Page 45 - Grammar for Great Writing B

Common Uses

3.2 Using Present Perfect

The present perfect is very common in writing. It is used:

1. to express an important change that has
occurred at an indefinite time in the past
(when it happened is not important) PasT Now FuTure
• This is common in the introduction of a paragraph or only twelve people have walked on the moon.
essay, often with the adverb recently.
Many people have recently criticized the new
driver’s license requirements.

2. to indicate that an action has not happened researchers have not discovered a cure for
but may soon happen (with not . . . yet) cancer yet.

3. to refer to a situation that began in the past
and continues to the present
• This use often occurs with the phrases 1960
since + point in time and for + length of time. PasT Now FuTure

Brasilia has been the capital of Brazil since 1960.
Public officials have known about this problem
for decades.

4. to refer to an action that has happened several Humans have landed on the moon about
times in the past (no specific past time) and 15 times.
may happen again
• This commonly occurs with the phrase (number of )
times.

5. to indicate that a person or thing has or has This area has never experienced an earthquake.
not had the experience of doing something
(indefinite past )

Note
The question form is commonly used with the adverb ever. It is sometimes used as the opening hook for a paragraph
or essay.
Have you ever experienced a natural disaster?

Common Uses 35

Copyright 2018 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Copyright 2018 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
Editorial review has deemed that any suppressed content does not materially affect the overall learning experience. Cengage Learning reserves the right to remove additional content at any time if subsequent rights restrictions require it.
Copyright 2018 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. WCN 02-200-203
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