key term - She has finished

Definition

The phrase 'she has finished' is an example of the present perfect tense, which indicates an action that has been completed at some point in the past but is relevant to the present moment. This construction uses the auxiliary verb 'has' combined with the past participle 'finished' to convey that the action of finishing is complete and has implications for the current context.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. 'She has finished' emphasizes not only the completion of the action but also its relevance to the current situation, which is a key aspect of the present perfect tense.
2. The construction shows that the subject (she) is performing the action and that the action is complete, which can lead to further implications or discussions about what happens next.
3. In English, the present perfect tense is often used to discuss experiences or changes over time, making it useful for storytelling or sharing personal insights.
4. 'Has' is used for third-person singular subjects, while 'have' would be used for first and second-person singular and plural subjects.
5. This tense can be used with adverbs like 'already', 'just', or 'yet' to add more context about the timing of the action.

Review Questions

• How does the phrase 'she has finished' illustrate the role of auxiliary verbs in constructing tenses?
  • 'She has finished' illustrates the role of auxiliary verbs by using 'has' to help form the present perfect tense. The auxiliary verb 'has' is essential for indicating that the subject's action was completed in relation to the present moment. Without it, we wouldn't be able to convey this specific timeframe and relevance that this tense encapsulates.
• Discuss how changing the auxiliary verb from 'has' to 'have' would alter the meaning and grammatical correctness of 'she has finished'.
  • 'She has finished' is grammatically correct because 'has' agrees with the third-person singular subject 'she'. If we change it to 'have', it would become incorrect as it would imply a first-person or plural subject, making it 'I have finished' or 'they have finished'. This shows how crucial subject-verb agreement is in English grammar, particularly with auxiliary verbs.
• Evaluate the significance of using present perfect tense in communication, specifically through phrases like 'she has finished', in terms of clarity and context.
  • Using present perfect tense through phrases like 'she has finished' is significant for clarity and context because it succinctly indicates that an action was completed at an unspecified time before now while emphasizing its relevance to the present. This helps listeners or readers understand not just what was done, but also how it relates to ongoing discussions or actions. The ability to connect past actions to current situations enhances communication efficiency and comprehension in both spoken and written forms.

Related terms

Auxiliary Verb: A verb that helps to form tenses, moods, or voices of other verbs. In this case, 'has' functions as an auxiliary verb.

Past Participle: The form of a verb typically used with auxiliary verbs to indicate a completed action. 'Finished' serves as the past participle in this phrase.

Present Perfect Tense: A grammatical tense used to express actions that have occurred at some indefinite time in the past or actions that started in the past and continue to the present.