Present perfect with superlative forms of adjectives

Tags:
emphasis
perfect
present
superlatives

The present perfect tense is often used with superlative forms of adjectives to express emphasis.

This is the first time I have been to Prague.
This is the worst film I have ever seen.

This use also applies to the past perfect tense.

Jill was the most beautiful girl John had ever met.

This sentence means that until that time John had never met such a beautiful girl. It also implies that he has since then. If, however, poor John hasn't met anybody like her since then, we use the present perfect:

Jill was the most beautiful girl John has ever met.

With future tenses (this will be...) we use the present simple tense in such structures.

This will be the last time that I buy you a tram ticket.

Diagrams



Present perfect with an incomplete period
Present perfect Present perfect to express annoyance

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