Present Perfect - předpřítomný čas - patří k obtížným časům v angličtině (v češtině neexistuje a proto působí studentům problémy). Je to čas, který se používá pro situace, události nebo stavy, které spojují minulost s přítomností a budoucností.

Present Perfect Simple je tvořen tvarem slovesa HAVE a třetím tvarem sloves (past participle):

  • I have been there.
  • She has spoken to him recently.

Present Perefect Continuous je tvořen tvarem slovesa HAVE, slovesem BEEN a  gerundiem (-ing tvar) slovesa:

  • They have been travelling since the beginning of the year.
  • He has been selling the magazines for a long time.

Použití předpřítomného času můžeme vysvětlit na pozadí češtiny:

Česká věta je v minulém čase - existují dvě možnosti překladu do angličtiny:

  1. Events and activities finished in the past and have no results and consequences in the present
    • we use PAST TENSE
  2. Events and activities finished in the past and have some results or consequences in the present
    • we use PRESENT PERFECT

Příklady použití (česky jsou všechny věty v minulém čase):

  • Shakespeare lived and worked in London (he doesn't live)
  • I broke my leg two years ago (no consequences now).
  • I have opened the window (and it is open now)
  • I have broken my leg (and I have a plaster now).

Česká věta je v přítomném čase - existují dvě možnosti překladu do angličtiny:

  1. Events and activities began in the past and they continue until now
    • we use PRESENT PERFECT
  2. If we speak about facts or information and time is not mentioned
    • we use PRESENT TENSE

Příklady použití (česky jsou všechny věty v přítomném čase):

  • I have been to lot of places. (I'm talking about the places I have visited in my life = a period that continues until now)
  • She hasn't eaten anything since breakfast. (= from breakfast until now)
  • He has lived/has been living in Prague since his childhood. (I say how long he has been living there.
  • I live in Prague. (I only inform about the place where I live)
  • She works as a nurse. (I only say what her job is but I don't say how long has she been working as a nurse)

There are some adverbs of time that are commonly used with the present perfect.

  • Just – This means it happened recently, not a long time ago
    • She’s just gone for a break.
  • Never – This means it has not happened, not even once
    • I’ve never given mouth to mouth.
  • Already – This emphasises that something has happened before now
    • I have already called the doctor. She is coming.

We can use the Present Perfect Continuous to:

  1. talk about an activity which started in the past and is still going on now:
    • He has been working here for four years. He started working in McCarthy's in 2003 and now (in 2007) he's still working there.
    • She's been living in London since 2000.
  2. talk about a past activity which has a result in the present:
    • Have you been decorating? Your clothes are covered in paint!
    • He's been working all day so he is tired now.

For and since are often used with the present perfect and present perfect continuous. We use for when we're talking about a period of time and since when we mention the start of a period of time.

  • použití FOR:
    • for 15 minutes, three hours/days, a week/month/year, a long time, ages
  • použití SINCE:
    • since 1993, breakfast - time/lunchtime, June/December, the war, Valentine's Day/Christmas, 10 April, 6 o'clock, they were children, the last time