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Present result
-
past action with present result
-
recently finished action
-
Unfinished time
-
past action not yet finished
-
time period still going on
-
Indefinite time
-
past actions at unspecified time
-
repeated past actions
-
Present results
Florence the explorer has discovered a new bird species.
She has tried to print it as a 3D model.
-
Unfinished time
Birds have been her favourite animals since she was a kid.
Today, she has seen the bird six times.
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Indefinite time
Florence has written three books on birds in the last few years.
“I have taken a lot of bird pictures in my career.”
Some keywords and phrases are often used with the present perfect.
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Words like: |
Phrases like: |
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Present perfect expresses:
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Present result
She has fallen in the water.
-
present result → She is now wet.
Simple past expresses:
-
Past action
She fell in the water.
-
not connected to the present
Present perfect expresses:
-
Unfinished time
I have worked 60 hours this week.
-
60 hours done
-
the week isn't finished
Simple past expresses:
-
Finished time
I worked 60 hours this week.
-
60 hours completed
-
the week is over
Present perfect expresses:
-
Indefinite time
She has been here before.
-
specific time is not mentioned
-
she knows the place
Simple past expresses:
-
Specific time
She was here last week.
-
specific time → last week
-
she isn’t at the location anymore
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I |
have 've |
+ |
verb |
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he/she/it |
has 's |
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I |
have not haven't |
+ |
verb |
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he/she/it |
has not hasn't |
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have |
I |
+ |
verb |
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has |
he/she/it |
Florence, the character used in the examples, was inspired by the ornithologist and author Florence Merriam Bailey. To learn more about her extraordinary life and work, visit the New York Historical Society Museum & Library.