Search results for 'tag:Present perfect tag:TEFL' matching tags 'Present perfect' and 'TEFL'

Presenting grammatical structures

Anonymous — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 12:17:10 GMT

Hi!

I'm doing the i-to-i online tefl course but am stuck on this one question!

What are the grammar structures of the highlighted sections?

If I hadn't passed my exam, I wouldn't have gone to Cancun.

For example, the kind of answering I'm looking for would follow this pattern:

I've been to New York. = This is the present perfect structure and in this instance it is being used to talk about an experience at an indefinite time in the past.

Thanks for your help!

Re: TEFL Question - Please help!

CalifJim — Mon, 06 Dec 2004 19:58:59 GMT

The rule is:

The present perfect cannot be used with any adverbial which indicates a specific point in time in the past.

The adverbial in question is "last year" in your example.

Only adverbs of time which include the present (moment of speaking) can be used with the present perfect.

Example: I have answered five Forum questions today. ("today" includes the present moment, so it's OK.)
Example: I have answered five Forum questions yesterday. ("yesterday" does not include the present moment, so the sentence is incorrect.)

Re: TEFL Question - Please help!

MJ — Mon, 06 Dec 2004 12:43:45 GMT

I'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.