5 Questions
What does the present perfect express?
A past event with present consequences
Why are present perfect forms considered present and perfect?
They use the present tense of the auxiliary verb and the past participle of the main verb
In which languages are analogous forms to the present perfect found?
German, French, Italian
What is the range of usage for the forms in German, French, and Italian that are analogous to the present perfect?
Serve as a general past tense, at least for completed actions
In English, how are completed actions in many contexts referred to?
Using the present perfect
Study Notes
The Present Perfect
- The present perfect expresses an action that started in the past and continues up to the present moment or has a connection to the present.
Characteristics of the Present Perfect
- The present perfect is considered a present tense because it relates to the present moment, despite describing a completed action.
- It is also considered a perfect tense because it expresses the completion of an action.
Analogous Forms in Other Languages
- Analogous forms to the present perfect are found in languages such as German, French, and Italian.
Range of Usage in Other Languages
- In German, the analogous form is used to describe an action that started in the past and continues up to the present, similar to English.
- In French, the analogous form (le passé composé) is used to describe completed actions with a connection to the present, and can also be used in more formal writing to describe past actions.
- In Italian, the analogous form (il presente perfetto) is used to describe completed actions with a connection to the present, and is often used in informal writing.
Completed Actions in English
- In English, completed actions in many contexts are referred to using the simple past tense, especially in informal spoken language.
Test your understanding of the present perfect tense with this quiz! Practice forming and using present perfect sentences in English grammar.
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