http://www.englishforums.com/English/GeneralEnglishGrammarQuestions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here.enCSMOD (Build: 3273.32735)http://www.englishforums.com/English/TeflQuestionPleaseHelp/mcll/post.htm#59732Mon, 06 Dec 2004 19:58:59 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:59732CalifJim0http://www.englishforums.com/English/TeflQuestionPleaseHelp/mcll/post.htm#59732http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-59732.xmlThe rule is: <br /> <br />The present perfect cannot be used with any adverbial which indicates a specific point in time in the past. <br /> <br />The adverbial in question is "last year" in your example. <br /> <br />Only adverbs of time which include the present (moment of speaking) can be used with the present perfect. <br /> <br />Example: I have answered five Forum questions today. ("today" includes the present moment, so it's OK.) <br />Example: I have answered five Forum questions yesterday. ("yesterday" does not include the present moment, so the sentence is incorrect.) <br /> <br /> <img src="/emoticons/emotion-15.gif" alt="Geeked [8-|]" /> <br />http://www.englishforums.com/English/TeflQuestionPleaseHelp/mczp/post.htm#59634Mon, 06 Dec 2004 12:43:45 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:59634MJ1http://www.englishforums.com/English/TeflQuestionPleaseHelp/mczp/post.htm#59634http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-59634.xmlI'd say that you cannot use present perfect tense if there is something that shows you a past simple tense. "last year" indicates that the action started and finished in the past. So, you played a lot of tennis, but nowadays, you don't.http://www.englishforums.com/English/TeflQuestionPleaseHelp/mcvq/post.htmMon, 06 Dec 2004 10:20:59 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:59618Jemimah2http://www.englishforums.com/English/TeflQuestionPleaseHelp/mcvq/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-59618.xmlHi, I’m completing an application for entry into a TEFL course. With the help of a couple of books to refresh my knowledge of basic grammar, I’ve managed to answer all but one question. Can someone please help me out with this one? <br /> <br />The sentence is, “I’ve played tennis a lot last year.” <br /> <br />Obviously the sentence is rewritten correctly as “I played tennis a lot last year” or “I played a lot of tennis last year.” <br /> <br />But it’s the second part to this question that I need help with – “Explain any rules that students would need to know.” <br /> <br />What “rules” would a student need to know to ensure they are able to correctly write such a sentence? I assume the answer has something to do with the use of “have” (I’ve) in the context of the first sentence. <br /> <br />Can someone please help me out with this? Thanks SO much! <br />