4 PRESENT PERFECT TENSE An action that began in the past and that has recently been completed or continues into the present. Also known as the present perfective. Specific time such as two years ago, last week or that day is usually not used in the sentences of in this tense. Example 1) Ali has eaten pizza. Thepresent perfect tense describes an action that has taken place or a condition that has come to pass by the time of speaking. Other conditions will be described below. To form the present perfect tense, use has/have + past participle of the verb . For example: I have gone to the gym three times this month. I composed music over the last twelve years, but almost quit for many reasons" You are right about past simple sounding awkward here. "over the last 12 years" means the 12 years up to now, which means present perfect or past continuous (was composing) can sound more natural (past simple in the first part is okay, but would perhaps be better with "for the last 12 years"). Vay Tiền Nhanh.

time signal present perfect tense