The present perfect tense describes actions or states that started in the past and have a connection to the present. It emphasizes the completion of an action or the result of a past event, often with implications for the present moment.
(A) Understanding the Role of Helping Verbs (Have/Has) in the Present Perfect Tense
“Have” vs. “Has”:
(1) “Have” as a helping verb:
“Have” is used with first-person pronouns (I, we) and second-person pronouns (you), as well as plural nouns (they, people, students, etc.).
It indicates that the action or state described in the sentence is connected to the present.
Example: “I have finished my homework.”
(2) “Has” as a helping verb:
“Has” is used with third-person singular pronouns (he, she, it) and singular nouns (dog, book, company, etc.).
Similar to “have,” it signifies a connection between the past action or state and the present moment.
Example: “She has completed the project.”
(B) Spelling rules for creating 3rd form of verb:
(1) For most regular verbs, add “-ed” to the base form to create the past participle.
Examples:
- Play + ed = played
- Talk + ed = talked
- Work + ed = worked
- Jump + ed = jumped
- Accept + ed = accepted
(2) If the base form of the verb ends in “e,” simply add “-d” to form the past participle.
Examples:
- Like + d = liked
- Dance + d = danced
- Smile + d + smiled
- Arrive + d = arrived
- Save + d = saved
(3) If the verb has one syllable and ends with a single consonant followed by a vowel, double the final consonant before adding “-ed.”
Examples:
- Stop + p + ed = stopped
- Rob + b + ed = robbed
- Chat + t + ed = chatted
- Beg + g + ed = begged
- Fit + t + ed = fitted
(4) First syllable stressed, ending in consonant-vowel-consonant (add “-ed”):
Examples:
- Open + ed = Opened
- Offer + ed = Offered
- Enter + ed = Entered
- Listen + ed = Listened
- Visit + ed = Visited
(5) If the verb ending in “-y” (change “y” to “i” and add “-ed”):
Examples:
- Carry – y + ied = carried
- Study – y + ied = studied
- Try – y + ied =tried
- Apply – y + ied = applied
- Marry – y + married
(6) If the base form of the verb ends in vowel and “y”: Add “-ed” to base form of verb.
Examples:
- Play + ed = Played
- Enjoy + ed = Enjoyed
- Obey + ed = Obeyed
- Display + ed = Displayed
- Pray + ed = Prayed
(7) Irregular verbs have different forms for the past participle, and they don’t follow a specific pattern.
Examples:
- Go → Gone
- See → Seen
- Eat → Eaten
- Take → Taken
- Break → Broken
Note: that irregular verbs have their own unique past participle forms, and there is no specific rule to follow. It’s necessary to memorize the irregular verb forms individually.
(C) “Understanding ‘Since’ and ‘For’ in Present Perfect Tense: Timeframes and Durations Made Simple”
“Since” and “for” are used to indicate the duration of time in the present perfect tense. Here’s a simple explanation of each term with five examples for better understanding:
(1) Since:
“Since” is used to specify the starting point of an action or event that continues until the present.
Examples:
- They have been friends since childhood.
- I have know her since 2010.
- He has worked at the company since last year.
- She has studied French since she moved to France.
- We have lived in this house since we got married.
(2) For:
“For” is used to indicate the duration or length of time an action or event has lasted.
Example:
- They have been traveled for two weeks.
- I have waited for the bus for 20 minutes.
- He has studied for hours.
- She has worked in the garden for the entire afternoon.
- We have been friends for ten years.
In summary, “since” marks the starting point of an action or event, while “for” indicates the duration or length of time an action has lasted. These two words are commonly used in the present perfect tense to provide a timeframe or reference point for actions or events.