Unit 2 Been there, Done that!

Jennifer: Have you ever taken an English course? Sita: No, I haven't. Not yet. Jennifer: What about French? Have you ever taken one? Sita: Yes. Last summer, I took an intermediate level course at University of Wisconsin.

What do you think of the tense of the events that Jennifer and Sita are talking about?

Why do you think that the verb form in line one (Jen asked) differs from that in line four (Sita answered)?

In the first line, there was no specification of time, whereas in the last line, there is time specification (last summer). Present Perfect was used in the first line.

 The present perfect is used to describe some action that has been done in the past with no time specification.  E.g. She has sent an .

 It is also used to describe that something has been done in the past which has a relationship with the present.  E.g. I have had my breakfast, implying that I am not hungry.

Has/have + past participle

 I/You/They/We + have + past participle  E.g. They have done their homework.  He/She/It + has + past participle  E.g. He has eaten Chinese food.

They have done their homework. → Have they done their homework? → They have not done their homework.

Expressions such as “in the last time”, “this week”, “today”, “so far”, “up to now” can be used to narrow the time we are looking in for an experience. Past Present Future

Eg1: Up to now, she hasn’t known the reason why he went abroad without saying goodbye to her. Eg2: She has met him very many times in the last month. Eg3: Today, Maria has called at the school library two times.

Duration From Past Until Now (Non- Continuous Verbs): since, for Eg1:I have been in Da Lat for four months. Eg2: Tom has been fond of ice-cream since he was a little boy. Eg3: They have lived here for a long time.

 The present perfect is used when the time period has NOT finished.  Eg: I have seen three movies this month.  (This month has not finished yet)  The simple past is used when the time period HAS finished.  Eg: I saw three movies last month.  (Last month has finished)

 The present perfect is often used when giving recent news.  Eg: Lan has bought a new villa.  (This is new information)  The simple past is used when giving older information.  Eg: Lan bought a new villa last month.  (This is old information)

 The present perfect is used when the time is not specific.  Eg: I have already watched that film.  (We don’t know when)  The simple past is used when the time is clear.  Eg: I watched that film on Monday.  (We know exactly when)

 The present perfect is used with “for” and “since” when the actions have not finished yet.  Eg: I have taught English in the University for 5 years. (I still teach English in the University)  The simple past is used with "for" and " since", when the actions have already finished.  Eg: I taught English in the University for 5 years. (I don’t teach English in the University now)

Thank you for your attention!