Perfect tenses

Present Perfect Tense

 FORM

+ - ?

I have walked I have not walked Have I walked?

He has found He has not found Has he found?

Present Simple of to have + past participle

past participle = main verb + ed (regular verbs)
3RD column of irregular verb list
TASK 1: Write down the present
perfect form of the following verbs

INFINITIVE PRESENT PERFECT

to live I
to beg you
to buy he
to stay we
to plan you
to eat they
to write I
to cry you
to teach she
TASK 1: Write down the present
perfect form of the following verbs

INFINITIVE PRESENT PERFECT

to live I have lived
to beg you have begged
to buy he has bought
to stay we have stayed
to plan you have planned
to eat they have eaten
to write I have written
to cry you have cried
to teach she has taught
 USE

Present perfect shows a relationship between past time and present time!
1. UNFINISHED STATES, EVENTS OR ACTIONS – THEY STARTED IN THE PAST AND CONTINUE UP
TO THE PRESENT AND POSSIBLY INTO THE FUTURE (with for + period of time and since +
point in time):
• I have worked for this company for four years. (= and I still work there)
• We have known each other since 1997. (= and we still know each other)

2. UNFINISHED TIME PERIOD (with today, this week, this year...)

• I have read two books this week. (= the week is still not finished)
• Sam has been on holiday twice this year. (= the year is still not finished)
 USE

3. COMPLETED ACTIONS IN THE PAST, WHEN THE RESULT OF THE ACTION IS STILL VISIBLE OR
IMPORTANT IN THE PRESENT (with just, already, yet, still, recently)
• Michael has just heard some bad news. (= he still looks upset)
• They have already repaired the lift. (= you can use it now)

4. SINGLE OR REPEATED ACTIONS THAT HAPPEN AT AN UNSPECIFIED TIME IN THE PAST – THE
EXACT TIME IS NOT IMPORTANT (with ever, never):
• I have lost my passport! (= it’s not important when, what is important is that I don’t
have it now)
• Have you ever worked on a CNC machine? (= it’s not important when, what is
important is you have had this experience)
 CONTRAST: PRESENT PERFECT AND PAST SIMPLE

1. He has been in the navy for fifteen years. VS He was in the navy for fifteen years.
(= he is still in the navy) (= he is no longer in the navy)

2. Have you been busy this morning? VS Were you busy this morning?
(= it is still morning now) (= the morning is now finished)

3. Have you had a good holiday? VS Did you have a good holiday?
(= you have just returned) (= your holiday finished some time ago)

4. I have been to Spain. VS I went to Spain two years ago.

(= unspecified time in the past) (= specific time in the past)
 TASK 2: Put the verbs in brackets in the
Present Perfect or the Past Simple

1. This is only the second time I _______________ (ever fly) with an airplane.

2. My brother _______________ (sleep) from seven till seven yesterday without waking once.

3. I _______________ (send) the company three emails last week but they _______________
(not reply) to any of them yet.

4. The train _______________ (just arrive), so hurry and you might catch it.

5. I _______________ (dream) about a beautiful desert island last night.

6. A: _______________ (you, see) the headmaster?

B: Yes, I _______________ (see) him in the hall half an hour ago.

 TASK 2: Put the verbs in brackets in the
Present Perfect or the Past Simple

1. This is only the second time I have ever flown with an airplane.

2. My brother slept from seven till seven yesterday without waking once.

3. I sent the company three emails last week but they haven’t replied to any of them yet.

4. The train has just arrived, so hurry and you might catch it.

5. I dreamt about a beautiful desert island last night.

6. A: Have you seen the headmaster?

B: Yes, I saw him in the hall half an hour ago.

Past Perfect Tense
 FORM

+ - ?

I had walked I had not walked Had I walked?

He had found He had not found Had he found?

Past Simple of to have + past participle

past participle = main verb + ed (regular verbs)
3RD column of irregular verb list
 USE

1. AN EVENT OR ACTION THAT HAPPENED BEFORE ANOTHER PAST EVENT, ACTION OR TIME IN
THE PAST:
• When I got down to the docks I realised that my ship had already sailed. (= the ship
sailed before I got to the docks)
• It was midnight and the children had gone to bed hours ago. (= the childen went to
sleep before midnight)
CONTRAST: PAST PERFECT AND PAST SIMPLE

• Note the difference in meaning between these two sentences:

1. When the teacher came into the classroom, they stopped playing cards.
(= the teacher came in, then they stopped paying cards)

2. When the teacher came into the classroom, they had stopped playing cards.
(= they stopped playing cards before the teacher came in)
 TASK 3: Put the verbs in brackets in the
Past Perfect or the Past Simple
1. When Martin ______________ (come) into the room, his mother nearly ______________ (faint)
because she ______________ (not see) him for nearly 20 years.

2. When I ______________ (enter) into the room, everyone ______________ (stop) talking and
______________ (look) at me.

3. The Chief Officer ______________ (show) us a little circle on the chart where we ______________
(be) an hour ago.

4. As soon as I ______________ (sit) down on the train, I realised that I ______________ (leave) my
passport at home.
 TASK 3: Put the verbs in brackets in the
Past Perfect or the Past Simple
1. When Martin came into the room, his mother nearly fainted because she had not seen him for
nearly 20 years.

2. When I entered into the room, everyone stopped talking and looked at me.

3. The Chief Officer showed us a little circle on the chart where we had been an hour ago.

4. As soon as I sat down on the train, I realised that I had left my passport at home.