Present Perfect
FORM
[has/have + past participle]
Examples:
* You have seen that movie many times.
* Have you seen that movie many times?
* You have not seen that movie many times.
Complete List of Present Perfect Forms
USE 1 Unspecified Time Before Now
We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important. You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with specific time expressions such as: yesterday, one year ago, last week, when I was a child, when I lived in Japan, at that moment, that day, one day, etc. We CAN use the Present Perfect with unspecific expressions such as: ever, never, once, many times, several times, before, so far, already, yet, etc.
Examples:
* I have seen that movie twenty times.
* I think I have met him once before.
* There have been many earthquakes in California.
* People have traveled to the Moon.
* People have not traveled to Mars.
* Have you read the book yet?
* Nobody has ever climbed that mountain.
* A: Has there ever been a war in the United States?
B: Yes, there has been a war in the United States.
How Do You Actually Use the Present Perfect?
The concept of "unspecified time" can be very confusing to English learners. It is best to associate Present Perfect with the following topics:
TOPIC 1 Experience
You can use the Present Perfect to describe your experience. It is like saying, "I have the experience of..." You can also use this tense to say that you have never had a certain experience. The Present Perfect is NOT used to describe a specific event.
Examples:
* I have been to France.
This sentence means that you have had the experience of being in France. Maybe you have been there once, or several times.
* I have been to France three times.
You can add the number of times at the end of the sentence.
* I have never been to France.
This sentence means that you have not had the experience of going to France.
* I think I have seen that movie before.
* He has never traveled by train.
* Joan has studied two foreign languages.
* A: Have you ever met him?
B: No, I have not met him.
TOPIC 2 Change Over Time
We often use the Present Perfect to talk about change that has happened over a period of time.
Examples:
* You have grown since the last time I saw you.
* The government has become more interested in arts education.
* Japanese has become one of the most popular courses at the university since the Asian studies program was established.
* My English has really improved since I moved to Australia.
TOPIC 3 Accomplishments
We often use the Present Perfect to list the accomplishments of individuals and humanity. You cannot mention a specific time.
Examples:
* Man has walked on the Moon.
* Our son has learned how to read.
* Doctors have cured many deadly diseases.
* Scientists have split the atom.
TOPIC 4 An Uncompleted Action You Are Expecting
We often use the Present Perfect to say that an action which we expected has not happened. Using the Present Perfect suggests that we are still waiting for the action to happen.
Examples:
* James has not finished his homework yet.
* Susan hasn't mastered Japanese, but she can communicate.
* Bill has still not arrived.
* The rain hasn't stopped.
TOPIC 5 Multiple Actions at Different Times
We also use the Present Perfect to talk about several different actions which have occurred in the past at different times. Present Perfect suggests the process is not complete and more actions are possible.
Examples:
* The army has attacked that city five times.
* I have had four quizzes and five tests so far this semester.
* We have had many major problems while working on this project.
* She has talked to several specialists about her problem, but nobody knows why she is sick.
Time Expressions with Present Perfect
When we use the Present Perfect it means that something has happened at some point in our lives before now. Remember, the exact time the action happened is not important.
Sometimes, we want to limit the time we are looking in for an experience. We can do this with expressions such as: in the last week, in the last year, this week, this month, so far, up to now, etc.
Examples:
* Have you been to Mexico in the last year?
* I have seen that movie six times in the last month.
* They have had three tests in the last week.
* She graduated from university less than three years ago. She has worked for three different companies so far.
* My car has broken down three times this week.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Lesson From A Donkey
THE LESSON FROM A DONKEY!
One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well.
The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.
Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him.
They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.
At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly..
Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well.
He was astonished at what he saw.
With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing.
He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!
MORAL :
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt.
The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up.
Each of our troubles is a steppingstone.
We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up!
Shake it off and take a step up.
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less from people but more from God.
One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well.
The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.
Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.
He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him.
They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.
At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly..
Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.
A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well.
He was astonished at what he saw.
With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing.
He would shake it off and take a step up.
As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!
MORAL :
Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt.
The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up.
Each of our troubles is a steppingstone.
We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up!
Shake it off and take a step up.
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
2. Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.
3. Live simply and appreciate what you have.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less from people but more from God.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
Adverb Clauses
An adverb clause is a clause that functions as an adverb. In other words, it contains subject (explicit or implied) and predicate, and it modifies a verb.
* I saw Joe when I went to the store. (explicit subject I)
* He sat quietly in order to appear polite. (implied subject he)
According to Sidney Greenbaum and Randolph Quirk, adverbial clauses function mainly as adjuncts or disjuncts. In those functions they are like adverbial phrases, but in their potentiality for greater explicitness, they are more often like prepositional phrases (Greenbaum and Quirk,1990):
* We left after the speeches ended.
* We left after the end of the speeches.
Contrast adverbial clauses with adverbial phrases, which do not contain a clause.
* I like to fly kites for fun.
Kinds of adverbial clauses
Time Clauses: when, before, after, since, while, as, until
Function: These clauses are used to say when something happens by referring to a period of time or to another event.
Example: Her father died when she was young.
Conditional Clauses: if, unless
Function: These clauses are used to talk about a possible situation and its consequences.
Example: If they lose weight during an illness, they soon regain it afterwards.
Purpose Clauses: in order to, so that, in order that
Function: These clauses are used to indicate the purpose of an action.
Example: They had to take some of his land so that they could extend the churchyard.
Reason Clauses: because, since, as
Function: These clauses are used to indicate the reason for something.
Example: I couldn't feel anger against him because I liked him too much.
Result Clauses: so that
Function: These clauses are used to indicate the result of something.
Example: My suitcase had become damaged on the journey home, so that the lid would not stay closed.
Concessive Clauses: although, though, while
Function: These clauses are used to make two statements, one of which contrasts with the other or makes it seem surprising.
Example: I used to read a lot although I don't get much time for books now.
Place Clauses: where, wherever
Function: These clauses are used to talk about the location or position of something.
Example: He said he was happy where he was.
Clauses of Manner: as, like, the way
Function: These clauses are used to talk about someone's behaviour or the way something is done.
Example: I was never allowed to do things the way I wanted to do them.
* I saw Joe when I went to the store. (explicit subject I)
* He sat quietly in order to appear polite. (implied subject he)
According to Sidney Greenbaum and Randolph Quirk, adverbial clauses function mainly as adjuncts or disjuncts. In those functions they are like adverbial phrases, but in their potentiality for greater explicitness, they are more often like prepositional phrases (Greenbaum and Quirk,1990):
* We left after the speeches ended.
* We left after the end of the speeches.
Contrast adverbial clauses with adverbial phrases, which do not contain a clause.
* I like to fly kites for fun.
Kinds of adverbial clauses
Time Clauses: when, before, after, since, while, as, until
Function: These clauses are used to say when something happens by referring to a period of time or to another event.
Example: Her father died when she was young.
Conditional Clauses: if, unless
Function: These clauses are used to talk about a possible situation and its consequences.
Example: If they lose weight during an illness, they soon regain it afterwards.
Purpose Clauses: in order to, so that, in order that
Function: These clauses are used to indicate the purpose of an action.
Example: They had to take some of his land so that they could extend the churchyard.
Reason Clauses: because, since, as
Function: These clauses are used to indicate the reason for something.
Example: I couldn't feel anger against him because I liked him too much.
Result Clauses: so that
Function: These clauses are used to indicate the result of something.
Example: My suitcase had become damaged on the journey home, so that the lid would not stay closed.
Concessive Clauses: although, though, while
Function: These clauses are used to make two statements, one of which contrasts with the other or makes it seem surprising.
Example: I used to read a lot although I don't get much time for books now.
Place Clauses: where, wherever
Function: These clauses are used to talk about the location or position of something.
Example: He said he was happy where he was.
Clauses of Manner: as, like, the way
Function: These clauses are used to talk about someone's behaviour or the way something is done.
Example: I was never allowed to do things the way I wanted to do them.
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