Question:
What is the best way to illustrate the meanings of the present perfect (in
English) in Japanese? This verb tense does not exist in Japanese. I've
given students these examples:
John has eaten (already)
John wa moo tabemashita.
John has been to Japan.
John wa Nihon ni itta koto ga aru.
John has been in Japan for 3 years.
John wa Nihon ni 3 nen kan (mo) ita.
John has been living in Japan for 3 years.
John wa Nihon ni 3nenkan sunde ita.
My theory is that the adverbs moo - already, mada -nai - (not) yet, mada -
still, zutto illustrate the idea of 'from the past to the present'
Have you seen or heard of a clearer way to explain the present perfect?
Answer:
don't know if this is of any help, but when I teach the English
present perfect to my students at the juku, the explanation I write on
the blackboard goes something like this:
1. Kanryoo (= recently completed action)
I have finished my homework.
Watashi wa shukudai o oeta.
I have just finished my homework.
Watashi wa shukudai o (ima) oeta tokoro da.
I have finished my homework already.
Watashi wa moo shukudai o oeta.
2. Kekka (= consequence of past event)
I have lost my watch.
Watashi wa tokee o nakushita (node, ima tokee ga nai).
3. Keeken (= experience)
I have seen you before.
Watashi wa izen anata ni atta koto ga aru.
I have never been to Tokyo.
Watashi wa Tookyoo ni itta koto ga ichido mo nai.
4. Keezoku (= continuing state [present perfect] or action
[present perfect progressive])
I have known him since childhood.
Watashi wa kare o kodomo no koro kara (zutto) shitteiru.
I have been waiting for thirty minutes.
Watashi wa sanjippun mo (zutto) matteiru/machitsuzuketeiru.
Submit Your
Own Answer!
