The Perfect Verb Tenses

 

Verbs are words that express action (run) or a state of being (love). The action can also be
abstract rather than visible, such as the words think and decide.

Verb tense tells when an action occurred on a time line. There are three tense-
present, past, and future.

Aspect indicates whether an action is complete or not.

The simple aspect indicates that an action occurred, without an indication of when it occurred.

The continuous (progressive) aspect indicates that the action is ongoing.

The progressive aspect indicates that the action is complete.

These two concepts are combined to give the twelve verb 12 different verb tenses. These are:

The simple tenses- present, past, and future
The continuous tenses- present, past, and future
The perfect tenses- present, past, and future
The perfect continuous- present past, and future.

 

Below is an explanation of the simple verb tenses and when they should be used.

 

The Perfect Tenses

The perfect tenses are used when talking about events, actions, or situations that occurred in
the past, but the exact time that they occurred is not important (as with simple past tense).

 

Present Perfect Tense

The present perfect is formed by using: have/has + past participle.

Use the present perfect tense:

1. When talking about actions or situations in the past without saying exactly when they
      happened.
           I’ve been to Germany 3 times.

2. When talking about the present result of past actions or situations.
           His songs have made him a superstar.

3. When talking about actions or situations that started in the past and continue in
      the present.
           They have lived in the same house for 30 years.

4. When talking about past events, actions, or situations that are still part of one’s

      experience.
           We have traveled to Europe on several occasions.

Practice

Working in pairs, ask each other the following questions, answering in the present perfect tense.
Each partner should ask and answer each question. Be sure to use complete sentences in your
answers. For additional practice, change the words in parenthesis to make your own questions.

How many times has your (family moved to a different city)?
What kind of (sports have you participated in)?
How many (ice cream cones have you eaten) this week?
Have you ever eaten (a peanut butter and pickle sandwich)?
How long have (you studied English)?
Has anyone in your country ever (won a Gold medal in the Olympics?
Have you ever (traveled to Vietnam)?
Have you ever (volunteered your time to a worthy cause)?
Do you know anyone that has (climbed the Alps)?
Have you ever met anyone that has (hunted wild pigs)?
Have you ever met anyone that has (sailed across the Atlantic Ocean)?
Has you mother ever (cut your hair)?
Have any of your friends ever (stolen anything from you)?

 

Past Perfect Tense

The past perfect is formed by using: had + past participle.

Use the past perfect:

1. When talking about the completion of one activity in the past before the completion of
      another activity in the past.
           John had just finished waxing his car when it started to rain.

Practice

Working in pairs, ask each other the following questions, answering in the past perfect tense.

Each partner should ask and answer each question. Be sure to use complete sentences in your
answers. For additional practice, change the words in parenthesis to make your own questions.

After you had (finished dinner last night, what did you do)?
What had you done (before you came to this class)?
What had you father (hoped to achieve before he had children)?
Who had been your (favorite teacher in elementary school)?
Where had you been (before you came to this class today)?
What had been your best vacation (before you graduated from high school)?
What had you done (before you ate breakfast this morning)?
Had you (gambled before you finished middle school)?
What had the (president of your country done before he became president)?
Had it (rained before you came to class today)?

 

Future Perfect Tense

The future perfect is formed by using: will/shall + have + past participle.

Use the future perfect tense:

1. When talking about an event, situation, or action that will be completed by a certain time
      in the future.
           We will have finished this homework by lunch time.

2. When talking about an event, situation, or action that will be completed in the future, but
      prior to another event, situation, or action taking place.
           The Jones’ will have traveled to 12 countries by the end the year.

Practice

Working in pairs, ask each other the following questions, answering in the future perfect tense.
Each additional practice, change the words in parenthesis to make your own questions.

How long will you have (been in class today after you answer this question)?
Before your next meal, (how many minutes will have elapsed since you have eaten last)?>
Between now and next Friday at 12 AM, (how many hours will have elapsed)?
How many times will you have (eaten between now and the end of the week)?
How many (candy bars will you have eaten if you eat two a day for three months)?
If you go to (the movies this weekend, how many movies will you have seen this year)?
When you eat (your next pizza, how many pizzas will you have eaten this month)?
If you watch (TV for one hour after class, how many hours will you have watched TV this week)?