Have you done it? (Present Perfect Tense)

Grammar Point
Using the present perfect tense could be difficult at first, but it only needs getting used to. Once you are acquainted with it, you will ask how you have managed communicating in English without using this tense. It is used when talking about experience or about a past event that still has relevance to the present.

Consider the sentences below:
I have been to Argentina.
I have just had lunch. I don't feel hungry anymore.


The first sentence talks about one's experience of being in Argentina. It's not the past that she is interested in but focuses on the fact that she has been in the country some time before.

The second sentence talks about how she is not hungry anymore because she has already had lunch. The focus is on the fact that she is no longer hungry.

Note that the verb should follow the form, has/have + past participle.

Other examples:
I have done skydiving. (Experience)
I have seen the movie, "007".
She has left the office. (Focus is on the fact that she is no longer in the office).


Vocabulary/Helpful Expressions
Imperative- necessary; essential
Crucial- extremely important

e.g.
It is imperative that we get to the meeting place on time.
It is imperative that you are present in the teleconference.
Being able to make a decision by Monday is crucial.
What are the crucial parts of the presentation.


Practice
I have never given a presentation in front of more than 10 people. I feel that to do that successfully, it is imperative that I prepare days before. The visual aids will also be very crucial in the success of the presentation. I have just finished my power point file, so now, all I need to do is practice the delivery.



Want to learn more with a trainer? Schedule a FREE test lesson today!

See my travels here.