Using Present Perfect Tense for the Past

I don’t know how many times I have heard people incorrectly using the present perfect tense. Here’s an example of the present perfect tense:

Kim has worked at the University of Lethbridge for five years.

This is different from saying he worked at the U of L for five years because the example implies he is still working there.

Here are some examples of the present tense being used incorrectly that I heard recently:

  • “He has accepted a post as a principal.” – implying he is still accepting the position
  • “Naguib Mahfouz has died.” – implying he is still dying
  • “You have left the group Track-It_HelpDesk.” – implying I am still leaving

What is it with people wanting to say more than is necessary? Working in an academic institution has opened my eyes (yes it is still opening my eyes, wider and wider) to such grammatical misuse. It makes me wonder what research papers look like.

By Kim Siever

I am a copywriter and copyeditor. I blog on writing and social media tips mostly, but I sometimes throw in my thoughts about running a small business. Follow me on Twitter at @hotpepper.

6 comments

  2. Wait, is this right? I’m no grammar fiend, but I thought you used present perfect when actions in the past are relevant or have a current effect. Your examples struck me as correct, and a quick google reinforced that opinion.

    i.e
    “He has accepted a post as a principal.” – since in the present and in the future he will be the principal.
    “Naguib Mahfouz has died.” – since in the present and the future he will be dead.
    “You have left the group Track-It_HelpDesk.” – since in the present and in the future you will not be in that group

    As for “What is it with people wanting to say more than is necessary? ” they aren’t, but I think you know that. Even if my superfical grasp of grammar is incorrect I think you’d have to look long and hard to find anyone who would misconstrue any of your examples.

  3. In your examples, Ed, they would be more correctly stated as:

    “He has been a principal”
    “Naguib Mahfouz has been dead”
    “You have been gone from the group Track-It_HelpDesk”

    The first discussed the acceptance of the job not that he has been in the job. The second talked about the fact that he died not him being dead. The last discussed having left, not being gone. Despite the fact that they described events that do not span long periods of time, they used a tense that is used to describe long periods of time.

  4. I thought the intent of present perfect was to convey that the event had recently happened when that event has importance in the future.

    You clarifications don’t do that.

  5. ““He has accepted a post as a principal.” – implying he is still accepting the position”
    Let me tell you why I consider this sentence correct! I know that we can use the Present Perfect when there is no time specification in the sentence. So, it is good to say “He has accepted a post as a principal” We are interested in the effect in the Present “So, he is now a principal”. We can use the Simple Past when time is specified: “He accepted a post as proncipal a month ago.”

  6. None of your examples are wrong. The only correct example of misuse is that given by Luminita in post #5, at the end. If you step back from your overly technical interpretation of the rules and just say your examples and listen to yourself, you will find that I am right.

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