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Guest Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

Why present perfect?

0 The task is to complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first 02br
00sentence, using the word given. 02br
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00The thief ran right past you so I'm sure you saw his face. 02br
02br
00must 02br
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00The thief ran right past you so ....................................... his face. 02br
02br
02br
00My answer: 02br
00The thief ran right past you so must saw his face. 02br
02br
00Correct answer: 02br
00The thief ran right past you so must have seen his face. 02br
02br
00I admit that it sounds better with present perfect but the original sentence is in the past. 0-
  

Top answer

0 Rule: Modal verbs (and "must" is one of them) cannot be followed by a past tense form. To express past tense after a modal add "have" and the past participle. This is not truly a "present perfect" but a "modal perfect".

— CalifJim

  • 0 Rule: Modal verbs (and "must" is one of them) cannot be followed by a past tense form.
  • To express past tense after a modal add "have" and the past participle.
  • This is not truly a "present perfect" but a "modal perfect".
  • In the case of the modal perfect construction the difference between simple past and present perfect is neutralized.
  • 02br 02br 00That is, adding "must" either to a simple past or to a present perfect creates the same modal perfect structure: 02br 02br 00He read the book yesterday.
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5 Answers
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0 Rule: Modal verbs (and "must" is one of them) cannot be followed by a past tense form. To express past tense after a modal add "have" and the past participle. This is not truly a "present perfect" but a "modal perfect". In the case of the modal perfect construction the difference between simple past and present perfect is neutralized. 02br
02br
00That is, adding "must"
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0 Quote: 02br
00"We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened at an unspecified time BEFORE NOW. The exact time is not important." 02br
00----------"before now" = "past" ( to me, anyway) 02br
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05000 0230hrefhttp://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/presentperfect.html
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0 Yes, but "unspecified time before now" is a kind of "chewing gum" period extending from say your birth day until today. Since you cannot pinpoint the EXACT moment in te past when the action took place, you can't use a simple past. THAT's when you use the present perfect. 0-
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0 01blockquote
00Rule: Modal verbs (and "must" is one of them) cannot be followed by a past tense form. To express past tense after a modal add "have" and the past participle. This is not truly a "present perfect" but a "modal perfect". In the case of the modal perfect construction the difference between simple past and present perfect is neutralized.12blockquote
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0 Paco, 02br
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00Your illustrations are 'simply' 'perfect' in every detail! 05002br
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00Jim 010id1
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