Four Common Present Perfect Mistakes & How To Avoid Them
Article
Four Common Present Perfect Mistakes & How To Avoid Them
Learn to avoid typical Present Perfect mistakes like confusing it with the Past Simple tense or misusing "since" and "for" at our San Diego school's English language course, ensuring confident communication.
SungJu
June 3, 2024
4
minute read
What makes learning the Present Perfect so challenging? Some irregular verbs and their forms are tricky to memorize, indeed. But even though you know them, they don’t do the trick. Well, the Present Perfect is so difficult to grasp not only because of the long list of irregular verbs but also because it has no equivalents in many other languages and expresses various meanings.
You still keep making some mistakes while you converse with your friends. So, until you find an English language coirse in San Diego that suits you best, read this article as we discuss the most common Present Perfect mistakes and how to avoid them. Read on!
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WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON MISTAKES WHEN WE USE THE PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE?
Mastering the Present Perfect Tense is a trial and error process, and you’ll definitely make a lot of mistakes along the way. Let’s examine the most typical ones.
MISTAKE 1: PAST SIMPLE VS. PRESENT PERFECT
Whenever we talk about a definite point in the past, we need the Past Simple Tense. But if the period is unfinished, if we don’t specify when something occurred, or if an activity started in the past and lasts up to the present moment, we need the Present Perfect.
I received her email on Monday.
We need a Past Simple form in this sentence because we have a precise time something occurred: Monday.
I have received 5 emails this week.
On the other hand, in this sentence, we have a Present Perfect verb form as the period hasn’t ended yet.
He has lived in Paris since his early childhood.
In this example, we have an activity that started in his early childhood and hasn’t finished yet.
MISTAKE 2: SINCE VS. FOR
Since and for are the most common Present Perfect indicators, but unfortunately can’t be used interchangeably. We use since with a period, but if we want to emphasize how long something has lasted, we need for.
I have known him since 1998.
I have known him for 29 years.
NB: for can be used in other tenses too.
She worked in this school for 20 years (she doesn’t work there anymore).
I practice reading English every day for 2 hours.
MISTAKE 3: THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
Whenever we discuss an immediate, ongoing, or recent event, we use the Present Perfect Simple with this is the first time construction:
Is this the first time you’ve sung this song?
MISTAKE 4: PRESENT PERFECT VS. PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS
With some verbs, including study, work, and live, there is no difference between Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous verb forms.
I have been living in London for 4 years.
I have lived in London for 4 years.
However, we can’t use the Present Perfect Continuous for stative verbs (know, like, love, etc.)
Wrong: I have been knowing her for ages.
Right: I have known her for ages.
If we want to highlight the quantity of something, we need the Present Perfect.
Wrong: I have been reading 3 books this week.
This sentence means that you have been reading 3 books simultaneously and that you haven’t finished reading them.
Right: I have read 3 books this week.
This example indicates you’ve finished all 3 books.
The Present Perfect Continuous Tense focuses on the duration of the activity, and the Present Perfect focuses on the fact that the activity is finished.
We've been waiting for hours! (This highlights the length of time).
We've waited for hours. (This doesn't emphasize the length of time).
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