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Old 15-Dec-2006, 12:08
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Default Re: present perfect tense

Tenses are a long discussion (as many things in grammar).

I go to the park
Present tense

I am going to the park
Present tense, progressive aspect

I went to the park
Past tense

I was going to the park
Past tense, progressive aspect

I have gone to the park
Present tense, perfect aspect

I had gone to the park
Past tense, perfect aspect

...and so on...
(Perfect + progressive combos are also possible)

Also please note that in many cases an aspect or a tense denote much more than just "when did the action take place" or whether "the effect is still present"

Consider:

If I went there, I would be rich

This is conditional, and indicates nothing about the past.

Similarly, consider: (I've posted this before, it's a good example)

Who rearranged the furniture?
Who's
rearranged the furniture? (Who has rearranged...?)

Here the perfect aspect doesn't indicate whether the effect is still felt or not, but rather where the focus is on (on the action or the "who did it")
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