Past to present tenses

English uses the present perfect tenses (simple and continuous) to talk about actions
and states which start in the past but which have a link with the present. This unit
looks at the present perfect simple and continuous and compares the present perfect
and the past simple. (For a detailed explanation of the past simple IP' 2.1 .)

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE

3.1A We form the present perfect simple with has/have and a past participle (IP' 2.3A):
Form There has been a serious decline in the number of people qualifying as teachers.
Have the printers finished the new brochure yet?
We usually contract has/have in speech and informal writing:
The film's already started - we'd better hurry.
In negative sentences, we usually contract not in speech and informal writing:
I've been to the shops today and they haven't started the summer sales yet.
Remember that a lot of English verbs have irregular past participles, e.g.
bring -+ brought, take -+ taken, meet -+ met, seek -+ sought, swing -+ swung.
o Be careful not to drop the have with the present perfect:
X l never been to l'Aadame Tussaud's.
V I've never been to Madame Tussaud's.

3.1 B We use the present perfect simple to talk about states that started in the past and are
Ongoing still continuing in the present:
states and The manor house has stood on this spot for over two hundred years. (It is still here.)
actions We often use the prepositions for (+ period of time) and since (+ point in time):
X The-€€RIr-eef-the-isla!td-hes--net-Deen-irmaeite£l-sin€C-filty year-57
V The centre of the island has not been inhabited for fifty years.
X The centre ef the island has not been inhaeited for (the earthquaJw ef) 1952.
V The centre of the island has not been inhabited since (the earthquake of) 1952.
o We do not use the present simple or continuous with for and since when we refer to
a state that began in the past:
X My-family lives/is living-in this-c-el:J-R-tFy-since-I-978.
X A1y family lives/is living in this ceuntry for ever twenty years.
V My family has lived in this country since 1978/for over twenty years.
o In the examples above since is a preposition. When we use it as a conjunction, we
usually use the past simple after it:
You've been really moody ever since that letter arrived. What's wrong?
o The present continuous + for expresses a present situation continuing in the future:
We are staying here for another three months. (IP' 4.3A)

We also use the present perfect to talk about actions which happened in the past but
may happen again in the future. The period of time in which the action took place is
unfinished, so it may be repeated. The action may have happened only once:
I've only been to Hong Kong once, but I'd love to go again. (My life is still continuing,
so I may go to Hong Kong again.)
Or it may have happened several times (i.e. a repeated action):
NASA has sent probes to various planets in the solar system. (and may send more)
Sometimes we know the time is not 'finished' because of the time phrases we use:
This channel has shown about four wildlife documentaries this week!

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 Compare these two sentences:
John Grisham has written some of the most successful legal thrillers.
Agatha Christie wrote a huge number of thrillers.
In the first example the author is still alive and is able to write more successful books;
in the second the author is dead and therefore can't write any more books:
X Aga#le--C-hristie has written a hUfje-ntJmlJer-ef-t-hrillers7
We use the present perfect after superlatives, e.g. the best/worst, the greatest, ordinal
numbers, e.g. the first (second, third), the only, often followed by ever:
It's the worst sports programme I have ever seen and the first I have ever written
to complain about!
Many people consider Kennedy to be the greatest President the USA has had.

3.1 C A number of adverbs are commonly used with the present perfect as described in 3.1 B:
Adverbs ever, often, seldom, never, so far, already, yet, still:
often used The Prime Minister has seldom been put in such a difficult position.
with the I have never experienced any racism in athletics.
present We've received over 20,000 entries for the competition so far.
perfect Only halfway through the financial year and British Aerospace has already
announced thahts pre-tax profits will be down by seventy per cent.
'Have they announced the date yet?' 'No, they still haven't made up their minds.'
o We use already with the affirmative but yet with the negative and in questions:
X \NeVe yet seen the film but they haven-'t-seen it alreadY7
V' We've already seen the film but they haven't seen it yet.
o It is possible in US English to use the past simple with these adverbs:
We already saw the film but they didn't see it yet.
3.1 D We can use the present perfect simple to talk about an action completed in the past
Present which has some relevance to the present, e.g. tbere is a present result of the action:
relevance The avalanche has devastated the skiing industry in the area. (result = the skiing
industry is still having big problems)
We often use this form to talk about recent actions:
We can start the interviews now, as all the candidates have arrived.
'Has the government put up the minimum wage?' 'Yes, it's £4 per hour now. '
Common adverbs with the present perfect in this use are just, recently and lately:
Has the sports centre increased its membership fees lately?
We use just with very recent actions:
I've just made a nice pot of tea. Would you like a cup?
The wedding of Paul McCartney and Heather Mills has just taken place in Ireland.
o We do not use the present perfect with a definite time in the past (except with since
or for ill'-- 3.1 B). We usually use the past simple 2.1 B) when we give a time:
X {Vis Brown has arrived heif en hour ago. She's waiting in the staff room.
V Ms Brown arrived half an hour ago. She's waiting in the staff room.
We can use the present perfect when the time is indefinite, i.e. when no time is stated,
especially when the past action has some relevance to the present:
Ms Brown has arrived. She's in the staff room and is ready to see you now.

3.1 E As the present perfect simple expresses relevance to the present, news broadcasts and
Other uses reports often use it to introduce a story, before moving into past tenses:
Former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere has died at the age of 77 in a London
hospital. He came to London in ...
Similarly, we often use it to introduce a new topic of conversation:
I've heard from Maurice - he's been in Australia for the last two months.
In time clauses (e.g. after, when) we use the present perfect with future reference:
We'll make a move as soon as the rain has stopped.
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 ;jf .11 PRESENT PERFECT AND PAST SIMPLE - DIFFERENCES
present perfect past simple
3.2A Unfinished state/action (~ 3.1 B) Finished state/action (",. 2.1 B)
Spain has governed the enclave of Spain governed the state of Western
Ceuta since 1580. Sahara from 1958 to 1976.
3.2B Unfinished time (~ 3.1 B) Finished time 2.1 B)
I haven't seen Keith this morning yet. I didn't see Keith at all this morning.
(It's still morning.) (It's now afternoon/evening.)
3.2C Present relevance 3.10) No present relevance (~ 2.1 B)
The Indian Government has imposed a The Indian Government imposed a ban on
ban on tiger hunting to prevent the tiger hunting a few years ago.
extinction of tigers.
3.20 Indefinite time (~ 3.10) Definite time (liP 2.1 B)
I've been to Eurodisney twice. I went to Eurodisney in 1999 and 2000.

3.2E We use the past simple, not the present perfect, to correct an incorrect belief or
Beliefs and expectation, or to confirm a correct one:
expectations X The area is far more ruggetl-amiwild than l--have-eXfJ~
V The area is for more rugged and wild than I expected.
X She is just as beautiful as l have imagined.
V She is just as beautiful as I imagined.
(For a full description of uses of the past simple 2.1 B.)

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

3.3A We form the present perfect continuous with has/have + been + a present participle
Form (-ing form):
Bob Geldof has been doing a lot of
work for charities since the mid-
eighties.
What on earth have you been doing
to that child?
3.3B We use the present perfect continuous
Ongoing to talk about an ongoing state or action
states and which began in the past and is still
actions continuing or has just finished:
Women have been speaking out on
this issue for some time, with mixed
results.
'Where have you been?' 'I've been talking to Jenny.'
It is common to use since or for with this use of the present perfect continuous:
I've been looking into the possibility of early retirement since the reorganisation.
The simple form of the present perfect often focuses on the fact that an action is
completed, while the continuous focuses on the fact that it is still ongoing:
• Simple: I've learnt how to play chess. (= I can play chess now.)
• Continuous: I've been learning how to play chess. (= I'm still learning.)
We use the continuous to focus on the duration of an action so we do not mention the
number of times that we have done the action. With repeated actions we use the
present perfect simple:
X f-!.ve-been callinfHjeu-five-times this morning. Where-have you been?
V I've cal/ed you five times this morning. Where have you been?
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 The use of the present perfect continuous can suggest that the state or action may
change, i.e. it is temporary. Compare this with the present simple:
We subscribe to one of the satellite TV companies. (unlikely to change)
We've been subscribing to one of the satellite TV companies. (not a fixed situation -
we may change)
With the adverbs lately or recently, we use the present perfect continuous to talk about
new developments which may be temporary:
Helen s been spending a lot of time at the club lately. (= She didn't use to.)
o We use the present perfect continuous + for, not the present continuous, to specify
the duration of an activity which started in the past and is still continuing:
)( l-am-IeaFRing-hew.J:fJ-{Jlay chess for thr-ee-tJef1f5-fI8W:-
..... I have been learning how to play chess for three years now.
o We do not usually use the present perfect continuous in the passive:
)( The-f9e#~-rate has Been Being monitered Cf:JfI-tifH:fOt/5I-y-;
..... The nurses have been monitoring' the patient's heart rate continuously.

3.3C We can use the present perfect continuous to explain a present result, e.g. a situation
Present or an appearance. The focus is on the activity rather than the result. In this case, we
relevance don't usually use a time adverb:
This test result is much better. It's
clear you've been revising.
I'm sorry the hall is in such a mess.
We've been decorating.
Compare these examples of the present
perfect continuous and simple:
We have been trialling the new
software prior to its release on the
open market.
We have completed the new
software trial and are now readl) to release it.
t
(result)

PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE AND CONTINUOUS - DIFFERENCES

present perfect simple present perfect continuous
3.4A Completion (Ii> 3.1 B) Continuation (,. 3.3B)
This country has welcomed several This country has been yvelcoming political
hundred refugees from Kosovo in the refugees for many years.
last few weeks.
3.4B Repeated action (1\1* 3.1 Bj Duration of action (1\1* 3.3B)
She has played with the symphony She has been playing with the symphony
orchestra three times this season. orchestra all season.
3.4C Permanent situation (~3. 1B) Temporary situation (1\1* 3.3B)
People have eaten a lot less meat over People have been eating less meat recently
the last twenty years or so. because of the crisis.
3.4D Focus on present result (II> 3.1 Dj Focus on the activity (~3.3Cj
I've done the accounts - here they are. I've been doing my accounts all afternoon.

II> Pages 70 and 71 for Round up of present and past tenses

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 Practice The key to these exercises is on page 354.

1 3.1, 3.2 :".

Choose the phrase or sentence (A or 8), which correctly continues the text or dialogue.
a Only halfway through the football season and Manchester United yet again leads the Premier
League. The situation could easily change, however, as ...
A ... most teams played only a third of their games so far.
® ... most teams have played only a third of their games so far.
1 'I must remember to call my parents before I go away on Thursday. I haven't even told them about
the trip yet.'
A 'Didn't you see much of them lately, then?'
B 'Haven't you seen much of them lately, then?'
2 'What do you think of our new Finance Director?'
A 'He's the most obnoxious person I ever met!'
B 'He's the most obnoxious person I have ever met!'
3 We won't be able to move back into our house for a while.
A Our tenants are living there for six months.
B Our tenants have lived there for six months.
4 Today we're previewing the new album by the top Swedish band The Cardigans, who, as I'm sure
you all know, are coming to the UK on tour next month.
A The group released three albums so far.
B The group has released three albums so far.
5 Another earthquake has hit the north-west of Turkey, bringing further devastation to the area east
of Istanbul, which is still suffering from the August earthquake.
A The latest tremor measured 7.2 on the Richter scale.
B The latest tremor has measured 7.2 on the Richter scale.
6 Pipeworks regrets the current inconvenience to residents of Kelvin Close.
A We have lowered the water pressure to allow essential repairs.
B We lowered the water pressure to allow essential repairs.
7 Investigators into the recent air crash have released their findings, which show a fault in the engine
cooling system of the aircraft. All major airlines ...
A ... grounded aircraft of the same type for thorough checks.
B ... have grounded aircraft of the same type for thorough checks.
8 The seventeenth-century writer Cervantes is often considered the father of the modern novel. Most
people only connect the name with Don Quixote, though Cervantes ...
A ... was a prolific writer.
B ... has been a prolific writer.
9 'With so much money being poured into medical research every year, you'd think that more
breakthroughs would be made.'
'But breakthroughs are being made.
A Didn't a Colombian scientist discover a cure for malaria last year?'
B Hasn't a Colombian scientist discovered a cure for malaria last year?'
10 Most visitors to the prison are pleasantly surprised by the environment.
A It is far more open and greener than they have imagined.
B It is far more open and greener than they imagined.

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2 3.1, 3.2 ''
","
II
':J'

For each of the sentences below, write another sentence as similar as possible in meaning to the
original sentence, using the word given. The word must not be altered in any way.
o There's a cake in the oven.
baked ............ .f'!!:?: jw.t. k~.4< '~""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""'"
Most of the workers started here in 1996, when the factory opened.
since .................................................................................................................................... .
2 The guest performers are all here now.
arrived .....................................................................................................................................
3 We visited the new theme park three times last summer and we intend to go this summer too.
have .................................................................................................................................... .
4 Everyone in my family knows the basics of First Aid.
learnt .................................................................................................................................... .
5 The latest novel by the young Indian writer Arundhati Roy is stunning. It's her best to date.
ever .....................................................................................................................................
6 There is no decision from th~ panel yet about the technical irregularities.
decided .....................................................................................................................................

3 3.3, 3.4 :.
Match each sentence (A and B) in the pairs below with its meaning.
o A I've been reading the book you lent me on genetics.
B I've read the book you lent me on genetics.
I've finished the book.
2 I'm still reading the book.
A The firm gives company cars to junior managers.
B The firm has been giving company cars to junior managers.
1 This is the company's usual policy. It's unlikely to change. D
2 This isn't the company's usual policy. It may change. D
2 A Something has been killing the rabbits in the woods.
B Something has killed the rabbits in the woods.
There are no rabbits left in the woods. D
2 There are some rabbits left in the woods. D
3 A Monsanto has placed some adverts in the national press.
B Monsanto has been placing adverts in the national press.
1 This was a one-off publicity move. D
2 This is a continuing publicity campaign. D
4 A 'Hi, Fiona. What a mess! Have you been decorating?'
B 'Hi, Fiona. This room looks great! Have you decorated it?'
1 Fiona is in the middle of decorating. D
2 Fiona isn't decorating any more. D
5 A A group of us have learnt how to play bridge.
B A group of us have been learning how to play bridge.
We're still learning. D
2 We can play it now. D
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 4 ALL m!;;

Complete the text with phrases from the box.

contained existed found has allowed have been digging has produced
has been trying has been have been found have unearthed perished
has discovered walked were discovered

Palaeontologists in New Mexico (1) ........ the remains of at least one dinosaur from the late Jurassic
period. The palaeontologists, from Canada, (2) ........ in a formerly unexplored part of the Morrison
Formation - a vast fossil bed - for the last eight months. Early last week one of the group (3) ........ a
section of rock which (4) ........ a number of bones from one, or possibly more, large herbivorous
dinosaurs. Since then, the group (5) ........ to release the bones from the rock and piece them together.
The palaeontologists believe that the bones may form a whole dinosaur family. It is possible that the
whole family (6) ........ while trying to protect the young from predators.
According to Bryce Larson, the group's leader, the bones are from a large brachiosaurus. These
animals (7) ........ approximately 150 million years ago and are counted amongst the largest dinosaurs
that ever (8) ........ the Earth. Other brachiosaurus remains (9) ........ in the Morrison, but these latest
bones are very large and may prove to come from the largest dinosaur anyone (10) ........ to date.
For a long time the Morrison Formation (11) ........ one of the most productive fossil beds in the
world. Since the first bones (12) ........ there in 1877, it (13) ........ tonnes of material. The Morrison,
more than any other fossil bed, (14) ........ us an insight into the late Jurassic period in North America.
It seems that the latest find could reveal even more about the giants of the Jurassic.

5 ALL "
Read this biography from a movie magazine. Complete the text with the verbs in brackets in the
past simple or present perfect (simple or continuous).

Mel Gibson (1) ........ He (11) ........ (go on) to make several other
(be) a major film star successful films in Australia, for example,
now for more than Gal/ipali, before he (12) ....... (move) to
twenty years. In this Hollywood.
time he (2) ........ Gibson (13) ........ (make) more than thirty
(become) one of the films, many of which (14) ........ (be) great
commercial successes. He (15) ........ (never/be)
most respected Hollywood actors and he
(3) ........ (now start) a successful career in film
afraid to take on challenging roles, such as
Hamlet and The Man without a Face, which also
directing, as well. ..
Gibson (4) ........ (be born) in the United States (16) ........ (mark) his directorial debut. He
(17) ........ (direct) films for the last few years. To
in 1956 but his family (5) ........ (move) to
date he (18) ........ (direct) three successful films.
Australia in 1968. He (6) ........ (complete) his
school education in Sydney and (7) ........ (begin) Unusually for the turbulent world of
Hollywood romance, Gibson (19) ........ (live)
his acting career there, in the National Institute
of Dramatic Art. He (8) ........ (appear) in several with the same woman for over twenty years -
his wife Robyn, whom he (20) ........ (marry) in
Australian TV series, but (9) ........ (get) his big
1980. Up to the present time, they have seven
break in 1979, in a film called Mad Max. He
(10) ........ (since/make) two more 'Max' films. children.

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6
You have been asked to prepare a short biography of Bruce Willis for a movie magazine. Read the
notes below and write one sentence only for each numbered set of notes. Use the past simple and
present perfect (simple or continuous) of the verbs in brackets, and appropriate linking words or
phrases. You may add words and change the form of the words given in the notes, but do not add
any extra information. The first point has been expanded for you as an example (0). (You may
also wish to use the biography in Exercise 5 to help you.)

o 8ruce" Willi~ - (be) wUlior us filWl k TV ~tar - alWlo~t

:1.0 year~

(becoWle) one of WlO~t hiqhly paid I:tollywood actor~;

(write) fiIWl~cript~
2 born fiferWlany 1qss - father in US arWlY k Wlother fiferWlan
3 faWlily (WlOVe) back -to USTf (New Jer~ey) 1qsr
4 (qo) Montclair State Colleqe New Jer~ey - (qet) role in play 'lfetflVen tfnt'!
~tfrtl(; ({eave) ~chool k (~tart) actinq

5 1~t Wlain role = 'David Tfddi~on in 'M~~n/i9Ittin9/ (hit TV ~how); (win)

E:WlWly~ and fifolden fiflobe award~ for role
6 1~t hit filWl ='Pie Iftfrt'!~ 1QU; (Wlake) two ~e4uel~ ~ince then
7 (~tar) Wlainly violent action filWl~ ~ince 'Pie Iftfrt'!/; a/~o (Wlake) different
type~ of filM - 'Twelve M~nl<.eys/ (1QQS), 'Tlte Sixth Sense/ (1QQQ)

8 (Wlake) 10+ filWl~, Wlany (be) cOWlWlercial ~uCCe~~

9 (have) ~eVere ~tutter ever ~ince Childhood; actinq (help) hiWl ~ubdue it-
not a probleWl in front of audience
10 (be) Wlarried - 'DeWli Moore 10 year~ - ~eparation 1QQS; (have)
.3 children toqether

1 ..................................................................................................................................................... .
2
3 ...................................................................................................................................................... .
4 ......................................................................................................................................................
5 ..................................................................................................................................................... .
6 ......................................................................................................................................................
7 ......................................................................................................................................................
8
9 ..................................................................................................................................................... .
10 ......................................................................................................................................................

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