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ESL forum >
Message board > Present Perfect Tense
Present Perfect Tense
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GIOVANNI
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Present Perfect Tense
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I would like your opinion on the following use of the Present Perfect:
If you have just completed reading a series of pages which one of the following would be correct, or are they both correct? (without using just or already)
�I have finished pages 1,2,3, �or would you say �I finished pages 1,2,3 �?
Could I please have your input on this.
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7 Sep 2009
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silviamontra
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Hi,
I would say that it depends on the time expression (or lack of it) in the sentence. That is, you can say:
I have finished pages 1,2,3. -> with no time reference, meaning �I have read 3 pages so far, and I will probably read some more �
or
I finished pages 1,2,3 yesterday .... -> with a past time reference, and you may not read any more.
The present perfect is used to talk about experiences in your life, things you have done when you don �t want to say WHEN you did them. For example:
I have won the lottery. but I won the lottery this morning.
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7 Sep 2009
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redcamarocruiser
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I read that present perfect is more commonly used in England in situations where we would use simple past in the US.
To me, saying "I finished pages 1,2,3" does not preclude that I will read more pages, and in my opinion, it does not require a past time reference like yesterday.
When I want to announce that I have just finished reading the first three pages (even a second ago), I would say "I finished..." and not "I have finished..."
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7 Sep 2009
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Mar (itxasobcn)
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Dear Nancy,
I agree with Silvia. If you don �t say when, use the present perfect.
If you say when (yesterday, two day ago, etc), the past simple.
At least that �s what most grammar books tell us.
Big hugs, sweetie!!!!
Mar |
7 Sep 2009
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douglas
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I pretty much agree with Silvia.
You can use both without any problem. "I have finished...." leads me to expect that you will read some more pages in the future.
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7 Sep 2009
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GIOVANNI
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Thank you very much for your answers. |
7 Sep 2009
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