The Usage of The Present Perfect Tense

3. The Usage of The Present Perfect Tense

The perfect tenses are used when an action or situation in the present is linked to a moment in the past. It is often used to show things that have happened up to now but are not finished yet or to emphasize that something happened but is not true anymore. In addition, the present perfect tense is used to talk about experience that have done it in hisher life and it is not important if shehe did it. And adverb of time to talk experience are ever and never, beside that the present perfect tense is used to talk about an action which started in the past and continuous up to now, the adverb of time is often used with since and for to say how to long the action has lasted and it is used to talk about action that has the result in the present, the adverb of time often used is just, already and yet. Perfect tenses are never used something happened such as yesterday, last year etc. But can be used when discussing the duration of something i.e. often, for, always, since etc. The most important thing to remember about the present prefect is that it can never be used with adverbs which describe finished time periods, such as yesterday, five minutes ago, and at three o’clock. If a time adverb is used with the present prefect, it should describe a time period which is unfinished. As an example including today and this week. They are: I’ve been to the shops twice already today I went to the shops before Toy arrived Thomson and Martinet pointed out, that “present perfect tense may be used to be a sort of mixture of present an past, it always implies a strong connection with the present and is chiefly used in conversation, letter, newspaper, and radio reports”. 40 Michael Swan in Practical English Usage stated that: the use of the present perfect are: 40 A.J. Thomson and A.V. Martinet, A practical English Grammar, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1986, p.166 a. The present perfect simple is often used to talk about finished actions and events. This normally happens when the past events have some present importance, and when we could make a present tense sentence with a similar meaning about the same situation b. The present perfect is also used to talk about past actions which are not recent, but which are ‗still with us’ as part of our experience and knowledge. Here is the time expression in present perfect tense a. the present perfect tense is often used with ’indefinite’ time expressions which mean “at any time up to now” or “by now”. Example are: ever, never, yet, already, before. In negative sentences, when we say that things have not happened, since and for are often used. e.g. I haven’t seen a film for weeks, she hasn’t written to me since September b. ‗definite’ time expressionslike today, this week, this morning are not often used with the present perfect when we talk about finished even. The present perfect is not used when are thinking about a particular finished point of time. 41 From the discussion above it can be known that present perfect tense is focused on the action that happened in the past but related to the present moment. It is used commonly to show that the action has just been completed, or at least the effect of the action is still felt at the moment of speaking. Here is the table about comparison between present perfect and simple past Table 2.10 The Difference between Present Perfect and Simple Past PRESENT PERFECT SIMPLE PAST 1. The present perfect always connects the past and the present a. we use the present perfect to talk about something which started in the past and continues up to the 1. the past simple tells us only about the past a. we use the past simple to talk about something which started and finished in the past. 41 Michael Swan, Practical English Usage, London: Oxford University Press, 1980 ,p.495 present. 10 years Past present I’ve lived in London for ten years. = I still live in London now. b. We also use the present perfect when the result of past action is connected to the present. I have lost my wallet.= I have not got the wallet now. - we often use the present perfect to announce ‗new’. e.g. someone has stolen my motorbike 10 years Past Present I lived in Manchester for ten years.= I do not live in Manchester now. b. We use the past simple when the result of a past action is not connected to the present. I lost my wallet, but I have got it back again now. - we use the past to give details of the news. e.g. I left the bike outside for a few minutes and when I came back, it wasn’t there. 2. When we say a definite past time e.g. yesterday, last week, six weeks ago, we always use the past simple ,never the present perfect. e.g. I lost my wallet yesterday. not: I have lost my wallet yesterday - we use the present perfect to talk about an indefinite time up to the present e.g. ever, never, recently. Compare : PRESENT PERFECT PAST TENSE Have you ever seen ghost ? Did you see your friend yesterday? I have never been to New York. I went to London last week - in conversation, we often begin indefinitely, with the present perfect, then we use the past simple when we think about the definite time that something happened. ‗have you ever been to the Unites States?’ ‗ yes, I went there in 1985.’ ‗Did you go to New York = when you were there in 1985?’ I’ve seen that film. I enjoyed it = when I saw itvery much. 3. we can use today, this morning, this afternoon, etc: with the present perfect when these with the past when these periods of time periods of time are not finished. are finished e.g. I’ve seen peter this morning. e.g. I saw peter this morning. It is still morning. It is now afternoon, evening, or night time 1. we normally use a past tense, not the present perfect, to ask when something happened. When did you arrive home last night? Not: when have you arrived home last night? 42 42 Digby Beaumont Colin Granger, The Heinemann English Grammar with Answer Key, Oxford: Heinemann, 1989, pp.25-26 30 CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

A. Objective of the Research

In this purpose of the research, the writer would like to find empirical evidence of errors in learning present perfect tense made by the first year students of senior high school at Madrasah Aliyah Soebono Mantofani Jombang- Ciputat in terms of form and usage. In addition, the writer expects that this skripsi will be useful for herself, English teacher and another people in general.

B. Place and Time of the Research

The research was held at the first year students of Madrasah Aliyah Soebono Mantofani Jombang-Ciputat which is located on Jl. Sumatra Jombang – Ciputat. The writer conducted this research from May 17 th until May 26 th 2010. In the first day she came to school and asked for permission to the head master to do the research. Then, she continued her research by reviewing the material about present perfect tense. Next, she interviewed the English teacher in the school related to the teaching learning process. Finally, she gave a test about Present perfect tense on May 26 th to the first year students in the school.