The present perfect tense

Question

Hi,I'm trying to understand when can I use the present perfect tense.I've read a lot of explanations and they have all said that we can use the present perfect tense when "the time is not specified".It doesn't seem reasonable ,cause if so, I need the simple past (that seems to be important) only in sentences that mention the time. I can design any sentence to the present perfect tense.It doesn't seem right cause the present perfect tense doesn't seem to be too common (at least in the US).for example:I've walked to the store and I've bought an icecream. Is it grammaticaly correct?I'd be glad if you'll sharp the rules of the present perfect and explain me when I can only use the simple past and not the present perfect (beside cases in which the time is important)thanks in advance

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

Anonymouswe can use the present perfect tense when "the time is not specified".

True.

Time not specified: Use past or present perfect.

Time specified: Use past, not present perfect.

AnonymousI've walked to the store and I've bought an icecream. Is it grammaticaly correct?

It is grammatically correct. If the time is not specified, both past and present perfect are always correct. The question is not whether it's correct, but whether it says what you intend to say, whether it communicates your thoughts effectively.

In this specific case, are you trying to communicate that at some time in your life you have walked to the store and at some time in your life you have bought an ice-cream? If so, your sentence is appropriate and effective.

Were you trying to tell the story of what you did? Trying to tell us your actions? If so, your sentence is not appropriate or effective. You should have used the past if you were just telling us the story of what happened:

I walked to the store and I bought an ice-cream.

Anonymouswhen I can only use the simple past and not the present perfect (beside cases in which the time is important)

When in your mind you feel that you are telling the story of what happened, use the past. Generally, that means that you could specify the time if you wanted to.

I walked to the store (at 3 pm yesterday) and I bought an ice-cream (at 3:15).

But if you just want the world to know that the events of the story happened:

I have walked to the store and bought an ice-cream (one or more times in my life).

There are no exact rules, because it's all taking place inside your head! It's like saying "dog" or "cat". There's no rule. You say "dog" when you have a picture of a dog in your head; you say "cat" when you have a picture of a cat in your head. It's the same with these tenses. You use the past when you have the idea of telling a story in your head; you use the present perfect when you have in your head the idea of informing people that the story took place.

Until you get more familiar with English, it may difficult for you to think in terms of this contrast, but it's the contrast that makes the difference between the past and the present perfect.

Past: telling the story just as it happened.

Present perfect: saying that the events of the story took place.

CJ

The present perfect tense

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