For & Since with Present Perfect Tense

 

We often use for and since with the present perfect tense.

• We use for to talk about a period of time - 5 minutes, 2 weeks, 6 years.
• We use since to talk about a point in past time - 9 o'clock, 1st January, Monday.

for	since
a period of time	a point in past time
	x------------
20 minutes	6.15pm
three days	Monday
6 months	January
4 years	1994
2 centuries	1800
a long time	I left school
ever	the beginning of time
etc	etc

Here are some examples:

• I have been here for 20 minutes.
• I have been here since 9 o'clock.
• John hasn't called for 6 months.
• John hasn't called since February.
• He has worked in New York for a long time.
• He has worked in New York since he left school.

Present Perfect Tense

I have sung

The present perfect tense is a rather important tense in English, but it gives speakers of some languages a difficult time. That is because it uses concepts or ideas that do not exist in those languages. In fact, the structure of the present perfect tense is very simple. The problems come with the use of the tense. In addition, there are some differences in usage between British and American English.
In this lesson we look at the structure and use of the present perfect, followed by a quiz to check your understanding:

How do we make the Present Perfect Tense?

The structure of the present perfect tense is:

subject	+	auxiliary verb	+	main verb
		have		past participle

Here are some examples of the present perfect tense:

	subject	auxiliary verb		main verb
+	I	have		seen	ET.
+	You	have		eaten	mine.
-	She	has	not	been	to Rome.
-	We	have	not	played	football.
?	Have	you		finished?
?	Have	they		done	it?

Contractions with the present perfect tense

When we use the present perfect tense in speaking, we usually contract the subject and auxiliary verb. We also sometimes do this when we write.

I have	I've
You have	You've
He has She has It has John has The car has	He's She's It's John's The car's
We have	We've
They have	They've

Here are some examples:

• I've finished my work.
• John's seen ET.
• They've gone home.

How do we use the Present Perfect Tense?

This tense is called the present perfect tense. There is always a connection with the past and with the present. There are basically three uses for the present perfect tense:

1. experience
2. change
3. continuing situation

1. Present perfect tense for experience

We often use the present perfect tense to talk about experience from the past. We are not interested in when you did something. We only want to know if you did it:

I have seen ET. He has lived in Bangkok. Have you been there? We have never eaten caviar.
past	present	future
!!!
The action or state was in the past.	In my head, I have a memory now.

Connection with past: the event was in the past.
Connection with present: in my head, now, I have a memory of the event; I know something about the event; I have experience of it.

2. Present perfect tense for change

We also use the present perfect tense to talk about a change or new information:

I have bought a car.
past	present	future
-	+
Last week I didn't have a car.	Now I have a car.

 

John has broken his leg.
past	present	future
+	-
Yesterday John had a good leg.	Now he has a bad leg.

 

Has the price gone up?
past	present	future
+	-
Was the price $1.50 yesterday?	Is the price $1.70 today?

 

The police have arrested the killer.
past	present	future
-	+
Yesterday the killer was free.	Now he is in prison.

Connection with past: the past is the opposite of the present.
Connection with present: the present is the opposite of the past.

Hotel Vocabuary Excercise 1

Fill in each blank with the correct word. If both words can be used, choose the one that sounds more natural in each situation:

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1. Your room hasn't been (clean/cleaned) yet.

2. You can check (in/on) from 11:00 AM.

3. Check out (schedule/time) is 12:00 PM.

4. Let me know if you need anything else = Let me know if you (require/request) anything else

5. I can't (see/seem) to find your reservation.

6. Did you make your reservation (online/internet)?

7. Everything is in (good/order) = Everything is alright (= especially when talking about formal matters)

8. Do you have a restaurant on (promises/premises) ( = in or attached to the hotel)

9. We hope you (enjoy/please) your stay.

10. How long will you be (staying/stay)?

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Fill in each blank with the correct word. If both words can be used, choose the one that sounds more natural in each situation:

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1. I'm sorry, we don't have any rooms (available/rentable) that weekend.

2. Would you like me to check another (date/schedule) for you?

3. I'm sorry, we're all- (books/booked) ( = we have no free rooms) because of a big conference.

4. I'll need to see your passport, or some other form of (identity/identification).

5. We don't have room (servants/service). ( = We don't bring food, etc. to your room)

6. The concierge will (show/carry) you to your room.

7. There's a (tiny/mini)-bar in every suite.

8. Let me know if I can be of further (assistance/assistant) = Let me know if there's anything else I can do to help

9. Before you arrive = (Prior/Previous) to your arrival

10. We also have a gym which you can use at your (dispersal/disposal).

 

Fill in each blank with the correct word. If both words can be used, choose the one that sounds more natural in each situation:

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1. A (concierge/counsellor) is someone who works at the reception desk.

2. I'll get one of the bellhops to take your (bags/baggage) to your room.

3. Someone (left/gave) a package for you.

4. If a room is "bigger", you can say it's "more (spacious/spatial).

5. I'll have to (console/consult) with the manager = I'll have to discuss it with the manager

6. To reserve a room = To (book/reservation) a room

7. I can't (warrantee/guarantee) (= promise) that the price won't go up.

8. We have really good weekend (deals/offerings) ( = special offers).

9. Would you like me to (request/call) you a taxi?

10. Breakfast is (inclusive/included) in your room rate

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Practice English with us! This exercise is for hotel concierges, bellhops, reception desk workers, managers, etc. Fill in each blank with the correct word. If both words can be used, choose the one that sounds more natural in each situation:

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1. The rate for that room is (slightly/lightly) ( = a little) higher.

2. I can (assist/assess) ( = help) you with this.

3. Is there a (trouble/problem) with your room?

4. Are you having (trouble/problem) opening the door?

5. We offer (washing/laundry) service for our guests.

6. This service is (given/provided) as part of your room rate.

7. Breakfast is not included in the price. You will have to pay (extra/money) for it.

8. We offer 24- (hour/hours) room service.

9. The word "amenities" refers to "comforts" or (conveniences/conventions). These may include a pool, a sauna, a restaurant, etc.

10. We have an (indoor/inside) pool for our guests.

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