Do you really use past in the present very often?
It is very difficult fo me to understand where I have to choose past or present perfect times....

Question

Do you really use past in the present  very often?
It is very difficult fo me to understand where I have to choose past or present perfect times....

Answer

There are a pile of rules, but the basic one is:

If it has happened, you use past tense.  So any story you tell (of what happened earlier/yesterday/last month/10 years ago), use past tense.

Answer

Present tense: Today I have to go to the supermarket.
 Past tense: Yesterday I went to the supermarket, but forgot to buy  some milk.
You can use the Present Perfect tense  to describe your experience. It is like saying, "I have the experience of..." You can also use this tense to say that you have never had a certain experience. The Present Perfect is NOT used to describe a specific event.

Examples:

* I have been to France.
      This sentence means that you have had the experience of being in France. Maybe you have been there once, or several times.
    * I have been to France three times.
      You can add the number of times at the end of the sentence.
    * I have never been to France.
      This sentence means that you have not had the experience of going to France.
    * I think I have seen that movie before.
    * He has never traveled by train.
    * Joan has studied two foreign languages.
    * A: Have you ever met him?
      B: No, I have not met him.

Answer

What do you mean "past in the present"?

Answer

Yes

Answers · 4

Still haven’t found your answers?

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn a language from the comfort of your own home. Browse our selection of experienced language tutors and enroll in your first lesson now!