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Tenacious Learner Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Question on a definition for the present perfect

Hi teachers,
She has had dinner with him three times. (Present Perfect)
She had dinner with him three times. (Simple Past)
Since both sentences are equally well, in the following definition I should add 'up to now' at the end, shouldn't I?
The present perfect can also express the number of times (occasions) the actions or situations have occurred at indefinite points in time in the past (up to now).

Thanks in advance.
  

Top answer

The present perfect can also express the number of times (occasions) the actions or situations have occurred at indefinite points in time in the past (up to now). I don't see any reason to include "up to now". Everything in the past happened before now.

— CalifJim

  • The present perfect can also express the number of times (occasions) the actions or situations have occurred at indefinite points in time in the past (up to now).
  • I don't see any reason to include "up to now".
  • Everything in the past happened before now.
  • If you say "in the past", you automatically exclude anything in the future, so I don't see that "up to now" adds any information.
  • CJ
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16 Answers
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Thinking SpainSince both sentences are equally well good, in the following definition I should add, 'up to now' at the end, shouldn't I?The present perfect can also express the number of times (occasions) the actions or situations have occurred at indefinite points in time in the past (up to now).
I don't see any
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CalifJimI don't see any reason to include "up to now". Everything in the past happened before now.
Hi Jim,
Thank you for your reply. My question was based on the doubt that both sentences are equally good, but to differentiate the definition from the one in past, I thought It was better to add, 'up to now'. It seems that it is not necessary, is it?
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Thinking SpainThe present perfect can also express the number of times (occasions) the actions or situations have occurred at indefinite points in time in the past (up to now).
I would write:

The present perfect can also be used to express the number of past occurrences relative to the time of speaking.
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Thinking SpainIt seems that it is not necessary, is it?
Right. As I wrote earlier, I don't see any reason to include it.

CJ
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screamererThe present perfect can also be used to express the number of past occurrences relative to the time of speaking.
Hi screamerer,
Thank you for your suggestion.

Ts
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Hi Jim,
Thank you for your reply. Sorry to be stubborn, but if a student asks me what the diffference is between these two sentences besides the tense, what should I say?
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Thinking Spain... if a student asks me what the diffference is between these two sentences besides the tense, what should I say?a) She has had dinner with him three times.b) She had dinner with him three times.
The difference is in the tenses, and the implications conveyed by the use of these tense. We have here one of the basic differences between the
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fivejedjon ... the present perfect, used to for past actions/states occurring in a time-period extending up to the present.
Hi fivejedjon,
Thank you for your reply. I certainly like it!
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Thinking Spain... could the original explanation be as follows, 'The present perfect can also express the number of times (occasions) the actions or situations have occurred at indefinite points in time in the past extended up to the present', to differentiate it from the simple past one?
.The present perfect itself does not express the number of times situati
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fivejedjon.The present perfect itself does not express the number of times situations occurred. This needs to be stated explicitly:
Hi fivejedjon,
Thank you for your reply. You are certainly right. The following are the different uses I have given to my students. Woul
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