The present perfect
What is the exact use of present perfect simple tense?
We most often use the present perfect to talk about something that started in the past and
continues to the present time.
Note the difference in meaning in these two sentences:...
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The present perfect
What is the exact use of present perfect simple tense?
We most often use the present perfect to talk about something that started in the past and
continues to the present time.
Note the difference in meaning in these two sentences:
- She lived in Cairo for ten years.
(She used to live there but she doesn’t live there any
more.
)
- She has lived in Alexandria for ten years.
(She started to live there ten years ago.
She
still lives there.
)
In a similar way, we can use the past perfect with time expressions such as today, this
morning, this year only if that period of time has not finished.
For example:
- I’ve had three cups of tea this morning.
(It is still morning and maybe I’ll have more
tea before the morning is finished.
)
But in the evening I have to use the past simple:
- I had three cups of tea this morning.
Another example:
- I’ve travelled 10,000 miles this year.
(The year is not finished.
Maybe I’ll travel more.
)
- I t
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