - this week/this month/this year

They have moved recently.
They moved recently.

She has just finished.
She just finished.

But we never use the following words in the Present Perfect tense:

  • yesterday - yesterday
  • last week/year/month - on (in) last week/year/month

Why aren't they used?

After all, these words focus on when we performed the action, and not on the news/result of the action itself. We use them in the Past Simple.

Formation of negation in Present Perfect time

A negative sentence is constructed in the same way as an affirmative one. Only after the auxiliary verb have/has do we put the negative particle not.

The outline of such a proposal would be as follows:

Actor + has/have + not + regular verb ending in ed or 3rd form of irregular verb

I
You
We have done
They not cooked
She bought
He has
It

We have not done my homework.
We haven't done our homework.

She has not cooked dinner yet.
She hasn't cooked dinner yet.

Reduction

We can shorten have/has and the particle not like this:

have + not = haven’t
has + not = hasn’t

Formation of questions in Present Perfect tense

To ask a question in this tense, we need to put have/has in the first place in the sentence. Let's look at the diagram:

Have/has + actor+ regular verb ending in ed or 3rd form of an irregular verb?

I
you
Have we done?
they cooked?
she bought?
Has he
it

Have they finished?
Are they finished?

Has he met his friend?
Did he meet his friend?

The answer to the question can be positive or negative.

We can also give:

  • short answer
  • full answer

Short positive answer contains the word yes, an actor and an auxiliary verb:

Have they done it? Yes, they have.
They did it? Yes.

Has he read it? Yes, he has.
Did he read this? Yes.

Short negative answer starts with no, and to the auxiliary verb we add the particle not.

Have they done it? No, they have not.
They did it? No.

Has he read it? No, he has not.
Did she read this? No.

Fully positive answer looks like an affirmative sentence, only at the very beginning we put yes.

Have they wrote a letter? Yes, they have written a letter.
Did they write a letter? Yes, they wrote a letter.

Has did she buy the dress? Yes, she has bought the dress.
Did she buy this dress? Yes, she bought this dress.

Complete negative answer looks like a negative sentence, only at the very beginning we put no.

Have they wrote a letter? No, they haven't written a letter.
Did they write a letter? No, they didn't write a letter.

Has did she buy the dress? No, she hasn't bought the dress.
Did she buy this dress? No, she didn't buy this dress.

So, we got acquainted with the Present Perfect tense. If you still have any questions, ask them in the comments below the article. Now, to consolidate the theoretical part, let's move on to the practical task.

Reinforcement task

Translate the following sentences into English. Leave your answers in the comments.

1. He bought a car.
2. She finished her work.
3. They haven't cleaned the room yet.
4. Have you read these books?
5. He hasn't started yet.
6. We fixed the car.
7. They went to the cinema yesterday.

In Russian yet, already, still and so far are translated as: “yet/already”, “already”, “still” and “up to the present moment”. People learning English usually encounter these words for the first time when they are going through difficult times.

How not to get confused in them? Let's look in detail and with examples at when and how they are used.

Yet

Pronunciation and translation:

Yet / [yet] - already, yet

Meaning of the word:
Before the moment of speech or a certain time in the past; after the moment of speech or a certain time in the past

Use:
Usually, yet used in questions or negatives. In questions it is translated as “already”, and in negatives it is translated as “still”. In this case, yet is always placed at the end of the sentence.

For example, questions: Have you made a decision yet (yet)? Have you met new colleagues yet (yet)?

Examples of negatives: I have not completed this email yet (yet). We haven't been to this museum yet (yet).

Example:

Have you completed your renovation yet?
You already Have you finished your renovation?

Have they announced anything yet?
They already did they announce anything?

I haven't talked to the boss yet.
I more didn't talk to the boss.

She hasn’t seen these bills yet.
She more I haven't seen these bills.

Already

Pronunciation and translation:

Already [ɔ:l "redi] / [olre’di] - already

Meaning of the word:
Before the moment of speech or a certain moment in the past

Use:
We use already when the event has already happened at the time of speech or has already happened at some point in the past. Typically, already is used in statements (that is, not in questions). For example: By the time the guests arrived, I had already (already) prepared everything. We have already (already) discussed this issue. John is already (already) here, let's go say hello.

Sometimes already is used in questions. This is done in two cases.

1) To express surprise that something happened too quickly: What, is it already midnight (already)?

2) When we expect to hear “yes” in response to a question: Have you already prepared the presentation (already)? Have you called your mom already (already)?

Example:

We have already found a solution.
We already found a solution.

I have already told you everything I know.
I already I told you everything I know.

Have you finished already? I wish I were so fast!
You already finished? I wish I were that fast!

Have you visited the dentist already? You told me last week that you were going to.
You after all already went to the dentist? You told me last week that you were going to.

Still

Pronunciation and translation:

Still / [steel] - still, until now

Meaning of the word:
About an action or state that is still ongoing and has not yet ended

Use:
We use still when we want to emphasize that the situation is not over yet. For example: I'm still (still) waiting for your answer. My son is still (still) at school.

We can also talk about a specific moment in the past: Yesterday at 22.00 I was still (still) at work. Last week I was still (still) sick and therefore was at home.

If we have a negative sentence, then this may mean something that has not yet occurred (although it should have). For example: We still (still) haven’t decided anything. He still hasn't prepared the report.

Example:

I'm still waiting for your reply.
I All more I'm waiting for your answer.

We're still not sure what to do.
We All more not sure what to do.

So far

Pronunciation and translation:

So far / [seu fa’] - up to the current moment, for now

Meaning of the word:
About something that happened or continues up to the current moment (what will happen next is unknown)

Use:
We use so far when we are talking about a certain situation that continues until the moment of speech, however, things may change in the future.

For example: So far (so far) everything is going well. So far (so far) I have only done part of the work. So far he hasn't given us an answer.

Example:

So far the weather has been good.
Right up before current moment the weather was good.

All our attempts to find him were unsuccessful so far.
All our attempts to find him were unsuccessful Bye What.

What is the difference?

Yet- translated as “already” (in questions), “yet” (in negatives). For example: We haven't discussed this issue yet (yet).

Already- translated as “already” (in statements). For example: I already (already) ordered pizza.

In questions, it expresses surprise or reveals our inner conviction that something did happen. For example: Are you really leaving already (already)?

Still- we use it when we say - something is still going on (and this is the main thing). For example: I'm still (still) waiting for my pizza.

Sofar- we use it when something continues up to the current moment, but the situation may change in the future. For example: So far (so far) the day has been productive.

Note: this word is very similar to yet! In negative sentences they are interchangeable:

yet.
Police more I didn't find the stolen car.

The police haven’t found the stolen car so far.
Police Bye What I didn't find the stolen car.

In positive statements yet simply cannot be used, so it is only possible there so far:

The police have caught 4 members of the gang so far.
So far, police have caught four members of the gang.

! The police has caught 4 members of the gang yet.

Sometimes so far can be confused with still. The important thing here is that using still, we, first of all, want to convey that the action is still ongoing and there is no end in sight:

I still feel bad about what happened.
I All more I'm worried about what happened.

You still haven't answered my question!
You still didn't answer my question!

For so far the more important connotation is “this is the state of things for now, but in the future everything may change.”

So far I feel really bad about what happened but I’m sure I’ll calm down in a couple of days.
I'm still very worried about what happened, but I'm sure I'll calm down in a couple of days.

So far he hasn’t answered any questions, but the tabloid journalists are very persistent.
So far he has not answered a single question, but journalists yellow press very persistent.

Reinforcement task

Fill in the correct words in the following sentences. Leave your answers in the comments below the article.

1. I ___ waiting for you at the station! Where are you?!
2. We didn't have any problems ___. Although, we have only completed the easiest part of the project.
3. Have you decided ___?
4. Just like an hour ago, John ___ is stuck in a traffic jam.
5. No, thanks, I ___ ate.
6. ___ we are having a good time in Spain, but we are running out of money...
7. How?! He is here?!
8. I haven’t received your letter ___.

Hi there! Today we’ll talk about the main secret of the English language - the Present Perfect and its adverbs. In this article, we will remind you how the Present Perfect is constructed and when it is used, what markers can be used with it, and we will tell you about the nuances of their use.

Present Perfect - past or present?

In English, the past tense can be presented in different variations, depending on what the author places emphasis on (the result of the action, time or duration).

Present Perfectpresent perfect tense. It has no analogue in Russian and is translated by a perfective verb in the past tense (I have found it. - I found it.)

To construct the Present Perfect, take have/has as an auxiliary verb, and the main one will always be in the third form (the ending “-ed” or the third column in the table). In both negation and question, the verb will retain the third form.

I have finished my project. - I finished your project.
I haven't finished my project. - I didn't finish your project.
Have you finished your project? - You finished your project?

By using the Present Perfect we mean past actions that are related to the present. How can they be connected?

  • The action began in the past and is still ongoing.
I have learned English since childhood. - I learned English since childhood (and still learning).
  • The present is the result of a past action.
I have broken my leg and I am at hospital now. - I broke leg and I'm in the hospital now.
  • The job is done, but the time is not over yet.
I have made all the tasks this week. - I did all the tasks for this week (and the week is still going on).

On simple examples everything is easy. And when you are faced with atypical contexts and experience doubts and the torment of choosing between the Present Perfect and other times, then special ones will come to the rescue markers.

Marker words Present Perfect

Usually Present Perfect markers are represented by adverbs, which very vaguely tell us about the time of action. For example, “already” - when exactly? Today? Yesterday?

In order not to be confused and doubtful, it is enough to learn these adverbs and always use the Present Perfect with them:

ever- ever, ever, ever;
never- never;
just- just, exactly, barely, just, only, completely, just, only, now;
already- already, previously, even;
notyet- still no, no yet, not yet, no, not yet;
before- before, before, not yet, already, before;
lately- a long time ago, recently, recently, lately;
of late- recently, lately, recently;
so far- already, by now, at this hour, so far, until now, up to this moment;
recently- recently, the other day, recently, just now, not so long ago;
by now- Nowadays;
up to now- until now, until now;
since- since (from some point);
still- still.


Where to put markers in a sentence?

Some Present Perfect adverbs have specific usage patterns.

  • The most common Present Perfect markers "already" and "just" used before the semantic verb and after “have/has”.
I have already bought a gift. - I already bought a gift.
He has just started this task. - He only started this task.

There are cases when we will put " already” at the end to express surprise.

You have come already! - You came already!
  • "Never"- a word that already contains a negation, so with its participation the verb will only be in the affirmative form.
I have never seen him. - I have never seen him (note, in the Russian version there is a double negative - “never + not”, in English “I have never seen him”).

  • « Already», « lately», « recently», « of late" usually appear in the middle of a sentence (before the semantic verb), but they can also be placed at the end.
He has lately read many books. - He recently I read a lot of books.
She has made good progress recently. - She has made progress in Lately.
They have not spoken of late. - Lately they didn't talk.
I have already been here. - I already was here.
  • « Before" And " yet", as a rule, are placed at the end of the sentence.
I have seen this film before. - I saw this film earlier.
They haven't finished their project yet. - They more haven't finished your project.
  • « Yet"—for denials and questions. " Ever» - for questions only.
I haven't had lunch yet. - I more didn't have lunch.
Have you ever been to New York? - You When-someday been to New York?
Have you cooked dinner yet? - You already have you prepared dinner?

In questions " yet"used to find out something, to get information. Often " not yet" used for a short answer - " Not yet»:

- Have you congratulated Bill? - Not yet. I "ll call him right now. - Did you congratulate Bill? - Not yet. I'll call him right now.
  • « So far», « up to now», « by now" are most often found at the end, but can be placed at the beginning and before the semantic verb.
She has read all his books by now. - To date she read all his books.
He has so far written ten letters to her. - By this time he had already written her ten letters.
Up to now I haven’t found my keys. - Still I didn't find my keys.

  • « Still»indicates that the situation remains unchanged; The process has been delayed and has not yet been completed.
I still haven"t finished writing my composition. - I no way I won't finish writing my essay.
He still hasn't found a new job! - He no way won't find a job!

What to choose: Past Simple or Present Perfect?

In American English the markers " just», « already», « yet” are accompanied by both Present Perfect and Past Simple. Don't be surprised if you come across:

The mail just came. - The mail just arrived (American version).
The mail has just come(British version).
I already heard the news. - I have already heard this news (American).
I've already heard the news (British).

The combination " just now» is used exclusively with the Past Simple.

She was here just now. - She was just here.

At the marker recently There are 2 meanings: “not so long ago” and “lately”.

In the meaning of “not so long ago” we will use the Past Simple.

I started playing the piano only recently. - I started playing the piano not so long ago.

To mean “lately” we use the Present Perfect.

I haven't heard from her recently. - I haven't heard of her V Lately.

Conclusion

And that’s all for today! Not so scary Present Perfect how they write about him. We hope our secrets have helped you understand these slightly treacherous times.

May your English be perfect! And don't forget, there's always a better You living inside!

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The English language is “rich” in its tenses. It is quite difficult to remember all the cases of their use, but time indicators come to the rescue. Today in the spotlight Present indicator words Perfect.

Present Perfect tense

Present Perfect or Present Perfect is one of the confusing tenses for those learning English. The reason is understandable - there is no such time in the Russian language, so draw a parallel and understand what it’s about we're talking about impossible.

The Present Perfect tense is formed using two verbs: auxiliary have/has and main in 3rd form. Auxiliary verbs are not translated and are changed:

has for he (he), she (she), it (it), and have - for I (I), you (you), we (we), they (they).

The main verb is translated on the contrary and does not change. The only thing is that the 3rd form for regular verbs is verb + ending -ed (to watch - watched, to use - used, to smile - smiled), and for irregular ones - the 3rd column from the table of irregular verbs (to be - been, to hear - heard, to bring - brought):

It is a pity, but I have never been to Paris - It’s a pity, but I’ve never been to Paris.

He has brought beautiful flowers today - He brought beautiful flowers today.

Meaning

As can be seen from the examples, this tense form is translated into Russian using verbs in the past tense. It turns out that in meaning the Past Simple is very close to the Present Perfect. And yet there is a difference between them. Unlike the Past Simple (Simple Past), which describes ordinary, repeated actions in the past, the Present Perfect tense (Present Perfect) invites you to “plunge” into past events, the result of which affects the present:

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She has already cooked her dinner. It smells tasty - She has already prepared lunch. Smells tasty.

From this example it is clear that the first action (has cooked) became the cause of the second (smells) and the second was a consequence of the first. It seems that everything is simple and clear. But this is just the tip of the iceberg. More complex cases and rules are hidden under the “dark water”, and it is not always possible to detect them. It's time to take advantage of the hints that the English language itself offers free of charge - words with Present Perfect markers.

Words-satellites of time

Present Perfect Time Markers refer to adverbs of time that answer the question “When?”, indicate that an event occurred in an unspecified period, and emphasize the connection of the past with the present. These include time indicators:

The tense indicators yet (yet) and before (before) are used only at the end of the sentence.

  • Already- already (The teacher has already explained a difficult grammar rule - The teacher has already explained a difficult grammar rule);
  • Just– just now, just right (My son has just finished drawing his first picture - My son just finished drawing his first picture);
  • Ever- ever (Have you ever seen the ocean? - Have you ever seen the ocean?);
  • Never- never (She has never mentioned his name - She never mentioned his name);
  • Before- before, before (This artist has painted only women before - This artist painted only women before);
  • Recently- recently, recently (He has helped many immigrants recently - Recently he helped many immigrants);
  • Not...yet- not yet, still not (The police has not arrested him yet - The police have not arrested him yet);
  • Lately- recently, a long time ago, recently (My father has lately made much for me - My father has recently done a lot for me);
  • So far- at this hour, by now, up to this moment, already (His progress in studies has so far been slow - His progress in studies up to this point was slow);
  • By now- by now (My son has read much by now - By now, my son has read a lot);
  • Up to now- until now, until now (She has not known his name up to now - Until now she did not know his name);
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