Present Perfect/Perfective.

Form
S + HAVE / HAS + V-en (past participle)

I /you/we/they have received the parcel.

He/she has heard the news.
Perfect/Perfective
Meaning
1) Perfect/Perfective indicates, first of all,
ANTERIOR TIME;
- the time of the event is anterior to some time or
reference / orientation

ST ← O/RT
Perfect/Perfective
Meaning
Perfect/perfective structure consists of two items:

- operator: have

- past participle form of the verb

Perfect/Perfective
HAVE, usually carries information about
Meaning

- tense (anteriority to an O/RT) and

- aspect (results/consequences etc.)

PAST PARTICIPLE, normally carries

- lexical meaning (what the situation is about);
- completion (with dynamic verbs);
Observe
- have (the operator) is a finite form;
- past participle is non-finite.
Perfect/Perfective
Meaning
I have already met your sister.
The flight was cancelled after we had paid for
the tickets.
If you had listened to me, we would have.
avoided mistakes.
By next week, they will have completed their
contract.
I may have left the key at the office (last night).
I am sorry to have missed the plan.
She regrets having abandoned the plan.
Perfect/Perfective
Meaning
The time of orientation / reference, O/RT, can be
signalled by:

- tense
- other elements of the sentence (adverbials expressing
time)
- context
Perfect/Perfective
Meaning
The common factor of meaning brought by
PERFECT/PERFECTIVE to all these examples is
ANTERIORITY to an O/RT
I have already met your sister.

RT = t0 (now) Axis of present

have met (the meeting happened
before now)
Perfect/Perfective
Meaning
The flight was cancelled after we had paid for the
tickets.
t0 (now) Axis of present

O/RT = then (OT← t0) Axis of past

had paid (then = the moment of cancelling)
Perfect/Perfective
Meaning
If you had listened to me, you would have avoided the
mistakes.

OT = t0 (now) Axis of the present

if …had listened (hypothetical event)
( = If you had listened to me
before now…)
Perfect/Perfective
Meaning
By next week, they will have completed their
contract.
ST (now) Axis of present

OT = then Axis of future

will have completed OT → t0 ; next week)
Perfect/Perfective
Meaning
I may have left the key at the office.

OT = t0 = now Axis of present

may have left may has a present
time orientation
Perfect/Perfective
Meaning
I am sorry to have missed the concert.
Axis of present
OT = t0 = now (am)
to have missed
Perfect/Perfective
Meaning
I was sorry to have missed the train.

t0 (now) Axis of present

Axis of past
OT = then (= was) (OT ← t0)
to have missed
Perfect/Perfective
Meaning
She regrets having abandoned the plan.

OT = t0 = now Axis of present

(regrets)
having abandoned
The Present Perfect
Meaning
 Present perfect/perfective and past tense share
almost the same time “territory”.
In present approaches its is said that:

- past tense occurs in the past time zone

which does not include to;

- present perfect occurs in the pre-present zone

which includes to.
The Present Perfect
Meaning
 Present perfect/perfective differs from the simple past
in relating a PAST event to a PRESENT orientation /
reference time (to):

O/RT = t0

Where did you put my purse? (1)

Where have you put my purse? (2)
The Present Perfect
Meaning
Both utterances may have the purpose to find the purse,
but:
(1) The speaker seems to ask the addressee to
remember the past situation time , whereas in (2)

(2) He seems to concentrate on the purse’s present

whereabouts – some consequences at to.
The Present Perfect
Meaning
Basic meaning of present perfect:

It relates a past situation to the moment of

speaking (to).
Present Perfect -USES
1. STATE leading up to the present

That house has been empty for ages

Have you known my sister for long?
I’ve never liked you.
How long have you been a doctor.
I have lived here for twenty years.
Present Perfect -USES
1. STATE leading up to the present
The state continues at least up to the present moment.
- the house is still empty. Compare

That house was empty for ages.

- you still know (meet/date) my sister;

- you’re still a doctor;
- I still live here.

Remember: verbs with state meaning are not

usually used in the progressive.
*I have been knowing your sister for six years.
Present Perfect -USES
1. STATE leading up to the present
Most important temporal markers

- for
- since
- how long
PP- USES
2. Indefinite EVENTS in a period leading up to the present

Have you (ever) been to Florence?

All our children have had measles.

Notice: the exact time of the action is not

known/important to the speaker.
(The speaker is not interested in the
time of the situation)
PP- USES
3. HABIT in a period leading up to the present

Mr Terry has sung in this choir ever since he was a boy.

The province has suffered from disastrous floods

throughout its history.

I’ve written six letters since lunch time.

How many times have you been in prison?
Representation of meanings
past t0 (now) future

(a) state meaning

(b) (indefinite) event
meaning
(c) habitual meaning

NOTICE: all situations are, in a way, related to to.

Connotations of a single event in
an indefinite past (meaning 2)
There are three implications/connotations,
particularly in BrE, in reference to a single event that
happened in an indefinite past:

1) The relevant time zone leads up to the present.

2) The situation is recent.
3) The result of the situation still obtains at to.
Connotations of a single event in an indefinite
past (meaning 2)
1) The speakers chooses present perfect / perfective (not
past tense) if he has in mind an implicit time zone
which has not yet finished

Have you seen the Javanese Art Exhibition? [yet]

(the exhibition is still open)

Did you see the Javanese Art Exhibition?

(when it was there – now, at to, the exhibition is
finished).
Connotations of a single event in an indefinite past
(meaning 2)

Have you ever seen a ghost?

I’m sure we’ve met before.
Have you seen Romeo and Juliet?
You’ve done a lot for me.
Connotations of a single event in an indefinite past
(meaning 2)
 Adverbs
- ever
- never
- before
- so far
- up to now etc.
Connotations of a single event in an indefinite past
(meaning 2)
OBSERVE!
When the ‘time up to now’ is more DEFINITE, past
tense is preferred in affirmative sentences.
I spoke to the boss today about my holiday.
(more natural that I’ve spoken…)
I saw John this week.
Have you seen John this week?
I haven’t seen John this week.
Connotations of a single event in an indefinite past
(meaning 2)
Sometimes there is little difference between

Welcome home. I’ve missed you.

Welcome home. I missed you.
We have heard that you have rooms to let.
We heard ….
Connotations of a single event in an indefinite past
(meaning 2)
Present perfect is used in constructions such as
This/It is the first / second / only / best / most …/
worst ....

This is the first time I’ve heard her sing.

It is one of the most interesting books I’ve ever
read.
Connotations of a single event in
an indefinite past (meaning 2)
2) (recent events)
PP is often used to report a piece of news

Have you heard the news? / Did you hear the news?
The president has resigned.

The connotation of recency makes B’s response absurd in

A: “Has the postman left any letters?” (recency is implied)

B: “Yes, he did; ten years ago.”
Connotations of a single event in an indefinite past
(meaning 2)

Here is the news. The pound has fallen against

the dollar.
The number of unemployment has reached five
million.
I’ve just tidied up the kitchen.
He’s recently arrived from New York.
I’ve passed my driving test at last.
Connotations of a single event in an indefinite past
OBSERVE!
(meaning 2)
Present perfect is used to introduce a recent indefinite
event and then we normally change to past tense.
There has been a plane crash near Bristol.
Witnesses say that there was an explosion as
the aircraft was taking off.
Connotations of a single event in
an indefinite past (meaning 2)
3) The results of a past action still obtains at ST in
the case of dynamic conclusive verbs (the meaning
of which implies the accomplishment of a change of
state).

The apples have all been eaten

There are no apples left.
My mother has recovered from her illness
She is better now.
Connotations of a single event in
an indefinite past (meaning 2)
Have any of the visitors arrived?
Are any of the visitors here?

These connotations are closely connected to each

other (e.g. result with recency)
Connotations of a single event in an indefinite past
(meaning 2)
Some fool has let the cat in. (> the cat is in)
All the wars in history have taught us nothing.
(< we know nothing)
Jim has broken his right arm. (it is still broken)
Connotations of a single event in an indefinite past
(meaning 2)
Compare
I’ve learnt enough to pass the exam. (the
exam is still to come)

I learnt enough to pas the exam. (the exam is

over)
Look what John’s given me! (focus on the gift)
Who gave you the gift? (focus on the past
situation of giving)
Some other uses of Present Perfect
1) In conditional sentences type I
John will go home [if his wife has cooked dinner].

2) In an adverbial clause of time

We’ll ring you [as soon as he has come back from
work].

Usual mistake
*We’ll ring you as soon as he will come back.
Some other uses of Present Perfect
3) The verb be can be used in the present tense form
with a present perfect meaning when it expresses
time.

It’s ages since I last went dancing.

It’s five years now since they moved out of the old
house.
OBSERVE!
1) When the present situation is compared to a past
one, with verbs such as expect, promise, think past
tense is used.
It is not as good as I expected.
You’re older than I thought.
But you promised.
OBSERVE!
2) About when-clauses:
- when reference is made to a single past
situation, past tense is normally required;

I was there [when the accident happened].

When did the accident happen?
OBSERVE!
- when reference is made to a HABIT located in
the pre-present time zone:
- in the MxCl: present perfect
- in the when-clause
- past tense or
- present perfect
OBSERVE!
[I have often been to Japan [when the
cherry trees were in boom.]]

[John has batted well [when he has played.]]

[I’ve spent hours looking at things like this,

[when you’ve not been around.]
OBSERVE!
When the when-clause uses present perfect and
precedes the MxCl, the MxCl occasionally uses past
tense.

[When we have suggested changes, [the

people concerned were furious.]

[When I have seen him in the last two years,

[he was invariably accompanied by several
girls.]
OBSERVE!
Possible explanation:
- The 1st clause (when-cl) introduces a repetitive
situation as discourse topic (located in the pre-
present time zone).

- The 2nd clause (MxCl) focuses on one aspect of the

situation.
Adverbials usually associated with
Present Perfect
just ever
recently never
lately up to now
already so far
yet since
for etc.
American English
In AE, for these variants of indefinite past (these
connotations), past tense is often preferred - with
already, just, yet, ever, never, before..

Did the children come home yet?

I just came back.
You told me already
I’m tired. I had a long day.
PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
FORM
HAVE/HAS BEEN + V-ing

have been reading

has been crying
PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
USES
1) Limited duration of a dynamic
situation leading up to the
present.

We’ve been driving for five hours.

How long have you been reading?
PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
USES
The difference between

We’ve been living here for five years.

(temporariness is implied) and
We’ve lived here for five years.
(permanent situation)

is not felt at all by some speakers

Some other verbs: stand, lie, sit, work,
wait…
PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
USES
2) the continuation of a happening to the t0 or recent
past (it is the context that disambiguates the
interpretation).

It’s been snowing for a couple of days.

What have you been doing all day?
PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
USES
3) to express a past recent ongoing dynamic situation
which does not necessarily have a present result (it is
not finished).

I’ve been cleaning the windows, but they are not

finished yet.

However, this is not possible with present perfect

*I’ve cleaned the windows, but I haven’t finished
them yet.
PRESENT PERFECT PROGRESSIVE
USES
4) a past recent happening which has visible (side)
effects at to – to explain the cause of a present
situation.

You’ve been fighting again.

(I can tell that from your black eye)

It’s been snowing. (I can see the white ground)

Have you been crying? (your eyes are red)
Some comparative uses of Present Perfect
and Present Perfect Progressive
1)
Present Perfect (Simple)
- Emphasis on completion
(at to the action is completed)

I have done my homework.

(Meaning: My homework is completed
now.)
Some comparative uses of Present Perfect and Present
Perfect Progressive
Present perfect Progressive
- Emphasis on duration
(how somebody has spent his time)

I have been doing my homework.

Meaning: That's how I have spent my time.

It is not relevant whether my
homework is completed or not at to)
Some comparative uses of Present Perfect
and Present Perfect Progressive
2)
Present Perfect (Simple) : desired result/effect

I have washed the car.

(Result: The car is clean now.)
Some comparative uses of Present Perfect and Present
Perfect Progressive
Present Perfect Progressive: unwanted/ side
results / effects

A: “Why are you so wet?”

B : ”I have been washing the car.”

(side effect: I became wet when I was washing

the car. It is not relevant whether the car is clean
now.)
Some comparative uses of Present Perfect
and Present Perfect Progressive
3)
Present Perfect (Simple) = since the last time I
did something

I haven't played that game for years.

(Meaning: It's years ago that I last played that
game.)
Some comparative uses of Present Perfect and
Present Perfect Progressive
Present Perfect Progr: since the beginning of a
situation

I haven't been playing that game for an hour, only for

10 minutes.

(Meaning: It's not even an hour ago that I started to

play that game. / I have been playing the game only for
ten minutes / I began playing … ten minutes ago.
Some comparative uses of Present Perfect
and Present Perfect Progressive
4)
Present perfect (Simple): permanent situation

James has lived in this town for 10 years.

(Meaning: He is a permanent resident of this

town.)
Some comparative uses of Present Perfect and
Present Perfect Progressive
Present Perfect Progr: temporary situation

James has been living here for a year.

(Meaning: This situation is only temporary.
Maybe he is an exchange student and is only here
for one or two years.)
Some comparative uses of Present Perfect
and Present Perfect Progressive

Signal words:
1) Present Perfect (Simple)
how often
how many (times)
2) Present Perfect Progressive
how long
since
for