question about the present perfect

[anonymous]

Why is the present perfect used in this sentence:

The flight hasn't arrived yet at the airport.

Why is the present tense not used? Isn't it "now" that the plane isn't at the airport?

[rajan]

Why is the present perfect used in this sentence:

The flight hasn't arrived yet at the airport.

Why is the present tense not used? Isn't it "now" that the plane isn't at the airport?

I think with "yet" we always use present perfect tense. As it is related to "Now" Present Perfect tense is related to "Now"

Now Remove word "Yet"

The flight has not arrived at the airport.

As present perfect tense is also related to unfinished time, therefore we can expect it can reach any time in future. The result will come definitely, means its arrival is sure.


When we say - plane is not at at the airport.

We mean to say about the existence / availability of the plane at the airport which is a fact. Present tense shows fact. We are not stressing on the arrival of the plane.


When we use past tense like The plane did not arrive at the airport, it means. It means Now the plane will not reach and we have conveyed our message. No consequence will come.

Our Teachers can explain this in an more emphatic/professional way.

[Tdol]

In addition to what Rajan says, the present perfect is really a present tense- it has a relation to the present.