Page 470 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

present perfect (1): basic information 455
455 present perfect (1): basic information
This entry deals with the simple present perfect. For the present perfect
progressive, see 458-459.
1 forms
2
3
havelhas + past participle
I have broken my glasses.
Have you finished? She hasn't phoned.
In older English, some present perfect forms were made with be, not have (e.g. Winter is come). This does not normally happen in modem English (for exceptions, see 205 and 213).
For details of question structures. see 480-486. For negativC5. see 367-371. For passive fanns (e.g. n,e llIork lUIs "eell (Iolle). see 412.
other languages
In some other languages there are verb forms which are constructed like the English present perfect (compare English Ilzave worked, French j'ai tmIJail/e, German ie/I habe gem'beitet, Italian /10 laLJomto, Spanish lie trabajado). Note that the English present perfect is used rather differently from most of these.
finished events connected with the present
We use the present perfect especially to say that a finished action or event is connected with the present in some way. If we say that something has happened, we are thinking about the past and the present at the same time.
I can't go on holiday because I have broken my leg. (NOT .' catt't gB (m h(Jliday because: broke my leg.)
We could often change a present perfect sentence into a present sentence with a similar meaning.
I've broken my leg. .... My leg is broken now.
Have you read the Bible. .... Do you know the Bible?
Some fool has let the cat in. .... The cat is in.
Utopia has invaded Fantasia. .... Utopia is at war with Fantasia. Mary has had a baby. .... Mary now has a baby.
Our dog has died. .... Our dog is dead
All the wars in history have taught us nothing. .... We know nothing.
The present perfect is often used to express the idea of completion or achievement.
At last! I've finished!
Have you done all the housework?
We do not use the present perfect if we are not thinking about the present (see 456.1). Compare:
I've travelled in Africa a lot. (= I know Africa.)
Some people think that Shakespeare travelled a lot in Germany. (NOT 56me
petJple think that Shakeapeare hM ffllrJelletl ...)
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