VERBS - PART III PERFECT TENSES ACTIVE VOICE

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Perfect Tenses

Verbs in the perfect tenses are not perfectly clear as they would have you think! Perfect tenses, like the simple tenses, can expressed in the present, past and future. However, the time context for the "action" is more defined, as we will see.

Perfect tenses all apply the auxiliary "HAVE."  The verb "HAVE" will determine whether the verb is in the present (HAVE/HAS bought), past (HAD bought) or future (WILL HAVE bought). There is also a continuous perfect tenses, but we'll deal with that in our next category: continuous tenses.

The main verb in these tenses is ALWAYS in the Past Participle Form (see intro to verb forms).

Present Perfect

The Present Perfect tense applies the verb "HAVE" in the Present Tense (HAVE/HAS). The main verb is always in.... the past participle (see verb forms), of course!

English speakers commonly use the Present Perfect Tense to express the idea of something "happening" in one of two timeframes: 1.Any time in the past (remember that the Simple Past occurred at a specific time in the past) Example: I've already seen that movie (when?....-- any time in the past) 2. From its beginning to the present time Example: Dora has lived in Colorado for five years. OR Dora has lived in Colorado since 19... When the Present Perfect is used to express an "action" which began in the past and continues to be true in the present, English speakers often use the prepositions "from" and "since."

Past Perfect

The Past Perfect tense applies the verb "HAVE" in the Past Tense (HAD). The main verb is always in.... the past participle, of course!

English speakers commonly use the Past Perfect to tell about an event happening before another event or time in the past. The Past Perfect is linked to another action or time in the past, either explicitly stated or implied.     Example: George had already sent the letter, when I called him.     Linda had finished her homework before the deadline.

Future Perfect

The Future Perfect tense applies the verb "HAVE" in the Future Tense (WILL HAVE). The main verb is always in.... the past participle, of course!

English speakers commonly use the Future Perfect to express an event to happen   before another future time. The Future Perfect is then linked to another future action or time, either explicitly stated or implied. Example: By this time next year, Sue will have finished her GED. She will probably have landed a great job, too!

      Question and Negative Forms of Perfect Tenses  

Negative Sentences

Present Perfect: SUBJECT + HAVE/HAS + NOT + PAST PARTICIPLE
Past Perfect: SUBJECT + HAD + NOT + PAST PARTICIPLE
Future Perfect: SUBJECT + WILL + NOT  HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

SUBJECT	HAVE	NOT	PAST PARTICIPLE	OTHER
Interest rates	have	not	risen	in five months.
Science	has	not	confirmed	UFO sightings
(Though an adult),Lora	had	not	(yet) learned	social skills.
(By Y2K), many firms	will (have =>)	not have	complied	with requirements.

Interrogative Sentences

Present Perfect: (Question Word optional) HAVE/HAS +  SUBJECT +   PAST PARTICIPLE
Past Perfect:  (Question Word optional) HAD +  SUBJECT +  PAST PARTICIPLE
Future Perfect:  (Question Word optional) WILL + SUBJECT + HAVE +  PAST PARTICIPLE

HAVE/HAS	SUBJECT	PAST PARTICIPLE	OTHER
(Where) Have	all the flowers	gone?
(How) Has	the government	made	the decision?
(What) Had	he	studied	to get that great score?
(What) Will                         (have =>)	we	have learned	by the end of the century?

                                                                                      Go to the Continuous Tenses =>