Grammar Tip: Using the present perfect to solve crime

Grammar is a tool.  It has a purpose.  It was created to make communication easier, not to scare away non-native speakers.  Therefore, when you learn something new about English grammar, a good first question to ask is, “In which situations is this grammar structure used?” Or, more simply put, “Why?” 

Different basic grammar structures can help you express facts, opinions, advice, instructions, hopes, regrets, beliefs, certainty, uncertainty, and so on. So, matching grammar with a specific context or situation will help you know when to best practice it. Learning why to use specific grammar is as important as learning how to use it. 

Why do English speakers use the present perfect tense?

In this post, we will focus on the present perfect tense. 

A great context for using the present perfect tense is during interviews and investigations.  Some examples of when you might need to interview or investigate someone are as follows:

• During a job interview

• On a first date

• When learning more about a new friend

• When solving a mystery

Grammar in context

Imagine this:

It’s 2pm.  You’re at work. You didn’t have time to eat breakfast. You are starving, but you’re in luck because you finally have time to eat lunch.  So, you go to the staff lounge, open the fridge, and you are absolutely horrified!  Someone has stolen your sandwich! You only have two options: 

1. You can go crazy, flip over a table, and run around the office using the past simple to accuse each of your 20 coworkers by saying, “Did you eat my sandwich, Stephanie?! I know you ate my sandwich! I know one of you ate my sandwich!”

2. Or, you can very calmly and cooly begin to collect evidence about your suspects by using the present perfect tense. Like Sherlock Holmes, you can discreetly ask the question, “Hey Josh, have you seen my sandwich?”

Most people do not want to be accused of the terrible crime of sandwich theft, so option 2 is probably the best way to keep your friends at the office. Let’s explore how we can use the present perfect to assist in this investigation.

3 ways to use the present perfect and solve a mystery 

There are 3 simple and related ways that we can use the present perfect to investigate this very serious situation:

1. By discussing general experiences - We can discover general experiences in the past. Similarly, we can also ask if an event happened multiple times in the past. We don’t care exactly when.

2. By discussing present effects - We can find out if a past action has a present consequence.

3. By discussing continuing actions - We can ask if an activity (or criminal behavior…) started in the past and is still true.

General  Experiences

Did an event happen at any time in the past, but we don’t know exactly when it happened? Or, did an event happen multiple times in the past? This would be a good time to use the present perfect.  Review the following investigative questions as examples:

1. Have you eaten lunch today?  

• Yes, I have already eaten lunch today. (At some point today, this coworker has eaten.  We don’t know exactly when... and we don’t know whose lunch they ate.)

• No, I haven’t eaten lunch today. (It wasn’t important “when,” so we didn’t ask about a specific time using the simple past.  If this person stole your sandwich, the sandwich is still safe for now.)

2. How many sandwiches have you eaten this week?

• I have eaten 3 sandwiches this week and I might eat 3 more. (This person repeatedly eats sandwiches.  They are definitely a suspect, but we need more evidence.)

• I haven’t eaten any sandwiches this week. (This person has not eaten your sandwich.  They could still be a thief though.)

3. Have you ever (in your entire life) stolen a sandwich?  

• Yes, I have stolen a sandwich. (Do not trust this person! They have a history of stealing sandwiches.)

• No, I have never stolen a sandwich. (This coworker is a perfect angel. They might be a good ally in your investigation.) 

Present Effects 

Did the event happen in the past and continue to affect the present?  Use the present perfect if something began in the past and its consequences are still felt now.  Review the following investigative questions as examples:

1. Have you gained weight recently?

• Yes, I have gained a lot of weight because I’ve eaten so many sandwiches today.  (This is a probable sandwich thief. They obviously can’t control themselves around sandwiches. They have gained weight as a result of eating sandwiches.) 

• No, I have only eaten salads lately, so I haven’t gained any weight.  (This person needs a sandwich, but they are innocent.)

2. What impact have you had on the world?

• I have ruined my coworker’s life by eating their sandwich. (This person is a born criminal mastermind. They have negatively affected the world’s sandwich-eating population.)

• I have improved the safety of my sandwich by installing a camera in the refrigerator.  (This is a very clever person.  Their past actions could save countless sandwiches).

Continuing Action

Did the action start in the past and continue until the present? We use the present perfect if an action began in the past is still true. Review the following investigative questions as examples:

1. How long have you been a sandwich thief?

• I have been a sandwich thief for 2 hours.  (Thief! This is our number one suspect! They became a sandwich thief 2 hours ago and are still a sandwich thief now.) 

• I have never stolen a sandwich. (There’s no reason to waste more time with this person. They have never been a sandwich thief and still are not a sandwich thief).  

2. How long have you wanted to steal my sandwich?

• I have wanted to steal your sandwich since the moment I saw you walk in this morning.  (Call the police! This person has been jealous of your sandwich all day!) 

• I have never wanted to steal your sandwich. (This is very insulting, but at least they will leave your sandwiches alone.) 

Wrapping up the investigation

As you can see, the present perfect is very useful for investigating and discovering information about an experience, an effect, or an action. Whereas the past simple requires you to ask for more specific and known information, the present perfect allows you to introduce a topic more generally.

In the comments below, please  let us know what actions you have taken to protect the world’s sandwiches.