What would be the most challenging tense you’ve ever dealt with in your San Diego school of languages? Without hesitation, you’ll probably say the Present Perfect, as you are never sure when to use it. But, know what? You aren’t the only one.

Students from all over the world find this tense particularly difficult because it conveys meanings they sometimes fail to grasp. However, a few tips and tricks can help you perfect it in no time. Read on!

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HOW DO YOU MEMORIZE THE PRESENT PERFECT?

If you aspire to learn any tense, you need to have its form at your fingertips. Also, you have to comprehend its use. So let’s discuss the Present Perfect and its application.

FORM

Let’s examine the Present Perfect Tense formula.

The affirmative form is: have/has + past participle (verb + ed/ third column).

• I have visited London twice so far.
• She has met 3 celebrities in her life.

The negative form is made by adding not to the auxiliary verb (have/has), and the interrogative form is made by placing the auxiliaries at the beginning of the sentence.

• I haven’t seen her before.
• Have you ever been to the United States?

MEANING

To illustrate what the Present Perfect means, we’ll examine a few typical examples.

• I have lost my car keys.

In this sentence, the speaker doesn’t know or care about when they lost the keys. The action and its effect are crucial here: the keys are gone, and the speaker can’t open the car. In other words, we need this tense to describe a past action with present consequences.

This tense is also used to describe an activity that started in the past and continues to the present.

• I have lived in Sydney for 10 years.

This means that the speaker started living there 10 years ago and still lives there.

Also, pay attention to the time period. If it’s not over, you’ll probably need the Present Perfect.

• I have written one report this week.

Finally, there are some words commonly used with this tense. These include: never, ever, before, already, yet.

• I have never been to Prague.

We emphasize that something hasn’t happened up to this point.

• I have already done my homework.

Here, we focus on the action, it doesn’t matter when it occurred.

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HOW DO YOU MASTER THE PRESENT PERFECT?

Below are some valuable tips to assist you to excel in this complex tense:

1. Always bear in mind that this tense is usually connected to the present moment. It can describe a past action with present effects, or an activity that started a long time ago and lasts until now, or the time period hasn’t finished yet.
2. Whenever communicating outside the classroom, try to notice how natives use this tense. Memorizing these situations and contexts will facilitate your understanding of it.
3. Always ask yourself what kind of information you want to provide. If you talk about when something took place, you don’t need the Present Perfect. But, if you’re discussing your life experiences without stating when they happened, you’ll definitely need it.
4. Keep a record of mistakes you make while using the Present Perfect. This will help you notice your weak points. You can always ask a teacher for clarification if need be.
5. Ask your native friends to correct you whenever you make mistakes. This immediate feedback will form solid foundations for your comprehension of the logic behind the English language.

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STUDY ENGLISH AT SAN DIEGO'S FAVORITE SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES

Whether you need help with the Present Perfect, or don’t understand the Past Perfect and constantly make a lot of mistakes while using it, the College of English Language is your best bet. Our qualified native teachers are armed with numerous fruitful teaching methods, and you’ll soon notice a real difference in your English language skills.

You’ll be proud of yourself, and knocking on the door of our San Diego Downtown school will turn out to be the best decision you’ve made! Visit us and see it yourself!