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English 1b3 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Present Perfect & Non-continuous Verbs

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentperfect.html

http://www.better-english.com/grammar/pspp1.htm

These links discuss the present perfect tense. They contradict one another, however:

  • The first link says the present perfect can be used with only non-continuous verbs to show that something started in the past and has continued up until now (see use #2 in the link)

  • The second link essentially says the same thing, that it can be used to talk about something which happened in the past but is relevant now.
    But this second link doesn't mention that this use of the present perfect is limited to non-continuous verbs, instead giving examples including normal verbs:
I've just finished my report.
I haven't spoken to Brian yet.



Is the first link wrong? Or Are these just rare exceptions to the rule discussed by the first link? Or has the second link incorrectly used sentences that do not illustrate the use of the present perfect discussed?



Thanks
  

Top answer

English 1b3 They contradict one another I don't see how. English 1b3 The second link says essentially the same thing "essentially the same" is not actually "the same". When it comes to these various and vague descriptions of the present perfect, it is easy to convince yourself that two descriptions are the same when they are not the same at all.

— CalifJim

  • English 1b3 They contradict one another I don't see how.
  • English 1b3 The second link says essentially the same thing "essentially the same" is not actually "the same".
  • When it comes to these various and vague descriptions of the present perfect, it is easy to convince yourself that two descriptions are the same when they are not the same at all.
  • Happening continuously starting from some point in the past and continuing into the present is not the same as having current relevance.
  • I believe those are the two descriptions at the two sites.
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5 Answers
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English 1b3They contradict one another
I don't see how.
English 1b3The second link says essentially the same thing
"essentially the same" is not actually "the same". When it comes to these various and vague descriptions of the present perfect, it is easy to convince yourself that two descriptions are the same when they are
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Ah, I see now. Thank you Emotion: smile

Learning to overcome hindrances of this nature has become less challenging over the years.
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This last question raises another question:

Topic 2 under use 1 of the present perfect from this link below seems to me to be similar or identicle to use 2 in the link:

http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentperfec
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English 1b3would my sentence above with 'has' become be an example of use 2 or use one topic 2?
I'm not going to look it up again, but as I recall, that site was putting "has become" type sentences under Use 1. I may be misrembering, though, so check again.

Frankly, just between us, they have not classified the uses of the present perfect with much r
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