Grammar: B1 - ⚙️ Verbs in Depth: ⏳ Perfect & Continuous Tenses - Lesson 1: Present Perfect Tense (Experiences, unfinished past - with for, since, ever, never, yet, already)

⚙️ Lesson 1: Present Perfect Tense

Welcome to our series on Perfect and Continuous tenses! Today, we begin with the Present Perfect. This tense¹ is very common in English and is used to connect the past with the present. We use it to talk about an unfinished past² and our life experiences³. In this lesson, we will learn how to use it with key signal words like for, since, ever, never, yet, and already.

The Structure

The structure for the Present Perfect tense is simple. The main parts are the verb 'to have' (in its correct form) and the past participle⁴ of the main verb.

Structure: Subject + have/has + Past Participle

• Positive: I have visited Bokor Mountain. / She has seen that movie.
• Negative: I haven't visited Bokor Mountain. / She hasn't seen that movie.
• Question: Have you visited Bokor Mountain? / Has she seen that movie?

Remember: Use 'have' for I, you, we, they. Use 'has' for he, she, it.

Use 1: The Unfinished Past (with 'for' and 'since')

We use the Present Perfect to talk about actions or situations that started in the past and are still true now. We often use 'for' and 'since' to say how long.

• Use for with a period of time⁵ (e.g., three days, ten years, a long time).
• Use since with a point in time⁶ (e.g., 2022, last year, I was a child).

Example (Kampot): "He has lived in Kampot for two years. He moved here since 2023."

Use 2: Life Experiences (with 'ever' and 'never')

We also use the Present Perfect to talk about experiences in our lives. The specific⁷ time is not important.

• Use ever in questions to ask "at any time in your life?"
• Use never in statements to say "at no time in my life."

Example (Kampot): "Have you ever seen the fireflies on the river? No, I have never had the chance."

Use 3: Recent Past (with 'already' and 'yet')

This tense is also used for recent actions that have a result in the present.

• Use already in positive sentences to show that something happened sooner than expected.
• Use yet in negative sentences and questions for something we expect to happen, but it hasn't happened.

Example (Kampot): "Have you tried the famous Kampot pepper crab yet? Yes, I have already tried it. It was delicious!"

🧠 Practice Quiz: Choose the Correct Word

Choose the best word to complete each sentence.

1. I've lived in Cambodia _______ 2020.
   Answer: since
2. Have you _______ seen the fireflies on the Kampot river?
   Answer: ever
3. He hasn't finished his work _______.
   Answer: yet
4. She has known him _______ five years.
   Answer: for
5. A: Do you want lunch? B: No thanks, I've _______ eaten.
   Answer: already

📝 Homework: Build the Sentence

Use the words to write a full sentence in the Present Perfect tense.

1. (you / visit / Kep / yet / ?)
   → Have you visited Kep yet?
2. (I / not see / my friend / for a long time)
   → I haven't seen my friend for a long time.
3. (she / already / buy / the bus ticket)
   → She has already bought the bus ticket.

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Tense: (Noun) - កាល (kal) - A grammar form of a verb that shows the time of an action (past, present, future). ↩
2. Unfinished Past: (Phrase) - អតីតកាលមិនទាន់បញ្ចប់ (âtitek'kal mĭn'toan bânh'châp) - A time period that started in the past but is still continuing now. ↩
3. Experience: (Noun) - បទពិសោធន៍ (bât'pi'sao) - Something you have done in your life. ↩
4. Past Participle: (Noun) - ទម្រង់ទី៣នៃកិរិយាស័ព្ទ (tûm'rɔng tii bay ney kĕ'rĭ'ya'sâp) - The third form of a verb, used in perfect tenses (e.g., see → saw → seen). ↩
5. Period of time: (Phrase) - រយៈពេល (rô'yĕă' peil) - An amount of time, like three days or five years. ↩
6. Point in time: (Phrase) - ចំណុចពេលវេលា (châm'nŏch peil'vé'léa) - A specific moment in time, like Monday or 2021. ↩
7. Specific: (Adjective) - ជាក់លាក់ (cheăk'leăk) - Clearly defined or identified; particular and exact. ↩