The Present Perfect and The Present Continuous Tense

CHAPTER 4.  THE PRESENT PERFECT AND THE PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

1. Use of the present perfect

The English Present Perfect tense is used to express actions which have already been completed, or perfected, at the time of speaking or writing. In the examples given below, the verbs in the Present Perfect tense are underlined.
e.g. I have done the work.
She has answered half the questions.

In the first example, the use of the Present Perfect tense emphasizes the fact that, at the time of speaking or writing, the work has already been completed. In the second example, the use of the Present Perfect indicates that, at the time of speaking or writing, half the questions have been answered.

2. Formation of the present perfect: Regular verbs

The Present Perfect tense of any English verb is formed from the Simple Present of the auxiliary to have, followed by what is generally referred to as the past participle of the verb.

Most English verbs form the past participle in a regular, predictable manner. These verbs are commonly referred to as regular verbs.

The past participle of a regular English verb is formed by adding the ending ed to the bare infinitive of the verb. For instance, the past participle of the verb to work is worked.

Thus, the Present Perfect tense of the verb to work is conjugated as follows:

See Exercise 1.

The following contractions are often used in spoken English:

It should be noted that the contractions for he has, she has and it has are the same as the contractions for he is, she is and it is.

See Exercise 2.

3. Spelling rules for adding ed to form the past participle

Some regular verbs change their spelling when the ending ed is added to form the past participle.

a. Verbs ending in a silent e

When a regular verb ends in a silent e, only the letter d must be added in order to form the past participle. For example:

b. Verbs ending in y

When a regular verb ends in y immediately preceded by a consonant, the y is changed to i before the ending ed is added. For example:

However, when a regular verb ends in y immediately preceded by a vowel, the y is not changed before the ending ed is added. For example:

See Exercise 3.

c. Verbs ending in a single consonant preceded by a single vowel

The rules concerning the doubling of final consonants which apply when adding the ending ing to form the present participle also apply when adding the ending ed to form the past participle.

Thus, when a one-syllable verb ends in a single consonant other than w, x or y immediately preceded by a single vowel, the final consonant must be doubled before the ending ed is added to form the past participle. In the following examples, the consonants which have been doubled are underlined. For example:

When a verb of more than one syllable ends in a single consonant other than w, x or y immediately preceded by a single vowel, the final consonant is doubled before the ending ed only when the last syllable of the verb is pronounced with the heaviest stress. In the following examples, the syllables pronounced with the heaviest stress are underlined. For example:

In the first four examples, the last syllable of the verb is pronounced with the heaviest stress, and the final consonant is doubled before ed is added. In the last four examples, the first syllable of the verb is pronounced with the heaviest stress, and the final consonant is not doubled before ed is added.

The final consonants w, x and y are never doubled when the ending ed is added. For example:

It should also be noted that final consonants immediately preceded by two vowels are not doubled when the ending ed is added. For example:

See Exercise 4.

4. Pronunciation of the ed ending

The ending ed is usually not pronounced as a separate syllable. For instance, in each of the following examples, both the bare infinitive and the past participle consist of one syllable. For example:

However, when the ending ed is added to verbs which end in d or t, the ed ending of the past participle is pronounced as a separate syllable. The reason for this is that the sounds of d and t are so similar to the sound of the ed ending, that the ending must be pronounced as a separate syllable in order to be heard clearly.

In each of the following examples, the bare infinitive consists of one syllable; whereas the past participle consists of two syllables. For example:

Similarly, when d is added to verbs ending in a silent e preceded by d or t, the final ed of the past participle is pronounced as a separate syllable. In each of the following examples, the bare infinitive consists of one syllable; whereas the past participle consists of two syllables. For example:

See Exercise 5.

5. Formation of the present perfect: Irregular verbs

In addition to regular English verbs, there are many irregular English verbs, which do not form the past participle with the ending ed. The English irregular verbs are related to the strong verbs of the German language. The following are examples of irregular English verbs. For example:

The past participles of irregular English verbs are formed in an unpredictable manner, and must be memorized. A table of common English irregular verbs is provided.

Except for the irregularity of the past participle, the formation of the Present Perfect tense is the same for an irregular verb as for a regular verb. In both cases, the Simple Present of the auxiliary to have is followed by the past participle of the verb.

For instance, the irregular verb to take has the past participle taken. Thus, the Present Perfect of the irregular verb to take is conjugated as follows:

See Exercise 6.

6. Questions and negative statements

As is the case with other English tenses, questions and negative statements in the Present Perfect are formed using the auxiliary. In the case of the Present Perfect, the auxiliary is have or has.

a. Questions

In order to form a question, the auxiliary is placed before the subject of the verb. For example:

b. Negative statements

In order to form a negative statement, the word not is placed after the auxiliary. For example:

The following contractions are often used in spoken English:

c. Negative questions

In order to form a negative question, the auxiliary is placed before the subject, and the word not is placed after the subject. However, when contractions are used, the contracted form of not follows immediately after the auxiliary. For example:

d. Tag questions

Tag questions are also formed using the auxiliary. In the following examples, the negative tag questions are underlined.

See Exercise 7.

7. The present perfect continuous

a. Use

The Present Perfect Continuous tense is used to express continuous, ongoing actions which have already been completed at the time of speaking or writing.

In the following example, the verb in the Present Perfect Continuous tense is underlined.
e.g. The bus has been waiting for one hour.

The use of the Present Perfect Continuous tense in this example indicates that, at the time of speaking or writing, the bus has completed one hour of continuous waiting.

b. Formation

The Present Perfect Continuous tense of any English verb is formed from the Present Perfect of to be, followed by the present participle of the verb. For instance, the Present Perfect Continuous tense of the verb to work is conjugated as follows:

Thus, it can be seen that the Present Perfect Continuous tense has two auxiliaries. The first auxiliary is have or has, and the second auxiliary is been.

See Exercise 8.

c. Questions and negative statements

When a verb has more than one auxiliary, it is the first auxiliary which must change its form to agree with the subject of the verb. It is also the first auxiliary which is used to form questions and negative statements.

Questions are formed by placing the first auxiliary before the subject of the verb. For example:

Negative statements are formed by placing the word not after the first auxiliary. For example:

Negative questions are formed by placing the first auxiliary before the subject, and the word not after the subject. However, when contractions are used, the contracted form of not follows immediately after the first auxiliary. For example:

Tag questions are formed using the first auxiliary. In the following examples, the negative tag questions are underlined. For example:

See Exercise 9.

EXERCISES for Chapter 4

1. Using the Present Perfect tense, fill in the blanks with the correct forms of the verbs shown in brackets. For example:
   We ____________ the contest. (to enter)
   We have entered the contest.

He ____________ the work. (to finish)
He has finished the work.

1. They _______________ a pizza. (to order)
2. It _______________ to rain. (to start)
3. You _______________ the question. (to answer)
4. I _______________ the eggs. (to cook)
5. We _______________ the sauce. (to heat)
6. He _______________ the room. (to clean)
7. She _______________ the car. (to start)
8. They _______________ on the door. (to knock)
9. You _______________ on the lights. (to turn)
10. She _______________ them to come. (to ask)
11. Rewrite the following sentences, using the contracted form of the auxiliary to have. For example:
    It has started.
    It’s started.

We have telephoned.
We’ve telephoned.

1. I have agreed.
2. You have moved.
3. He has looked.
4. We have argued.
5. They have explained.
6. You have waited.
7. She has answered.
8. We have finished.
9. It has cooled.
10. I have ordered.
11. Paying attention to the spelling of the past participles, fill in the blanks using the Present Perfect tense of the regular verbs shown in brackets. For example:
    She _________ hard. (to try)
    She has tried hard.

He ___________ his friend. (to annoy)
He has annoyed his friend.

1. We _______________ them. (to envy)
2. She ________________ the clarinet for five years. (to play)
3. You _________________ for the job. (to apply)
4. We _______________ the eggs. (to fry)
5. They _________________ six people. (to employ)
6. He ________________ the wall with paint. (to spray)
7. I ________________ home. (to hurry)
8. They _________________ unusual intelligence. (to display)
9. It _________________ our chances. (to destroy)
10. You ________________ on your bicycle. (to rely)
11. Paying attention to the spelling of the past participles, fill in the blanks using the Present Perfect tense of the regular verbs shown in brackets. For example:
    He __________ the child. (to scare)
    He has scared the child.

They ____________ the hillside. (to scar)
They have scarred the hillside.

1. She __________________. (to apologize)
2. I ________________ the soup. (to stir)
3. It _________________. (to stop)
4. We _________________ what happened. (to explain)
5. They __________________ a concert. (to plan)
6. You ________________ the table. (to wipe)
7. We _________________ our hopes on you. (to pin)
8. She _________________ the choir. (to join)
9. They ________________ an eagle. (to spot)
10. It ___________ every day. (to rain)
11. You _______________ the cream. (to whip)
12. She _______________ everything. (to arrange)
13. Keeping in mind that the ending ed forms a separate syllable only when it follows the letter d or t, indicate the number of syllables in each of the following past participles. Read each of the the past participles aloud. For example:
    __ pained
    1 pained

__ painted
2 painted

1. ___ waited
2. ___ wailed
3. ___ pinned
4. ___ printed
5. ___ acted
6. ___ added
7. ___ wanted
8. ___ warned
9. ___ raced
10. ___ rated
11. ___ joined
12. ___ jumped
13. ___ folded
14. ___ frowned
15. ___ passed
16. ___ patted
17. ___ raided
18. ___ rained
19. ___ stared
20. ___ started
21. Referring to the table of irregular verbs if necessary, fill in the blanks with the Present Perfect tense of the irregular verbs shown in brackets. For example:
    They _________ tall. (to grow)
    They have grown tall.

He __________ it. (to choose)
He has chosen it.

1. We _____________ lunch. (to eat)
2. I ______________ the floor. (to sweep)
3. She ______________ in a choir. (to sing)
4. They ______________ to work. (to go)
5. You ______________ your way. (to lose)
6. He _____________ earlier than usual. (to rise)
7. We ______________ to everyone. (to speak)
8. I ______________ the kingfisher. (to see)
9. They _________ each other a long time. (to know)
10. She _______________ here from France. (to fly)
11. He ______________ very helpful. (to be)
12. I _______________ the blue cloth. (to cut)
13. We ______________ two letters. (to write)
14. They _______________ the competition. (to win)
15. She ________________ no one. (to tell)
16. It _______________ a long time. (to take)
17. You ________________ to do it. (to forget)
18. I ________________ it. (to hear)
19. They _______________ town. (to leave)
20. He ________________ the problem. (to understand)
21. Following the model of the examples, rewrite the following affirmative statements as questions, negative statements, negative questions without contractions, negative questions with contractions, and affirmative statements followed by negative tag questions. For example:
    I have read this book.
    Have I read this book?
    I have not read this book.
    Have I not read this book?
    Haven’t I read this book?
    I have read this book, haven’t I?

He has found the answer.
Has he found the answer?
He has not found the answer.
Has he not found the answer?
Hasn’t he found the answer?
He has found the answer, hasn’t he?

1. They have eaten the cookies.
2. She has told the truth.
3. He has run fast.
4. We have watered the plants.
5. You have hurried.
6. Paying attention to the spelling of the present participles, fill in the blanks using the correct forms of the verbs shown in brackets. For example:
   I ________________ all night. (to work)
   I have been working all night.

She ___________________ the trumpet. (to practise)
She has been practising the trumpet.

1. We ______________________ for you. (to wait)
2. They __________________________ a race. (to run)
3. He ___________________________ a book. (to read)
4. You ___________________________ a letter. (to write)
5. I __________________________ the table. (to set)
6. It __________________________ for hours. (to rain)
7. We __________________________ here for three years. (to live)
8. She ____________________________ to us. (to speak)
9. You ___________________________ presents. (to buy)
10. They ___________________________ a trip. (to plan)
11. Following the model of the example, rewrite the following two affirmative statements as questions, negative statements, negative questions without contractions, negative questions with contractions, and affirmative statements followed by negative tag questions. For example:
    They have been enjoying themselves.
    Have they been enjoying themselves?
    They have not been enjoying themselves.
    Have they not been enjoying themselves?
    Haven’t they been enjoying themselves?
    They have been enjoying themselves, haven’t they?
12. It has been snowing.
13. You have been visiting your friends.
    

ANSWERS TO THE EXERCISES for Chapter 4

Answers to Exercise 1:
1. have ordered 2. has started 3. have answered 4. have cooked 5. have heated 6. has cleaned 7. has started 8. have knocked 9. have turned 10. has asked

Answers to Exercise 2:
1. I’ve agreed. 2. You’ve moved. 3. He’s looked. 4. We’ve argued. 5. They’ve explained. 6. You’ve waited. 7. She’s answered. 8. We’ve finished. 9. It’s cooled. 10. I’ve ordered.

Answers to Exercise 3:
1. have envied 2. has played 3. have applied 4. have fried 5. have employed 6. has sprayed 7. have hurried 8. have displayed 9. has destroyed 10. have relied

Answers to Exercise 4:
1. has apologized 2. have stirred 3. has stopped 4. have explained 5. have planned 6. have wiped 7. have pinned 8. has joined 9. have spotted 10. has rained 11. have whipped 12. has arranged

Answers to Exercise 5:
1. 2 2. 1 3. 1 4. 2 5. 2 6. 2 7. 2 8. 1 9. 1 10. 2 11. 1 12. 1 13. 2 14. 1 15. 1 16. 2 17. 2 18. 1 19. 1 20. 2

Answers to Exercise 6:
1. have eaten 2. have swept 3. has sung 4. have gone 5. have lost 6. has risen 7. have spoken 8. have seen 9. have known 10. has flown 11. has been 12. have cut 13. have written 14. have won 15. has told 16. has taken 17. have forgotten 18. have heard 19. have left 20. has understood

Answers to Exercise 7:
1. Have they eaten the cookies? They have not eaten the cookies. Have they not eaten the cookies? Haven’t they eaten the cookies? They have eaten the cookies, haven’t they?
2. Has she told the truth? She has not told the truth. Has she not told the truth? Hasn’t she told the truth? She has told the truth, hasn’t she?
3. Has he run fast? He has not run fast. Has he not run fast? Hasn’t he run fast? He has run fast, hasn’t he?
4. Have we watered the plants? We have not watered the plants. Have we not watered the plants? Haven’t we watered the plants? We have watered the plants, haven’t we?
5. Have you hurried? You have not hurried. Have you not hurried? Haven’t you hurried? You have hurried, haven’t you?

Answers to Exercise 8:
1. have been waiting 2. have been running 3. has been reading 4. have been writing 5. have been setting 6. has been raining 7. have been living 8. has been speaking 9. have been buying 10. have been planning

Answers to Exercise 9:
1. Has it been snowing? It has not been snowing. Has it not been snowing? Hasn’t it been snowing? It has been snowing, hasn’t it?
2. Have you been visiting your friends? You have not been visiting your friends. Have you not been visiting your friends? Haven’t you been visiting your friends? You have been visiting your friends, haven’t you?