1.2. Personal experiences

En esta sección trataremos sobre algunas partículas que suelen acompañar habitualmente al Present Perfect y matizan un poco más su significado.

Already made

Fotografía en Flickr de robswatsky bajo CC

  • Present Perfect
  • Already
  • Just
  • Yet

Actividad de lectura

En el siguiente diálogo, conoceremos la aventura de Johnny Osborne, que ha recorrido el mundo en su moto:

Motorcycle

Fotografía en Flickr de Paco CT bajo CC

Presenter: Welcome to Amazing People. Today's programme is about a man who has travelled around the word by motorcycle. Johnny Osborne is our special guest, a journalist who has been with Peter Hennes for two months sharing his adventure. Johnny, waht can you tell us about Peter?

Johnny: Well, Peter has already been round the word ten times by motorcycle. 

Presenter: Wow! That's incredible! When did he start the journey?

Johnny: He started the journey in 1990. He left Australia, his country with twenty-years old. 

Presenter: How many countries has he visited already?

Johnny: Two hundred countries. He has just arrived to his native land after this incredible adventure.

Presenter: Where has he slept?

Johnny: He has slept in a tent.

Presenter: Has he finish his journey?

Johnny: No, he hasn't finish his adventure yet. He wants to travel round the word by bike.

Presenter: Oh, my God!

Importante

En el diálogo anterior, hemos leído sobre una expreriencia sorprendente y el tiempo que se ha usado es el Present Perfect. Si te fijas, han aparecido una serie de partículas que lo acompañan already, just, yet y que matizan su significado asociándose típicamente a este tiempo. Veamos el significado de cada una y su uso con el tiempo:

  • Already: expresa que la acción se ha desarrollado ya o antes de lo esperado. Se traduce por ya. Se coloca entre el auxiliar have/has y el participio.

I'll sent the letter / Voy a mandar la carta

I've already sent it /Ya la he mandado

  • Just: se usa para dar énfasis y para expresar que la acción se acaba de realizar. Se traduce por acabar de hacer algo. Su posición es como la de already, se sitúa entre el auxiliar y el participio.

I've just come from Barcelona / Acabo de llegar de Barcelona

  • Yet: es un partícula que suele usarse en oraciones negativas e interrogativas. Siempre se coloca al final de la oración y se traduce por ¿ya? y todavía no.

Has he arrived yet? / ¿Ya ha llegado?

No, he hasn't finished his journey yet / No, todavía no ha terminado su viaje

Caso de estudio

Lee el siguiente diálogo y tradúcelo aplicando todo lo que ya sabes del Present Perfect.

In the livingroom

Fotografía en Flickr de Vanessa L bajo CC

Walt: Hi, Cathy. How are you getting on?

Cathy: Hi Walt, come on in and have a sit. Let's have a bit of a chat. How has been your day so far?

Walt: Well, I've already finished everything I had to do at work. How about you?

Cathy: Well, I've had an extremely busy day because I've invited some friends to dinner. 

Walt: Really? What have you done?

Cathy: Uff, I've already done the shopping but I haven't bought the wine yet. I've picked up the children from school. Then, I have taken the car to the garage and I've collected it up later on. I've just cleaned the house and I've thrown a pile of old newspapers into the recycling container. I've already cooked the meal and I've also layed the table. By the way, do you want to join us?

Walt: Sure, it sounds great!