Angol nyelvhasználat tanítóknak és óvodapedagógusoknak

- Home
- 1. Introduction to time, tense and aspect
  - 1.1 The difference between times and tenses
  - 1.2 Aspects
  - 1.3 State verbs and action verbs
- 2. Past time
  - 2.1 Past simple
  - 2.2 Past continuous
  - 2.3 The difference between the past simple and the past continuous
  - 2.4 Past perfect
  - 2.5 The difference between the past simple and the past perfect
  - 2.6 Past perfect continuous
  - 2.7 The difference between the past perfect and the past perfect continuous
  - 2.8 Present simple to express past
  - 2.9 USED TO for past habits
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
- 3. Present time
  - 3.1 Present simple
  - 3.2 Present continuous
  - 3.3 Present perfect
  - 3.4 Present perfect continuous
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
- 4. Future time
  - 4.1 Future simple
  - 4.2 Future continuous
  - 4.3 Future perfect
  - 4.4 Future perfect continuous
  - 4.5 BE GOING TO
  - 4.6 Present simple for fixed future events
  - 4.7 Present continuous for fixed future arrangements
  - 4.8 The difference between WILL, BE GOING TO and the present continuous for future events
  - 4.9 Future time clauses
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
- 5. Modals
  - 5.1 Types of modals
  - 5.2 Modals to express ability: CAN, COULD, BE ABLE TO
  - 5.3 Modals to express advice: SHOULD, OUGHT TO, HAD BETTER
  - 5.4 Modals to express criticism: CAN, COULD, MIGHT, SHOULD
  - 5.5 Modals to express deduction: MUST, CAN'T, COULDN'T
  - 5.6 USED TO
  - 5.7 Modals to express intentions: BE GOING TO, WILL
  - 5.8 Modals to express obligation: MUST, HAVE (GOT) TO
  - 5.9 NEED
  - 5.10 Modals to express obligation: SHOULD, OUGHT TO
  - 5.11 Modals to express offers: CAN, COULD, WILL, SHALL, MAY
  - 5.12 Modals to express permission / prohibition: CAN, COULD, MAY, MIGHT, BE ALLOWED TO, MUSTN'T
  - 5.13 Modals to express possibility: MAY, MIGHT, COULD
  - 5.14 Modals to express predictions: BE GOING TO, WILL
  - 5.15 Modals to express requests: CAN, COULD, WILL, WOULD
  - 5.16 Modals to express suggestions: SHOULD, COULD, MIGHT, SHALL
  - 5.17 The modal WOULD to express unreal situations
  - 5.18 Overview of modals
  - 5.19 Modals and adverbs
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
- 6. Conditionals and unreal tenses
  - 6.1 Unreal tenses
  - 6.2 Conditionals
    - 6.2.1 Zero conditional
    - 6.2.2 First conditional
    - 6.2.3 Second conditional
    - 6.2.4 Third conditional
    - 6.2.5 Mixed conditionals
    - 6.2.6 IF, EVEN IF, ONLY IF, AS LONG AS, PROVIDED, SUPPOSING, UNLESS, IF NECESSARY, IF SO etc.
  - 6.3 WISH / IF ONLY
  - 6.4 IT'S (HIGH) TIME
  - 6.5 AS IF / AS THOUGH
  - 6.6 WOULD RATHER / WOULD SOONER
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
- 7. Indirect speech
  - 7.1 The difference between direct and indirect speech
  - 7.2 Punctuation in direct speech
  - 7.3 Changes in indirect speech
  - 7.4 Reporting questions
  - 7.5 Reporting statements
  - 7.6 Reporting imperatives
  - 7.7 Reporting verb + THAT-clause
  - 7.8 Reporting verb + THAT-clause with SHOULD + infinitive
  - 7.9 Reporting verb + THAT-clause with the present subjunctive
  - 7.10 Reporting verb + gerund
  - 7.11 Reporting verb + TO-infinitive
  - 7.12 Reporting verb + object + TO-infinitive
  - 7.13 SAY, TELL and ASK
  - 7.14 Impersonal reporting
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
  - Exercise 6
- Progress test 1
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
- 8. Passive voice and causative structures
  - 8.1 Passive voice
    - 8.1.1 The difference between the active and passive voice
    - 8.1.2 Form: passive voice
    - 8.1.3 Verbs which cannot be used in the passive voice
    - 8.1.4 Ditransitive verbs in the passive voice
    - 8.1.5 The agent with the passive voice
    - 8.1.6 The use of the passive voice
    - 8.1.7 The passive with GET
    - 8.1.8 Passive voice with reporting verbs
  - 8.2 Causative structures
    - 8.2.1 Causative structures without an agent
    - 8.2.2 Causative structures with an agent
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
  - Exercise 6
- 9. Non-finite verb forms
  - 9.1 The difference between finite and non-finite verb forms
  - 9.2 The infinitive
    - 9.2.1 The forms of the infinitive
    - 9.2.2 The "subject" of the infinitive
    - 9.2.3 The TO-infinitive to replace a relative clause
    - 9.2.4 The TO-infinitive after passive reporting verbs
    - 9.2.5 The infinitive after modals
    - 9.2.6 DO, DOES, DID + bare infinitive
    - 9.2.7 SEE, WATCH, HEAR, LISTEN, FEEL, SMELL, NOTICE + object + bare infinitive
    - 9.2.8 APPEAR, HAPPEN, PROVE, SEEM, TEND, TURN OUT + TO-infinitive
    - 9.2.9 HAVE, GET, LET, MAKE + object + infinitive
    - 9.2.10 Verb + TO-infinitive
    - 9.2.11 Verb + object + TO-infinitive
    - 9.2.12 Adjective + TO-infinitive
    - 9.2.13 The infinitive of purpose
    - 9.2.14 The infinitive of result
    - 9.2.15 Question word + TO-infinitive
    - 9.2.16 Introductory infinitive clauses
  - 9.3 The gerund
    - 9.3.1 The forms of the gerund
    - 9.3.2 The "subject" of the gerund
    - 9.3.3 The gerund as subject
    - 9.3.4 The gerund as a subject complement
    - 9.3.5 The gerund as the object of a verb
    - 9.3.6 Verb + gerund
    - 9.3.7 Preposition + gerund
    - 9.3.8 Verb + preposition + gerund
    - 9.3.9 The gerund used in compound nouns
    - 9.3.10 Other expressions followed by the gerund
    - 9.3.11 Verbs followed by the TO-infinitive or gerund with no difference in meaning
    - 9.3.12 Verbs followed by the TO-infinitive or gerund with a difference in meaning
  - 9.4 The participle
    - 9.4.1 The forms of the participle
    - 9.4.2 The "subject" of the participle
    - 9.4.3 The present participle used to form the continuous aspect
    - 9.4.4 The past participle used to form the perfect aspect
    - 9.4.5 The past participle used to form the passive voice
    - 9.4.6 The present and past participles used as adjectives
    - 9.4.7 SEE, WATCH, HEAR, LISTEN, FEEL, SMELL, NOTICE + object + present participle
    - 9.4.8 CATCH, FIND, LEAVE + object + present participle
    - 9.4.9 COME, GO + present participle
    - 9.4.10 SPEND, WASTE + object + present participle
    - 9.4.11 HAVE, GET + object + past participle
    - 9.4.12 Participle clauses
  - 9.5 The difference between the gerund and the present participle
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
- 10. Relative clauses
  - 10.1 What is a relative clause?
  - 10.2 Defining relative clause
  - 10.3 Non-defining relative clause
  - 10.4 The difference between defining and non-defining relative clauses
  - 10.5 Sentential relative clause
  - 10.6 Relative pronouns: WHO, WHOM, WHOSE, WHICH, THAT
  - 10.7 Relative adverbs: WHERE, WHEN, WHY
  - 10.8 Prepositions in relative clauses
  - 10.9 Non-finite relative clauses
  - 10.10 WHAT and WHATEVER
  - 10.11 Cleft sentences
  - 10.12 Pseudo-cleft sentences
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
  - Exercise 6
- 11. Inversion
  - 11.1 What is inversion?
  - 11.2 Subject-verb inversion
    - 11.2.1 Subject-verb inversion after place adverbials
    - 11.2.2 Subject-verb inversion in direct speech
    - 11.2.3 Subject-verb inversion in news headlines
  - 11.3 Subject-auxiliary inversion
    - 11.3.1 Subject-auxiliary inversion after negative adverbials
    - 11.3.2 Subject-auxiliary inversion in questions
    - 11.3.3 Subject-auxiliary inversion in question tags
    - 11.3.4 Subject-auxiliary inversion in echo tags
    - 11.3.5 Subject-auxiliary inversion with SO and NEITHER/NOR to express agreement
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
- 12. Articles and nouns
  - 12.1 Articles
    - 12.1.1 The indefinite article (A, AN)
    - 12.1.2 The definite article (THE)
    - 12.1.3 The zero article (-)
  - 12.2 Countable and uncountable nouns
    - 12.2.1 The difference between countable and uncountable nouns
    - 12.2.2 Nouns with countable and uncountable meanings
    - 12.2.3 Determiners with countable and uncountable nouns (SOME, ANY, NO, MANY, MUCH, FEW, LITTLE etc.)
    - 12.2.4 Partitive expressions with uncountable nouns
    - 12.2.5 Nouns which are always plural
    - 12.2.6 Nouns with a plural form and a singular meaning
    - 12.2.7 Nouns with the same singular and plural forms
    - 12.2.8 Irregular plural forms
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
  - Exercise 6
  - Exercise 7
- Progress test 2
  - Exercise 1
  - Exercise 2
  - Exercise 3
  - Exercise 4
  - Exercise 5
- Appendix
  - Irregular verb forms
  - Spelling rules

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# 3.3 Present perfect

## Form: present perfect

`have / has + past participle`

The present perfect is formed with have / has (the present tense forms of have) + the past participle form of the verb.

### Affirmative

Subject | Auxiliary | Verb (past participle) |
--- | --- | --- | ---
I You We You They | have | seen | this film before.
He/She/It | has

The following contracted forms are often used in spoken and in informal written language:

> I have » I've
> you have » you've
> he/she/it has » he's/she's/it's
> we have » we've
> you have » you've
> they have » they've

### Negative

Subject | Auxiliary | not | Verb (past participle) |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
I You We You They | have | not | seen | this film yet.
He/She/It | has

The contracted forms haven't and hasn't are often used instead of have not and has not in spoken and in informal written language.

### Interrogative

(Question word) | Auxiliary | Subject | Verb (past participle) |
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
(How many times) | have | I you we you they | seen | this film?
has | he/she/it

## Present perfect for past events

The present perfect tense is used for past events when the exact time is not mentioned either because it is not known or it is not important. The emphasis is on the fact that the events happened before the time of speaking:

> I've been to China.
> I've seen that film before.

But if we say when something happened, we use the past simple:

> I went to China in 2011.
> I already saw that film last week.

We also use the past simple if we ask when something happened in the past:

> "Have you ever been to China?"
> "Yes, I have."
> "When did you go there?"

> "Have you seen that film before?"
> "Yes, I have."
> "When did you see it?"

## Present perfect for recent events with a result in the present

The present perfect tense is used for recent events that have a result in or an effect on the present moment:

> Someone has opened the window. (the window is open, and it is cold inside)
> Tom has broken his leg. (his leg is broken, and he can't walk)

If there is no connection between the action and the present moment, the past simple is used:

> Someone opened the window to let in some fresh air. (the window is now closed, or we don't know whether it is closed or not)
> On the day before the match, Tom broke his leg. (his leg is not broken anymore)

## Present perfect with an incomplete period

The present perfect tense is used to express actions happening in an incomplete period of time. An incomplete period is one that includes the present moment, that is, the time of speaking. This period can be implied or expressed with a time expression (today, this week, this year, ever, never etc.):

> I haven't smoked today.
> I've lived here all my life.
> Have you ever been to China? (in your life)
> My uncle has written several plays. (in his life, supposing he is still alive)
> He has never worked as a waiter. (in his life)

If the action happened in a completed period of time (one that does not include the time of speaking), the past simple tense is used. This period can be implied or expressed with a time expression (yesterday, last week, last year, between 1905 and 1910 etc.) or a clause:

> I didn't smoke yesterday.
> I lived in this house when I was a child. (I am not a child any more)
> Did you go to China when you were working as a flight attendant?
> Shakespeare wrote numerous plays. (in his life, he is dead now)
> He worked in this café between 1905 and 1910.

Note that some time expressions (e.g. this morning, recently and lately) may refer to either a completed or an incomplete period of time depending on the context and whether or not the time of speaking is included in the given period:

> I have seen him this morning. (it is still morning)
> I saw him this morning. (it is later during the day)

> He has put on some weight recently. (in the past few days/weeks/months etc.)
> He put on some weight recently. (some time ago)

Reference to an incomplete period of time, however, does not always involve the use of the present perfect tense:

> Have you been to Lake Balaton this year? (any time this year)
> Did you go to Lake Balaton this year? (at the time when you go there every year)

Although both actions are related to an incomplete period, the present perfect in the first sentence refers to an indefinite time; meanwhile, the past simple in the second sentence implies a definite time (supposing the recipient of the question always visits Lake Balaton at the same time every year).

## Present perfect with FOR and SINCE

The question words how long? and since when?, and the prepositions for and since are used with the present perfect tense to express that something started in the past and is still true. How long? and for refer to an incomplete period of time, while since when? and since refer to a point in time:

> I have lived here for two months.
> I have lived here since January.
> "How long have you known José?" "For ten years."
> "Since when have you known José?" "Since the early 1990s."

The point in time after since can also be expressed with a clause containing a verb in the past simple:

> I have lived here since I was born.
> I've known José since we were young.

## Present perfect with JUST

The present perfect tense is used for recently completed actions, usually with the word just:

> I have just started a typing course.

If the exact time is mentioned, the past simple is used:

> I started a typing course a few weeks ago.

Just now also requires the past simple tense and means "a moment ago":

> I spoke to him just now. He says hi.

## Present perfect with YET and ALREADY

The time expressions yet and already are often used with the present perfect tense. Yet is used in negative and interrogative sentences:

> I haven't finished yet.
> Have you talked to him yet?

Already is usually used in affirmative sentences:

> I've already told you more than I should.

## IT'S (BEEN) + DAYS / WEEKS / MONTHS / etc. + SINCE

The structure it's (been) + days / weeks / months / etc. + since is used to emphasise the length of time that has passed since a past event:

> It's been weeks since his last blog post.
> It's been a long time since I met him.
> How long has it been since they moved away?

In the sentences above, it's been stands for it has been (present perfect); however, in everyday speech, it is more common to use the present simple instead of the present perfect:

> It's weeks since his last blog post.
> It's a long time since I met him.
> How long is it since they moved away?

## Present perfect with quantities

The present perfect tense is used to express quantities: how much we have done of something or how often we have done something in an incomplete period of time:

> I've written two letters today.
> How much alcohol have you consumed in the past 24 hours?
> I've been to the cinema three times this month.

## Present perfect with superlative forms of adjectives

The present perfect is used with superlative forms of adjectives to express emphasis:

> This is the first time I have been to the Philippines.
> This is the worst film I have ever seen.

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