时态结构
1）现在完成时和一般过去时都能表示过去发生过的动作，但现在完成时表示过去动作对现在的影响，并且表示这一动作已完成或还可能继续下去；2）而一般过去时与现在的情况没有联系，仅表示过去的动作，且这一动作到说话时已终止。因此现在完成时不能与表示明确的过去时间如：in1949，yesterday，last week等的状语连用，并且用when或where对这些时间和地点状语提问时，一般只用一般过去时。
示例
在“it is first/second...time that...。”或在“it/this/that is the +最高级+名词+that...。”结构中，that从句中的动词常用现在完成时；在“it + be...+since从句”这一结构中，be可用一般现在时或现在完成时，since从句一般用过去时。have/has/had +been +动词的现在进行时。
比较过去时与现在完成时
1过去时表示过去某时发生的动作或单纯叙述过去的事情，强调动作；现在完成时为过去发生的，强调过去的事情对现在的影响，强调的是影响。
2过去时常与具体的时间状语连用，而现在完成时通常与模糊的时间状语连用，或无时间状语。一般过去时的时间状语：yesterday, last week，…ago, in1980, just now, 具体的时间状语
共同的时间状语：this morning, tonight, this April, now, once，before, already, recently，lately
现在完成时的时间状语
for, since, so far, ever, never, just, yet, till / until, up to now, in past years, always,
不确定的时间状语
3）现在完成时可表示持续到现在的动作或状态，动词一般是延续性，如live, teach, learn, work, study, know.过去时常用的非持续性动词有come, go, leave, start, die, finish, become, get married
举例：
I saw this film yesterday.（强调看的动作发生过了。）
I have seen this film.（强调对现在的影响，电影的内容已经知道了。）
Why did you get up so early?
（强调起床的动作已发生过了。）
Who hasn't handed in his paper?
（强调有卷子，可能为不公平竞争。）
She has returned from Paris.
她已从巴黎回来了。
She returned yesterday.
她是昨天回来了。
He has been in the League for three years.
(在团内的状态可延续)
He has been a League member for three years.
(是团员的状态可持续)
He joined the League three years ago.
( 三年前入团，joined为短暂行为。)
I have finished my homework now.
---Will somebody go and get Dr. White?
---He's already been sent for.
句子中如有过去时的时间副词（如 yesterday, last, week, in 1960）时，不能使用现在完成时，要用过去时。
（错）Tom has written a letter to his parents last night.
（对）Tom wrote a letter to his parents last night.
用于现在完成时的句型
1，It is the first / second time…. that…结构中的从句部分，用现在完成时。
It is the first time that I have visited the city.
It was the third time that the boy had been late.
2，This is the… that…结构，that从句要用现在完成时。
This is the best film that I've (ever) seen.这是我看过的最好的电影。
This is the first time (that) I've heard him sing.这是我第一次听他唱歌。
