Anonymous  +  156455 Tue, 08 Nov 05 04:33 PM hi....can you clearly explain to me when i have to use present perfect/present perfect continuos and when i have to use past perfect/past perfect continuos? thanks.... Anonymous Past Perfect, Present Perfect

	Jussive  +  156480 Tue, 08 Nov 05 05:55 PM Well, your question involves quite a lot to my mind. I'll go through it bit by bit, however, not everything in one post and if others jump in then so be it. The Present Perfect is essentially a present tense but it also expresses the effect of past actions and activities on the present. One really simple use of the Present Perfect to grasp is to express something which begun in the past and is still continuing up to the present: I have lived here for twenty years. (I still live here) Jussive Joined on Sun, Sep 25 2005 Full Member 144 Tenses, Present Tenses, Past Perfect, Present Perfect

	Jussive  +  156498 Tue, 08 Nov 05 06:18 PM Another use of the Present Perfect is a bit more subtle and difficult to grasp. It is used to express something which finished at some unspecified and unknown time in the past but has some effect on the life/mind of the person/s involved in the present. People may disagree with that definition, but hey! Compare (1) 'Everytime we went on holiday in Scotland, it rained' with (2) 'Everytime we have gone on holiday in Scotland, it rained'. In both examples the holidays have finished and we have no idea when they happened, however, (1) expresses more so that such holidays are a thing of the past than (2). Jussive Past Perfect, Present Perfect

	Jussive  +  156505 Tue, 08 Nov 05 06:29 PM One final use of the Present Perfect is to express something which has happened and which has a present result. What has happened is usually recent, for example: I've lost my wallet. (I don't have it now.) Jussive Past Perfect, Present Perfect

	Jussive  +  156509 Tue, 08 Nov 05 06:36 PM Have you grasped this so far? If so, I'll be back. Jussive Past Perfect, Present Perfect