Question and Answer

استمع الى الكلمات في البرنامج ومرن نفسك على استخدامها في الفقرة ادناه

Welcome to BBC Xtra English. Today, presenters Cath and Wafa answer questions about the present perfect, and about the words similar and the same.

Makhou from Mauritania asks; 'There's just one question about the present perfect that gets me perplexed. Why do we say "I have been to Spain", not "I was in Spain?".

Makhou's right, it is perplexing! Usually we use the present perfect tense to talk about something that began in the past and that is still happening now. For example: "I have lived in London for two years". Or: "He has known her for twenty years".

But Makhou's holiday is finished; he's not in Spain any more, so why do we still use the present perfect?

Cath explains that this is another use of the present perfect; it shows that something happened in the past, but that the experience of it is still important, it still lives on and is relevant now.

Other examples: I've seen that film. She's read that book. He's visited Egypt.

However: we don't know when Makhou went to Spain. If he wants to tell us exactly when he went then he has to use the past tense. For example: "I went to Spain in 2004", or "I was in Spain last year".

Our second question comes from Yasir in Sudan. He says "What is the difference between these words: similar and the same?

Cath explains:

If two things are the same, they are exactly like each other.

For example: "My friend Hilary is the same age as me; we're both 36".

If two things are similar they are almost, but not exactly, the same.

For example:

My father and I have similar views on politics.

Thank you for your questions!

انقر هنا للاستماع للكلمات

present perfect
المضارع التام

similar
مشابه - متشابه

the same
نفس الشيء - عينه

perplexed
حائر

I have lived in London for two years ( still live there )
لقد عشت في لندن لمدة عامين ومازلت أعيش فيها الآن

relevant
وثيق الصلة بالموضوع

the past tense
صيغة الزمن الماضي

to sum up
في الاجمال - ختاما

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